CHAPTER TWO

ARIA’s POV…..

I’d change everything. Perhaps, if I tried harder, I’d make him fall for me and then I’d tell him about our child.

These thoughts crossed through my mind as I set the ingredients aside. As I set up the dishes, the revving sound from outside caused me to turn as Raymond’s black SUV came into view.

Reflexively, a smile came up my face as I cleaned my hands on the apron I was on, rushing outside to go greet him. It didn’t matter what he’d said yesterday, or that his words still rang fresh in my head.

I pushed those thoughts to the back of my mind— where they belonged— as I stood outside the door, all smiles. 

How this man managed to make me so happy with just his presence; I couldn’t tell. All I knew was that I was in love with him. Too deep to come out of it at all and hopefully, by the goddess’ grace, in these coming months, I wouldn’t have to because he’d be too deep in love with me, too.

“Ray—“ My excited call out to him got caught in my throat the moment the blonde got out of the other side of the car, the wind blowing her hair as she turned, a smile on her face while Raymond went over to her.

They clutched arms as they walked back over to the drivers’ seat and seeing this, it felt like the tighter they held hands, the tighter my heart clenched.

As her face finally came into view, both standing near the door, I felt my heart shatter into a million pieces. I knew her, better than anyone else. How couldn’t I? She was his wallpaper, his first love, the only one who could make him smile at the mere mention of her name, the one who he dreamt about even when he was beside me— she was Ashley.

I felt tears start to well up in my eyes but I dug my fingers into my skin, so hard it was enough to push the tears back in.

The corner of his lips gently upturned, showing a little smile as he stared at her and I felt a knot form in my stomach as I forced myself not to stagger. This was the most emotion he’d ever shown and it hadn’t even been an hour since she’d arrived.

I cleared my throat, shaking my head as I moved closer to the doorway. “Raymond, I was waiting for you. I—“

Ignoring me, he turned to Ashley, so gently that you could see the emotions in his eyes. “Go in. I’ll be with you soon.” She stared at him for a while, hesitating before she walked in and she’d barely even left when he grabbed my arm, so tightly my blood could’ve stopped circulating as he pushed me into the wall by the corner.

“Don’t call me by my name.” His voice was calmer now, but still, it sent out arrows. Arrows that hit my heart directly. “Did you forget what I told you yesterday?” He leaned in, his tone becoming icy as his breath burned through the layers of my skin.

“I swear to the goddess, Aria, if you pull something stupid again, something that gives off that there was ever anything between the both of us, I’ll terminate our agreement and you won’t get a single cent!” My heart ceased as the words got caught in my throat.

I tried to speak, but I was too stunned. Raymond and I had never had a romantic relationship. Like he’d said before, what we had was just a nominal relationship, but he’d never been this way with me before. It was like he’d become a whole other person in just a day.

He scanned me, like he was making sure he’d gotten the message across and when he felt satisfied, he walked away, to be with Ashley.

For a long time, neither Raymond nor Ashley left the room and it shattered me to think of what they could be doing behind closed doors. I shook my head as I looked down to my stomach, gently caressing it.

“Daddy isn’t doing anything, baby. Don’t let mummy’s thoughts corrupt you.”

I took a deep breath as I turned to Alice, the maid who hadn’t been paying attention. “Alice, help me heat up the dishes, please. They’ve—“ I could’ve sworn I heard her scoff but I ignored it, wanting to continue with what I was saying till she scoffed even louder.

“Are you ordering me around? Who do you even think you are?”

I stared at her confused, wondering what she meant by whatever she was saying. “Excuse me?”

She humphed, eyeing me before rolling her eyes as she chewed even louder on her gum. Something she’d never dared to do before. “Alpha Raymond has ordered the pack to conceal your Luna identity from his ex-girlfriend.” She paused, eyeing me mockingly.

“I heard that woman is the princess of the Bloodstone Pack. In three months, she and Alpha Raymond will hold their mating ceremony.” It felt like the heavens had just been dropped on me as I staggered, grabbing the flower table in the hallway to steady myself as I looked for traces of a prank in Alice’s eyes. There were none. I felt my wolf kick in me at the mention of another woman getting married to our mate.

“Alice, you—“ Just then, the door to Raymond’s room came open and Ashley came out, staring at me with peculiar interest.

“You’re a maid here, right?” Her question was directed at me. I clenched my fists, taking a deep breath as I answered, but she cut me off. “Get me a glass of water.”

Before I could object, Raymond walked out of the room, his eyes traveling between the both of us, afraid we would converse too much and I’d slip up.

“Ash, there’s water in the hall. Come on, we don’t have time. The banquet is about to start. We need to hurry.”

Ash. He even had a nickname for her. Jealousy panged through me.

Ashley, seeming a bit unconvinced, nodded. Just as he made to take her away, she paused. “You haven’t introduced us yet, though. Who is she?”