CHAPTER 8: THE EVENT ARTEMIS POV

8 p.m. arrived sooner than I anticipated. My phone vibrated in my hand as the moment approached. This evening wasn’t an ordinary one—it was one I couldn’t manage to get ready for, regardless of how hard I attempted. 

I stepped out into the silent hallway; my heels clicked against the polished marble floor. Daymon stood by the door, his broad frame rigid, his eyes locking onto mine. Something about the intensity in those eyes ripped a ripple of unease right through me.

"Daymon?" My brow furrowed; I slowed my steps. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

He hesitated, something unreadable crossing his face. "No reason," he murmured, tone flat. With reluctance, he added, "You look… good, ma'am.”

The tightness in his tone was not to be missed. He wasn't one for compliments, and the words felt out of place.

We walked silently to where the waiting car was, his eyes staying on me. But then the sleek black Range Rover came into view, and everything else faded. Aiden leaned casually against the car, with effortless elegance. His tailored tuxedo fitted almost like a glove, his dark slightly tousled curls brushing across his forehead. He took my breath away, quite speechless.

Damn, this man was a different type of sexy.

"You don't seem too bad," he said, his mouth hooking upwards in a slight smile.

An arched brow was all I could manage before responding, "You clean up well yourself.”

His laughter took me by surprise, rich and real and so entirely disarming that for a single flash, I saw what I had never seen before in him: unguarded, human.

He flung open the car door for me. His face was carefully neutral, but his eyes lingered on me for a second too long; the weight of his stare felt almost palpable.

The ride was silent to our destination, with only the low hum of the engine to break the silence. Daymon trailed behind in a separate car, his presence a silent shadow. My head filled with restless thoughts as I watched city lights blur past the window.

When we arrived at the venue. The entrance to the hall left me astonished, with a long hall extending, its glittering chandeliers casting golden lights upon the gathering of people dressed up in their best; the smell of roses was fresh in the air, combined with the sharpness of expensive champagne, and the air buzzing with polite laughter and murmurs of conversation.

Aiden's parents greeted us at the entrance. His mother wrapped her arms around me in a warm hug, her floral perfume embracing me. "Hera, you look stunning," she beamed.

I could only force a faint smile. "Thanks," I said, feeling out of place.

Aiden's father, Don Carlo, was more reserved but polite. "Good to see you again, Hera," he said with a nod of approval, his handshake firm.

Before I could respond, Aiden leaned into me, his voice low and warm against my ear. "I'll be back. Business with my dad." 

His hand brushed my arm, a touch so fleeting that lived longer in its absence.

Left to my own devices, I made my way to the bar. The bartender pushed a glass across the counter to me, amber and smooth; the rich scent promised distraction. I sipped it slowly, scanning the room for a familiar face rather, one face. But Aiden was nowhere to be found, and with every passing moment, that space beside me seemed to weigh heavier.

That is when I noticed him. 

He swam through the crowd with easy confidence, his resemblance to Aiden striking yet softer. A playful charm lingered on his face, a grin lighting up his features as he came closer.

"You look beautiful," he said with effortless smoothness.

I gave a soft laugh. "Thank you. You are not looking so bad yourself.

He put a hand over his chest, mock earnest. "A compliment from a beautiful woman? My night just got better.”

"Artemis," I offered, extending a hand.

"Kane." His handshake was warm, lingering just long enough to feel Intentional.

"May I have this dance?" His hand was already extended, his smile contagious. 

I hesitated for a moment. Then, before I was able to second-guess it, I had placed my hand in his.

The music was soft and the rhythm light. Kane's movements were those of grace: easy, unrushed steps, to time. His laughter came lightly, a relief to lighten his mood. For a moment, I forgot the tension of the evening.

But the moment shattered like glass when I spotted Aiden.

He was standing at the edge of the room, his green eyes blazing with dark intensity. His jaw clenched, his fists squeezed tightly at his sides. He moved toward us, every step calculated, a predatory stride, the air around him practically crackling with fury.

"You couldn't even keep to yourself for one moment," Aiden growled in a low, dangerous tone. "Dancing with my brother?"

My breath caught. "Your brother?

Kane chuckled, unbothered by the storm brewing in Aiden's eyes. "Relax, big brother. Sharing isn't such a bad thing.”

"Stay away from her," Aiden snapped, his voice cold as a blade. "If you value your life."

Kane raised his hands in mock surrender, a sly grin still tugging at his lips. "Not even a hello for your little brother?”

"Don't push me, Kane," Aiden growled low. 

Before I could intervene, Aiden grabbed my hand and pulled me away. His grip was firm, his pace unyielding as he led me into a quieter corner of the hall.

"What the hell are you doing?" The words came out sharp, my frustration spilling over.

"What am I doing? What are you doing?" His voice was a low snarl; his green eyes blazing. "You're mine, Artemis. No one else touches you."

“Yours?" My voice rose, disbelief and anger bubbling to the surface. "You barely act like I exist, Aiden. Why do you even care?”

His jaw clenched, his composure slipping. "You don't understand what you're playing with," he warned, the danger in his tone unmistakable.

Aiden's jaw snapped, his control slipping. "Everything about you is my business," he growled.

"Then prove it," I challenged, my voice shaking. 

"Because all you've shown me is that I don't mean a damn thing to you."

For a fleeting instant, his face slipped, and a glimmer of weakness flashed across his features. In that same moment, it was erased and his mask of indifference fell into place. 

"Do what you like," he said in a bitter tone, turning away. "I don't care."

Before I had a chance to respond, he marched away, leaving me alone in the center of the grand hall. 

I remained there, amazed, with my breath held in my lungs. The impact of his rejection affected me deeply. Tears almost fell as I realized how much I cared deeply for someone who didn’t seem to care at all.