ARIA'S POVThe question filled me with panic, and I couldn’t help but laugh—too loudly, too awkwardly. It was the kind of laugh that didn’t feel natural, the kind you give when you're caught off guard and scrambling for some control.“What?” I blurted, quickly glancing at him before focusing back on the road, my heart racing. “I wasn’t staring at you. Seriously.”Finn raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Uh-huh.”I could feel the heat creeping up my neck, and I hurriedly tried to defend myself, desperate to cover up the fact that he had caught me again. “No, really! I wasn’t staring. Why on earth would I be staring at you?”He chuckled again, the sound light but teasing. “That’s what I would like to know.”I tried to come up with something, anything that didn’t make me sound like a complete idiot. “I was… uh… I was looking at the trees outside. Yeah, the trees. They’re really nice, you know?”Finn just stared at me, his lips curving into a small, knowing smile. He didn’t believe a word
ARIA'S POVMy hand hovered over the door handle as my mind raced to come up with a response. I really wasn’t ready to confront this, not now, not after everything that had happened tonight.I felt Finn’s gaze burning into my back, waiting for an answer. But instead of acknowledging his question, I forced a bright, fake smile and raised my voice. “Come on, Finn! Let’s go see how your mother is doing, shall we?”I didn’t wait for him to respond. I turned quickly and started walking toward the hospital entrance, my steps faster than they needed to be, my mind a mess of conflicting emotions. I could hear Finn’s footsteps behind me, slower, more hesitant, but he followed without saying another word.Inside, the sterile scent of antiseptic and the quiet hum of hospital machinery greeted us. We walked up to the front desk, where a nurse smiled politely, her fingers tapping at her computer as she looked up at us.“Hi, excuse me,” Finn said, his voice sounding steadier now, more composed. “We'
DANTE'S POVI watched from the hospital room window, my breath fogging up the cold glass. Below, Aria was getting into her car, her movements slow, hesitant.The tight knot in my chest hadn’t loosened, and watching her drive off didn’t make it better. If anything, it made it worse.And then, there was Finn.He stood there, hands shoved deep into his pockets, his eyes trailing after Aria’s car as it drove away.There was something about the way he watched her—it felt wrong. Off. Too…interested.I narrowed my eyes, my hand tightening into a fist at my side. Just as I thought he might leave, Finn turned and started walking back towards the hospital.As soon as I heard his footsteps nearing the door, I couldn’t hold it in any longer. I pushed it open and stepped into the hallway before he could enter the room.“Finn,” I called, my voice harder than I meant it to be.He stopped in his tracks, eyebrows raised in surprise. “What?”“We need to talk,” I said, motioning for him to follow me awa
DANTE'S POVFinn didn’t flinch. His jaw tightened, but there was no fear in his eyes, no respect. It was like he was looking at me as just another man—not the one who had raised him, not the Alpha who had led him, not the brother who had fought alongside him through everything. Just another man.There was a tense silence, and when I opened my mouth to argue, the words wouldn’t come. Instead, all I could do was stand there, staring at my little brother—no, not so little anymore—and wonder how the hell we had gotten here.How had it come to this?“I won't tolerate you speaking to me in that manner, Finn,” I whispered, but it was weak. Even I could hear it.Finn’s eyes softened for a brief moment, but then he shook his head again. “I won’t be like you, Dante. I’m not afraid to fight for her. And whether Mother approves or not? That doesn’t matter to me. You know why?”I swallowed hard as Finn took one last step forward, his eyes locked on mine.“Because at least I’m not too much of a cow
ARIA'S POVBy the time I finally got home, I was completely drained. Every step from the car to the door felt like I was dragging a thousand pounds behind me.My mind was still spinning from the chaos of the banquet, but I didn’t want to think about any of it. Not Agatha, not Dante, and definitely not Finn.All I wanted was to collapse into bed and forget this nightmare of an evening.But the moment I opened the door and stepped into the quiet of the mansion, I saw Adam.He was leaning against the kitchen counter with that signature smirk, like he had been waiting all night just to get under my skin.The second he saw me, his grin widened. I could already see the taunt forming in his head.“Well, well, well,” he drawled, eyes gleaming with mischief. “Look who’s home. If it isn't the belle of the ball herself. I hear you caused quite a stir tonight.”I held up my hand to silence him. "Not now, Adam. I've had a hell of a night and I just want to…”“Is it true your ex-mother-in-law faint
ARIA'S POVI didn’t answer Adam. I couldn’t. Instead, I hurried up the rest of the stairs, leaving his voice echoing behind me like some taunting reminder of all the choices I didn’t want to face.As I entered my bedroom and closed the door behind me, I leaned back against it, pressing my palms flat against the cool wood.I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out everything—Adam’s laughter, his teasing words, the way he had tossed Finn and Dante into the same sentence as if choosing between them was something I could do with a snap of my fingers.Who was I going to choose?The question seemed to follow me, like a whisper I couldn’t shake, a burden I wasn’t ready to carry.But what if it did come down to that? What if I really had to choose? Dante, who had been a part of my life for so long, or Finn, who was suddenly there in a way I hadn’t expected, stirring up feelings I wasn’t sure how to handle?I moved towards the bed and collapsed into the soft mattress, feeling the exhaustion
LINDA'S POVI stood in the hallway, my arms crossed, eyes narrowed as I watched Finn pacing with his phone pressed to his ear. He was too engrossed in whatever pathetic conversation he was having to notice me. But I knew who he was talking to.Aria.That bitch.The rage simmered in my chest, coiling tighter with each second he spoke to her, his voice soft, his expression… worried. Anxious, even.Finn, who was always so easygoing, was now suddenly so serious over someone like her, and I couldn’t stand it.I stepped closer, the heels of my shoes clicking loudly against the tile floor. I wanted him to hear me. I wanted to interrupt his little moment of affection.“Finn!” I snapped, my voice sharp enough to cut through the air.He froze mid-sentence, his eyes darting to me, and for a second, he looked like a deer caught in headlights.Good. Let him feel uncomfortable. Let him realize what a fool he’s being, doting on that… thing.“Who the hell are you talking to?” I asked, my voice rising
ARIA'S POVI didn’t want to be here.The moment I stepped out of the car and set foot on the steps of the banquet hall, my stomach twisted into a knot so tight I thought I might be sick.The whole place was lit up like something out of a fairy tale—golden lights twinkling in the trees, the soft murmur of laughter and conversation floating in the air.It should have been beautiful. Magical, even. But all I could feel was the pressure of a hundred eyes that would be on me the moment I walked through those doors.“Aria, you’re overthinking this,” Adam had told me before I left, his voice patient but firm, like he was talking to a child. “You won't be able to hide forever. At some point, they’re going to have to know who you are. And tonight is as good a time as any to make an impression.”“I don't want to make an impression, Adam,” I had argued, standing in front of the mirror, my dress half-zipped. “You’re the Alpha. You’re the one who is supposed to handle things like this.”He had si