Three

Standing in the rain, the cold seeped into my bones. I could barely feel my fingers gripping the straps of my bags, but the numbness wasn’t just from the weather. It was the weight of everything crashing down at once. My father’s angry voice still echoed in my head, the image of my landlord’s irritated face was glued behind my eyes, and Amber’s betrayal… God, that stung the worst.

I shivered, soaked to the core. The rain came down harder, as if the universe was hell-bent on making today even worse. I pulled out my phone, my fingers trembling as I tried calling my dad again. It went straight to voicemail. My chest tightened with frustration. Of course, he’d ignore me. But I couldn’t give up—I couldn’t just let this go. Not like this.

I managed to find shelter under a small tree, though it didn’t do much to protect me from the downpour. With a deep breath, I dialed his number one more time. The call rang and rang, and just when I thought it would go to voicemail again, he picked up.

“Dad?” My voice was shaky. I didn’t even care how desperate I sounded. “Dad, please—just let me explain.”

“I don’t want to hear it, Rochelle.” His voice was sharp, cutting through any hope I had left. “You’ve embarrassed me enough.”

I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat making it hard to speak. “I don’t even know what video you’re talking about,” I pleaded, shivering as the wind picked up. “I didn’t do anything like that.”

“Of course you’d say that,” he snapped. “You never take responsibility for anything. Always acting like a spoiled child.”

I was surprised at my dad's tone. My dad had never been this harsh with me before... Ever. It didn’t matter what I did. I couldn’t remember the last time my dad raised his voice at me. We’d always had such a strong bond.

I opened my mouth to defend myself, but then I heard it. Her voice. Emily. The stepmother I never asked for, the one who had been chipping away at my relationship with my dad for years.

"She's always been like this," Emily’s sickly sweet tone filled the background. "She doesn’t care about anyone but herself. You’re doing the right thing by cutting her off. She needs to grow up."

Anger spread through me like a wave, replacing the chill from the rain with pure heat. That fucking bitch.

“Dad, you can’t seriously be listening to her!” I blurted out. “She’s just trying to—”

“Enough!” My dad’s voice boomed in my ear, silencing me. “Stop blaming everyone else for your mistakes. Grow up, Rochelle.”

The line went dead before I could respond. I stood there in disbelief, staring at the phone like it had betrayed me. The world felt like it was caving in around me. My dad—my own father—had chosen her over me. I bit my lip to keep from sobbing out loud, but the tears spilled over anyway, mixing with the rain running down my face.

I was cold. I was alone. And I had no idea what to do next.

With no other choice, I started walking. The rain was relentless, soaking me through to the skin, but I kept moving, dragging my bags along the slick pavement. Each step felt heavier than the last. My heart sank deeper into the pit of sadness that had been growing in my chest since I woke up.

Where do I go? What do I do?

The blaring sound of a car horn jolted me from my thoughts, and I froze, realizing I had wandered right into the street. My heart leaped into my throat as the car skidded to a stop just inches from me.

“What the hell?” I screamed, turning toward the car.

I was ready to unleash all of my pent-up anger on whoever was behind the wheel. But when the window rolled down, my breath caught in my throat

It was Aries.

I blinked repeatedly, looking at him in disbelief. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Of all people—him. The last person I expected to see. The man who had haunted my dreams and occupied my heart for years. The man I had embarrassed myself in front of last night, at the club. My face flushed with mortification, remembering that moment. How I had thrown myself at him, drunk and reckless.

“Rochelle?” Aries’ voice cut through the storm. There was a look of shock and confusion on his face. “Get in the car.”

I hesitated. My mind swirled with too many emotions at once. But I was cold, drenched, and exhausted. I couldn’t afford to be proud right now. Without a word, I grabbed my bags and slid into the passenger seat. The warmth of the car was almost overwhelming. I let out a deep breath, sighing in relief.

Aries glanced at me. “What the hell happened to you?”

That simple question broke something inside me, and before I knew it, I was spilling everything. I told him about my dad, the video, Emily, being kicked out of my apartment, Amber’s betrayal—all of it. My words came out in a rush, between sobs I didn’t even realize I had been holding back.

“I have nowhere to go,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “I don’t even know what to do anymore.”

Aries listened quietly, his eyes never leaving mine, and when I finished, he reached over and squeezed my shoulder. “You’re coming with me. I’m not leaving you out here.”

The relief that washed over me was almost suffocating. I nodded, too overwhelmed to say anything else.

The drive to his place was quiet. I couldn’t stop stealing glances at him. He was so… composed. Handsome, tall, muscular—the kind of guy that turned heads without even trying. I admired the way his dark tousled hair strands framed his forehead. I admired the way his beautiful eyes were focused on the road ahead. As he drove, his muscles rippled beneath his shirt.

I tried not to let my mind wander back to that kiss from last night, but the memory clung to me like the rain on my skin.

When we arrived at his mansion, I couldn’t help but stare in awe. The place was beautiful.

The house was made of black walls and shiny glass that caught the light. It stood out against the green of the perfect lawn and the tall trees surrounding it.

The driveway was long, lined with neat hedges, and I could see soft lights hidden among the plants. The front entrance was bold, with tall windows that stretched from the ground to the roof, giving it a dramatic look. To top it all off, there was a water fountain in the middle of the grounds.

Aries helped me out of the car. As soon as we got out, a few maids came outside to greet him. Instantly, they took my bags from me and made their way inside.

Aries took me to a guest room and handed me a fresh set of clothes—his clothes.

I changed quickly, feeling dwarfed by the oversized shirt and pants. They smelled like him—clean, with a hint of something dark and masculine. When I walked out to the living room, I found him waiting for me.

“Thank you,” I said softly, standing in the doorway. “For everything.”

His eyes flickered over me, and for a moment, something changed in his gaze. It was brief, but it was there—a dark, intense look that made my heart race. He eyed me up and down, and suddenly, everything felt like it was in slow motion.

It felt like the world around us faded, leaving just the two of us. I loved the way he looked at me, like I was the only thing that mattered in his world. I would do anything for him to keep looking at me like this, as if I were the only object worthy of his attention.

He cleared his throat and glanced away. The tension between us was suddenly electric.

“You can stay here,” he said. “At least until you figure things out. I can talk to your dad if you want.”

I couldn’t hold back the feeling of excitement. Without thinking, I moved to hug him. But I stumbled on the slick floor, and he caught me, his arms strong and steady around my waist.

The moment our bodies touched, the memory of last night’s kiss crashed into me with full force. I froze, my face burning red as the feel of his lips on mine played in my mind. God, what was I thinking?

We stayed like that for a few moments, looking into each other’s eyes. My body was totally aware of him. I found it weird because my body had never reacted this way to any man.

My small body fit perfectly in his huge arms, almost as if it was meant to be. I stared into his dark brown eyes, admiring how they twinkled under the chandelier light. I could get lost in them forever.

My eyes moved down to his lips. I wanted to taste him again. I leaned in, and then… A loud ringing sound broke our moment. It was Aries’ phone.

He let go of me, answering the call with a quick glance in my direction before walking away. I stood there, breathless, my heart pounding in my chest.

This was my chance. I couldn’t let it slip through my fingers. That kiss—it had been more than just a drunken mistake. It felt real. And now, standing here in his house, wearing his clothes, I knew this was my moment. I had always wanted him, and now… now, I was going to make him mine.

But just as I steeled myself to make a move, I heard  footsteps behind me. I turned , and my blood ran cold.

There were two of him. Two Aries.

“What the fuck?” I screamed, backing away.

What the hell was going on?