The Scorned Heiress: No More Mercy novel Chapter 553

"Who else would she be with? You?" Danny asks coldly, looking down at the man. It isn't just the sheer arrogance in his tone that makes Landon shrink; Danny towers over him, radiating a predatory dominance.

"Right. Okay. My mistake," Landon stammers, backing up hastily. "I'm leaving right now."

Without another word, he turns and bolts. Only an absolute idiot would dare to go head-to-head with Danny Calhoun.

Watching the spoiled heir scurry away, Tara steps out of Danny's protective hold. "Come on," she teases, a faint smile touching her lips. "You scared him half to death."

"That wasn't me scaring him. That was him finally realizing he's out of his league," Danny replies smoothly. Frankly, he feels he deserves an award for his patience; he actively restrained himself from throwing the man across the room.

Danny had only stepped away to give Tara and Mr. Yates some privacy. He spent a few minutes discussing business across the hall, only to turn around and find Victor gone and some worthless trust-fund baby harassing Tara. Thinking she'd dance with that creep? Danny himself hasn't even danced with her yet.

"The music is playing," Danny says, his gaze softening as it locks onto hers. "Dance with me?"

"You really don't miss an opportunity, do you?" Tara says, instantly reading his intent.

The surrounding guests are mesmerized. Conversations fade as people stop to admire the stunning couple. As the tempo builds, their footwork becomes more intricate and dynamic. Every spin, every dip is executed with flawless synchronization and undeniable, crackling chemistry. The ballroom erupts into spontaneous applause, the crowd cheering for the mesmerizing display.

Standing near the edge of the floor, Julianna watches the spectacle, her hands clenching at her sides.

Earlier, she had debated asking Danny for a dance herself. Even just as friends, it wouldn't have been entirely out of line. But pride held her back; she dreaded the humiliation of his rejection, knowing full well his attention is entirely focused elsewhere. She had convinced herself to back off for tonight and find a way to win him over later.