Chapter 30

DANTE'S POV

As I watched Aria leave with Evelyn, I felt a lot of things. Anger? Frustration? Regret? I couldn't quite define it, but I knew one thing for sure – I wasn't happy. Not by a long shot.

Linda moved closer to me, her perfume overwhelming the stuffy air of the hall. "I didn't like the way you shouted at me, Dante," she said, her voice seething with anger.

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Maybe you should think before you speak, Linda. Your words can cut deeper than you realize."

She scoffed, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "Oh, please. Don't tell me this is all because of that... that nobody."

I didn't answer. Couldn't answer. The pained look image on Aria's face was seared into my mind, making my chest tighten uncomfortably. Without a word, I started walking back to our table, with Linda's heels clicking annoyingly behind me.

As she gathered her things, Linda suddenly cleared her throat, "It's such a pity we didn't get to meet the Griffith's youngest daughter.