Page 89 of Obsession

Her blood boiled at his words. “That scar is merely a mark on his skin. It doesn’t change who he is. If at all, that scar makes him a warrior for facing and surviving his trauma. And frankly, I like it. It just makes him look sexier. Hotter. Mihir is flawless, every part of him, including the scar.”

The man smirked. “Well, well. I can see that the fire burns both ways.”

“Who are you?” she asked.

He held a hand out. “Dance with me and find out.”

His hand reached for her. Before she could back a step, a large hand shot out and twisted the other man’s outstretched hand. Mihir appeared beside her, his whole body vibrating with fury.

“Touch her, and I’ll kill you, Ivan,” Mihir gritted.

Shock made her head spin.Thiswas Ivan Oshnov? Mihir’s adopted cousin was here? How?

“Go ahead; make a scene. I dare you to,” Ivan goaded Mihir. He shed his mask, and Ananya finally looked into the face of the man responsible for terrorizing them all. Tall, blonde, and well-built, Ivan looked like a regular European, with sharp features and a square jaw. The darkness in eyes, however, confirmed the evil lurking inside him.

Beside her, Mihir’s shoulders bunched. He pulled off his mask with his other hand, and she finally saw how angry he was. His features were contorted with rage, his eyes glittering dangerously.

All around them, people were staring. Ivan smirked cruelly. Fucking bastard. This was what he wanted. He wanted to create a scene to ruin Mihir’s reputation here amongst all these important people. And Mihir was two seconds away from hitting him, and thus destroying everything he had built over the years.

Hadn’t he just told her that the board had believed him when he’d informed them how Ivan had tried to hurt everyone related to Mihir? If Mihir hit Ivan now,hewould look like the bad one, and the scales would shift in favor of Ivan. Besides, they were standing in the UK embassy. Mihir getting into a fight with Ivan would become an international incident, one he couldn’t afford right now, especially when the world was applauding his success with the UK government.

She had to do something. She wasn’t going to let him lose control. Not at all.

25

Ivan winked at Anna. Mihir twisted his hand further. He was going to fucking kill him. This man had created so much havoc and destruction in Mihir’s life. His brothers had barely escaped death because of him. Anna had barely escaped dying because of him. And her sisters… His brothers wouldn’t have been the same had anything happened to their women. He wouldn’t have been the same if Anna had died.

Anger turned his vision red. Ivan was here, and he could end everything right here, right now. None of them would ever need to worry again.

Just before he could raise his hand to hurt Ivan, Anna grabbed his other hand. She opened his tightly curled fingers and linked them with hers.

“Mihir…” Anna said, understanding him.

“Go on, Mihir,” Ivan egged him on. “I know you want to hit me. I dare you to.”

More red filled his vision. Anna clasped Mihir’s jaw and turned it to face her. He blinked and finally looked at her.

“Let him go, please,” she said softly.

“He’s the reason you were hurt, Anna,” Mihir said. “He’s the reason our siblings?—”

“—I know, but right now, you need to let him go,” she repeated gently, pulling him closer to her.

Ivan scanned Anna up and down. “My man missed. Next time, he won’t.”

Before Mihir could lunge at him, Anna pressed herself to his side.

“Don’t listen to him. He wants you to hurt him. He wants you to create a scene in front of O-Corp’s board and all the other prominent people here.” She rose on her toes and kissed Mihir’s scarred cheek. “Let him go. He’s not worth it.”

Mihir finally calmed down enough to understand what she was saying and released Ivan. Anna walked him a few steps away. Around them, most people had started finally moving away, realizing nothing major was going to happen. Several prominent eyes, however, remained on them.

Ivan observed Anna and him together. “I can’t believe you’re back with her. It was hard to believe thatshewas the one from your past. Looks like all you brothers have similar taste in women. Isn’t that why your brothers fell for her sisters?”

Mihir’s chest puffed with anger, and Anna’s fingers tightened around his. Mihir exhaled, calming himself.

“Why are you here?” Mihir asked. “What makes you think you’ll get out of here alive?”

Ivan helped himself to a shot of vodka from a passing waiter’s tray and drank it in one gulp. He used the glass to point to the room. “If you even try to get me arrested here or escorted out by security, I will create a scene in front of all these very important people. They are important to you, aren’t they? The media will definitely get wind of it, I’ll make sure of that, and that will definitely not go down well with your board or the UK government. The board wouldn’t want an incident inside the UK embassy, now, would they? Besides, what about the UK government? What’ll happen to your deal with them?”

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