As he reached closer, he cupped her face in his hands lovingly, bent down, and pressed a kiss to her lips. Then he took her hand, his thumb brushing her skin as he spoke to her softly, affectionately.
Mia smiled up at him happily.
And in that moment, Gabriel felt the ground slip from beneath his feet.
His entire body trembled as disbelief surged through his veins while he stared at the sight before him.
Suddenly, a memory slammed into his mind—the man sitting across from Mia at the restaurant that day. The same restaurantwhere even getting a reservation was nearly impossible. The day he had somehow gotten a free meal and brushed it off as luck.
His face drained of color as realization struck.
That man… was Alexander?
His body went rigid, breath lodged painfully in his chest. Before anyone could notice, Gabriel turned sharply and walked out of the party hall. His mind spiraled, thoughts crashing into one another until one word hit him harder than anything else.
Wife.
She wasn’t just Alexander’s girlfriend.
She was his wife.
Anger surged violently through him. His fists clenched as jealousy twisted inside his chest. The memory of Alexander kissing Mia that night resurfaced, twisting something ugly inside him.
Before he could stop himself, Gabriel turned sharply and stormed back toward them, his face cold, his eyes dark and vicious. He stopped in front of Alexander and Mia, his gaze flicking between them before he spoke—his voice loud, mocking, poisonous.
“I didn’t realize someone like you would stoop so low,” he sneered, eyes cutting into Alexander, “using a divorced woman just to secure your position, Mr. Graves.”
The noise drew attention instantly.
Alexander and Mia broke apart and turned to face him. Alexander frowned, irritation flashing across his features. Mia’s eyes widened in shock. She hadn’t expected to see anyone from James’s circle here.
But Gabriel wasn’t done. His lips curled in disgust as his gaze landed on Mia.
Before he could stop himself, Gabriel turned sharply and stormed back toward them, his face cold, his eyes dark and vicious. He stopped in front of Alexander and Mia, his gaze flicking between them before he spoke—his voice loud, mocking, poisonous.
“I didn’t realize someone as rich and influential as you would stoop this low,” he sneered, eyes cutting into Alexander, “marrying a divorced woman? Couldn’t you find an unmarried woman, Mr. Graves?”
The noise drew attention instantly.
Alexander and Mia broke apart and turned to face him. Alexander frowned instantly, his eyes darkening. Mia froze, shock flashing across her face as she recognized Gabriel. She hadn’t expected to see anyone from James’ circle here—least of all him.
But Gabriel wasn’t done. He sneered, disgust twisting his features. His eyes locked onto Mia.
“How can you sleep with another man so easily?” he spat. “Don’t you feel ashamed? And you. Mr. Graves—” his laughter burst out harsh and unhinged, “—you actually made a divorced woman your wife? Don’t you feel disgusted?”
Heads turned. Whispers rippled through the crowd.
And then—
Pain exploded across Gabriel’s face.
Alexander’s fist slammed into him, sending him crashing to the ground. Blood trickled from his lip as the world spun violently.
“Get the fuck out of here before I beat you to death,” Alexander growled, his voice low and lethal.
He didn’t wait for a response. Alexander took Mia’s hand firmly and walked away with her, his grip protective.
Gabriel lay there, humiliation burning through him, jealousy twisting into something feral. His fists trembled as he slowly pushed himself up.
