Chapter 2 - The Interruption
The music continued to play softly, but the heavy tension in the ballroom was absolutely suffocating.
Giovanni effortlessly guided me across the polished dance floor, his movements incredibly fluid and entirely commanding.
He held me firmly against his chest, shielding me completely from the hundreds of staring eyes.
I tried to keep a polite smile on my face, but my heart was hammering violently against my ribs.
"Who are those massive men?" I whispered nervously, watching the six suits approach the head table.
"My security detail," Giovanni answered smoothly, not missing a single beat of the slow dance.
"You brought six armed bodyguards to my sister's wedding?" I asked in pure shock.
"I actually brought twenty, Jessica. Fourteen are currently securing the perimeter of the hotel."
I stumbled slightly in my repaired heels, but he easily caught me, pulling me even closer.
"What exactly do you do for a living, Giovanni?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly.
He looked directly down into my eyes, his intense gaze stripping away all of my defenses.
"I import and export very specialized goods, and I occasionally offer necessary protection."
Before I could ask any more questions, the music abruptly stopped.
The lead singer of the wedding band looked completely terrified as he stepped away from his microphone.
Tyler walked aggressively onto the dance floor, his face flushed red with sudden anger.
He stopped just a few feet away from us, glaring entirely at Giovanni.
"What the hell do you think you are doing with her?" Tyler demanded loudly.
The entire ballroom fell completely silent.
Giovanni did not let go of my hand, nor did he step back.
"I am dancing with my wife," Giovanni stated calmly, his voice echoing in the quiet room.
Tyler let out a harsh, incredibly ugly laugh.
"Your wife? Jessica can't even afford to fix her own car, let alone marry someone like you."
Giovanni’s grey eyes darkened dangerously, looking at my ex-husband like he was a completely insignificant insect.
"I suggest you walk away immediately, before I lose my famously short temper."
Tyler took an aggressive step forward, raising his finger furiously.
"You listen to me, you arrogant—"
Tyler never even finished the sentence.
Two of Giovanni’s massive bodyguards suddenly appeared out of nowhere, forcefully grabbing Tyler by both of his arms.
Vanessa shrieked loudly from the edge of the dance floor, clutching her pregnant belly in panic.
"Let him go!" she screamed.
My parents and my sister Sophia finally rushed over from the head table.
"Jessica, what on earth is going on?" my mother demanded, glaring entirely at me.
"Tell your men to release my ex-husband," I whispered frantically to Giovanni.
He looked down at me, his expression completely unreadable.
"Are you absolutely sure that is what you want?" he asked softly.
"Please, do not ruin my sister's special night," I begged him.
Giovanni nodded once to his men.
They instantly released Tyler, who practically stumbled backward into the horrified crowd.
"We are leaving now, Jessica," Giovanni announced, placing his hand firmly on the small of my back.
"I cannot leave my sister's wedding," I protested quickly.
"You have absolutely no reason to stay here and endure their endless abuse."
He began guiding me forcefully toward the main exit doors.
My father angrily blocked our path, his face completely purple with pure outrage.
"You are absolutely not leaving this room, young man, until you explain exactly who you are."
Giovanni stopped walking and looked my father directly in the eye.
"I am the man who officially bought the entire mortgage to this very hotel this morning, Mr. Hale."
My father’s mouth dropped open in complete and utter shock.
"And if anyone in this room ever insults my wife again, I will personally bulldoze it directly into the Chicago River."
He led me entirely out of the silent ballroom and into the empty hallway.
We walked quickly toward the private VIP elevators.
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Just as the elevator doors began to close, Tyler burst out of the ballroom and yelled down the hall.
"I am filing for full custody of Lily tomorrow morning, Jessica!"
