Chapter 7 You Called My Fiancée A Whore?

Eden’s POV

Maxim shoved Cloe away from me. His arm caught me protectively, pulling me against his chest.

"Eden! Are you okay? Did she touch you? Tell me you're not hurt." His voice shook with panic and rage.

My heart skipped a beat. No one had ever cared enough to protect me like this.

"I'm okay," I whispered, leaning into his warmth.

"Oh my god - the Silverstone twins!" Someone gasped.

"THE Silverstones?"

The blonde SA who'd been mocking me turned ghost white. "Mr. Silverstone! I... we didn't know she was with you. We were just-"

"Silence." Adrian's voice could freeze hell. He pulled me from Maxim's arms, checking me over. "Tell me exactly what happened here."

Several people started talking at once.

"She was trying on dresses-"

"These two came in and-"

"It was just a misunderstanding-"

"One at a time." Maxim's growl silenced everyone. His eyes locked onto the blonde SA. "You. Talk."

She was shaking now. "Miss Matthews called her... a w-whore who slept her way in here. And Mr. Porter, he..." She swallowed hard. "He offered to pay her for... services. Said he'd give her more money than her current... client."

The temperature dropped to freezing. Adrian's face went dead still.

"They said WHAT?" Maxim's roar made everyone flinch. His grip on Jake's throat tightened until the man turned purple. "You dared to proposition MY MATE?"

"Mr. Silverstone, please-" Cloe crawled forward on her knees. "She is my old classmate, I was just surprised-"

"Surprised?" Adrian's voice was terrifyingly soft. "So you called my fiancée a whore? Accused her of selling herself? While your boyfriend offered to BUY her?"

Through our bond, I could almost feel their inner roars. The need to destroy anyone who dared to take what was theirs.

"She belongs to US." Maxim slammed Jake into the wall so hard it cracked. "Our mate. Our woman. OURS."

"And you thought-" Adrian's eyes had that dangerous glow. "You actually thought you could touch her? That you had the RIGHT?"

"I'll kill him." Maxim's voice had dropped to that deadly register that meant business. "Trying to buy our Luna. I'll tear him apart."

Adrian's fierce eyes were still locked on Cloe's face. "You spread lies about my mate. Tried to hit her. Called her a whore."

Adrian's eyes swept over the crowd, landing on the store manager who'd just rushed up. "Their names. Full names."

"C-Cloe Matthews," the manager stammered. "Her father works at-"

"And him?" Adrian nodded toward Jake, who was still struggling in Maxim's grip.

"Jake Porter, sir. Of Porter Construction."

A cold smile touched Adrian's lips as he pulled out his phone. "Get me everything on Cloe Matthews and Jake Porter. Father's company too. Especially their... private activities. Now."

The society women who'd been sneering earlier were frantically backing away. The store manager appeared, bowing repeatedly. "Mr. Silverstone, if we had any idea she was your fiancée-"

"That's your excuse?" Adrian's voice dropped lower. "You'd let any woman be harassed in your store, as long as she's not connected to someone powerful?"

The manager, frightened by his fury, stepped aside without daring to make a sound.

Less than a minute later, Adrian's phone buzzed. A cold smile spread across his face.

"Well, well. Miss Matthews. Let's share your story." He turned to the crowd. "You called my fiancée a whore? Turns out you have been trading sexual favors for designer bags at three different clubs. Got blacklisted from two for trying to blackmail married rich guy."

Holy shit. I couldn't help but stare at Cloe. All those times she'd looked down on me, called me trash - and she was the one selling herself for bags?

Cloe went pale. "That's not-"

"We have the videos." Adrian's smile was shark-like. "Should I play them?"

Damn. Part of me felt bad, but a bigger part was enjoying this. She deserves it, doesn't she?

"And Mr. Porter. Your daddy's company is already in trouble, isn't it? Those fake invoices, the money laundering - did you think we wouldn't find out?"

Jake started sobbing.

My head was spinning. Everything was happening so fast. These people who'd made my life hell were getting destroyed right in front of me. The twins were doing it for me.

"The manager." Adrian's voice cracked like a whip. "Now."

The store manager rushed over, trembling.

"Your staff watched my fiancée get harassed. Joined in, even." Adrian's eyes were ice. "You're all fired. And that's just the start."

The blonde SA fell to her knees. "Please, Mr. Silverstone-"

"Every luxury store, restaurant, and hotel in the city - blacklisted. Back to retail hell where you belong." Adrian turned to the society women who'd been whispering earlier. "Ladies. Think carefully about your next social event. One word against my fiancée, and your husbands might find their business dealings... complicated."

I watched those snobby society women run away.

"Now, Ms. Matthew." Adrian grabbed her chin. "The truth about your... activities will reach every social circle by tonight. I'm afraid you'll have to work in the red-light district now."

"You can't ruin me!" She was crying now.

"We can!" Maxim shouted. "Jake's family will be bankrupt by morning. Your social life is over. And if you ever come near Eden again..."

"Security," Adrian called. "Take them out through the service entrance. Where they belong."

The guards dragged them away, Cloe still screaming about her fate, Jake begging about his family's company.

"As for this store." Adrian addressed the terrified manager. "Fifty percent of today's profits go to orphan charities. And you personally will volunteer there twice a week. Learn some humanity."

He pulled me closer, his arm possessive around my waist. The message was clear - I belonged to the Silverstones. And they'd burn the world to protect what was theirs.

"So," Maxim broke the moment, "ready to try on more clothes? I saw this amazing dress earlier-"

"Maxim," Adrian warned, but he was smiling too.

"Yeah," I said. "I'm ready."

The rest of the day felt like a dream. The rest of the staff were falling all over themselves to help. Every dress was perfect, every accessory amazing. When we finally piled back into their ridiculous car, I was actually tired from trying on clothes.

Eleanor was waiting at the estate entrance when we got back, practically bouncing with curiosity. "How did everything go? Did you find some nice things, dear?"

"Our Luna killed it," Maxim announced proudly, while staff started bringing in what felt like hundreds of shopping bags. "Total natural."

"They went a bit overboard," I admitted to Eleanor.

She just smiled knowingly. "It's about time someone spoiled you properly. Now, you must be starving after all that shopping. I've prepared a special dinner."

The dining room was something else in the evening light. Eleanor had outdone herself - the table was loaded with all my favorites that she'd somehow figured out, plus some fancy dishes I couldn't even name.

"You need to build up your strength," Adrian said, watching me dig into what had to be the best steak I'd ever tasted.

"Yeah, you're still too skinny," Maxim added, piling more food onto my plate. "Eleanor's on a mission to fix that."

After dinner, I headed to my suite's bathroom. The massive tub was calling my name after such a long day. I was just sinking into the hot water when I heard the door open.

"Room for two more?" Maxim's voice was playful but had that edge that made my skin tingle.

I turned to find both twins leaning against the doorframe, their eyes dark with hunger that had nothing to do with dinner.

"You handled yourself beautifully today," Adrian said softly, stepping closer. "Don't you think that deserves a reward?"