YOU OWN THE TITLE, I OWN THE MAN

007| THE SCENT OF A PREDATOR

~EVELYN STERLING~

The man turned slowly. Unmistakably Adrian Cross. My husband’s greatest rival. And the man who had seen every inch of me barely hours ago.

His piercing gray-blue eyes found mine instantly. He didn’t look shocked. Instead, he looked like a hunter who had just watched his prey walk directly into his trap.

But then, his eyes flickered on Julian’s hand holding me, and for some strange reason, I almost wiggled out of Julian’s hold.

“Julian,” Adrian finally spoke, just one word, yet deep enough to send a violent shiver down my spine.

“This is my wife, Evelyn,” Julian said, pride swelling his chest. “Eve, this is Adrian Cross. Though I suppose you’ve seen him in the papers.”

Adrian took a slow step forward. The air between us suddenly turned heavy, as the scent of his expensive cologne filled the air.

He reached out, his fingers grazing my knuckles as he took my hand. But he didn’t kiss it; he just held it, his thumb grazing the edge of my wedding ring.

“Evelyn,” he murmured, his eyes burning into mine. “A pleasure. You look… refreshed. Though your eyes look like they’ve seen very little sleep.”

“A busy wedding night, I’m sure,” Julian joked, a sickening smug grin on his face.

Adrian’s lips curved into a predatory smirk. “Is that so? I had a restless night myself. I encountered a particularly fierce cat in the dark. Beautiful thing, but she had sharp claws and a very… expensive bite. I’m still carrying the marks today.”

My breath hitched. My face went hot, heat spreading down to my chest. I knew exactly where those “marks” were.

“Is that so?” I managed to say, my voice trembling a little. “Perhaps you should be more careful about where you wander, Mr. Cross. Some cats aren’t meant to be tamed.”

“Oh, I didn’t mean to tame her,” Adrian whispered, his gaze dropping to my lips for a fraction of a second. “I just wanted to see how far she’s willing to scratch.”

I felt completely exposed, like my dress was transparent under his stare.

“If you’ll excuse me,” I choked out, pulling my hand back. “I need a drink. It was nice to meet you, Mr. Adrian.”

I didn’t wait for Julian’s permission. I turned and walked away. But I could still feel Adrian’s eyes on my back until I reached the bar.

He was never one to attend such functions, if I had known he would be here, maybe I…

I drowned a glass of champagne in one go, my hands shaking. I needed to get out, to breathe.

But as I turned to a side exit, a familiar, high-pitched voice stopped me.

“It’s a beautiful party, isn’t it, Mrs. Thorne?”

Melody stepped into view, wearing a dress that as far too white for a secretary, looking like a doll.

Her eyes glittered with malice as she continued, “Mr. Thorne was kind, he got me this dress when he leant, I had nothing to wear. A beautiful dress, isn’t it?”

“He invited me here, do you know where he is? After all that tantrum this morning, and the acting he would need pull up in this party, I think he needs to rest well.”

I looked at her, and for the first time, I felt nothing but pity.

“Oh Melody, for a placeholder, you sure are trying too hard. He couldn’t even admit to having anything to do with you. You are just a cheap distraction.”

Her smug look disappeared and anger rushed through her features.

She stepped closer, each step deliberate and her eyes full of mischief.

“You know there is a popular opinion, Evelyn… the one who isn’t loved is the placeholder,” she straightened her back. “Seeing how he rushed over to me even on your wedding night, we don’t even need to dispute the fact.”

I dug my nails into my palm, as my heart slammed against my chest. Once, twice.

I hate how her words felt like a sword, slicing my heart.

She noticed the pain in my eyes, and then she counted on it.

“You might own the title for now, but he is mine. He doesn’t even love you, you are just a business transaction, so don’t you dare act smug with me.”

I smiled, a cold smile. “Is that so? One fact is, I am still Mrs. Thorne, Melody. No matter how much you try, you will always be the home wrecker. Julian and I weren’t married yet when you came along, we were just engaged, but yet, he didn’t even choose you, didn’t even give you a title… doesn’t that show your true worth? I mean, it can’t be that he is only using your body to satisfy his needs, right?”

Her face turned pale. For a moment, I thought she was going to faint, but then she gritted her teeth.

“He didn’t marry me because of your damned family title. Without that title and the alliance, he would never choose you.”

I smiled dismissively. “No one stopped you from using your family title to get the man, Melody… well, except you have no title to begin with.”

She gritted her teeth. “How dare you…?”

I raised a hand, stopping her mid-sentence. “I don’t care what you and Julian are doing in secret… I mean men have mistresses, ones they use to fulfil their s****l needs. I just wish you will feel some level of awareness, and know that being a mistress is nothing to be proud of. You are just a glorified s*x worker.”

With that, I turned to leave, but then I caught sight of Julian approaching.

Melody must have seen him too, because the next moment, she grabbed my hand.

Her expression shifted in a heartbeat, as she threw herself backward, her hand flying to her face.

“Please, Mrs. Thorne! I’m sorry!” she wailed, the sound piercing through the music. “If hitting me makes you feel better, then I have no reason to fight back.”

The music died and so did the conversations. I could see everyone was looking at us now, some whispering already.

Julian rushed forward in a blur, his face red with fury. He looked at Melody cowering on the floor and helped her up, then he turned to me in rage.

“Evelyn! What the hell is wrong with you?” He roared, grabbing my wrist so hard it bruised. “In front of everyone? You’re going to apologize to her right now, or…”

I pulled away from his hold hardly, my eyes turning cold as I looked from him to the crowd.

Almost everyone had the same judgmental look in their eyes, like they were sure I was the villain.

“Did you see me hit her?” I asked coldly, “how are you sure I did?”

His frown. “Are you going to deny it now. Everyone saw it happen. Didn’t I tell you not to make a scene here?”

I let out a small mocking laugh, then I turned back to Melody who now had an arrogant smile on her face.

I didn’t apologize.

Instead, I stepped closer to her, and then swung my hand.

Slap.

The sound of my palm hitting Melody’s face was louder than her scream. This time, she didn’t fake it. She fell back, colliding with a table before hitting the ground.

Her cheek turned a violent crimson instantly and her eyes sparked with rage.

“You crazy b***h, how dare…”

I shrugged, turning back to the crowd.

“See,” I said, my voice cutting through the room. “that’s exactly how she would have reacted if I had slapped her.”

The room fell silent instantly, and then they began whispering, but this time, they were all looking at Melody, properly wondering if she had been faking it before.

Melody expression faltered as she desperately tried to explain herself.

But it was clear no one believed her now, and even Julian looked unsure.

I took a step closer to Julian, whispering to him.

“Congratulations, you just showed everyone how much of a perfect husband you actually are.”

He froze.