Chapter 9

ARIA

When he knocked twice, I knew it was him. There was a reason I specifically instructed he knocked twice. It saved me the stress of guessing. 

I woke up feeling much worse than I had the previous day. The thrill I felt from crushing Adrian’s spirit wasn’t enough to keep me from falling apart. 

“How are you feeling today?” He asked after setting the breakfast tray down. 

I hated that he always saw me like this. At my lowest. 

“Fine.” I gritted out, even though my ribs hurt with any word that left my lips. 

“I overheard your parents talking about your marriage with Adrian. Are you really doing that?” 

I scoffed and looked away. His questions were irritate me now. 

“Is that why you barged in here this morning?”

“Aria…”

“I’ve never understood you, Kade.” I turned to face him squarely. “You leave when you want and return like nothing happened. You act like you don’t remember me, and yet you’re here worrying about my life?”

“Because your safety matters to me. It’s my responsibility.”

“I am getting married tomorrow to Adrian Parker. We’ve known each other for years. It’s only right we do the needful.”

“Are your parents forcing you?” 

I got out of bed and walked to my dresser. 

He followed. 

I might need to review the concept of boundaries with this man. 

“No. I want to marry Adrian."

“Is this about Cassie? You’re trying to prove something, right?”

“It’s none of your business.” 

“You understand that with me getting married tomorrow, you’d be laid off right?”

He ran a hand through his hair in exasperation. He cursed under his breath.

“That man doesn't care the least about you.”

“And you do?”

He said nothing. We stared at each, neither of us willing to back down. 

“You were poisoned.” He said finally. “You almost died. You were cheated on. By your fiancé. With your cousin.”

A humorless laugh slipped out of me. 

“Is that all you’ve got? Go on. Tell me more about my own life.” 

“I don’t understand you.”

“The thing about life,” I said quietly, “is that the people you love are going to disappoint you. You just have to find someone whose disappointments you can tolerate…for the rest of your life.” 

“Call it off, Aria…” He started to speak but the ringtone of his phone blared through his pocket.

He checked the screen and his expression hardened instantly. A vein stood out on his forehead. 

“Who is that?” I asked.

“I’ll be back.” 

That was all he gave me before walking out. 

I sighed and walked into my bathroom. 

Adrian came over for dinner that night and he didn’t come alone—his father who unsurprisingly is my father’s business partner and his poker face mother. 

She hated me. 

I never understood why, but she did. Funny enough, she and my stepmother, Margaret, used to be best friends. Now they only tolerated each other in front of their husbands.

The night dragged on with forced laughter. To my right, Adrian sat stiffly, with his jaws tight.  

He was pissed. 

“Here’s to two decades of solid friendship and even better opportunities through this union,” My father said, raising his glass. 

We toasted to that. Then conversation drifted from jokes to business talk, the two old men championing it. 

“Adrian, honey, is something wrong?” Margaret asked, concern written all over her face. 

He forced a smile. “The food is incredible.” 

 She beamed at him. 

“Salt, please.” I reached for the cellar across and passed it to him. Our fingers brushed and he glared at me.

“You look happy.” Adrian muttered under his breath. 

“I am,” I replied. His expression blanked. 

I glanced around, wondering where Kade had gone to. 

He was nowhere in sight. 

After dinner, I excused myself. I had gotten exhausted from all the eyes boring holes into my body. Especially the awkward silences and the Oscar-winning pretense. 

I half-expected Adrian to come after me, even though I knew he’d probably just say something cruel. At least, that would be something. 

“Should I have let it go?” I murmured. “Should I have let him  be with Cassie instead?”

My gaze drifted to the white floral dress hanging in my closet. It had been ironed and kept for my big day tomorrow.

All my life I had fantasized about getting married to Adrian but now it was happening, it wasn’t as pleasurable as it seemed then.

But at least, I would be marrying the love of my life.

*****

The next morning, I woke up before sunrise. 

I was ecstatic. 

It felt like I had erased all the horrible events that had happened the past week and was only now focused on the future. 

I got out of bed and rushed to my closet,  staring at my beautiful dress again. 

An hour later, my room was flooded with makeup artists, stylists and photographers. Everyone was talking, moving, watching and it was overwhelming. 

It was strangely exhilarating. Even Margaret was smiling. 

“The stars should be jealous of you today. You’re shining brighter than all of them.” Uncle Damien had said to me. I don’t know how an angel could birth a demon like Cassie. 

A small smile tugged at the corner of my lips.

Everyone kept asking if I was fine but the only thing I cared about was seeing Adrian.

My husband. 

My best friend, Amy, had flown in for the wedding. She was an attorney at a top law firm in another city. We hadn’t seen each in about five years, which happened to be during her sister’s wedding. 

That's the power of a wedding. It has the ability to pull people from all over the world to force a connection for a day or two. 

The make up artist was adding finishing touches on my face, when someone walked in and whispered something in her ears. I watched them through the mirror as they exchanged knowing glances with each other and then at me. 

What were they whispering about? 

“Why do you keep jittering?” Amy asked, her glammed face studying me. 

If no one noticed, Amy would.

 My vision blurred.  I felt really faint but I promised myself I would see this day to the end. 

“I haven’t seen Adrian.” 

She laughed softly. “I’m sure he’s getting ready wherever he is. You’re the most beautiful bride I’ve ever laid my eyes on.” She squeezed my hand. 

Her eyes glossed over misted tears and I was about to join her when the door jerked open. 

“The groom is missing.” 

Silence fell. 

Then all eyes turned to me.