Sweet Hatred Chapter 291: confession

I blinked. "Ouch."

She shrugged with zero remorse. "He’s my brother. What do you want from ?"

We shared a soft laugh. And then her expression softened.

"But also, cut yourself so slack, Aria. No one’s perfect. Everyone’s a little fucked up. In their own way."

I shook my head. "Not you though. You’re like... flawless."

Ash actually laughed at that. Loud and nervous and almost sad.

"God, I wish," she muttered. "nepo kids have secrets too, y’know."

I tilted my head. "What kind of secrets?"

She didn’t answer imdiately. Just sipped her drink and gave this long, thoughtful stare. I could see sothing working behind her eyes... so battle of choice and courage... and then finally she said, "I’m still surprised you haven’t guessed."

I frowned. "Guessed what?"

Ash turned away from slightly, gaze slipping back out over the skyline. "You asked once why I wasn’t fighting with you over Kael," she said slowly. "Why I wasn’t clawing for him like so lovesick heiress."

I nodded, heart creeping up into my throat.

"It’s because I’ve already had soone I loved. Deeply. Fiercely." Her voice trembled for just a second. "And I left her behind."

My lips parted. "Ash..."

"She wanted to run away with her. Told we could build a life sowhere far. Quiet. Free." Ash smiled bitterly. "But I let my father convince it was just... fantasy. That there could never be love between two won. Not in our world. Not if I wanted a future that didn’t end in disaster."

I didn’t know what to say. I couldn’t even breathe.

"And now," she continued, her voice quieter, shakier, "I get to scroll Instagram and see her holding soone else’s hand. Smiling in a way she used to only smile for ."

Sothing sharp tore through my chest. "Ash..."

She didn’t look at . Didn’t let see her face.

"I chose legacy over love," she whispered. "And sotis I think that makes a coward too... because y’know... I wanted the safest choice."

I reached for her hand. My fingers laced through hers without thinking, holding her tightly.

The silence stretched on for a while.

"Sohow everything makes sense now," I murmured, breaking the silence. "That you fancy girls."

Ash turned to , blinking. I gave her a lopsided smile. "I an... I should’ve known. Especially with that aggressive, indirect flirting you do."

Ash let out a short laugh, her mouth twitching like she hadn’t expected to tease her. "I was wondering when you’d bring that up."

"You did try to ask out on a date after eting for the second ti I think."

She shrugged, unbothered. "Guilty. But in my defense, you looked too pretty not to fluster."

I giggled, head falling back. The alcohol made the stars feel closer. Softer. My lungs felt a little lighter.

Ash sighed beside . "I’ve always known. Since I was a kid. The idea of being with a man just never clicked for . At all. It felt... wrong. Like wearing shoes on the wrong feet and trying to convince yourself they fit."

Her voice dipped lower, more guarded. "And with you? I knew it would end up like Sylas if I let myself go there. I didn’t want that."

I looked over at her, heart pinching. "You shouldn’t say stuff like that."

Ash t my eyes with that crooked, tired smile... the one people wear when they’ve already made peace with their pain. "It’s true though. I’m not made for love."

"Yes, you are," I said quietly, fiercely. "You just haven’t t the one who deserves you yet."

She didn’t argue. But she didn’t agree either.

So I breathed in. And it felt like my own truth was clawing to get out next. My chest tightened.

"I think I’m the one who’s not made for love," I confessed. "Not really. Because it... it scares . So fucking much. I thought I knew what falling in love was until I t him."

Ash didn’t interrupt. Just listened.

"I keep pretending I’m fine, like I’ve got it all under control. Like I’m not waiting for the other shoe to drop with every person I care about. Like I’m not constantly bracing for soone to leave . Or break . Or die."

I swallowed hard. The lump in my throat burned more than the drink.

Ash asked softly, "Have you been in touch with Kael?"

My heart thudded against my ribs. "No."

A silence passed. Then she said it: "Last ti I saw him, he looked like he’s going through it."

A new worry blood sharp in my chest. Was he drinking again? Not sleeping? Hurting?

The ache of missing him ca in one overwhelming wave. It swallowed whole.

"I miss him," I whispered before I could stop myself.

Ash stayed quiet.

"I miss him so fucking much, Ash." My voice cracked. "And I’ve never even told him."

"Told him what?"

And before I could even think to stop myself, I blurted it.

"I think I want to tell Kael I love him."

I stared at her, breath caught in my lungs, heart in freefall.

"Like... right now."

It hit like a wave. That need.

That aching, burning need to just... tell him. Not tomorrow. Not in so planned, perfect mont. Not when I’ve cleaned up my ss of a heart and rehearsed the words a hundred tis over.

Now.

I sat up straighter, fumbling for my phone. My fingers trembled, either from the alcohol or sothing far more terrifying.

Ash blinked. "Wait... what are you doing?"

"I’m calling him."

"Aria."

"I need to tell him... "

"No, no." She practically lunged at , grabbing my wrist before I could hit call. "If you’re going to say sothing like that... it can’t be on a fucking phone call."

My mouth opened to argue, but the look on her face stopped .

Ash ran a hand through her hair and muttered, "God, you’re really going to do this, aren’t you?"

I swallowed thickly. "I think I am."

She exhaled like she was trying to keep from throwing myself off a taphorical cliff. "Okay... okay. Give a second."

She reached for her own phone and started scrolling. "I think I still have Niko’s number from that gallery event..."

I could barely hear her over the pounding of my heart. What was I even doing?

Before I could change my mind, she pressed her phone to her ear. "Don’t say anything," she mouthed to .

It rang once. Twice.

Then, "Niko? Hey... it’s Ash."

A beat.

"Yeah, it’s random, I know. I just... listen. Where’s Kael right now?"

I froze.

"...No, everything is fine. We’re not planning an ambush," she added dryly. "Just... humor ."

Another pause. Then she looked at , eyebrows raising slightly as she repeated the address slowly. I locked it into mory like it was sacred scripture.

The mont she ended the call, I was already pushing up to my feet. My knees wobbled and the world dipped slightly... but I didn’t care.

"I’m going," I said, clutching my phone like it was a lifeline.

"You’re still drunk," Ash reminded , gently, not unkindly. "Are you sure you know what you’re doing?"

"No."

The word ca out small. Honest. Real.

Ash studied for a mont. Then she cracked a smile and nodded. "Well... that’s good enough."

She pulled out her phone again. "I’m calling the driver."

The wind outside was sharp when we stepped out. Ash opened the door to the sleek black car waiting at the curb and I slid in like I wasn’t about to do sothing completely reckless and irreversible.

But my heart... my stupid, stupid heart... was already racing ahead.

Because I had to see him.

Even if I made a fool of myself. Even if he didn’t want to see . Even if the only thing I had to offer him was the truth I’d buried too deep for too long.

I just needed to tell Kael Roman...

That I loved him.