Chapter 2: Public Humiliation
984 Words
The moment Dominic Kane stepped into the dining room, the atmosphere changed.
Not because he was handsome.
Not because he was rich.
But because he carried himself like a man who had never heard the word "no" in his entire life.
His dark suit probably cost more than
Elaria earned in six months.
His expensive watch gleamed under the chandelier.
And his eyes...
His eyes settled on her like she was already his property.
Elaria hated it instantly.
Dominic's lips curved into a smile.
"So this is Elaria Quinn."
Not nice to meet you.
Not how are you.
Just a quiet assessment.
Like he was inspecting something he intended to buy.
Elaria folded her arms.
"I'm standing right here. You don't need to talk about me like I'm not."
A brief flicker of surprise crossed Dominic's face.
Then amusement.
Interesting.
Apparently women didn't usually talk back to him.
Her parents looked horrified.
"Elaria," her mother warned.
Dominic raised a hand.
"It's fine."
His gaze never left Elaria.
"I like honesty."
"No, you like obedience."
The room went silent.
Her father's face turned red.
Her mother looked ready to faint.
But Dominic merely chuckled.
"You have spirit."
"And you have an ego."
Another silence.
Another dangerous one.
Elaria should have stopped.
She knew it.
But after years of letting people walk over her, she was tired.
Dominic pulled out a chair and sat down.
"Let's have dinner."
"We're not having dinner."
His eyebrow lifted.
"We aren't?"
"No."
Elaria grabbed her handbag.
"I'm leaving."
Her father stood so suddenly his chair nearly toppled over.
"Sit down!"
"No."
"Elaria!"
"No."
For once, she refused to shrink herself.
For once, she refused to make everyone else comfortable.
Dominic watched the confrontation unfold with disturbing calm.
Like a man watching entertainment.
Then he spoke.
"Perhaps we should spend some time alone."
Elaria laughed.
A short, humorless laugh.
"I'd rather walk barefoot across broken glass."
Her mother's fork clattered onto her plate.
Her father looked moments away from a heart attack.
Dominic simply smiled.
But there was something cold behind it now.
Something dangerous.
"You dislike me that much?"
"I don't know you."
"Then why judge me?"
Elaria met his gaze.
"Because men who buy wives are rarely good people."
The smile disappeared.
For the first time all evening.
A flash of anger crossed his face.
Gone almost immediately.
But she saw it.
And it confirmed everything.
This man wasn't charming.
He was controlling.
The kind of man who hid cruelty behind expensive suits and perfect manners.
The dinner continued despite her resistance.
Mostly because her parents practically forced her back into her chair.
An hour later, Elaria was desperate to leave.
Dominic dominated every conversation.
Every topic somehow circled back to his achievements.
His companies.
His investments.
His influence.
As if money alone made him interesting.
Finally, dessert arrived.
And with it came the disaster.
Her mother suddenly stood.
Glass raised.
Smiling.
"Oh, before everyone leaves, we'd like to make an announcement."
Elaria's stomach dropped.
No.
No.
No.
Her father stood beside her mother.
Both beaming.
Proud.
Excited.
As though they were unveiling a prize.
Not sacrificing their daughter.
Dominic looked entirely unsurprised.
Which meant he already knew.
"Elaria Quinn and Dominic Kane are officially engaged."
The room erupted into applause.
Applause.
As if this were a celebration.
As if anyone had asked her.
Elaria sat frozen.
Her heartbeat roaring in her ears.
Guests appeared from the adjoining room.
Business associates.
Family friends.
People she hadn't even known were there.
They began congratulating her.
Smiling.
Taking photos.
One woman squeezed her shoulder.
"You look so happy."
Happy?
Happy?
Elaria felt like she was suffocating.
Then she saw it.
A large projection screen at the front of the room.
Her photograph.
Dominic's photograph.
The words:
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FUTURE MR. AND MRS. KANE
Humiliation washed over her.
This wasn't dinner.
It had never been dinner.
It was an engagement announcement.
Planned.
Organized.
Public.
A trap.
Her parents hadn't wanted her agreement.
They wanted witnesses.
Because witnesses created pressure.
Pressure created obedience.
The realization hit hard.
So hard her eyes burned.
But she refused to cry.
Not here.
Not in front of these people.
Not in front of Dominic Kane.
Slowly, Elaria stood.
The applause began dying down.
Conversations stopped.
Heads turned.
Every eye in the room focused on her.
Dominic looked amused.
Probably expecting her to smile.
To thank everyone.
To play along.
Instead, Elaria grabbed the engagement ring box sitting beside Dominic's plate.
The room fell silent.
She opened it.
A massive diamond sparkled inside.
Beautiful.
Cold.
Meaningless.
Without hesitation, she closed the box and placed it back on the table.
Then she looked directly at every guest.
Every witness.
Every person her parents had invited.
And said four simple words.
"I never agreed."
Gasps exploded around the room.
Her mother's face turned white.
Her father's expression shattered.
Dominic's jaw tightened.
For the first time all evening, genuine anger flashed in his eyes.
Good.
Let him be angry.
She was done being afraid.
The silence stretched.
Then Dominic slowly stood.
His smile returned.
But this time it looked terrifying.
Not warm.
Not charming.
Dangerous.
Possessive.
Patient.
Like a predator who had just realized his prey might run.
He stepped closer.
Close enough that only she could hear his next words.
And what he whispered made every hair on her body stand up.
"You think embarrassing me changes anything?"
Elaria's breath caught.
Dominic's smile widened.
Then, in a voice so low no one else could hear, he said..
"You're going to marry me, Elaria."
His eyes drifted toward the photo of Evren on her phone screen.
And suddenly his smile became much darker.
"Because if you don't..."
He paused.
"And something unfortunate might happen to your son."
......
Dominic has just threatened Evren, and for the first time, Elaria realizes this isn't merely an arranged marriage anymore..it's becoming a nightmare.
- Writer
