Aria's pov“What?!”The word escaped from my throat before I could stop it. It sliced through the thick tension in the Valente estate’s drawing room.My heels clicked sharply against the marble floor as I stormed across the room straight to my father, arms crossed, fury burning like gasoline under my skin. “You can’t be serious.”My father sat, legs crossed, dark suit well ironed, expression unreadable. His sharp jaw was set in a way that made me want to punch it.“We’ve already signed the agreements,” he said. “Years ago. This is not a negotiation, Aria.”“You betrothed me?” I hissed. “What am I—a chess piece on your goddamn power board?”My mother, ever the ice queen, stood by the window sipping something clear and expensive. “You were promised at birth, Aria. This isn’t sudden. You just weren’t told.”“Oh,” I snapped, “so that makes it better?”My father stood, walking toward the fireplace like he couldn’t be bothered to face my rage. “This isn’t about you. It’s about legacy. It’s
Last Updated : 2025-06-05 Read more