Chapter 6

Ariana’s POV

I felt it the moment he saw me. I could feel eyes following me wherever I went and I was surprised that he was here by this time.

His gaze burned into my back, dragging me into the past I had sworn to leave behind.

My fingers curled around my handbag and I didn’t need to turn around to know it was him.

Zayde Kincaid.

Four years, and yet one could still know if he was within a vicinity. His presence carried the same suffocating power that I felt the first day I met him.

He hasn't changed one bit.

Everyone seemed to be happy, exchanging conversations and contacts. While others who were not involved, clicked glasses as a grand orchestra played in the background.

I had long anticipated this event but now, it felt like the world had become so suffocating because of his presence here.

A waiter passed, offering a tray of an expensive drink. I ignored it and set my glass on the nearest table instead.

If he wanted a confrontation, he would have to work for it.

I took a step forward, flashing my teeth with some persons who were happy to see me and then, I heard his voice cut through the noise.

"You really think you can just walk past me like I don't exist?" He asked and I stopped.

The air between us thickened. There were a lot of things to be said but none of us refused to acknowledge that.

Slowly, I turned, my face surprisingly calmed. I don't know if I had long waited for this day but the first thing I thought would come out of my mouth was a scream.

There he was.

Zayde stood just a few feet away, his golden hair styled to perfection. He wore a custom-tailored tuxedo that fitted his muscular body frame.

But it was not his appearance that threw me, it was the storm in his blue eyes.

"Excuse me?" I asked, arching a brow.

"You are really going to act like this? Like I’m just another stranger in the room? Is that it, Ariana?”

I tilted my head, offering him a small, polite smile.

"Aren’t you? Or, am I mistaken? Did I forget something, Mr. Stranger?” I asked and his nostrils flared. I knew I had struck a nerve. Good. Very good.

"You disappeared," he informed me as if I was never aware of my own life. "You vanished like you never existed. And now, after four years, you show up like this? At my event?"

I sighed, shaking my head. What is he trying to do? I really wasn't in the mood for all these.

"This is a business gala, Zayde. Not your event. And my presence here has nothing to do with you,” I answered, staring fiercely into his eyes.

“I will have to pretend that I didn't hear what you said. Back to the initial question, Ariana. Are you trying to say that after all these while, you have nothing to say?” he asked, raising his shoulders.

“What exactly do you want me to say, Zayde?”

He took a slow step forward.

“How about an explanation? An apology? Four years, Ariana. Four years, and you let me think you were dead. Do you know how I thought about you? I was confused?”

A humorless chuckle escaped my lips and I could not understand what he was saying.

Dude is trying to emotionally manipulate me and I bet, I was not going to fall for it.

“And? Did you mourn me? Or did you move on so quickly with Isabella that you barely spared me a thought?”

“Don’t turn this on me, Ariana,” he blurted out, feeling attacked already.

“Why not?” I asked. My voice is softer now. “You are the one acting like the victim here. I remember things differently.”

He exhaled sharply, shaking his head.

“You were in an accident, Ariana. I thought you were gone. I grieved….”

“Did you?” I interrupted. “Or did you just… replace me?”

Zayde stiffened. His fists curled at his sides, and for a moment, he didn’t speak.

No, he should open up his mouth and spill those thrash he had cooked up and saved for the say he sees me.

“You are different,” he finally muttered, his eyes scanning my face. “You talk differently. You look…”

“Better?” I supplied, smirking. “I know. You don't have to tell me.”

“What the hell happened to you?”

I took a step forward, closing the space between us. The scent of his cologne hit my nostrils and I was reminded of the late nights I was wrapped in his arms.

I closed my eyes briefly to forget about that torture before leaning in slightly, just enough that only he could hear my next words.

“I survived.”

It felt as if his breath stopped and I pulled back, giving him a slow, assessing and mean look before turning away.

But he was not done with me yet.

“Don’t walk away from me, Ariana,” he bit out, grabbing my wrist.

The moment his fingers touched my skin, my body reacted. I could feel that same spark I felt years ago. But this time, it was different.

This spark was wrapped with betrayal and a painful memory.

I met his gaze again, but this time, I let him see through me.

The ice. The steel. The unshakable boundary I had built around myself. There was nothing he was going to do that would shatter me this time.

“Let me go, Zayde,” I almost screamed at him and he still held on.

“I believe the lady asked you to let go,” a sharp masculine voice called out from the background and Zayde’s grip loosened.

I used the moment to pull free. Slowly, I turned to face the man who had spoken.

Gabriel. Oh, my Heavens!

Gabriel was a tall and composed man and his dark eyes were filled with amusement as he studied Zayde.

Unlike the barely contained rage in Zayde’s stance, Gabriel was relaxed, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a glass of wine.

Zayde’s entire body was tense and his eyes rolled towards me.

“This is between me and Ariana. Not you,” he said coldly.

“And yet, you were making a scene.” He took a slow sip of his wine, his eyes never leaving Zayde. “That’s a little desperate, don’t you think?” Gabriel said, raising an eyebrow.

“Stay out of this,” Zayde warned and his lips pressed I to a thin line.

“I would,” Gabriel shrugged, setting his glass down. “But I have a thing about watching women get manhandled at public events. It’s distasteful and it's not a good time.”

This was beginning to get out of hand and I had no choice but to step in.

“Relax, Gabriel. Zayde is just having a hard time grasping reality. He is being delusional hence his attitude.”

Zayde’s gaze snapped back to me. “And what reality is that?”

“That I don’t belong to you anymore,” I blurted out and pain flickered in his eyes.

“You heard the lady.”Gabriel said after a hard laugh and he stepped closer. “Now, if you don’t mind, we have a gala to enjoy.”

Zayde let out a harsh breath, looking sideways.

“You think this is over, Ariana? I won't just let you humiliate me,” Zayde angrily said.

“Who said it was over? You are making everything fun. Mr. Stranger.”

With that, I looped my arm through Gabriel’s and let him walk me away, leaving Zayde standing alone, humiliated in the middle of the room, with his mouth wide open.