Aria sat quietly on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at the floor. Her heart was heavy, her mind spinning. The echo of Damian’s voice shouting at her still rang painfully in her ears. She hadn’t moved in a while, paralyzed by the sting of betrayal and confusion. A knock came on the door. She didn’t respond. The door slowly creaked open. Fiona stepped in, immediately noticing the broken look on Aria’s face. “Aria?” she said softly and walked over. “Are you okay?” She sat beside her, gently placing a hand on her back. “Talk to me.” Aria slowly turned her face toward her, eyes brimming with tears. “Aria... why are you crying? What happened between you and Damian?” Fiona asked gently, her voice full of concern. Aria opened her mouth but the words came out cracked and shaky. “He… he doesn’t love me, Fiona. He doesn’t love me…” She broke down, resting her head on Fiona’s shoulder. Fiona held her quietly, stroking her back in slow, comforting motions. “Hey, it’s okay… breathe,”
Later that evening, Aria arrived at the house with Fiona by her side. As they stepped through the grand entrance, a maid was passing nearby. Aria quickly called her over and handed Fiona’s bag to her. “Please take this to Fiona’s room,” she said calmly. The maid nodded and disappeared down the hallway. Aria and Fiona moved further into the house when suddenly Lyla appeared from around the corner, blocking their path with a smug smile. “Welcome, Aria,” she said smoothly. Aria stopped dead in her tracks and turned sharply, eyes narrowing as she stared at Lyla. Fiona gasped, equally shocked. “Lyla?” Aria said, her voice cold and incredulous. “Yes. Me,” Lyla replied, her smile never faltering. Without hesitation, Aria stepped forward and grabbed Lyla’s arm firmly. “What are you doing here? How dare you come back to this house after everything you did?” Fiona’s voice cut in sharply. “Do you have no shame?” Aria’s grip tightened as she stared Lyla down. “Who let you in? I’m sure Dam
Morning light filtered into the room, soft and golden. Lyla stirred first, blinking her eyes open and immediately letting out a soft, pitiful sob. She rubbed at her eyes to make them redder, her face already prepared for the show. Damian groaned as he slowly sat up, pressing a palm to his forehead. A sharp, pounding headache pulsed in his skull. “Ugh…” he muttered, eyes squinting at the light. Then he turned, and froze. “Lyla?” His voice was raspy, confused. “You? What are you doing in my room… and on my bed?” He looked down at himself, his shirt halfway unbuttoned and his zip undone. Then his gaze shifted to Lyla, dressed in nothing but a bra and a tight pair of shorts, her hair a tangled mess, fake tears glistening in her eyes. His breath caught. Immediately, he zipped up his trousers and stood from the bed, staggering slightly. “What the hell is going on?” He looked around. The room was in complete disarray, pillows on the floor, sheets twisted, clothes strewn around like a st
Lyla stood just outside Damian’s door, her pulse racing with anticipation. She pressed her ear to the cool wood, listening. Inside, she could hear the faint clink of a glass being set down… then silence. Perfect, she thought, a sly smile creeping across her face. Damian sat in the room, his head starting to swim. The taste of the whiskey lingered on his tongue, but something felt... off. A wave of dizziness washed over him, and the room spun slightly out of focus. He pressed a hand to his temple and tried to stand, but his legs wobbled beneath him. His vision blurred, and his breath grew shallow. “What the hell…” he mumbled under his breath, trying to steady himself. His steps faltered. Lyla, still watching through the barely cracked door, smiled when she saw his movements turn sluggish. The drug was working. She slipped inside swiftly, closing and locking the door behind her with a soft click. Damian turned at the sound, eyes half-lidded, trying to focus. "Aria?" he said, t
The night had settled in thick shadows as Lyla and Marco stepped further into the mansion. The air inside was cool, and the faint sound of distant chatter echoed through the empty hallways. Lyla’s heels clicked purposefully against the marble floors, each step more deliberate than the last. She turned to Marco, a smug smile dancing at the corners of her lips. Without a word, Marco led her down the familiar hallway toward his room, past the watchful eyes of portraits and past memories. The moment the door clicked shut behind them, he turned to face her. “All right,” Marco said, folding his arms across his chest. “We’re here. Now what’s your plan?” Lyla removed her scarf and sunglasses slowly, letting them fall onto the armchair by the door. Her eyes gleamed under the dim light, wild and sharp like a storm waiting to be unleashed. “Calm down, Marco,” she said, her voice silky. “You really need to learn how to trust me.” His jaw tightened. “Trust isn’t exactly your strong suit.” S
Damian sat up on the bed, running a hand through his tousled hair as Aria ended a call with trembling fingers. Her face had lost all color, and the way her lips parted slightly in shock made his brows furrow instantly. “What happened?” he asked, his voice low and alert. Aria swallowed. “Fiona… she was attacked.” Damian’s eyes sharpened immediately. “What?” “She was on her way home when someone hit her on the head. She collapsed and was rushed to the hospital,” Aria explained, her voice cracking slightly. He threw the blanket aside, already preparing to stand. “I’ll come with you.” “No,” Aria stopped him gently, placing a hand on his arm. “You have that urgent meeting with the Russians. You can’t miss it—this is business you’ve been handling for weeks.” Damian hesitated, his jaw clenched. “You’re more important.” “I’ll be okay,” she said with a soft smile, trying to calm his worry. “Fiona’s stable. I’ll go see her, and I’ll call you once I know more.” Damian sighed, c