Chapter 2: The Woman Who Was Supposed to Be Dead

“Don't scream.”

The hand over Aria's mouth tightened.

She kicked backward with all her strength.

Her heel struck someone's shin.

The stranger cursed.

Aria bit his palm.

He jerked away.

She spun around—

And froze.

There was no one behind her.

Only a waiter carrying an empty tray.

“Aria!”

Julian's voice cut through the darkness.

A second later, the emergency lights flickered on.

People were shouting.

Some were checking their phones. Others were trying to find their friends.

Aria turned in a circle, breathing hard.

The stranger was gone.

Julian appeared in front of her.

“Are you hurt?”

“No.”

His eyes moved over her face.

“Are you sure?”

“I said I'm fine.”

“You're shaking.”

“I know.”

Julian reached for her arm.

Aria pulled away.

“Don't.”

He stopped.

For a moment, his expression softened.

Then he lowered his voice.

“What did he say?”

Aria stared at him.

“My mother.”

Julian's jaw tightened.

“He said your mother is alive.”

“I heard him.”

“Aria—”

“She died.”

“I know what you were told.”

“She died when I was eight.”

“I know.”

“Then why would someone say she's alive?”

Julian didn't answer.

Aria's frustration exploded.

“Stop doing that!”

“Doing what?”

“Looking at me like you know something.”

“I do know something.”

“Then tell me!”

The ballroom suddenly felt too small.

Julian glanced around.

“Not here.”

Aria laughed bitterly.

“Of course. Another secret.”

He stepped closer.

“You need to leave.”

“I'm not leaving until you tell me the truth.”

“You're not safe.”

“Neither are you, apparently.”

His eyes hardened.

“Aria.”

“No.”

She pointed toward the ballroom entrance.

“Three years ago, Nathaniel disappeared. Tonight he shows up. Then someone tells me my dead mother is alive. Now you're telling me I'm being watched.”

She swallowed.

“And somehow you know everything.”

Julian didn't deny it.

That scared her more than anything.

“Come with me.”

“Where?”

“Somewhere private.”

“I don't trust you.”

“You shouldn't.”

The answer stunned her.

Julian looked directly into her eyes.

“But right now, I'm the only person in this room who is trying to keep you alive.”

Before Aria could respond, Nathaniel appeared.

His face was pale.

“Aria.”

She turned toward him.

“Where were you?”

“I was trying to find you.”

“Who called you?”

Nathaniel hesitated.

“Someone I couldn't ignore.”

“Who?”

He looked at Julian.

Julian's expression became cold.

“Tell her.”

Nathaniel's jaw tightened.

“Not here.”

Aria almost screamed.

“Everyone keeps saying that!”

She turned away.

“I'm done.”

She grabbed her handbag and headed for the exit.

Julian followed.

Nathaniel followed too.

Aria stopped outside the hotel.

The night air hit her face.

She took a deep breath.

A black car waited near the curb.

Julian opened the passenger door.

“Get in.”

“No.”

“Aria.”

“I can drive myself.”

“You're too shaken.”

“I said no.”

Nathaniel stepped forward.

“I'll take her home.”

Julian's gaze shifted to him.

“No.”

Nathaniel frowned.

“You don't control her.”

Julian's voice remained calm.

“Neither do you.”

Aria looked between them.

“I'm standing right here.”

Both men went silent.

She walked toward her own car.

Julian caught up with her.

“Wait.”

She turned.

“What?”

He handed her a small black envelope.

“This was found near you after the lights went out.”

Aria stared at it.

“What is it?”

“I don't know.”

She opened it carefully.

Inside was a photograph.

Her fingers went cold.

It showed a young woman standing beside a little girl.

The woman was smiling.

The little girl was Aria.

Her own face.

Her own childhood dress.

Her mother.

Alive.

Aria's breath caught.

On the back of the photograph were six words.

She never stopped looking for you.

Her eyes filled with tears.

“This isn't possible.”

Julian watched her carefully.

“Aria.”

“My mother died.”

“I don't think she did.”

She looked up.

“Why?”

“Because this photograph was taken four years ago.”

Her lips parted.

Four years.

That meant her mother had been alive fourteen years after the family believed she had died.

Aria shook her head.

“Who took it?”

“I don't know.”

“You're lying.”

Julian's expression didn't change.

“I wish I were.”

She looked at the photograph again.

The woman in it had the same eyes.

The same smile.

The same small scar above her eyebrow.

It was her mother.

There was no doubt.

Aria's knees weakened.

Julian caught her before she fell.

She immediately pushed against his chest.

“Don't.”

His hands dropped.

“I was only helping.”

“I don't need help.”

“You don't have to be strong every second.”

His voice was unexpectedly gentle.

Aria looked at him.

For one brief moment, the ruthless billionaire disappeared.

There was just a man standing in front of her.

A man who seemed to understand what it meant to lose someone.

Then her phone rang.

Unknown number.

She answered.

“Hello?”

Silence.

Then a woman's voice.

“Aria?”

Aria stopped breathing.

The voice was soft.

Familiar.

Impossible.

“Who is this?”

A shaky breath came through the phone.

“My baby.”

Aria's hand began to tremble.

“No.”

The woman cried softly.

“I've waited so long to hear your voice.”

Aria couldn't speak.

Julian watched her face.

“Who is it?”

Aria covered the phone with her hand.

She couldn't say the words.

She was afraid that if she did, everything would become real.

The woman spoke again.

“Aria, please don't trust the Sterling family.”

Aria's eyes snapped toward Julian.

“What?”

“Your father's death wasn't an accident.”

Aria's heart slammed against her ribs.

“My father isn't dead.”

There was a long silence.

Then the woman whispered,

“I wasn't talking about your father.”

Aria's blood ran cold.

“What are you talking about?”

“The man who died eighteen years ago wasn't your mother.”

Her hand shook violently.

“What?”

“I had to disappear to protect you.”

“From who?”

The woman began crying.

“From Alexander Sterling.”

Julian's father.

Aria looked at Julian.

He had heard the name.

His face had gone completely still.

“Why?” Aria whispered.

The woman took a shaky breath.

“Because Alexander knew the truth about your birth.”

Aria's entire body went numb.

“My birth?”

“You aren't who they told you that you were.”

The call suddenly ended.

“Hello?”

Aria stared at the phone.

“Hello!”

Nothing.

She lowered it slowly.

Julian stepped closer.

“What did she say?”

Aria looked at him.

Her eyes were filled with fear.

“She said your father knew the truth about my birth.”

Julian's face hardened.

Then his phone rang.

He looked at the screen.

Unknown number.

He answered.

“Who is this?”

A man's voice came through.

Julian's expression changed.

Aria couldn't hear everything, but she heard enough.

“Your wife isn't what you think.”

Julian's eyes immediately moved toward Aria.

“I don't have a wife.”

The man laughed.

“You will.”

The call ended.

Julian stared at his phone.

Aria frowned.

“What did he mean?”

Julian didn't answer.

“Julian?”

He finally looked at her.

There was something different in his eyes now.

Something dangerously serious.

“I need you to come with me.”

“Why?”

“Because whoever is behind this knows something about you that even you don't know.”

Aria shook her head.

“No. I'm going home.”

“You can't.”

“I can.”

“Aria, listen to me.”

“No!”

She stepped back.

“I've spent my entire life believing my mother was dead. Now a woman claiming to be her calls me and tells me my whole life is a lie.”

Her voice cracked.

“And you expect me to calmly follow you?”

Julian stared at her.

“No.”

His voice softened.

“I expect you to survive tonight.”

A car suddenly screeched around the corner.

Aria turned.

The headlights were coming straight toward them.

“Aria!”

Julian grabbed her waist and pulled her against him.

The car sped past.

A gunshot cracked through the night.

Glass exploded behind them.

Aria screamed.

Julian pushed her to the ground and covered her body with his.

Another shot rang out.

Then silence.

Julian lifted his head.

His eyes searched the street.

The car was already gone.

Aria's breathing was ragged.

Julian looked down at her.

“Are you hurt?”

She shook her head.

“No.”

He carefully helped her stand.

Then Aria noticed something.

A thin line of blood ran down Julian's shoulder.

“You've been shot.”

“It's nothing.”

“It's not nothing!”

She reached toward him.

He caught her hand.

Their eyes met.

For a moment, neither moved.

Then Julian slowly released her.

“Get in my car.”

This time, Aria didn't argue.

As they drove away, she looked through the window at the disappearing hotel.

Her entire life had changed in one night.

Her mother was alive.

Her father had lied.

Someone wanted her dead.

And Julian Sterling seemed to know far more than he was saying.

She turned toward him.

“Where are we going?”

Julian's hands tightened around the steering wheel.

“My private residence.”

Aria frowned.

“Why?”

“Because it's the only place no one can reach you.”

She looked down at the photograph still clutched in her hand.

Then she noticed something she hadn't seen before.

There was a second person standing in the background.

A young man.

Aria's breath stopped.

She knew that face.

It was Nathaniel.

But the photograph had been taken four years ago.

And according to Nathaniel, he had never seen Aria's mother.

Aria slowly looked at Julian.

“Nathaniel was there.”

Julian's eyes darkened.

“I know.”

“Then why did he lie to me?”

Julian didn't answer.

Aria's phone buzzed.

A new message appeared.

ASK NATHANIEL WHY HE HELPED KILL YOUR MOTHER.