The Arrogant Fiancée Ordered the Maid to Drag the Weeping 11-Year-Old Out of the Party — Until the Mafia Boss Stepped Between Them

Cassandra’s arrogant, angry expression rapidly dropped into shock and pale, paralyzing fear.

She realized, in a terrifying fraction of a second, that she had crossed a very dangerous, invisible line. Gabriel was a man who commanded an army of lethal men; his protective instinct over his only daughter was absolute.

A wide shot captured the grand hall. The entire room went completely, suffocatingly silent. The wealthy guests stopped talking. The string quartet stopped playing.

Gabriel slowly lowered his champagne glass, staring Cassandra down with a terrifyingly calm, icy gaze.

"Gabriel, darling," Cassandra stammered, frantically trying to plaster on a sweet, innocent smile. She took a step back, her red gown swishing nervously. "I was just trying to help! Lily was getting overwhelmed by the crowd. I thought it would be best for her to rest upstairs."

"You called her a pathetic brat," Gabriel stated smoothly, perfectly recalling her exact words.

"I... I was just stressed!" Cassandra defended herself, shooting a venomous glare at the maid. "It's our engagement party! I wanted everything to be perfect for you, and Natalie wasn't doing her job keeping the child quiet!"

Gabriel looked down at Lily. She was still weeping, clinging desperately to Natalie.

Gabriel had been a widower for five years. He had raised Lily entirely on his own, shielding her from the violent reality of his syndicate empire. He had only proposed to Cassandra because she had spent the last eight months playing the role of a warm, maternal angel, convincing him that Lily needed a mother figure in the house.

But tonight, the mask had slipped.

Gabriel reached out and gently placed his large hand on his daughter's shoulder.

"Why are you crying, piccola?" Gabriel asked softly, his deep voice completely shifting from a lethal threat to a loving father. "Did something happen before I came downstairs?"