She disobeyed him.

“What the fuck…” He growled as Peter placed his chin over her bare shoulder. He pressed Aria closer.

"Why’re you always so pissed, man? You look like you’re ready to murder someone! Calm down, at his age, it’s difficult to focus on studies." Fenil answered him. He thought Theodore was upset to see Peter fooling around girls but there was something else that no one noticed. 

Fenil had tried everything to tame Theodore’s temper—booze, fights, even a string of women to distract him. Nothing worked. Theodore barely felt any other feeling apart from rage. He was pissed over small things like a mad dog. Even Peter and Rhea were scared of him. 

“Need me to line up a girl for you? My agency’s got plenty at the resort—your guests were screwing them senseless last night,” Fenil teasedt Theodore was not interested in them. 

“Shut the fuck up yout mouth.” Theodore shoved him and stormed towards the shooting range. Peter’s lips were inches from Aria’s ear when Theodore’s voice came like thunderclap.

“What the hell’s going on here?”

Peter flinched and released Aria instantly. Even Aria’s face turned pale as if she had seen a ghost. She scratched the back of her neck knowing she had to face this person every time, in every event. He was just unavoidable.

“Uncle.. I was teaching Aria how to shoot.” Peter said, hesitating. 

“Really? Then shouldn’t the best shooter teach her?” Theodore asked. Aria stared at him with confused eyes but her eyes widened when she heard what Peter said next.

“Does that mean you will teach her? Then she would definitely kill it.” Peter took it normally, but Aria’s stomach twisted. Her pulse raced like a trapped animal. 

Theodore seized her wrist, his grip like an iron. He shoved the gun into her trembling hands and stepped behind her. His powerful arms wrapped around her waist. The moment he came closer, Aria’s heart pounded like a running train. Theodore yanked her against his chiseled chest with a force that stole her breath. His lips hovered near her ear and caressed a hot breath. His chin grazed her bare shoulder. 

Her scent flooded his senses, intoxicating, pulling him back to that night when she’d been his—wild, raw, and completely his.

Aria flinched. She felt betrayed by her own body which did not feel anything when Peter held it but when she was in the arms of this man something ignited within her,  Thodore touched her everywhere.

“Focus.. On the goal..” He purred. His voice was dark. Aria nodded, keeping her expressions calm but inside her, something like a volcano bursting every moment.

Theodore’s hands slowly slide up, reaching her curves. Her breath turned heavy. His fingers dug into her flesh through her top. He claimed her in a way that made her knees weak. 

“How the fuck you dare to seduce my nephew, You little temptress?” he hissed. His lips brushed her ear. “What is your game? Seduce him, trap him in your web? You think your precious friends will still worship you when they know you begged for my cock that night?”

He whispered in her ears again. For everyone, they were practicing focus but Theodore was actually warning her. They were in the shooting zone so no one could hear them.

“Stay away from Peter.” Theodore snarled. His tone was cold as ice. “Want money? I’ll bury you in it to disappear. Don’t drag him into your slutty little scheme.”

Aria’s heart felt heavier. She was about to push Theodore away but her finger twitched on the trigger and the bullet hit the bottle before them. The bottle shattered into the pieces, the cheers followed by the claps behind her.

“Wow.. Aria.. You finally did it. Wow..” Peter cheered for her. “Uncle Theodore learned shooting from Royal Academy of Paris, he taught you himself” Peter said cheerfully.

Aria masked her troubles behind her mild smile. Rhea ran and hugged Aria, she whispered in Aria’s ear.

“You know, Uncle Theo doesn’t usually teach it to anyone but he did it to you. It’s a good sign that he would love you to be with Peter. He signaled yes already.” Rhea said and Aria nodded. She couldn’t tell her that her beloved uncle asked her to stay away from Peter. 

Aria got back to her room. Aria picked the wedding card, there were still fifteen days for the wedding and the series of events held every day. Theodore had spent a fortune for his beloved neice’s wedding. It was a dream wedding for any girl.

Tonight, African dancers arrived at the resort, they were especially called here to perform their Sunu dance, a wedding dance. Theodore made sure that the guest would not get bored even for a second. Lavish dinner stalls were organised and a big bonfire was lit in the middle. Theodore was sitting with his business partners, discussing business. He was going to buy the latest model of a charter plane from Campbell’s company. 

His gaze drifted towards Rhea and Peter's group of friends. All the friends had arrived, but Aria didn’t. She was still in her room.

‘She might have considered my warning,’ Theodore thought and smirked. But he scanned the crowd again, his heart pounding with hunger he couldn’t name.He should be happy that she didn’t come. But he wasn’t. His eyes were constantly searching for Aria. 

"Ahem ahem... Mr. Campbell is saying something," Fenil said, and Theodore immediately started talking to Campbell. 

She would have obeyed Theodore and did not come to the event but there was no reason for her to obey him. Theodore means nothing to her.  She obeyed her parents because they paid for everything, she obeyed her friends because she didn’t want to lose them but with Theodore, she didn’t feel a need to maintain any kind of relationship. She didn’t mind offending him as well. 

Here, Aria stood at the entrance wearing a beautiful black bodycon dress. Her smokey eyes fluttered to the bright lights at the event venue. She ignored Theodore sitting beside the entrance and joined her friends at the bonfire.

Theodore’s gaze fixed at her. Her bare shoulders glowing under the firelight. The night flooded before his eyes when his lips ravaged her shoulder. How his tongue traced her cleavage where a small diamond pendant was shining. His teeth grazing her nipples as if his life depended on it. He can taste her skin in his mouth just by looking at her right now. 

Fenil caught him distracted. 

“Theo, Mr. Campbell asked if you want to try the latest private jet from his company which is equipped with high range radar?” Fenil asked him.

He got out of reverie. He didn’t know how long he stared at Aria. He never lost his focus before. He again engaged in the conversation.

“Aria, where were you? The event is about to get started.” Rhea asked her, she didn’t start the event because Aria was not there.

“I didn’t get my dress done.” Aria said.

“What kind of tacky dress are you wearing? It looked old.” Khloe commented. Khloe never leaves a chance to humiliate Aria. Actually she was jealous of Aria because even though being from a normal household, Aria succeeded to get a place in everyone’s heart. Especially Peter and Rhea. Aria was getting more attention in their group than anyone else. "Go and wear something suitable to the party.” Khloe added.

“But it suits you well..” Rhea added, “You don’t need to change it. You look beautiful.” 

Khloe gritted her teeth, even in the tacky dress Aria was able to get compliments. She clenched her fingers and decided to do something terrible.

The African couples arrived and started dancing. They held each other’s hand and began singing one tribe song. Rhea and Vincent joined them and danced together, she gestured to Aria to come and dance.

"No... Sorry. I can't dance," Aria said, but Rhea insisted. 

“It’s my wedding and don’t tell me you can’t dance.” Rhea insisted. Aria couldn’t upset her. She nodded and joined them. Since there weren't many familiar faces around, Aria was able to dance freely.

Her moves were beautiful, and soon the entire crowd's attention was on her. Peter couldn't help but join her on the dance floor. They danced like the African couple, but Aria had no idea that someone had been staring at her for quite a while. 

Theodore's sharp gaze couldn't tolerate Peter being so close to her. His eyes squinted when Peter’s hand grabbed Aria’s shoulder. Aria was so focused on her dance that she didn’t realise the worse thing waiting for her. 

Khloe pinched a thread of her woven bodycon dress and pulled out. She danced around Aria and pulled the thread even more. Aria’s dress started unweaving. Due to her long hair, she didn't realize that the zipper had opened all the way down to her waist. Even no one around her noticed that except for one person, Theodore.