Obsession His Runaway Bride (Noelle and Adrian) novel Chapter 105

Chapter 105: Dinner

Chapter 105: Dinner

The scenery inside the private dining hall of L’Empyrean was beautiful. Bartholomew Blackwood and Leonard Castellano sat at the center of a long polished table. Leonard looked refined yet imposing while leaning back with a glass of wine in hand. His salt -and–pepper hair slicked neatly back and his deep–set eyes were sharp. But his smile was one of satisfaction. Seated beside him was his son, Ulysses Castellano who was young, well–groomed, an dressed in an immaculate tailored suit that accentuated his regal posture. He had the same hawk–like gaze as his father, though softened by youth. Still, there was a quiet arrogance to him. “So,” Leonard said, swirling his wine lazily, “the deal is scaled the. You’ll have my support in the northern ports… and I’ll have your daughter.”

Bartholomew gave a curt nod, lifting his own glass. “Grace will make an excellent wife. Obedient, graceful, well–raised.”

Ulysses leaned back in his chair with one arm resting across the back of it as he tilted his head. He wore the easy confidence of someone who always got what he wanted. “I look forward to seeing if she lives up to your description.”

“Careful, son. Grace Blackwood isn’t one of your usual flings from the yacht parties. That girl has bloodline and fire. You get one shot at impressing her.” Leonard chuckled.

Bartholomew smirked faintly. “Let’s just say… she’s not the daughter you send out for tea parties. But she knows when to speak, when to stay silent, and when to strike.”

Sounds like exactly the kind of woman I need beside me. The rest are either too soft or too loud.” Ulysses raised his glass with a knowing grin.

“Too loud,” Leonard echoed with a laugh. “That last one from Palermo? She couldn’t keep her mouth shut for five minutes at the table.”

Bartholomew scoffed. “The one with the fake lashes and the red nails?”

“Yes!” Leonard laughed louder now. “Thought she could negotiate cargo routes like it was a fashion show.”

Ulysses chuckled but shook his head. “No offense to her, but I prefer someone who doesn’t mistake strategy for seduction.”

“You’ll get that with Grace,” Bartholomew replied smoothly. “She’s sharp. She listens. And more importantly-” he sipped from his glass “–she doesn’t embarrass the family name.”

Leonard nodded in approval. “That’s what we need.”

They shared a short laugh at that. The conversation drifted briefly into light talk about upcoming shipments, turf neutrality agreements, and a senator’s birthday party next month that half the underworld would be attending in suits and smiles.

Ulysses leaned closer to his father. “Do we know if the Russians are attending?”

“They sent word. Valerian Vasiliev won’t be coming personally, but one of his men will be there,” Leonard replied.

Bartholomew chuckled under his breath. “As long as they don’t show up armed to the teeth like last time.”

Leonard raised his glass again. “Let’s drink to weapons staying under the table.”

And just as they clinked their glasses with knowing smirks-

The ornate double doors at the far end of the room opened.

And every head turned as silence fell in the space.

Grace entered with elegance as her heels tapped softly against the marbled floor. Her white satin gown shimmered under the overhead lights, clinging to her like silk on flame, and the high slit revealed her entire leg as she walked with effortless grace.

Leonard’s brows rose, amused. His son, however, had gone completely still.

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Dinner

+25 BONUS

Ulysses slowly stood to his feet as Grace approached, lits eyes locked on her with the kind of stunned admiration he likely hadn’t meant to show. He wasn’t used to being caught off guard, but Grace did not enter like a woman to be claimed. She entered like a woman meant to be worshipped.

Bartholomew stood next, gesturing at her with a smug sense of pre. “Leonard. Ulysses. This is my daughter, Grace.”

Grace gave a slow, elegant nod. “It’s a pleasure,” she simply said.

Ulysses stepped forward and extended his hand. “Grace,” he repeated softly. “You’re even more stunning than I expected.”

Grace looked at his hand for a beat longer than necessary, before slipping her gloved fingers into his. Her smile was polite but distant–neither cold nor warm.

“Let’s hope I exceed your expectations in more than appearance,Grace said smoothly with an effortless charm.

Ulysses laughed under his breath, clearly captivated and watched as she moved to take her seat.

“Where have you been all my life?” he murmured with a grin.

Their men chuckled behind them, some exchanging amused glances, while Leonard simply looked pleased by how easily his son was warming up to his future bride.

Grace didn’t return the flirtation, but she smiled politely and let her hand fall back to her lap once she sat down.

Marco who was still standing a short distance behind, didn’t move. His jaw was clenched and his fists curled discreetly at his sides. He kept his face unreadable, but his eyes… they were locked on Ulysses.

He watched the way the man moved to her side, so casually slipping into the chair beside her like it was already his place. Watched how Ulysses‘ hand landed on Grace’s lower back in a familiar gesture.

It burned. Not the touch itself, but the way Grace didn’t flinch. The way she allowed it. The way she was letting this man into the space that should have belonged to Marco–at least in his mind.

She didn’t even glance his way.

Marco stayed rooted in place, his body tense, like a dog ordered to heel. And as Ulysses leaned in to whisper something into Grace’s ear, she tilted her head slightly toward him, lips curving into a soft, graceful laugh.

His silence felt louder than the entire room.

Ulysses rested an arm behind her chair, fingers brushing her shoulder as if he’d known her for a lifetime. His other hand lifted her wine glass for her before gently placing it in her grasp.

“Careful,” Ulysses said with an easy smile. “Wouldn’t want to get that dress stained. It’s far too pretty to ruin.”

Grace let her gaze flick up at him, amused. “How thoughtful.”

Marco’s jaw locked. The man was already doing whatever he pleased–touching her, talking to her like she was his. And Grace… she wasn’t stopping him. She wasn’t pulling away.

She was letting it happen.

She was letting someone else take the space that was supposed to be Marco’s. Not that it had ever been his–but still. Watchi Ulysses fill it so easily, so confidently, made something bitter coil in his chest.

He told himself it was just for now and after this, she’s back home with him beside her again. It was just him used to being her bodyguard that acted up inside him.

ኦ

But the tightness in his gut, the way his fists refused to unclench at his sides–it wasn’t the bodyguard in him that felt threatened. It was the man who’d spent years being indifferent, only to learn far too late that he wasn’t.