Jealous Of The Billionaire's Dog

A hush settled over the ballroom like a storm brewing on the horizon.

The glittering chandeliers still bathed the grand hall in golden light, but the warmth had long faded. The moment Vincent Blackwood uttered the word "debt," the air turned razor-sharp.

Daphne Lancaster—the woman who had effortlessly commanded attention and admiration—stood frozen. Her carefully crafted mask of poise and grace was beginning to crack.

Vincent was enjoying every second of it.

He tilted his head slightly, waiting, watching. When Daphne didn't respond, he clicked his tongue. "No words, darling? That's unlike you."

Damian Lancaster stepped forward, his protective instinct flaring. "Enough games, Vincent. If you have something to say, say it."

Vincent's lips curled into an almost sympathetic smile. "Oh, Damian. Always so noble. So ready to defend a woman you barely know anymore." He turned his sharp gaze back to Daphne. "I wonder… does he even know who you really are?"

Daphne clenched her jaw. "You're making a scene, Vincent."

"Oh, but that's the fun part, isn't it?" His eyes gleamed with something dangerous. "Now, be a dear and tell the good people why I'm here."

Daphne exhaled slowly, regaining a fraction of her composure. She turned to Damian, ignoring the burning curiosity in Vivian's and Charlie's eyes.

"Whatever he thinks I owe him, it's from a long time ago. It doesn't matter anymore."

Vincent chuckled. "Ah, but see, that's where you're wrong. Because some debts don't expire. And this one? It's very much overdue."

Cassian Thorne, silent until now, shifted his stance. He wasn't here for the theatrics. He was here for results.

"Time's up, Lancaster," Cassian said, his voice a deep rumble. "Pay up, or we settle this another way."

The room stiffened.

Daphne's fingers curled into fists at her sides. "This isn't the place for this."

Vincent shrugged. "Fine. Let's take a walk, shall we?"

A Walk in the Shadows

Minutes later, they were outside on the balcony, away from prying eyes. But even here, the city lights stretching out before them felt too exposed.

Damian stood beside Daphne, a silent force of support. But Vivian, Elijah, and Wes weren't far. They wanted answers just as much as he did.

Vincent leaned against the railing, the picture of leisure. "You really thought you could just disappear, didn't you?"

Daphne crossed her arms. "I didn't disappear. I left. There's a difference."

Vincent smirked. "Oh, darling. We both know you didn't just leave. You ran."

Vivian, unable to hold back any longer, interjected. "Ran from what?"

Daphne hesitated.

Vincent answered for her. "From a deal she made with me." His voice lowered, turning almost sweet. "Isn't that right, Daphne?"

Damian's jaw clenched. "What kind of deal?"

Daphne looked away, her grip tightening on the railing.

Vincent sighed dramatically. "She borrowed something from me. And when it was time to pay up… she vanished."

Damian narrowed his eyes. "What did she take?"

Vincent met Daphne's gaze and, for the first time that night, his amusement faded. "Something irreplaceable."

A chilling silence stretched between them.

Daphne finally spoke, her voice quiet but firm. "I didn't steal from you."

Vincent didn't blink. "Then why did you run?"

The weight of his words settled heavily on the group.

Elijah, always the observer, tilted his head. "Whatever this is, it's not just about money, is it?"

Vincent exhaled slowly. "No, it's not."

Cassian, impatient, spoke up. "Enough stalling. She knows what she took. She knows what she owes. And we're not leaving without it."

Damian's protective stance became more pronounced. "She's not giving you anything until we know exactly what this is about."

Vincent studied him for a long moment before chuckling. "Still playing the hero, huh? That's sweet." He turned to Daphne. "But you and I both know heroes don't survive in this world."

Daphne met his gaze head-on. "Then it's a good thing I stopped believing in them a long time ago."

Vincent smiled. "And yet, you've got one standing beside you." His eyes flickered toward Damian. "How ironic."

The tension thickened.

Vivian, seething from the sidelines, finally spoke. "Let's cut through the nonsense. What exactly does she owe you, Vincent?"

Vincent considered her for a moment before sighing. "Fine. I'll make it simple."

He turned to Daphne, voice laced with quiet finality.

"You took something from me, Daphne. And now, I want it back."

Daphne's breath hitched.

And for the first time that night, fear flickered in her eyes.