Chapter 17 The New York night was brutally cold , wind slicing between skyscrapers like sharpened stori Inside Dantes penthouse , darkness reigned except for a single lamp casting long shadows Acts Te room . The air hung heavy with the sour sweet stench of expensive liquor and unwashed tipthe He sat on the floor beside his leather sofa , a bottle of rare whisky dangling from his fingers His appearance was shocking to anyone who knew the normally impeccalde Danse Wolf- hair disheveled , designer clothes wrinkled and stained For a month , this had been his existence . Thirty days of isolation . No work no cal nothing bat alcohol and the war in his head . Two opposing voices battled constantly in his mind , one insisting Rosalie was nothing but a pawn in his revenge against her brother just collateral damage in a game of power , the other vure going louder each day , screaming that he had fallen hopelessly in love with het . Only in the numbing embrace of alcohol could he sometimes see her again , a phantore visiting his alcohol induced hallucinations , smiling at him as if shed never discovered his betrayal never lef Marcus , Tyler , and Jason had taken turns trying to pull him back from the edge , but then wIEDS evaporated before reaching him . His world had contracted to just the burn of whisky and the echoing absence of her laugh Standing near the kitchen , his inner circle exchanged worried glances , Look at him , Marcus whispered , genuine concern etched across his face . Ive seen Wolf se hundred million dollar deals without blinking . What the hell is this ? Its obviously the revenge plan falling apart , Tyler reasoned , his tone dismissive Three years plotting against Lima , and suddenly it all goes to that . His ege cant handle it . No way , Jason shook his head . Wolfs survived hostile takeovers and SEC investigations . He wouldnt spiral like this over a failed scheme . Whats he even upset about ? Tyler continued . That dancer is gone , back to her brother Good riddance . At least Lima hasnt retaliated … yet You dont think … Marcus hesitated , lowering his voice further , this is about the girl herself ? 禁 者 Chaper The Lima girl ? Tyler scoffed . She was just leverage to him . A nice piece of ass and a way to screw over her brother . Then explain this , Marcus gestured toward Dantes disheveled form . This is a guy who once fired an assistant for bringing him coffee in the wrong temperature mug . Now look at him . Yeah , and remember what happened at the venue ? Jason added . He destroyed millions in property and screamed at us when we suggested it was about the plan failing Are you suggesting that Wolf actually … Marcus trailed off . What ? The others pressed . That he fell for her . For real The group erupted in muffled laughter . Wolf ? Fall in love with Alistair Limas sister ? Thats rich . Hes Dante fucking Wolf . He doesnt do love . A cold female voice sliced through their conversation . You can stop your little analysis . Hes heartbroken and drowning his sorrows like a pathetic teenager . They turned to find Darcy Brown standing in the doorway , designer purse in hand , her expression a mixture of contempt and bitter satisfaction . Miss Brown , Tyler said tensely . This isnt really a good time . Darcy laughed coldly . Why shouldnt I be here ? You all assured me that plain little dancer was out of the picture . That makes him mine again , doesnt it ? I came to check on my fiancé . Look , hes not seeing anyone right now , Marcus tried diplomatically . Not seeing anyone ? Darcys voice rose sharply . Let me tell you what hes been doing . Yesterday , he called my father to cancel our engagement a merger worth billions . My father went straight to Dante Senior . I was there for their discussion . Her lips curved into a cruel smile . Senior wouldnt hear of canceling the merger . But our great Dante Wolf wouldnt back down . His father brought out that antique riding crop from their family collection . Ninety nine lashes . The traditional Wolf family discipline for disobedience . And still , even bleeding , he refused to marry me . The men stared at her in shock . Jason immediately moved toward Dante , pulling aside his rumpled shirt . Sure enough , his back was marked with angry welts , some still seeping blood that had soaked Chapter 17 through the expensive fabric . Jesus Christ , Wolf , Marcus breathed , The Brown Wolf merger would have made you untouchable in this market . Why throw it all away ? Darcys laugh was brittle . Because hes a coward . He fell in love with the girl he was supposed to be using , and he cant even admit it to himself . He thought he was so clever , playing the long game , but ended up the biggest fool of all . The great Dante Wolf , undone by a dancing nobody . The friends exchanged uneasy glances , doubt finally penetrating their certainty . That cant be right , Tyler said , but his voice wavered . Wolf wouldnt fall for someone like her . No ? Darcy challenged , gesturing toward Dantes broken form . Then explain this . Explain why a man who worships power and money would throw away the merger of the decade . Explain why hed endure his fathers punishment something he swore would never happen again after he turned eighteen . Explain why New Yorks most notorious playboy has been drowning in whisky for a month over a girl who dumped him . The room fell silent as they considered her words , each man recalling Dantes increasingly protective behavior toward Rosalie over the past months . Wolf , Jason finally ventured , level with us . Is Darcy right ? Did you actually fall for Rosalie Lima ? Throughout their entire discussion , Dante had remained silent , as if existing in a different reality . At the direct question , something shifted in his posture . In one violent motion , he hurled his whisky bottle against the wall . It shattered spectacularly , amber liquid streaming down the custom wallpaper like tears . He looked up at them , his eyes bloodshot but finally , truly present . His voice emerged as a raw , wounded thing . Yes , he admitted , the single word seeming to cost him physically . I fell in love with her . So fucking what ? Is that a crime ? The naked vulnerability in his voice shocked them all into silence . For the first time in memory , Dante Wolf New Yorks most ruthless businessman looked utterly defenseless , the armor of his carefully constructed persona finally shattered like the bottle against his wall . In that moment , the battle in his mind was finally over . One voice had won . 13-03 The Ultimate Payback : When 1 Married Your Enemy , My Stepbrother 9.5 % Chapter 17 He loved Rosalie Lima . He had probably loved her for years . And now she was gone . ( 0 ) ⊙( 0 ) Title: ReelTalk EP 40 - Contract Lovers & Heartbreak CrushReel's ongoing romance series, Miss You After Goodbye, continues to captivate on the latest ReelTalk episode. Haley Lohrli dives into her daring new character, while Ben and Josh share insights into their own memorable roles, promising a blend of laughter and heartwarming moments. Exploring themes of love, loss, and unexpected connections, this episode delves deep into the intricate relationships that drive the narrative forward. As the stars reveal their on-screen chemistry and off-screen camaraderie, viewers are in for a treat with each unfolding scene. What sets this episode apart is its ability to balance humor with poignant storytelling, offering a refreshing take on modern romance dynamics. Dive into the world of Contract Lovers & Heartbreak, available to read at CrushReel for a journey that promises both entertainment and emotional resonance.