CHAPTER 12 A Game of Power and Deception

Juliet felt a shiver run down her spine as Daniel's threat hung in the air like a dark cloud. She tightened her grip on his hand, her eyes locking onto his with a mixture of fear and defiance. She knew all too well the weight of her family's reputation, the delicate balance they walked on the tightrope of society's expectations. "What do you want?" Her voice quivered, betraying the façade of confidence she tried to maintain. Daniel's smirk deepened, his gaze flickering with a hint of amusement at her vulnerability. "I don't want anything," he replied smoothly, his words dripping with calculated menace. "I'm simply reminding you of your place, my dear. We're bound by a business marriage, nothing more. Don't delude yourself into thinking otherwise." Juliet's heart pounded in her chest, the realization of her powerlessness sinking in. She was a pawn in his game, a piece to be moved at his whim. But she refused to surrender without a fight. "You have no right to dictate my life," she r