Chapter 7

ARIA

“What are you doing?”

I lifted my face, dropping the compact powder back on the vanity. I turned to face him.

Kade stood by the door in a well-tailored suit, hands tucked into his pockets. He looked as ravishing as always.

“I’m not sure I understand you.”

“Adrian Parker is in the chess room.”

I squinted. Where was he going with this?

I turned back to the mirror, finishing my makeup. I dragged the sharp red lipstick across my lips and pressed them together.

I looked… decent.

The concealer couldn’t hide how measly I looked.

“I’m aware. I invited him over.”

“W-what?” He spluttered.

“Yes. I did.”

I knew he had questions. Even I had questions for myself. I didn’t know how this would end.

But I knew one thing.

I wasn’t going to lose.

“Adrian Parker. The lying cheat who’s been fucking your cousin for over a year?” My head snapped toward him.

How did he know that?

“How did I know?” he said quietly. “I know everything about you, Aria.”

His voice softened, and I caught his expression in the mirror.

If I didn’t know better, I would think he liked me.

My fingers grazed the boxes of necklaces on the table. I hesitated, unsure which to pick.

Footsteps approached.

He reached past me, picking one from its box, and placed it around my neck from behind.

My breath hitched.

“This suits your dress better,” he murmured, fastening it.

I couldn’t think straight.

Even after he stepped back, I could still feel his touch lingering against my skin.

“Thank you,” I muttered, the words sounding strange even to me.

I stood abruptly, needing distance from his gaze… and from whatever that was.

I heard him curse under his breath.

Good.

The A-line dress I had chosen today threatened to spill my breasts out.

Call me crazy, but I had picked it with Kade Wolfe in mind.

Yes, I wanted him to see me. I wanted a reaction. Anything to prove I wasn't being delusional.

And right now… he was.

“Do you think I look good, Kade?”

He looked away, fixing his eyes on the vase behind me.

“I don’t have the right to answer that. I’m sorry.”

A laugh slipped out of me before I even realized it. A dry, humourless one that reminded me of the big fool I was. 

“Please leave.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Mr. Wolfe, if you don’t mind, I have a date with my fiancé.”

I stepped aside, giving myself one last look in the mirror before walking out, leaving him behind.

I held onto the banister as I descended the stairs. Like Kade said, he was in the chess room. I felt him before I saw him, the smell of his cologne rudely invading my senses. 

He was on his phone when I entered. He looked up, a smirk tugging at his lips.

And just like that, I realised something.

I didn’t feel anything. All those years of wanting him and waiting for him to want me back. 

Gone. 

All of it was gone and replaced with this quiet resentment I couldn’t quite comprehend.

“There you are.”

I sat beside him, stiff.

“The last time I was here, you said some really mean things to me,” he said. “You owe me an apology.”

I almost laughed.

“You can’t be serious.”

He inspected his nails like this bored him. “I’m sure you’ve seen the news. Rumours about the wedding are spreading. Business partners are calling. I have a press conference tomorrow where I’ll be addressing everything—”

“Why are you doing this, Adrian?” I cut in. “You cheated on me with my cousin for over a year and now you’re spreading lies about me? What did I do to deserve this? I have only ever loved and cherished you.”

He chuckled and faced me squarely.

“This was never about you, Aria.”

My fingers curled slightly.

“It was an arrangement. You just… mistook it for something else.

“I have always despised you. You disgust me. All you do is fall ill and seek attention. No ambitions. No dreams. Nothing. I would feel pathetic if I were you.” 

Something in me went cold.

“I’m tired of pretending,” he continued. “I can barely stand being around you. I have never loved you, and I never will.”

“So what are you saying?” My voice came out hoarse.

“I’m done. I’ll call off the wedding. We go our separate ways.”

He stood and turned his back to me. 

“Adrian.”

He paused.

I rose and stepped in front of him, brushing the invisible crease off his shirt.

“You can’t.”

His brows lifted. “Excuse me?”

“You can’t call it off just like that. Invitations have been sent out. Contracts have been signed. Everything is already in motion.”

“Do I look like I care?”

“You should.”

My voice dropped.

“I just got off the phone with your father.”

That did it.

His expression snapped.

“What?”

“He doesn’t know about your little plan to run away.”

“What the hell is wrong with you?”

I snapped.

“You! You’re what’s wrong with me.”

The words came out sharp, uncontrollable.

“I did everything for you, Adrian, and this is how you repay me? By fucking my cousin?”

I let out a breath, slow and measured. I needed to keep my emotions in check.

“You don’t get to mock me anymore,” I continued, calmer now. “I would rather die than be the joke you both laugh about in bed.”

I met his eyes.

“This marriage will go on as planned.”

He watched me. 

“So you better get ready…”

I stepped closer.

“…husband.”

“I will never love you, Aria.”

“And I will never hate you, Adrian.”

I leaned in and pressed a kiss to his cheek, leaving a bold red imprint behind. A reminder that he was mine. 

Then I pulled back.

He told my father I was unstable.

Fine.

Maybe it was time I proved him right.