The fleet of black Maybachs pulled up to the entrance of the St. Regis Hotel. Camera flashes erupted like a strobe light show.

Angelo stepped out first. His long legs hit the pavement, his presence instantly dominating the space. He turned and offered his hand.

Elba placed her hand in his. She stepped out in her midnight-blue gown.

Gasps rippled through the crowd of reporters and guests. Whispers hissed through the air. Isn't that the fake daughter they kicked out? Why is Angelo bringing her?

The camera flashes blinded Elba. She instinctively shrank back, trying to hide behind Angelo's broad shoulders.

Angelo reached back and grabbed her wrist. He pulled her firmly to his side. He leaned down, his lips brushing her hair. "Head up. Shoulders back. No one in the Potter family looks down."

Elba took a deep breath. She forced her spine straight, lifted her chin, and hooked her arm through his. They walked into the grand ballroom together.

The room was dripping in crystal and gold. But in the far corner lounge, the atmosphere was toxic.

Kacey Chandler stood surrounded by a group of women in revealing dresses.

The lead socialite tilted her glass, intentionally spilling red wine all over Kacey's skirt. She covered her mouth in mock horror. "Oh my! I am so sorry. But I guess this out-of-season dress can just be washed, right?"

Kacey's eyes filled with tears. She gripped the ruined fabric, her shoulders shaking, too scared to fight back.

Elba saw it from across the room. Her stomach twisted with anger.

These snobs! Elba cursed internally. They just know the Chandler family has cash flow problems right now. Kicking her while she's down!

Angelo heard her. His eyes narrowed. He abruptly changed his path, steering Elba away from the VIP section and straight toward the corner.

The socialites were laughing loudly. They didn't notice the grim reaper approaching.

Angelo stopped right behind them. His voice cut through the air like a blade. "It seems the Chandler family's wine isn't to your liking?"

The women spun around. When they saw Angelo Potter's face, all the color drained from their cheeks. Their arrogant smiles vanished instantly.

Angelo reached out and took a full glass of red wine from a passing waiter's tray. He shoved it into the lead socialite's hand.

"Drink it," Angelo ordered softly. "Or tomorrow morning, your father will bring his bankruptcy petition to my office."

The woman trembled violently. She raised the glass and chugged the wine, spilling it down her chin. She didn't dare wipe it away.

Angelo didn't look at her again. He turned to Kacey, his tone softening. "Kacey, Walter is looking for you. Go change your dress."

Kacey looked at him with pure gratitude. She gathered her ruined skirt and hurried away.

The surrounding guests watched in stunned silence. The message was clear: the Chandlers were under Potter protection.

Elba watched, her heart racing with adrenaline.

My brother is so badass! she cheered in her mind. Ten out of ten for that power move! If only he wouldn't use that power to destroy me later.

Angelo heard the last part. He let out a quiet sigh. He raised his hand, wanting to pat her head to reassure her.

Suddenly, the ballroom lights dimmed. A spotlight hit the main stage. Walter tapped the microphone to give his speech.

Angelo turned his head toward the stage out of habit.

Elba seized the moment. She slipped her arm out of his and slid backward into the dark crowd, moving like a ghost.

Time to run, she thought, slipping away. I'm going to find a quiet corner, eat some cake, and see what that abusive fiancé looks like.

The speech ended. The lights flared back on.

Angelo turned around. The space next to him was empty. Elba was gone.

His face darkened instantly. The temperature around him seemed to plummet.

He snapped his fingers. Three massive bodyguards materialized beside him.

"Lock down every exit," Angelo growled through clenched teeth. "Find her. Now."

Elba stood in the shadows of the second-floor balcony. She leaned against a thick Roman column, holding a small plate of cake, watching the crowded ballroom below.

The heavy glass door to the balcony suddenly pushed open.

A man walked in. He held a whiskey glass. His eyes were bloodshot and his gaze was sleazy. It was Zev Kagan.

Zev spotted Elba in the corner. A disgusting smirk spread across his face. He walked straight toward her.

Elba dropped her fork onto the plate. She took a step back, her back hitting the cold stone railing. She glared at him.

Zev stopped inches away. "Well, well. If it isn't the Potter family's discarded trash. Why are you hiding up here all alone?"

He reached out, trying to stroke her cheek.

Elba slapped his hand away hard.

Who is this pig? she thought, her stomach churning with disgust. He looks like a swollen dumpling. Don't touch me!

Down on the first floor, Angelo was pushing through the crowd. Elba's voice exploded in his head.

He whipped his head up toward the second-floor balcony. He shoved past a group of businessmen and sprinted up the grand staircase.

On the balcony, Zev's face turned red with anger. He stepped forward, trapping Elba against the railing.

"Playing hard to get?" Zev sneered. "You're nothing now. Sleep with me tonight, and I'll give you some pocket change."

Elba's heart pounded against her ribs. She stared at his face, her brain digging through her past life's memories.

Suddenly, a newspaper clipping flashed in her mind.

Holy shit! she screamed internally. I remember! This is Zev Kagan! The psycho who beats Kacey until her internal organs rupture!

Angelo was running down the second-floor hallway. When he heard those words, the last thread of his sanity snapped. Pure, unadulterated killing intent flooded his veins.

Zev reached out, his thick fingers grabbing the delicate strap of Elba's gown.

Before he could pull it, a deafening crash shattered the night.

Angelo didn't slow down. He slammed his broad shoulder into the heavy glass door, forcing the metal lock to break with a deafening crack. The door flew open, hitting the stone wall with a massive crash.

He charged through the frame like a demon. He grabbed the back of Zev's collar and yanked him backward with brutal force.

Zev flew back. Before he could process what was happening, Angelo's fist slammed into his face.

The sound of breaking bone echoed on the balcony. Blood sprayed from Zev's nose. He screamed, crashing into a cocktail table and collapsing onto the floor.

Angelo didn't stop. He stepped forward and planted his expensive leather shoe hard onto Zev's chest, pinning him down. He stared down at the bleeding man with eyes completely devoid of mercy.

Elba pressed herself against the railing, her chest heaving.

He's a beast! she thought in shock. Wait, how did he know I was up here?

Angelo took a deep, ragged breath, forcing his heart rate to slow. He looked over at Elba, his eyes scanning her body to make sure she was untouched.

He looked back down at Zev. "Touch her again, and you lose the hand."

Walter and two security guards rushed onto the balcony, crunching over the broken glass. They gasped at the bloody scene.

Angelo pointed at the groaning Zev. He looked at Walter. "This is the man you chose for Kacey? Cancel the engagement. Immediately."

Walter stared at Zev's bloody face. He didn't ask questions. He trusted Angelo completely. He nodded sharply.

Angelo waved a hand. "Throw him out."

The guards dragged Zev away by his arms.

Angelo walked over to Elba. He took off his suit jacket again and wrapped it around her trembling shoulders.

Elba looked up at him. Her eyes grew hot with unshed tears. Her chest felt tight, but this time, it wasn't from fear.

He's a beast... a terrifying beast, she thought softly, her mind still reeling. But... he aimed all that violence at someone else, just for me. My chest is tight, but for the first time, it's not from fear of him. Being protected... it feels... strangely safe.

The anger drained out of Angelo's body the second he heard her soft thought. He reached out, pulling her firmly into his chest.

"I caught you," he whispered into her hair. "Don't run away again."

Angelo kept his arm wrapped tightly around Elba's shoulders as they descended the curved staircase. They walked back into the main ballroom, instantly drawing every eye in the room.

In the center of the crowd stood Georgina. She wore a pure white lace haute couture gown. When she saw Angelo holding Elba, a flash of pure venom crossed her eyes.

She blinked rapidly. The venom vanished, replaced instantly by a pathetic, fragile expression. She walked toward the bottom of the stairs.

As they reached the final step, Georgina raised her voice just enough for the surrounding guests to hear. Her voice trembled with fake tears. "Angelo... you finally made it."

Elba felt a full-body shudder of disgust.

Here we go, Elba thought. The white lotus is starting her performance!

Angelo stopped. His face was a mask of cold stone. He stared at Georgina without saying a word.

Georgina acted as if she didn't notice his freezing glare. She took a step forward and reached out, trying to loop her arm through his free one.

Angelo shifted his weight. He smoothly stepped sideways, leaving her hand hanging awkwardly in the empty air.

Georgina's eyes instantly welled up with real tears of embarrassment. She quickly pivoted to Elba, her voice dropping to a pitiful whisper. "Elba... are you feeling better? I wanted to visit you at the hospital so badly, but..."

She let the sentence hang, looking down at the floor, letting the guests assume Elba had banned her from visiting.

Elba rolled her eyes so hard they hurt.

But my ass! she yelled in her head. Angelo grounded you, you manipulative snake! Stop playing the victim!

A flicker of dark amusement crossed Angelo's eyes. He stayed perfectly still, waiting to see what the liar would do next.

Seeing that neither of them was reacting, Georgina went for the kill. She let out a sudden, sharp gasp. Her ankle buckled inward, and she threw her body weight directly toward Elba.

Here it comes! The classic fake fall! Elba's mind raced. In the script I saw during my coma, this is where I instinctively push her, she falls, and I become the vicious bully in front of everyone. I absolutely cannot touch her!

Elba threw her hands up in the air, palms facing out, and jumped backward a full yard.

Georgina hadn't expected Elba to move so fast. With nothing to catch her, her center of gravity completely failed. She plummeted toward the hard marble floor.

In that split second, Angelo didn't reach out to catch his "sister." Instead, he grabbed Elba's waist and pulled her another step back, completely clearing the drop zone.

Smack.

Georgina hit the marble floor hard. Her champagne glass shattered, splashing sticky yellow liquid all over her pristine white lace dress.

The ballroom went dead silent. The music seemed to stop. Everyone stared in absolute shock. Angelo Potter had just watched his sister fall and actively moved away.

Georgina pushed herself up onto her elbows. Her knees throbbed with real pain. She looked up at Angelo, tears streaming down her face. "Brother... why didn't you..."

Angelo looked down at her. His voice was cold enough to freeze blood. "If you can't even stand on your own two feet, don't come out and embarrass the Potter family."

The words hit Georgina like a physical slap across the face. Her carefully crafted image of elegance shattered into pieces.

Elba bit her lip so hard she tasted copper, desperately trying not to laugh out loud.

Yes! she cheered internally. Her face is literally green right now!

Angelo heard her laughter in his mind. The ice in his eyes melted slightly.

He reached down and grabbed Elba's hand, lacing his fingers through hers. He turned his body to face the crowd of staring socialites and businessmen.

His voice boomed through the silent room. "Elba is, and always will be, the eldest daughter of the Potter family. She is the only sister I protect. Anyone who disrespects her, makes an enemy of me."

The crowd gasped. The social hierarchy of New York just flipped upside down.

Georgina sat on the floor, digging her manicured nails so hard into her palms that they bled. She ground her teeth together in pure hatred.

Angelo didn't spare her a second glance. He pulled Elba forward, walking out of the ballroom under the terrified, respectful gaze of the entire city.