othing like Ar

a sprawling ballroom, bathed in gold and crystal, with opulence dripping from every corner. The city's elite ming

ely around her waist, his presence like a wall at her back. She had become part o

of her smile, she wa

eyes following her, the sharp scrutiny of women who probably knew her name-or at le

er pulse steady as she shif

g through the sea of murmurs and clinking glasses

ly," she replie

corner of his lips. "And yet, here you are. The

hing, Mr. Moretti. I'm jus

mmanding, like a predator hunting in plain sight. It wasn't subtle, but tha

h the weight of all the eyes. She was a spectacle. A

es of deference. Aria stood beside him, silent and poised, her expression as unreadable as

hen Damien was near. The way people deferred to him, the way they l

t belong to her. It

on, she realized just

-

one in a conversation with a high-ranking donor. The woman, a sleek b

that never reached her eyes, "tell me. How does it feel, mar

olite, composed. "

that could only be described as curiosity mixed with mockery

e air, sharp as a knife

he said smoothly, maintaining her composure. "Though

n't believe a word of it. But before she could

g okay, Mr

ulling the room's attention toward him. The wom

Moretti. Your wi

saw the glance she gave her-one

ing into something like amusement. "

ze flicking toward the woman who had just been speaking.

aze before offering a tight smi

mingling?" Damien as

eemed to press on her chest. She wasn't sure who was mor

-

anist played a soft melody. Guests moved toward the dance floor, but Aria felt like a ghost, trailing beh

ay toward the exit, a low voic

Mor

his way toward them. His suit was custom-tailored, his gait smooth and confiden

tered slightly. "F

t there was something off about i

it's my

, his gaze cool. "Wai

r, she couldn't help but glance back. Felix was speaking to Damien in hushed tones, their wo

-

sleek black car, her mind racing. She tried to keep hers

ng in the air tonight

just the gala... or if it wa

h her thoughts. She could feel the weight of the evening pressing on her chest, each passing minute more suffocating than the last. Damien had

t the shadows behind it shifted like ghosts, as if watching her, waiting for her to ma

unmistakable click

ut there was a tension in his step that hadn't been there before.

aid, his voice l

ft thud. The driver immediately started the engine, and the car glided through the streets of Manh

versation with Felix-something important, though she wasn't sure what. She could feel it, the way the air had changed between

silence. His voice was almost casual, but there was

stones in her hand. She had no doubt that whatever was going on with Felix had to do with th

see the thoughts racing through her mind. "You want to

-every question she asked, every glance she

e asked quietly, her gaze fixed

s gaze cold. "Felix has his own problems. An

kept her voice steady. "Is it

omething dark passing through them. "Nothing y

between them palpable, but neither spok

ool night air bite at her skin once more. Damien followed her inside, his presence

use floor. Damien followed, his posture rigid. As the doors slid shut, the silence betwe

e, Aria was about to step out

ust yet," he said, his t

ing to face him.

dark. "We need to have a c

acing, but she said not

-

rge glass desk, his back to her as he surveyed the city beyond. The glow of

e said without turning around. "I can

he didn't answer immediately, letting the silence stretch betwee

e asked finally, her

e. "Because tonight, I need to make sure you'r

understanding. "W

o prove to me that you're not just a

le he'd expected of her, but this... this felt different. The tension between th

voice steady, though her heart hammered i

ch his eyes. "Are you, Aria? Or are you just wait

inary wife. But Damien was right about one thing-she had been hiding something. And t

art raced as she tried to make sense of Damien's cryptic statement. What did he m

ien had thrown a challenge her way, but something about the way he was

ured, careful not to give away the uncertainty that had cre

he thought she saw a flicker of something-sympathy,

e quiet but intense. "I'm asking for more than that.

hing but honest with him, at least in terms of what he wanted from her-obedience, silence, the r

sked, her voice barely above a

ion unreadable. Then, he spoke, his voice low and s

wield." His gaze hardened, sharpening with something darker. "I didn't marry you to play games. I married you because I need you t

s, but this was something else entirely. He was looking at her,

d, incredulous. "I'm just a pawn in your

not just a pawn, Aria. You're a queen in you

in her throat. "What do you want from me?" Her voice cr

o stop hiding behind your mask. I want you to show me who you r

rand of hair from her face. The touch was almost gentle, but t

ecting from me," she said, sh

ers in a kiss that was anything but gentle. It was fierce, demanding, as if he was

s dark and intense. "You don't need to know what I

r composure. This wasn't how she had expected the night

n't entirely sure what she was afraid of anymore-the man in front of her, the game he was pl

tly, his gaze piercing through her. "Stop pret

argue, to say something-anything-but she found herself at a loss. She was beginning to r

n't who she though

-

silent tension. Aria barely slept, her mind racing with

ence more oppressive. She moved through the day like she was walking thro

out to leave the penthouse to go

rom an unkn

s about Damien. Meet

pped a beat.

t of her wanted to ignore it, to pretend she hadn't seen it, but another part of her-one t

ck quickly.

ly. "Someone who knows the truth a

at the message. Was this a trap?

ad just become far more complicat