Chapter 8
Corinne stepped off the gangway and onto the polished teak deck of the massive luxury yacht.
The late afternoon sun hit the crimson silk of her dress. She looked like a walking inferno against the stark white backdrop of the boat. Every conversation on the deck instantly died.
Evelina was standing next to Corwin by the railing. The stem of her champagne glass let out a dangerous creak as her fingers tightened around it in pure rage. She hadn't expected Corinne to show up looking like a goddess of war.
Candi Hodges was sitting in a lounge chair nearby. Her right arm was wrapped in a thick white cast. The moment she saw the red dress, her face contorted with hatred. She shot up from her chair and stormed across the deck.
Candi planted herself directly in Corinne's path. She raised her uninjured left hand, pointing a shaking finger inches from Corinne's nose. "You have no shame! How dare you show up here after what you did to me?"
Corinne didn't flinch. She offered a slow, chilling smile. Her eyes flicked down to the plaster cast. "Does the wrist still ache, Candi?"
The casual cruelty of the question hit Candi like a physical blow. Her face turned purple. "I'm going to rip that dress off you and throw you overboard!"
"Shut up, Candi."
The voice was low, rough, and carried absolute authority. Corwin lowered his cigar from his lips. He pushed off the railing and walked slowly toward the center of the deck.
Candi whipped her head around, looking betrayed. "Corwin! She broke my arm!"
"You're screaming like a fishwife," Corwin said coldly, not even looking at Candi. "Go sit down."
He stopped two feet away from Corinne. His massive frame blocked out the sun, casting a dark shadow over her. Corwin's eyes swept over the plunging neckline of the red dress. For a fraction of a second, the grip on his cigar tightened, the knuckles turning stark white, before he forced his hand to relax.
"Did you think wearing that would make people forget what you are?" Corwin sneered, his voice dripping with venom. "No one wants you here."
Corinne tilted her head back to meet his gaze. She didn't shrink away. "Whether I'm wanted or not is irrelevant, Corwin. I was invited."
Corwin's eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. The blatant defiance in her tone was a shock to his system. He raised his hand, snapping his fingers for a waiter.
Evelina saw the tension escalating. She practically sprinted over, wrapping both arms around Corwin's bicep and pressing her chest against him. "Darling, don't let her ruin our mood."
Evelina turned her head, flashing a toxic, triumphant smile at Corinne. "Cousin, now that you're here, we should celebrate your return to society.
Evelina gestured to a waiter holding a silver tray. Candi, eager for revenge, snatched a shot glass filled to the brim with clear liquid and shoved it toward Corinne.
Corinne looked down at the glass. The sharp, astringent smell hit her nose. It was pure, high-proof vodka. A trap.
"I'll stick to champagne," Evelina announced loudly, holding up her flute. "But you need something stronger to wash away the past. Let's see if you have the nerve to drink it."
The crowd of socialites began to murmur, forming a tight circle around them. They were waiting for the blood sport to begin.
Corinne took the shot glass. The thick glass was ice cold against her fingertips. Her stomach gave a preemptive, painful lurch.
She put on a flawless mask of hesitation. She shook her head slightly. "I... I can't handle hard liquor, Evelina. You know that."
"Oh, don't be a coward!" Candi jeered from the sidelines. "Drink it!"
Evelina stepped closer. "If you refuse this toast, you're disrespecting Corwin. You're disrespecting everyone on this boat. Drink it, or get off."
It was a social guillotine.
Corwin stood perfectly still. He watched Corinne's face. He didn't intervene. Deep down, a twisted, dark part of him wanted to see her submit. He wanted to see her break under his authority.
Corinne took a deep breath. She raised the shot glass to her lips. Then, she stopped.
She lowered the glass and looked straight past Evelina, locking eyes with Corwin.
"I'll drink it," Corinne said, her voice carrying over the wind. "But only if Corwin hands it to me himself."
The entire deck gasped. Evelina's face morphed into a mask of pure, unadulterated horror.
Corwin stared at the woman in the red dress. The sheer audacity of the demand hit him like a physical strike. Slowly, a dark, incredibly dangerous smile curved his lips.
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