CHAPTER 253

ARIA’S POV

After Adam leads his mother away from the event, he turns back to me, his face etched with remorse. He keeps apologizing, his words tumbling over each other, the pain in his eyes eminent and unhidden. I can see the weight of his mother's actions pressing down on him, the burden of her recklessness heavy on his shoulders.

Adam tries speaking to me, his voice breaking slightly.

"Aria, I am so sorry, I never imagined she would do something like this."

"It's okay, Adam, I've come to expect things like this from your family."

The words are laced with a resigned acceptance, a recognition of the chaos that often swirls around them. Frankly speaking, I am tired of Elodie and Eva or anyone from the past coming at me in public every time, just to either bring me down or try to mess my day up. I don’t want to ruin my evening further by dwelling on this confrontation.

Therefore, I step away from Adam, feeling the need to distance myself from the turmoil he brings. I scan the room until