ARIA’S POV“Wear something nice and luxurious.”That’s all Ethan says before I get out of his car to go home. I nod, his words echoing in my mind as I disappear inside my house. The night air is cool against my skin, but my thoughts are on fire, racing with the task ahead.The next morning, I stand before my closet, staring at the clothes hanging there. Each piece feels inadequate, either too casual or too out of fashion. Ethan’s words weigh heavily on me—I need something extraordinary. My fingers brush through the hangers, but nothing seems right. Frustration bubbles up inside me, a mix of anxiety and determination pushing me to find the perfect outfit.Just then, Neal walks in, his smile wide and genuine. His voice is filled with pride, and it warms me like a ray of sunshine on a cold day."Congratulations on getting the project!"I reply, my voice tinged with the stress I’m feeling."Thanks, Neal." He asks me what I am doing and I tell him that I am checking clothes for an engage
ARIA’S POVOn the night of the engagement, as I leave the house with the red dress flowing around me like a living flame, I feel ready to face whatever comes my way. The love and support of my family are my armor, and with that, I know I can conquer anything. While I’m aware that my role tonight is to pretend to be Ethan’s girlfriend, I brace myself for the inevitable drama that lies ahead.Ethan picks me up, and the moment he sees me, his eyes light up with an unspoken admiration. The red dress I chose hugs my curves perfectly, and I feel a surge of confidence under his approving gaze. He smiles, a mixture of pride and awe in his expression, and for a moment, the anxiety of the evening fades away.I believe this is the look he was desperately aiming for, hoping to impress his ex-girlfriend and make her regret every moment of hurting and leaving him. As I catch the flicker of vindication in his eyes, I feel a pang of sympathy for the pain he's been through, and a surge of determinatio
ARIA’S POVThe suggestion lingers awkwardly, but Ethan nods, his grip on my waist tightening slightly in reassurance. We move further into the room, and the conversation resumes, albeit with a noticeable edge. Lydia's eyes dart nervously between Ethan and me, the confident smirk she wore earlier now replaced with uncertainty.Ethan’s ex stands at the center of the chaotic scene, her eyes blazing with a mix of anger and resentment as she scrutinizes me. Despite my calm demeanor, I can feel the tension crackling in the air. She doesn’t recognize me, only the high-end clothes that mark me as someone with means. To her, I am an outsider—an easy target. Her friends, however, know who I am. Their uneasy glances and hurried whispers betray their awareness of my identity.“Who’s this sugar mommy?”With a voice sharp as a knife, Ethan’s ex starts her tirade. Furthermore, she accuses Ethan of being a gold digger, her words dripping with disdain as she labels me a “sugar mommy.” The venom in her
ARIA’S POV“I’m happy that both of you are together.”Lydia approaches us with a strained smile, her voice dripping with forced cheerfulness. She comments on how it's a good thing Ethan and I are together now, insisting that he shouldn’t hold any resentment towards her and her circle. Her attempt at reconciliation feels insincere and overshadowed by the earlier accusations.I respond with calm composure, making it clear that I’m not here to create drama or stir up trouble.“I’m not here to cause trouble, though. Just pay back the money to Ethan and we’ll be gone.”I make it clear that I'll be leaving as soon as Lydia settles her debt with Ethan. My tone is steady, but it’s underpinned by a steely resolve that refuses to waver. Inside, I’m brimming with a mix of defiance and determination, feeling every ounce of the tension and unease in the room. The stakes are high, and I’m resolute not to back down until Lydia fulfills her end of the bargain.“I can’t believe this, Ethan, that you’l
ARIA’S POVHer command is a final, frantic attempt to shut down the confrontation, to force us out and reclaim some semblance of order. The urgency in her voice underscores her fear, and her fiancé’s growing unease suggests that their façade of perfection is crumbling. The scene is a maelstrom of emotions—anger, betrayal, and desperation—each participant caught in a web of deceit and recrimination.I seize the moment, my voice cutting through the chaos. My words are calm but firm, a clear challenge. Lydia’s eyes flash with rage, but there’s a hint of fear beneath her anger. She knows she’s cornered, and the realization is written all over her face.“Ethan isn’t finished.”I laugh coldly, my voice cutting through the heavy tension like a blade. I say, my tone icy and unyielding.I ask Lydia if she’s scared, and her eyes lock onto mine, filled with a murderous fury. But my stare is colder, unwavering. Lydia quickly looks away, her bravado crumbling under the weight of my gaze.“If you d
ARIA’S POVLydia’s fiancé’s face darkens with a mix of anger and realization. Lydia, realizing the enormity of her mistake, looks around desperately, but the damage is done. The truth, laid bare by her own admission, shatters the last remnants of her defense.The scene is a whirlwind of emotions—anger, betrayal, and desperation. Each person is trapped in the turbulent consequences of their own choices. As Lydia’s world collapses around her, the crushing weight of her actions becomes impossible to escape.Lydia quickly looks at her fiancé, her eyes wide with desperation. His face is red with fury, his jaw clenched tightly. Lydia, trying to salvage the situation and save face, throws out another barb.“You’re no less than me, then!”She says that now Ethan has found himself a “sugar mommy” as well, so who is he to judge her? Her attempt at deflection is weak, and the crowd murmurs quietly among themselves, the scandalous nature of the revelations already spreading like wildfire.“Oh dea
ARIA’S POVEthan and I walk out together, the weight of the evening's confrontation still heavy in the air behind us. As we make our way to the exit, Ethan turns to me, curiosity evident in his eyes. He asks how I knew about his true identity.“Not telling you.”I smile slightly, keeping my voice light, and tell him that I’m not going to reveal my sources. He shakes his head, a mix of amusement and concern on his face, and says that I shouldn’t have mentioned it to Lydia.I respond firmly, telling him that only by knowing the truth can Lydia truly understand what she has lost. This is the best way to make her see the consequences of her actions. She must be regretting every life decision she’s made up to this point. The satisfaction in my voice is clear; I want her to feel the sting of her choices, just as Ethan did.“Ha! Ha! We had fun back in there.”“We did!”As we approach the door, Adam suddenly appears behind us, stopping us in our tracks. His presence is intense, his eyes dark
ADAM’S POVI watch Aria leave, her silhouette disappearing into the night alongside Ethan. A wave of devastation crashes over me, and an unwelcome surge of jealousy clenches my chest. The reality of seeing her with him, so poised and confident, leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. I can’t shake the feeling of loss, of something precious slipping through my fingers.“Adam, please, we got to stop them.”After a while, my friend Adrian comes out, his face a mask of concern. He tells me that Lydia’s fiancé is taking her to the hospital to check on her pregnancy. There’s urgency in his voice, a plea for me to do something, to stop them. But I’m in no mood to intervene. The night’s events have drained me, leaving me feeling hollow and disinterested in anything but my own turmoil.“I’m not in the mood, Adrian. Please leave me alone.”Adrian isn’t pushy as he understands that Aria was here and my mood is always sour whenever she is around or when she leaves. I stay immobile in the corner, ponde