Aria pov
A few days later i stood in front of my closet, staring at the erald green gown I’d bought specifically for tonight. The silk was cool under my fingertips when I touched it, it was stunning and elegant and showed just enough skin to be interesting without being scandalous. The kind of dress that made n look twice.
"Mama, you look like a princess!" Noah appeared in my doorway, his eyes wide. His hair was still ssy from playing while he had a juice stain on his shirt.
"Thank you, baby." I smoothed down the silk, clinging to my curves. "You think so?"
"The prettiest princess." He nodded seriously. "Right, Daddy?"
I turned to find Damien standing behind Noah. His expression was frozen. His hands gripped the doorfra so tight his knuckles had gone white.
"You look" His voice was hoarse."You look beautiful."
"Thank you." I reached for my earrings, my hands trembled slightly as I fastened them.
"Lucas is a lucky man." The words sounded like they were being dragged from him.
"It’s just business." But my throat felt tight saying it.
"Right." He didn’t believe , I could see it in his eyes. "Just business."
My phone buzzed against the dresser. The vibration loud in the sudden silence.
Outside, take your ti.
"He’s here." I grabbed my clutch. The leather was soft and warm from sitting in the light. I checked my reflection one last ti. Red lipstick, my hair curled and pinned up. The erald dress catching every bit of light.
"Aria." Damien caught my arm as I moved past him. His fingers were hot against my skin. "If you need anything—anything at all—call . I’ll be there in five minutes."
"I’ll be fine."
"I an it." His grip tightened, i could feel each finger pressing into my skin. "If Marcus shows up, if anything feels wrong—"
"I’ll call." I softened. "I promise."
He released slowly. His fingers dragged across my skin as he let go. I felt their absence imdiately, the cold rush of air where his warmth had been.
"Have fun," he said, his jaw was clenched so tight I could see the muscle jumping.
"I will." I kissed Noah’s head."Be good for Daddy."
"Always am!" Noah grinned.
I left before I could change my mind. My heels clicked on the marble floor as each step echoed in the hallway. Lucas waited by his car. The night air was cool against my bare shoulders. I could hear traffic in the distance, the rustle of wind through trees. He looked impeccable in a tuxedo, his cologne hit when I got closer—expensive but unfamiliar.
"Wow." He whistled low. "You’re going to break hearts tonight."
"Just one, hopefully," I muttered.
"What?"
"Nothing." I took his offered arm. "Let’s go."
As we drove away, I looked back at the penthouse. The leather seat was cold beneath my thighs. Damien stood at the window. Silhouetted by light. Watching us leave. Even from here, I could feel the intensity of his gaze.
My phone buzzed in my clutch, the vibration soft against my hip.
You look like everything I’ve ever wanted and can’t have.
I stared at the ssage. My heart was racing i could feel my pulse in my throat. In my fingertips where they gripped the phone.
Another text ca through.
But I’m not giving up. I’ll wait as long as it takes.
And then a third.
Even if it kills .
I turned off my phone as the screen went black. I settled back in my seat. The guilt twisted in my stomach.
"Are you okay?" Lucas glanced over. "You look tense."
"Fine." I forced a smile but my cheeks ached from holding it. "Just nervous about the event."
"Don’t be, you’re going to be the most stunning woman there. They won’t know what hit them."
The gala was being held at the Bellamy Hotel. One of the most exclusive venues in the city, we pulled up to valet parking. Cara flashes exploded like lightning. Bright and blinding as I blinked away the spots in my vision.
"Ms. Monroe! Over here!"
"Lucas! Who’s your date?"
"Are you two together?"
I smiled for the caras, the flashes were hot on my face. Posing briefly before Lucas guided inside.
The ballroom was magnificent, chandeliers threw rainbow prisms across white tablecloths. The air was thick with perfu and the sweet sll of roses. Hundreds of them. White and pink and cream. Their scent was almost overwhelming. The city’s elite mingled with champagne glasses. Their laughter filled the air, high and bright and fake.
"Shall we?" Lucas offered his arm.
We made our way through the crowd,the floor was marble. Slippery under my heels that I had to concentrate on each step. Lucas introduced to everyone.
Instead, I kept thinking about Damien at ho with Noah. About the look in his eyes when I’d left. Like I was taking sothing vital when I walked out that door. About his texts burning a hole in my clutch.
"Aria Monroe." A familiar voice made turn.
Sophia Clarke stood there in a red dress. Her perfu hit , all heavy and cloying, her smile was venomous. "How lovely to see you."
"Sophia." I kept my voice neutral but my fingers tightened around my clutch until the leather creaked. "This is Lucas Hayes."
"I know who he is." She looked Lucas up and down but her eyes were cold. "Everyone knows Lucas Hayes. The question is, does he know what he’s gotten himself into?"
"Excuse ?" Lucas frowned.
"Aria didn’t tell you?" Sophia’s laugh was cruel. "She has a tendency to trap n. First Damien, now you though I suppose at least you know about the child."
"That’s enough." I stepped forward but my heart was pounding. I could feel it in my ears. "Lucas, would you excuse us?"
"Aria"
"Please."
He hesitated but I could see the question in his eyes. Then he nodded. "I’ll get us drinks."
Once he was gone, I turned to Sophia. "Stay away from ."
"Or what?" She moved closer. "You’ll have arrested? Please. I have lawyers who eat restraining orders for breakfast."
"What do you want?"
"For you to suffer." Her smile widened."For you to lose everything you care about, starting with Damien."
"Damien doesn’t want you."
"Are you sure?" She pulled out her phone, the screen was too bright in the dim lighting. Showing a photo. "Because he seed pretty interested few weeks ago."
The photo showed Damien and Sophia at a restaurant. His hand on her arm, the image made my stomach drop. It made bile rise in my throat.
"Context is everything," Sophia purred. "He was just being friendly but the tabloids won’t see it that way, will they?"
"You’re pathetic."
"I’m determined." She pocketed her phone. "And unlike you, I don’t give up. Enjoy your evening with Lucas. I’ll be spending mine planning how to get Damien back."
She walked away as her heels clicked on the marble. Each step is sharp and precise. Leaving shaking with rage, my hands were trembling and my skin felt too hot.
My phone buzzed in my clutch as I pulled it out. Twenty texts from Damien. I scrolled through them. Each one more desperate than the last. A smile tugged at my lips despite my anger at Sophia. Despite the photo burning in my mind.
He was worried. Jealous. Losing his mind at ho while I was here. Good, let him suffer a little.
My fingers moved across the screen. The glass was warm from being in my clutch.
Having a wonderful ti. Lucas is very attentive.
His response was imdiate. The phone buzzed in my hand.
That’s great. Really great. Totally fine with that.
Are you though?
No. I’m dying. Every minute you’re gone is torture.
Good.
Good?
Yes. Now you know how I felt for years.
A longer pause. I could picture him pacing, running his hands through his hair until it stood up. His jaw clenched so tight it must hurt.
I deserve that.
You deserve worse.
I know. But Aria—please co ho soon. I miss you. Noah misses you.
Noah’s should be asleep.
Fine, I miss you. Is that what you want to hear?
I smiled at my phone, the screen light made my face feel warm.
Maybe.
"Aria?" Lucas returned with two champagne glasses, the crystal caught the light, throwing tiny rainbows. "Is everything okay?"
I tucked my phone away, the clutch snapped shut with a soft click. "Perfect."
"Liar." He handed a glass, the champagne was cold and fizzy against my lips when I sipped it. "But I won’t push. Co on, dinner’s starting."
The al was exquisite, the plates were hot when the waiters set them down. Steam rose from perfectly cooked beef, the sauce was rich and buttery on my tongue. The conversation flowed around . Lucas was charming, making everyone at the table laugh with stories about his early business days.
But my phone kept buzzing against my thigh through the clutch. And I kept checking it. My fingers itched every ti I felt the vibration.
Each text from Damien more desperate than the last.
What are you doing now?
Is he making you laugh?
I hate this. I hate that he gets to be with you and I’m stuck here.
Call when you are less busy even if it’s late. I need to hear your voice.
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