The ballroom was no longer a place of elegance.
It was a battlefield wrapped in glitter.
Ariana could feel the shift.
People watched her not with judgment now—
but with curiosity, suspicion, and even fear.
They heard the whispers from security.
They noticed Damian's sudden tension.
They sensed danger.
Isabel leaned toward Ariana and whispered,
"Stay calm. Whoever did this wanted a reaction."
But Ariana's palms were already cold.
Damian finished a brief exchange with the head of security and immediately returned to her side.
His eyes—usually guarded—were burning with anger held tightly under control.
"Ariana," he said in a low voice, "come with me."
She nodded and followed him as he escorted her toward a quieter corridor away from the ballroom.
Once they were alone, he turned to her.
"You're trembling."
"I-I'm just scared," she admitted.
Damian exhaled slowly, softening his posture.
"I would never let anything happen to you. Ever."
His voice carried a quiet promise…
one that felt stronger than any vow he had made at their wedding.
****
Damian Issues His First Command
His phone vibrated.
He picked up instantly.
"Report."
A deep voice answered,
"We tracked the upload. It came from inside the hotel."
Ariana gasped.
Damian's expression chilled.
"Inside?"
"Yes, sir. A private lounge room near the upper balcony."
"Lock it down," Damian ordered.
"No one enters. No one leaves."
"Yes, sir."
He hung up.
Ariana swallowed hard.
"Damian… why would someone take a picture of me?"
"For many reasons," he answered honestly.
"Some want to expose you.
Some want to challenge me.
Some want to destroy what they can't have."
The unspoken truth lingered:
Lena was one of those people.
But she wasn't the only threat.
Ariana looked down.
"I didn't ask for any of this."
"I know," Damian said softly.
"And that is exactly why I will handle it."
****
The Servers Whisper
Just then, two servers carrying trays passed behind them—whispering unintentionally loud.
"Was the picture bad?"
"I heard it was taken when Mr. Steele was holding her waist."
"People are saying she trapped him."
"No way. Someone wants to ruin her."
Ariana's heart sank.
Damian's hand curled into a fist.
He didn't confront the servers—
not yet—
but his eyes followed them with a warning that could freeze stone.
Then he turned back to Ariana.
"Look at me."
She did.
"You do not owe anyone explanations," he said firmly.
"You do not need their approval.
You are my wife. That is enough."
Her eyes stung.
"Damian… why do you keep defending me like this?"
He held her gaze for a long moment.
When he finally spoke, his words were quiet—
but honest.
"Because I want to."
Ariana's breath shook.
Because he wanted to.
Not because of obligation.
Not because of the contract.
Not because of appearances.
Because of her.
*****
A Lead Emerges
A security guard rushed down the hall toward them.
"Sir! We found the device used to upload the photo."
Ariana held her breath.
Damian's gaze hardened.
"Whose device?"
The guard hesitated.
"A staff phone… but registered under a fake identity."
"Meaning?" Damian asked.
"Meaning someone planted it."
Ariana's stomach twisted painfully.
Someone had infiltrated the event
to target her.
The guard continued, voice tense:
"And… there's something else, sir."
He handed Damian a small envelope.
Ariana felt fear creep through her bones.
Damian opened the envelope—
To find a printed photograph inside.
A photo of Ariana from the ballroom.
But scribbled across the bottom in red ink:
"She doesn't belong in your world."
Ariana's breath hitched.
Damian's jaw clenched so hard the guard stepped back instinctively.
His eyes burned with a cold, lethal fury Ariana had never seen before.
"Ariana," he said quietly,
"you're going home."
She shook her head.
"I don't want to ruin your night—"
"You are not ruining anything," he snapped—then softened instantly.
"I just need you safe."
Ariana bit her lip.
"Damian… I'm scared."
He reached out—hesitant at first—
then gently touched her cheek.
"I know," he murmured.
"And whoever did this…
will regret ever breathing near you."
His voice wasn't exaggerated.
It wasn't dramatic.
It was a promise.
A dangerous one.
*****
The World Watches
As Damian guided Ariana out of the ballroom toward the exit, the elites parted silently.
They saw the fear in Ariana's eyes.
They saw the fury radiating from Damian.
They saw the guards surrounding them.
And the whispers spread:
"Someone crossed a line."
"He'll destroy whoever did it."
"Mrs. Steele is under attack… and Mr. Steele won't forgive this."
Ariana walked beside him—
small, fragile, but steady.
Damian placed his hand at her back—
calm, firm, protective.
And for the first time,
the elite world realized something terrifying:
Ariana might look gentle…
But she was the only thing that could provoke Damian Steele's wrath.
That made her
the most dangerous woman in the room.