CHAPTER ELEVEN—SANTIAGO RUSSO

I stormed up to my room, gripping Luca’s phone like a lifeline. I slammed the door shut behind me and sank onto the bed, my fingers moving swiftly as I dialed my mother’s number.

The phone rang twice before she answered. “Mr. Russo?”

I exhaled, pressing a hand to my eyes. I suddenly had the urge to cry, but I held back.. “Mom, it's me. Ariadne.”

She gasped. “How are you, sweetheart? I’ve been worried.”

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. “Worried? Are you really? I was under the impression that you were okay with selling me off to the devil.”

My mother sighed. “Ariadne, please let's not throw blame right now.”

“Well, what do you expect me to do, Mum? The asshole took my damn phone! He’s a controlling, arrogant asshole, and you just handed me over like I was some kind of bargaining chip.”

“Ariadne,” my mother said gently, but firmly. “It’s our tradition. It’s the way things have always been. You knew this would happen.”

“I didn't know I would be given out to a ruthless, cold bastard. I would have eloped a long time if I did.” I spat. “This is my life, not some ancient contract.”

She sighed again. “Well, you know how the saying goes: the devil you know is better than the Angel you don't know.”

I sighed in designation. This was pointless, I could already feel it. “I think I would have chosen that Angel over him.”

Mum was silent for a beat before she spoke again, her voice quieter. “Georgina came to see me.”

I stiffened. The mention of Georgina AKA my former best friend sent a fresh wave of anger surging through me. I hadn't forgotten her role in my captivity and it wasn't happening ever. “So?”

“She is worried and sorry about the way things happened. She’s begging for your forgiveness, and sweetheart, I think you should.”

A cold lump formed in my stomach. I'd trusted Georgina. With my vault of secrets. With my life. And she betrayed me.

“I want you to know before everything that I was the one who told Luca about your plans. She came to me worried about you not being able to survive in a foreign country all by yourself,” my mother explained. “I didn't know what to do.”

My hands clenched into fists. If I thought I was angry at Georgina, my mother's betrayal was so much worse. “You ratted me out.”

“I did what was necessary to keep this family’s honor intact. And to protect you.”

I swallowed, the betrayal cutting deeper than a knife. “I will never forgive you for this.”

My mother sighed again. “One day, my daughter, you’ll understand.”

“I highly doubt that.”

We exchanged forced pleasantries after that, although I was still mad at her. She told me that my father was feeling lonely and worried about me too, and I ignored her comment.

And when we finally hung up, Ariadne felt more alone than ever.

******

Hours passed, but sleep refused to come. I tossed and turned, scrolled through social media. Luca’s words and my mother’s betrayal kept swirling in my mind. The weight of everything pressed down on me until I couldn’t take it anymore.

I needed a drink. Badly.

Slipping out of bed, I padded downstairs, the house eerily silent. The dim lighting in the kitchen cast long shadows against the marble countertops as I stepped inside. I reached for a glass—

A deep voice cut through the silence. “Can’t sleep?”

I shrieked with a jump.

A man leaned by the kitchen door, bathed in the dim glow that came from the overhead light. He was lean, with dark, piercing eyes and a slow, knowing smirk that sent a shiver down my spine.

“Who… who are you?” I asked, still trying to calm my beating heart.

He tilted his head, watching me like a predator sizing up his prey. “Santiago Russo,” he said, without missing a beat. “Luca’s nephew.”

My stomach dropped.

“Yes, the one,” Santiago clarified when he saw realization make its way to my face. “The one who was supposed to marry you.”

My breath caught, and for a moment, all I could do was stare. I had a hundred questions and despite saying I hated Santiago for leaving, I couldn't find it in me now to be mad.

He started stalking towards me slowly. Like a man who had all the time in the world. “Tell me something, Ariadne… Do you ever wonder what would’ve happened if you had? If circumstances were changed and I was the one you would be walking down the aisle to meet and vow your undying love to? Tell me.”

My eyes widened cautiously at him. Holy… pregnant cow. What the heck was happening right now?