Page 146 of Villainous Rise

He pressed harder, forcing my lips to part against the hard edge of his teeth.

I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. My hands hung uselessly at my sides as panic flooded my system.

Valor was kissing me. In public. In front of everyone. In front of Cipher. This wasn’t part of the agreement.

Oh god.

When he finally pulled back, he stroked his thumb over my bruised bottom lip in a sickening show of ownership. “Don’t keep her too long, Mr. Smith.”

I couldn’t look at Cipher. Couldn’t bear to see the expression on his face. My cheeks burned with humiliation and anger as Valor’s hands finally left my body.

Say something. Do something. Move.

But I remained frozen, trapped between my professional obligations and the betrayal I’d just committed. The engagement was fake, but that kiss had been real.

My eyes finally found Cipher’s. The silver had gone flat. I was staring into a void ready to devour anything and everyone in its path. My chest caved in as I watched the collapse of my entire universe in his dead gaze. His expression remained perfectly controlled, a terrifying mask of absolute nothingness.

“Shall we?” Cipher extended his hand again, his voice so controlled it was terrifying.

I placed my trembling fingers in his and his grip tightened almost painfully as he led me away from Valor and Charles.

“Cipher—” I whispered, my voice breaking.

“Not here.” His Scottish accent had thickened to the point the words were barely recognizable.

As we reached the dance floor, he turned to face me, his touch burning through the fabric of my dress as he slid one hand to my waist while the other still gripped mine.

The orchestra swelled into a slow, sweeping waltz and Cipher pulled me flush against his chest. To the rest of the room, we presented a perfect picture of high-society elegance—the generous billionaire and the ecstatic bride-to-be gliding beneath the shifting lights of the pavilion.

The psychological torture began the second we stepped in time with the music.

“Tell me, Ms. Bishop,” Cipher murmured. His voice dropped into a soft, conversational purr meant only for my ears. The Scottish lilt hardened the consonants, making every syllable a weapon. “How exactly does he taste?”

My stomach heaved and I stared at the knot of his silk tie, refusing to meet his eyes. “Cipher, don’t.”

I didn’t bother to disguise the hurt that must have been written across my face. Let everyone wonder why the billionaire was making Valor’s fiancée look like she’d been slapped. I didn’t care anymore.

“I asked a question.” His fingers pressed into the bare skin of my back, guiding me through a seamless turn. “Mint? Egotism? Or just desperation?”

“Stop.”

“Have you set a date?” He spun me out and pulled me right back into his chest. “A spring wedding, perhaps? The weather in Chroma Bay is lovely in May. Or will you rush it? Capitalize on the media frenzy before the public loses interest?”

“Please stop.”

“Why?” He tilted his head. “All brides-to-be love talking about their wedding details, Ms. Bishop. Indulge me. Where will you register? What colors will the bridesmaids wear? White, dark blue, and gold to match his ridiculous suit?”

My throat closed. Every cruel word chipped away at the foundation we had started rebuilding. We were breaking. He was severing the tether between us right here on the dance floor, and I had no way to stop him.

“It’s fake,” I choked out, my voice trembling.

“The kiss appeared incredibly real.” His thumb stroked my spine, a mockery of comfort. “Construct the future for me, Ms. Bishop. Tell me about the house you’ll buy together. Tell me how many photogenic children you’ll give him. Describe the perfect little heroic life you are building.”

Nausea clawed up my throat. I couldn’t breathe. The pavilion walls were shrinking, the shifting blue light suffocating me. The Alliance had forced this on me, but Cipher was the one holding the blade to my throat.

“Mr. Smith, please.”

“Ah. Mr. Smith now.” His chuckle was dark, devoid of any warmth. “Very professional, Ms. Bishop. You’re adapting beautifully to your new role.”