Claimed By the billionaire

chapter 4

Rachel’s heart pounded against her ribs, her mind spinning into complete panic. Take the lead?She stared at Athan, utterly shocked.

She had absolutely no experience with this. Last night didn’t count—that had been the wild, uninhibited effect of the aphrodisiac stripping away her control. But now, completely sober, she felt entirely out of her depth.

Athan didn't break his gaze, his dark eyes fixed intently on her lips, watching the slight tremor of her breath. Up close, the faint, lingering scent of top-shelf alcohol mingled with his crisp, expensive cologne.

It was a dizzying, dangerously masculine scent that seemed to cloud her thoughts all over again, drawing her in like an intoxicating spell.

"Kiss me," Athan commanded, his voice dropping to a low, rough murmur.

Rachel hesitated for a fraction of a second. Her hands trembled against his broad shoulders, but looking into his possessive gaze, a sudden spark of defiance flared within her.

Dominic had discarded her like trash; Athan treated her like something to be claimed. She leaned in, pressing her lips to his.

Gathering her courage, she tried to mimic the exact way he had kissed her before—deep, demanding, and breathless. Shifting slightly on his lap, she trailed her lips down to his sharp jawline, pressing soft, hesitant kisses down his neck until her lips brushed against his moving Adam's apple.

A low growl vibrated in Athan’s chest. In one seamless, powerful motion, he flipped her over onto the mattress, pinning her beneath his heavy frame.

He let out a dark, husky chuckle, his eyes gleaming with wicked satisfaction. "You're a tease, Rachel," he whispered, his fingers tangling firmly into her hair. "But you learn fast."

He leaned down, crushing his lips against hers, erasing any lingering doubts. As the bedroom door shut out the rest of the world, the night faded into a blur of raw, consuming passion.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, the grand wedding had finally come to an end.

Inside the luxurious leather interior of his custom limousine, Dominic Vance sat with a cold, impenetrable expression. Natalie sat close beside him, the intricate lace of her wedding gown pooling around them.

As the car drove toward the private medical center, Natalie reached out, her fingers sliding seductively up Dominic’s thigh, resting suggestively against his belt buckle.

She leaned in, her voice a fragile, breathy whisper. "Dominic... can you stay the night with me at the hospital? I'm scared to be alone."

Dominic didn't look at her. His jaw tightened, and he coldly reached down, gripping her wrist and removing her hand from his waist.

"Stop playing games, Natalie."

Natalie’s face flushed with deep embarrassment as she pulled her hand back into her lap. A bitter wave of resentment washed over her.

If I hadn't disappeared for those five years,she thought bitterly, Rachel would have never held a single place in his heart. But she knew better than to push him. When Dominic Vance said something, he meant it. He despised repeating himself, and his patience was razor-thin.

Faking a vulnerable, remorseful look, Natalie lowered her eyes. "I’m sorry, Dominic. I forgot... you still have Rachel to worry about."

Hearing Rachel's name, Dominic's icy demeanor softened just a fraction. He reached over, gently tucking a stray strand of hair behind Natalie's ear. "Don't overthink it. Your health is the priority right now. Just rest well."

After arriving at the hospital, Dominic escorted her to the ultra-exclusive VIP wing. He left her room to speak privately with the chief physician in the hallway.

"Mr. Vance, I have excellent news," the doctor murmured, looking over the latest charts.

"Miss Natalie's condition has stabilized significantly after the recent treatments. Her vitals have improved, and she might be able to live much longer than we initially anticipated."

Dominic nodded curtly, but instead of the overwhelming relief he expected to feel, a strange, hollow weight settled in his chest.

Leaving the hospital, Dominic slid into the back of his car and barked an order to his driver.

"Take me to the lounge." He was heading to the high-end, members-only VIP bar he frequently visited with his inner circle.

As the city lights blurred past the window, an irritating thought kept clawing at his mind. He thought about the frantic phone call from Rachel earlier that day—her crying about a kidnapping, begging for five million dollars.

He hadn't heard a single word from her since he hung up. At the time, he was certain it was just a desperate, pathetic stunt to sabotage Natalie’s wedding. But the lingering, dead silence from her side was starting to feel abnormal.

A faint prickle of worry brushed against his conscience, but he quickly pushed it away, scoffing to himself. She's just throwing a tantrum. She always comes running back.

Arriving at the exclusive bar, Dominic bypassed the crowds and entered the private VIP suite.

He threw his tailored suit jacket onto the leather sofa and loosened his tie, the exhaustion of the day finally catching up to him.

"Well, look who finally made it! The man of the hour," his friend, Carter, greeted him with a laugh, raising a glass of scotch.

"So, how’s the double-bride situation going? Rachel must be tearing the city apart. Don't worry, man, she'll come around eventually. She always does."

Dominic rolled his eyes, smacking Carter lightly on the back of the head as he poured himself a drink.

From across the room, his other close friend, Jace, shook his head, his tone much more serious.

"Honestly, Dominic, Rachel has been keeping up with your s**t for five long years, but you really did her bad today. Throwing a wedding for your ex while you're still engaged to her? If I were Rachel, I would have called off the engagement, packed my bags, and left you in the dust."

Dominic froze, the glass halfway to his lips. Jace's words struck a raw nerve, making the strange tightness in his chest grow heavier. He set the glass down, a rare flicker of unease breaking through his cold facade.

He looked between his two friends, his voice unusually tense.

"Have either of you heard from her today? Did she try to contact any of you?"