Ariana paced the length of the bedroom, every step sharp against the polished floor. Her chest still felt tight, but the tears she’d been holding back had dried into something far more dangerous.“She thinks she’s smart,” Ariana said, her voice low and clipped. “She thinks she can play games with me and still come out on top.”Liam stood near the window, his arms crossed, his eyes tracking her like he was studying a live wire. “She’s arrogant. That’s her weakness.”Ariana stopped, meeting his gaze. “Then we use it.”He tilted his head slightly, intrigued. “Go on.”“If Noah’s right, she’s planning something big. That means she’s going to get sloppy,she’ll leave crumbs. People like her can’t help it. They want the credit for the destruction.”Liam pushed off the wall and came toward her, slow, deliberate. “You want to bait her.”Ariana’s lips curved,not in a smile, but in something sharper. “Exactly. Give her something she can’t resist ruining. Something that makes her think she’s final
The knock came again,soft, deliberate,like whoever was behind it didn’t want to be heard by anyone else.Liam’s lips froze against hers. His hand, which had been resting at the curve of her waist, tightened slightly before he pulled back. Ariana could still feel the ghost of his breath brushing her lips, warm and tempting, and it made her pulse quicken even as her heart pounded from the interruption.They stared at each other for a heartbeat, both of them catching their breath.Another knock. A little more urgent this time.Liam’s jaw flexed. “Stay here,” he murmured, voice low but threaded with irritation.Ariana didn’t move, her body still humming with the aftershocks of their closeness. She pulled her knees up on the bed, hugging them, watching as he ran a hand through his already tousled hair and crossed the room. Even shirtless, with the dim light catching the definition of his shoulders and the hard lines of his back, there was a readiness in him,like a predator hearing somethin
The ride back to the Westbrook estate was painfully silent. Ariana kept her gaze fixed on the blurred city lights rushing past her window, her tear-streaked face pale under the soft interior glow. Liam’s hands stayed tight on the steering wheel, knuckles white, as though his grip was the only thing keeping him from falling apart.When they finally pulled into the long driveway, Ariana didn’t wait for Liam to come around and open the door. She stepped out, clutching her coat around herself like it was armor, and walked straight into the house.Her father was in the study, papers scattered across his desk, but the moment he saw her face, he was on his feet.“Ariana? What happened?”She swallowed hard. “It was a setup, Dad… that kiss—” her voice cracked “with that man you saw in the photos… it wasn’t what it looked like. Tessa orchestrated it.”Mr. Westbrook’s jaw clenched, his eyes darkening with rage. “She what? That snake,I’ll have her arrested before the sun rises.”“No!” Ariana’s vo
The drive back home was quiet at first, the hum of the tires on the asphalt filling the space between them. The tension from earlier was slowly melting away now that they knew the commotion at school had nothing to do with Ariana.Liam’s hand rested loosely on the steering wheel, his eyes flicking toward her every now and then.“So…” he started, voice low. “What happens now? Between us, I mean.”Ariana turned her gaze to the passing streetlights, her fingers fiddling with the hem of her jacket. “I like you, Liam… more than I probably should,” she admitted softly. “But I want to graduate high school before I get into a real relationship. No drama, no distractions. Just… us, without the official label.”Liam smirked faintly, though there was a hint of disappointment in his eyes. “So, we’re together… but not together?”She smiled. “Something like that. Just until I’m ready.”He gave a small nod, squeezing the steering wheel. “Fine. But I’m warning you… unofficial or not, I’m not letting
Ariana tightened her ponytail in front of the bathroom mirror, giving herself one last look. She wore a navy-blue hoodie over her white tank top, paired with high-waisted jeans and her white Converse. Clean, simple, comfortable. The kind of look that didn’t scream for attention but still made her feel like herself. She dabbed on a little gloss and grabbed her backpack.She stepped into the kitchen where Liam was already waiting with a cup of coffee in one hand and a slice of toast in the other. He looked up from his phone and smiled."Good morning, schoolgirl."Ariana rolled her eyes and grabbed a banana from the counter. "Don't start.""I'm just saying… final year, back to school, you should be excited.""I am," she mumbled, peeling the banana. "I just... have a lot on my mind."Liam’s gaze lingered on her for a second. He leaned against the kitchen counter, lowering his voice. “You're sure you want to go today? You’ve barely had time to rest since,everything.”"I’m fine, Liam. I nee
The drive back to the hotel was quiet again.But this time, it wasn’t exhaustion keeping them silent.It was distance.Invisible. Heavy. Tense.Liam’s hands gripped the wheel tighter than necessary, his jaw locked, eyes focused on the road, though he kept sneaking glances at Ariana beside him.She sat stiffly, her eyes glued to the window, arms folded protectively over her chest.When they got back to the suite, Liam opened the door for her. She walked in without a word, went straight to the bed, and sat down.“You’re not going to tell me what you were doing out there alone?” Liam asked finally, closing the door behind them.Ariana didn’t even look at him. “I was taking a walk,” she said. “Near an abandoned lot in the middle of nowhere?”She said nothing.Liam exhaled slowly, tried again. “Rina…”“Don’t,” she said quietly, cutting him off.Her voice wasn’t angry. It was… tired.Tired of lies. Tired of pretending.He stood still for a moment, watching her as she kicked off her shoes