Chapter 42

Aria

I walked up the stairs of a beautiful restaurant, following behind Vince as we were led to a dimly lit hall. Through the glass windows, I could already see a guy standing inside, waving with a bright smile plastered on his lips.

One of the waiters opened the door, and the guy immediately pulled Vince into a warm hug. As he looked at me over Vince’s shoulder, I took the opportunity to study his face. He was handsome and toned, with beautiful golden brown curls, but the thing that made him likable without having to say a word was his sincere and kind smile.

That was something I could never manage, no matter how hard I tried—because nine out of ten times, my smile was forced.

When Vince let go of him, he took a step forward and gave me a polite nod. I tried to smile back, feeling a bit out of place.

“Your wife?” he asked, his tone cheerful.

Vince nodded and walked over to place his hand behind my back before gently pushing me forward. I stuck out my hand, but instead of shaking it,