He leaned in his fips hoveringjust beside her ear. “Tonight,” he whispered. his breath warm against her skin "no matter what happens no matter what they say, you remember who you are. You are the matriarch of the Snow family. No one gets to touch you. No one.”
She met his eyes in the mirror, their reflections intertwined. She gave a firm, resolute nod.
The drive to the Hamptons was silent, the city lights givingway to the. dark, winding roads of Long Island. The Snow family estate was a sprawling beacon of light and power, a fortress on the edge of the dark Atlantic. The driveway was already lined with Bentleys and Rolls-Royces, a testament to the power gathered there tonight
The moment Anissa st epped out of the car on Harding's arm, a hush fell over the chattering crowd on the grand terrace. Every eye was on them. She could feel the weight of their gazes-a mixture of curiosity, envy, and contempt, all of it held in check by the raw, undisguisedfear they had for the man beside her.
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< Marrying My Exs Powerful Billionaire Un. #% +120 Points at most Standing near the grand entrance was Beatrice Snow, Harding's sister-in -law and Connor's mother. Her face was a mask of polite welcome, but her eyes were cold with a venomous hatred. And lurkingin the shadows near a marble pillar was Connor himself. He had changed into a clean suit but he couldn't hide the dark circles under his eyes or the subtle, professional wrappingaround his wrist
His eyes locked on Anissa, and the look inthem was pure poison “Anissa darling," Beatrice cooed, glidingtoward them, her smile as sharp as glass. Welcome to the family, We are all so... surprisedto have you." Anissa smiled back, her own smile just as bright and just as false. The. rubles on her neck felt like a warm shield against the womans icy hostility. “Thank you for the warm welcome, Beatrice. | do hope can be amore. valuable asset to the family than your son was.
The jab hit its mark. Beatrice's face tightened, her polite facade cracking for a split second before beingplastered back into place.
Before she could retort, a commanding voice cut through the tension “She is not an asset. She is the future."
Aurthur Snow, the family patriarch, was being wheeled toward them by an attendant. The crowd parted before him ike the Red Sea. He stopped infront of Anissa, hisold, shrewd eyes filled with a surprisingwarmth. He took her hand in his frail, spotted one.
"You" he declared, his voice ringing with authority, ‘are the finest matriarch this family has seen in a generation. Let it be known' he said, his gaze swe epingthe silent, stunned crowd, ‘that any disrespect shown to my granddaughterin-faw is a direct insult to me
The public declaration was a death blow to any plans Beatrice and Connor had for humiliating her. Her position was now unassailable, cemented by the one man whose word was law
The dinnerwas a blur of veiled questions and sycophanticpraise. Anissa handled it all with a cool, detached grace, with Harding a silent, formidable presence at her side. Every time a distant cousin or a rival CEO tried to probe for weakness, Harding's quiet, unwaveringgaze would 90% 0924 wl
HA #8 +120 Points at most shut them down instantly
Connor watched her from across the vast diningroom, his eyes burning holes in her back. He drank glass after glass of wine his resentment simmering his face growing darker with each toast made in Anissas honor
Finally, he saw his chance. Harding was pulled into a conversation with a senator. Anissa was momentarily alone at their table. Connor pushed himself to his feet and swayed toward her, his movements unsteady. Anissa saw him coming She calmly placed her fork down, dabbed her lips with her napkin and waited.
He loomed over her, his eyes red-rimmed, his breath sour with wine “Anissa’ he slurred, his voice a low, pleading whisper that was meant only for her but was loud enoughfor the nearby tables to hear, How can you be so cruel? After everything? Wonit you just give me one more chance?”
She picked up her wine glass, swirling the de ep red liquid, the color matchingher dress. She looked up at himhherexpressiononeof profound boredom.
“Chances are for people, Connor” she said, her voice clear and cutting in the relative quiet. "Not for discarded trash
She took a slow, deliberate sip of her wine her eyes never leaving his “But don't look so sad, After all, we're family now. You should be happy for your aunt, shouldn't you?"