CHAPTER 9: UNRAVELING ARTEMIS POV

Aiden's words hung in the air long after he had vanished, leaving me rooted in the center of the grand hall. The hum of conversation continued to swirl around me, yet somehow sounded far away and muffled, like I was underwater. It tugged at my chest, and his voice continued to replay itself over and over in my head.

"You are mine.”

Those words were a weight, but not a comforting one. It wasn't romantic; it stung. He had brushed me aside so many times since our little kiss in the storage room, he made me feel like nothing, and now suddenly I mattered.

A glass appeared in my vision, the soft aroma of champagne rising to meet me. 

“Take this." Kane's voice was low, smooth, almost disarming. The easy smile played at the corners of his mouth as he held the glass out to me.

"You look like you could use it." 

I hesitated, my eyes glancing at his. There was Something in his gaze—warmth, or something more calculated—that made my stomach twist. "I don't think that's such a good idea.”

"Kane chuckled then, settling the glass onto the table beside me. "You don't have to put on a show for me, Artemis. Not with me."

The words cut like a stone breaking the surface of still water, sending ripples I couldn't ignore. I wanted to tell him to stop. To leave me alone. But the truth? Part of me didn't want him to stop. 

Before I could get a word out, raised voices cut through the ambient chatter and drew the crowd's attention. Aiden stood near the center of the room, waves of tension rolling off him. Beside him, Don Carlo remained still, His calmness was very different from Aiden's chaotic energy.

Kane followed my gaze, a knowing look in his eye, "There he goes again". He muttered after swirling his drink lazily. "All fire, no air to breathe.”

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, my voice sharper than I had meant.

A smirk pulled at his lips. "He'll burn everything around him if he's not careful. Including you." 

The words hit deeper than I cared to admit. My shoulders squared as I turned to face him. "You don't know me."

Kane raised his hands in mock surrender, though the grin remained. "Fair. But I know my brother. And I know this… game he’s playing with you won't end well.”

A loud crash cut through the murmurs in the room. Heads turned to the fallen tower of champagne glasses, shards glittering like ice beneath the golden glow of the chandeliers. Aiden stood beside the mess, his jaw clenched, his chest rising and falling with controlled fury. Don Carlo's hand gestured sharply, his voice too quiet to hear. 

"Predictable," Kane said under his breath, for which he got a glare from me.

"Do you ever stop talking?

"Not while I'm having so much fun," he said, downing another swallow of his drink. 

I set my glass down, ignoring him as I moved toward the tension at the heart of the room, the sound of my heels cutting through the silence. Aiden's frame was rigid, his fists tight at his sides as he faced his father. Don Carlo's posture remained composed, but the sharpness in his eyes spoke volumes.

“This is a business event," Carlo said in a low yet commanding voice. "Not a place for your tantrums.”

"This isn't about business," Aiden snapped, an edge of defiance creeping into his tone. "It's about you undermining me. Again."

Don Carlo's eyes caught mine as I approached. His face was unreadable-cool, calculating something in the weight of his look made my skin crawl.

“And here comes Hera," he remarked, his tone edged with something unspoken.

"What are you doing here?”

"I thought you might need some help," I said voice steady, even though the tension around us crackled.

Aiden laughed bitterly. "Help? From you?" His face twisted into an ugly frown. "I don't need your help, Artemis, I have this under control.”

“From where I stood, it looked anything but handled.” Don Carlo didn't shift his gaze from me.

“Hera," Carlo said smoothly, his voice like silk over steel. "Why don't you let Aiden deal with this? I am sure he does not want you tangled up in matters that are none of your concern.”

My fists clenched at my sides, but I forced a tight smile. "Of course."

I turned on my heel and walked away, allowing them to continue their discussion. My chest burned with frustration, and the pain in my heart reminded me of how much I truly cared. 

The cool night air slapped me as I stepped out of the grand hall, the distant hum of the city was a comforting sound. Lights twinkled on the horizon, their glow failing to quiet the storm in my mind.

Behind me, I heard footsteps, I turned half-expecting Aiden. Instead, came the tall frame of Daymon.

“Rough night?" His voice was calm, his presence somehow calming.

"You could say that," I said, my eyes falling to the floor as I leaned back against the wall.

He studied me for a moment, his expression softer than usual. “You’re handling it better than most would,” he remarked, his tone quiet but sincere.

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. "I don't even know what I'm handling half the time."

Daymon smiled faintly, crossing his arms over his chest. "You'll need more than fresh air to survive this family, Red.”