Chapter 3: The Lie Between Us

“Stop the car.”

Julian didn't slow down.

“Stop the car, Julian!”

“I won't.”

Aria grabbed the door handle.

“Then I'll get out.”

Julian's hand tightened around the steering wheel.

“You'll get yourself killed.”

“I don't care.”

“Yes, you do.”

His voice was sharp enough to silence her.

Aria stared at him.

“You don't get to decide that.”

“No. But I get to keep you alive long enough for you to decide what you want to do next.”

She looked down at her phone again.

The message was still there.

ASK NATHANIEL WHY HE HELPED KILL YOUR MOTHER.

Her fingers trembled.

“How could you know?”

Julian glanced at her.

“Know what?”

“That Nathaniel was in the photograph.”

“I saw him.”

“You knew?”

“I suspected.”

Aria's anger flared.

“You suspected?”

“Yes.”

“And you said nothing?”

“You were in shock.”

“You keep making decisions for me.”

“Because you keep running toward danger.”

“I want answers!”

“And you'll get them.”

“From whom?”

Julian looked straight ahead.

“From Nathaniel.”

Aria's heart pounded.

“Take me to him.”

“No.”

She turned toward him.

“Why?”

“Because if that message is real, Nathaniel may be involved.”

“He was my best friend.”

“He was your first love.”

Aria frowned.

“You remember that?”

“I remember everything that matters.”

Something about the way he said it made her chest tighten.

She looked away.

“Take me to your house.”

Julian's eyes briefly met hers.

“That wasn't what you said five minutes ago.”

“I changed my mind.”

“You do that often?”

“Only when billionaires refuse to listen.”

The corner of his mouth moved.

It wasn't quite a smile.

But it was close.

Aria noticed.

For some reason, that tiny change unsettled her more than his anger.

A few minutes later, the car entered a private road.

Huge iron gates opened before them.

Aria stared through the window.

Julian's home was nothing like she expected.

It wasn't flashy.

It was quiet.

Modern.

Almost cold.

The kind of place designed for someone who valued privacy more than comfort.

The car stopped.

Julian stepped out.

Aria followed.

The moment they entered the house, a woman in her fifties hurried toward them.

“Mr. Sterling, you're bleeding.”

“I'm fine, Mrs. Rose.”

“You're not fine.”

Her eyes moved to Aria.

Then widened.

“Who is she?”

Julian didn't answer immediately.

“This is Aria Bennett.”

Mrs. Rose stared at Aria for several seconds.

Then she looked at Julian.

“You brought her here?”

Aria noticed the strange reaction.

“Is there a problem?”

Mrs. Rose quickly shook her head.

“No, dear.”

But her face said otherwise.

Julian removed his jacket.

“Get the first-aid kit.”

Mrs. Rose nodded.

As she walked away, Aria turned toward Julian.

“Why did she look at me like that?”

“She didn't.”

“She did.”

“You're imagining things.”

“I'm not.”

Julian stepped closer.

“You're exhausted.”

“Don't change the subject.”

“I'm not.”

He looked at her wrist.

The skin was still red from earlier.

His expression darkened.

“Did the man at the hotel hurt you?”

“No.”

“Did he say anything else?”

“No.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

Julian nodded.

Then he gently touched the mark on her wrist.

Aria immediately went still.

His fingers were warm.

Careful.

Nothing like the cold man she'd met earlier.

She looked up.

Julian was already watching her.

Neither moved.

His thumb brushed the edge of the red mark.

“Does it hurt?”

“A little.”

His jaw tightened.

“I'll find him.”

“Why?”

His eyes met hers.

“Because he touched you.”

The words were simple.

But something in his voice made Aria's heart beat faster.

She pulled her wrist away.

“I can take care of myself.”

“I know.”

“Then stop acting like I can't.”

“I don't think you're weak.”

“Then what?”

Julian hesitated.

“You make me worry.”

Aria didn't know what to say.

Fortunately, Mrs. Rose returned.

She cleaned Julian's wound while Aria watched.

The bullet had only grazed his shoulder.

Still, blood stained the white bandage.

“You were lucky,” Mrs. Rose said.

Julian said nothing.

Aria looked at him.

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For saving me.”

His eyes softened.

“You're welcome.”

Her phone buzzed.

Nathaniel.

We need to talk. Alone.

Aria showed Julian the message.

His expression immediately hardened.

“No.”

Aria typed back.

Where?

Julian caught her hand.

“Aria.”

She pulled away.

“I need answers.”

“You're not meeting him alone.”

“I have to.”

“You don't.”

“Then come with me.”

Julian stared at her.

“You want me there?”

“Yes.”

He considered it.

Then nodded.

“Fine.”

They met Nathaniel at a quiet restaurant twenty minutes later.

Nathaniel was already waiting.

The moment he saw Julian, his expression darkened.

“You brought him.”

Aria sat down.

“You wanted to talk. Talk.”

Nathaniel looked at her.

“You shouldn't trust him.”

“Everyone keeps telling me who I shouldn't trust.”

“Because you're in danger.”

“Then tell me why.”

Nathaniel swallowed.

“I saw your mother.”

Aria's heart stopped.

“When?”

“Four years ago.”

“You knew she was alive?”

“Yes.”

Her eyes filled with disbelief.

“And you lied to me?”

“I was trying to protect you.”

She laughed bitterly.

“That's what everyone says.”

Nathaniel reached across the table.

“I swear I never wanted to hurt you.”

“Then why did you disappear?”

He looked at Julian.

“Because his father threatened my family.”

Julian's face became expressionless.

“My father?”

Nathaniel nodded.

“Alexander Sterling knew your mother was alive.”

Aria's breathing became shallow.

“What did he want?”

“Something your mother had.”

“What?”

Nathaniel hesitated.

“A document.”

Julian leaned forward.

“What document?”

Nathaniel looked at him.

“The original ownership records of Bennett Enterprises.”

Aria frowned.

“What does that have to do with my mother?”

“Everything.”

Nathaniel lowered his voice.

“Your mother discovered that the company wasn't actually owned by your father.”

Silence.

Aria stared at him.

“That makes no sense.”

“It does if you know what happened eighteen years ago.”

Julian's eyes narrowed.

“Tell her.”

Nathaniel looked at Aria.

“Your father wasn't your mother's first husband.”

Aria's lips parted.

“What?”

“Your mother was married before she met Richard Bennett.”

“To whom?”

Nathaniel's face became pale.

“Alexander Sterling.”

Aria couldn't breathe.

Julian suddenly stood.

“That isn't possible.”

Nathaniel looked at him.

“You didn't know?”

Julian's face hardened.

“My father was married once.”

“He lied.”

Aria pushed her chair back.

“No.”

Nathaniel stood too.

“Aria—”

“No!”

She shook her head.

“You're lying.”

“I wish I was.”

She looked at Julian.

He wasn't denying it.

That frightened her.

“You knew?”

“No.”

“You swear?”

“Yes.”

Aria's eyes burned.

“My mother was your father's wife?”

Julian nodded slowly.

“For a short time.”

“Then why did she leave?”

Neither man answered.

Aria's voice broke.

“Why?”

Nathaniel finally spoke.

“Because she discovered what Alexander had done.”

“What did he do?”

Nathaniel looked at Julian.

“Your father wasn't just involved in the collapse of Bennett Enterprises.”

Julian's expression changed.

“What are you saying?”

Nathaniel's voice dropped.

“He arranged the death of the man who knew the truth.”

Aria froze.

“Who?”

Nathaniel looked directly at her.

“Your mother's first husband.”

The room seemed to spin.

Aria gripped the edge of the table.

Then Julian's phone rang.

He answered.

“Speak.”

A terrified male voice came through.

“Mr. Sterling, you need to come back to the house.”

“Why?”

“Mrs. Rose found something.”

“What?”

A pause.

Then—

“We found blood in Miss Bennett's bedroom.”

Aria's heart stopped.

“That can't be possible,” she whispered.

Julian looked at her.

The voice on the phone continued.

“And there's a message written on the wall.”

Julian's expression turned cold.

“What does it say?”

The man swallowed.

“It says…”

Silence.

Then he spoke.

“Your mother is not the only person in this house who is supposed to be dead.”

Julian slowly lowered the phone.

Aria stared at him.

Neither of them spoke.

Then Julian reached for her hand.

This time, she didn't pull away.

Because somewhere inside the house, a door slammed shut.

And someone whispered her name.

“Aria…”

It was her mother's voice.