Hateful Games: (An arranged marriage billionaire romance) (Arranged Games Book 2)

Chapter Fifty

“Did you really issue a no photo rule?” Rosalie complains in a low voice so only I hear. “You stole my chance for pretty pictures in this dress.”

And give everyone a free show of her nakedness? Over my dead body.

I keep her against my side, my palm on her naked back, just above her ass. “I’ll arrange a private photographer so you can have as many as you want.”

“Arrogant prick,” she insults under her breath. A second later, the wheels turning in her head click into place and her head whips up to mine. “Wait a minute… Is that why you took my pictures?”

“Just protecting your honor, my wife.”

“You’re unbelievable.”

I kiss her upturned mouth, slipping my tongue in for a teasing caress before pulling back. “You taste like me, sweetheart.”

“Nova!” she hisses, her cheeks darkening a ruby red.

“I would kiss you deeper but I want to feel your cum on my tongue all night long.”

“I can’t with you,” she mumbles, looking around at the guests. As if scared they’ve heard our conversation.

It’s been half an hour since we arrived and were immediately swarmed my people vying for attention. Tonight is more for networking than anything else. Then there’s the announcement of our new joint venture with Rosalie’s father.

Rosalie and I are quite well-versed in the art of attending these parties and falling into the pretense of being happily in love. The only difference is, tonight I didn’t have to force it.

It came as naturally as breathing.

Rose is quietly but deeply sinking under my skin, into my veins, and I’ve no control over it. She has been for years and I’ve been clueless. I went from kicking her out of my life to wanting to know everything about her in the span of one single, terrifying moment. When I kissed her at the altar and she was announced as my wife.

My other half.

My match.

Mine.

Rose has buried herself so deep that for the first time in years, I haven’t thought about my need for revenge. Or been consumed with that ever-present rage. I haven’t spent a single second thinking about how I’m going to destroy her father. Steal everything that he holds dear and make him pay for his atrocious sins.

Am I truly capable of letting go the one purpose I’ve devoted my whole life too?

Because the price will be losing Rosalie forever.

Hurting Mihir, annihilating his legacy, will not only hurt him but it will wreck Rosalie’s mother’s life too. For that, Rosalie will never forgive me. It won’t matter to her if I told her the truth.

The whole truth.

The sordid tale that tainted my childhood.

So, I have two choices. Either I let go of my past and take a chance on my future with Rosalie or I become the villain she believes I am.

Fate, who has never been my ally, chooses this moment to collide my gaze with Mihir. I see him cutting through the crowd and approaching us with Lily, Rosa’s mom, on his arm. He nods at his fellow acquaintances without slowing his purposeful gait.

His gaze skirts to Rosalie and narrows into slits with disgust upon noticing her outfit.

I immediately want to gouge his eyes out and crush them under my shoe.

Rosalie visibly tenses and I hold her tighter in my arms and kiss her forehead in comfort. Tilting her head, I rasp, “You look gorgeous, Rose. No other women in this room compares. Don’t let him make you feel otherwise. He’s a stupid old man.”

Confidence flares in her dark orbs while a mischievous smile tips her lips. “Thank you.”

“Just the truth, sweetheart.”

Mihir, finally beside us, clears his throat. A sly smile etches across his ugly face as he greets, “Son.”

I barely hold back my retch. Then my fist when he disregards his daughter. His wife, on the other hand, gives us a loving smile.

“How are my kids? You both look so happy and beautiful together.” Her tone is bright. Taking Rosalie’s hand, she pulls her into a long hug and kisses her on both cheeks. “I missed you so much, Rosa.”

“I missed you too, Ma,” Rosalie whispers, her voice thick with emotion. “How have you been?”

“Same old, baby girl. Traveling and charities.” Switching to me, Lily rubs my arm affectionately. “I hope you’re keeping my daughter pleased, Nova.”

“Ma!” Rosa gasps.

“No, do tell, Rose.” I smirk, tugging her back to my side. “Am I pleasing you enough?”

She digs her pointy heels into my foot in retaliation while giving a saccharine smile to her mother, “I’m happy, Ma. Don’t worry. His parents have been treating me like family.”

“As they should,” coldly says her father while giving me a challenging look.

Lily tenses at the edge in her husband’s voice, giving an awkward smile. “Of course they are. We adore your parents, Nova.”

“My in-laws have been nothing but kind,” Rosa proudly admits, while looking straight into her father’s hard eyes. “I’ve been to their house for dinner while his mom visits me often. In fact, his dad has suggested that I continue my studies.”

“What purpose will that serve?” huffs her father in a condescending tone. “Hasn’t your mother taught you all about running a charity?”

“I was thinking more toward a job. Perhaps start my own business.”

“What for? Is Nova not providing you with enough money?”

I’m about to intervene at his sexist remark, my blood boiling. Men like him shouldn’t exist in this day and age. Before I can give him my two cents, Rosalie intertwines our hands and squeezes to stop me.

“It’s not uncommon for a woman to have financial independency. Just because Nova takes care of me doesn’t mean I shouldn’t do something of my own.”

“Are you going to allow this?” Mihir demands angrily, unsatisfied by her answer. Downright offended, actually.

I don’t let Rosalie stop me as I invade his personal space. Satisfaction hums through my veins when he has to arch his neck to maintain our eye contact. “My wife doesn’t need my permission for anything. If she desires to not work for the rest of her life, I will take care and support her, and if she does want to have a career of her own, I will still support her. It’s her choice.”

“Let’s all calm down, please,” whispers Lily, trying to diffuse the sudden hostility.

I make no move. Until Rosalie’s perfume wafts to me and I feel her palm wrap around my balled fist, soothing the roaring rage inside my head. I hear her call out my name and only then do I calm down, stepping back.

“Everyone is starting to stare, Nova,” she softly warns, wearing a relaxed expression. Standing in front of me, she wraps her arms around my shoulders, fingertips grazing the back of my neck. “Will you come with me? I want to get a drink.”

Kissing the corner of her mouth, I reply, “Of course.”

Giving me a grateful smile, she hooks her arm around my elbow and turns toward the direction of the bar. Her feet falters, her spine going rigid as a stone when her father coldly orders from behind.

“I would like a word alone before you leave, Rosalie.”

“Is that a request or an order?” I muse in an impassive tone. “Either way, my wife isn’t going anywhere. I believe I told you, you would need to go through me before ever talking to her. Need I remind you again?”

“Rosalie!” he hisses to her, his face turning blotchy.

“Any conversation you want to have with her, you can have in front of me.” Staring down at him, I threaten, “And don’t even think of approaching her behind my back or raising your voice at her. I don’t take kindly when anyone insults my wife.”

Leaving him fuming on the spot, I guide a stunned Rosalie to the bar. “What do you want to have?’

“Nothing. I just wanted to get us away before you punched my dad.”

“I can always punch him without an audience.”

“Don’t piss him off on my behalf.”

“And what?” My voice is tight with anger. “Let him get away like he’s been doing all these years?”

Rosalie skirts her gaze away from mine.

They snap back to mine in horror when I confess, “Also, stop hiding your scars. I’ve already seen them.”

“What?”

“The cigarette burns on your right inner thigh.”

“I don’t know what you—”

I cut her off with a glare. “Was it another tactic of your father to discipline you?”

Staring at me for the longest seconds, she brokenly answers, “No, because it wasn’t him. And I’m not having this interrogation by you here. It’s none of your fucking business, Nova.”

“You’re my wife and it makes it my business, whether or not you like it.” Crowding her against the bartop, away from prying ears, I tell her in a no-nonsense tone, “You will tell me who did that to you. I want the name so I can put him two feet into ground, where he belongs.”

Apprehension shades her eyes and she gulps. “Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why do you care, Nova?”

I tangle my hand in her hair and profess against her trembling lips, “Because no one puts their hands on my woman and deserves to live.”

“You mean it,” she states numbly.

“I mean it.”

Our connection breaks, gaze drifting to the front of the ballroom, when we hear my father clink his glass. He calls for everyone’s attention and searches for us in the crowd. Once he sees where we are, he invites us over. Followed by Rosalie’s parents.

“Come,” I tell Rose, my gaze conveying we aren’t done with the conversation. She presses her hand into mine.

Mihir’s face has returned to its noble mask he wears for the foolish world. Meanwhile, Lily gives me an apologetic smile. Yet she didn’t once defend her daughter. A life with an abusive father and a neglectful mother is what my Rose has suffered.

Her breakdown at my parents’ place finally making sense.

I was going after her but my mom had insisted that she’ll take care of her. I’m glad she did. Because they quickly formed a bond. Even now, my mom pulls Rosalie beside her and they lock hands.

“Thank you everyone for joining us tonight,” speaks my father. “As you all know my son, Nova, has tied the knot with the beautiful Rosalie, blessing me with a daughter in our family. Not only are we celebrating and wishing them a very long and happy married life, we’re also gathered here to make another grand announcement.”

Anticipation and suspense spread among the guests as they hold their breaths for the reveal. My father doesn’t make them wait.

“The D’Cruzes and the Kapoors have collaborated on our first joint venture. As of yesterday, we’ve acquired the largest shipping port in the country and it’ll be now known as The Cruz Port.”

The room thunders with applause, people raising their glasses in the air. I, however, watch Mihir’s reaction. Still wary of his intentions. He gives nothing away and smiles at our rapt audience. Our main competition has always been in the export and import sector. This joint venture will not eradicate it completely.

Nevertheless, the deal has been made.

With one last smile, all of us mingle with the people congratulating us. Some have envy in their eyes while others are wishing they were us. Half of them I wouldn’t trust because in the end, they will stab each other to climb to the top.

Seeing a familiar face in the crowd, I nod at him toward the outside hallway. Bending, I whisper in Rosalie’s ear, “I’ll be back.”

Pausing from conversing with my mom, she glances back. “Where are you going?”

“Restroom,” I lie. “Stay with my mom.”

“Okay.”

I nod and shake a few hands along the way as I stride outside. Down the deserted hallway, I find Zenith waiting at the end, shrouded in semi-darkness. He’s the private investigator I hired the same day I saw Rosalie’s scar.

I might have confronted her, but she won’t give up the name easily.

Besides, I’m still unsure Mihir isn’t complicit in hurting Rosalie. No way it didn’t happen without his orders. Whoever it was held no fear for the consequences of their actions.

“Did you find anything?” I question, not wasting time with small talk.

“With the information you’ve given me, which isn’t much, it’s like looking for a needle in the haystack. Since the scars look old from the picture that you sent, I’m guessing she was really young when it happened. Mihir wouldn’t risk hospitalizing her and leaving a record trail. So, he must have had a doctor on his payroll, who fixed her at home. It’s the only solid lead and I’m looking into it. Even then, it won’t mean we’ll know the person who assaulted her.”

I hear his hidden meaning. Unless I bring a useful clue that could narrow our suspects, we’re at a dead end. It sours my mood.

“I’ll try to see if I can learn anything new,” I answer. “Meanwhile, I want you to dig deeper into Mihir and see if you can find evidence whether or not he’s abusing his wife or older daughter, Jasmine.”

He nods and walks away.

Maybe there’s a way I can expose Mihir for the violent, vile, and misogynistic prick he is without hurting the ones Rosalie loves.

Marching back into the glittering and lively ballroom, I search for my wife. When I seek her out, my shoulders go rigid at the sight of who she’s standing with. I eat the distance, causing Rosalie to startle when I wind my arm around her waist. She relaxes when she feels me. Though not without giving me a side-eye for possessively holding her.

“Kaiden,” I greet one of the two other men and shake his hand, before turning to the next. “Keith.”

The former is a notorious playboy in Bollywood. The third sibling of the Mallick brothers. While the latter is one of the underworld kings of the north, corrupted and known for ruling with an iron fist. Both dangerous and malicious.

I’ve run into them only a handful of times but it was enough to know to keep my distance. Those men are into playing games that leave dead bodies in their wake. The reason my family even knows theirs is because our grandfathers used to be close friends.

Still, I wouldn’t want them anywhere near my Rose.

“You didn’t tell me you are friends with the Mallicks,” accuses Rosalie, staring at the other man with stars in her eyes. She looks almost giddy.

I do not like it. Not one fucking bit.

“Because I didn’t know you were a fan,” I say, barely hiding the jealousy.

“Your wife is a treasure, Nova,” flirtatiously says Kaiden.

Rosa giggles. She fucking giggles.

“And all mine,” I darkly claim before he gets any ideas.

His grin widens.

Keith, who was silent, speaks up in a dull tone. As if this party is a chore and he would rather be anywhere else. “Ignore Kaiden. He forgets not every married woman is a cheater.”

“I’m not opposed to sharing,” he shamelessly says. “Are you daring, Rosalie?”

I take a threatening step, my fist raised to connect with his jaw, but stop short when Rosalie sweetly threatens, “Daring enough to bite your dick off without batting an eye.”

Her response has me holding back laughter, especially when Kaiden’s face falls in shock. Must be some truth to Keith’s taunt.

Kaiden’s gaze connects with mine. “She’s a keeper. Don’t fuck up.”

“I would sincerely advice you to stay the hell away from my wife. Hookers are easy to bribe and Rosalie’s threat might just become your reality.”

The bastard laughs but backs away with his hands raised. Turning, he goes in search of his next victim. Keith lingers back.

“I apologize for my friend. Congratulations on the nuptials and the new venture.”

“Thanks.” As soon as he disappears, I turn to Rosalie. “Still a fan?”

“I didn’t know he was a prick in person.”

“Did you approach them or did they approach you?”

Her gaze turns sheepish. “I did.”

“Do you even know who they really are?” I harshly scold. The shit they dabble in is far too sinister. “You ever see them again, look the other way. This is the reason I put bodyguards around you.”

“How come you are friends with them then?” she retorts.

“I’m not and I don’t want you anywhere near them. Do you understand?” She purses her lips. “I’m fucking serious, Rose.”

Noting the gravity in my tone, combined with my stern expression, she acquiesces. “Okay. I’ll keep my distance.”

“Good girl.” Bringing her closer, I ask, “Ready to go home?”

“Yes.”

With that, we leave the party.