Chapter 19

Chapter 19 – A Dangerous Choice

The knocking on the door grew louder, echoing through the silent room.

"Ariana, open the door. I know you're in there."

Vincent's voice was cold, sharper than usual. Ariana held her breath, her fingers tightening around the envelope containing the photos Daniel had just shown her.

Daniel's gaze was intense. "Don't open it. If you let him in, you'll never know the real truth."

Ariana bit her lip. Every muscle in her body tensed as if she were being pulled in two opposite directions. Vincent, the man who had always protected her, or Daniel, the man who once destroyed her but now claimed he wanted to save her?

The knocking turned into loud banging.

"Ariana, I'm counting to three."

Vincent's voice carried a dangerous edge.

"One."

Ariana looked at Daniel, who stood firmly before her. "I don't know who to believe."

Daniel stepped closer, his voice low yet urgent. "You already know the answer, Ariana. You know something isn’t right."

"Two."

Ariana clenched the envelope in her hands, her heart pounding.

"Three."

Suddenly, the doorknob turned. Ariana gasped.

Vincent had a key to this room.

The door swung open, and Vincent stood in the doorway, his expression unreadable. His dark eyes scanned the room before settling on Daniel. His jaw tightened.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice ice-cold.

Daniel smirked. "Just telling Ariana a little about who you really are."

Vincent’s eyes darkened. He stepped inside, his presence so overpowering that Ariana almost stepped back instinctively.

"You've said enough, Daniel."

Daniel scoffed. "You can’t control her forever, Vincent. She has the right to know the truth."

"And you think you’re the right person to tell her?" Vincent stepped closer, his gaze burning. "After everything you’ve done to her?"

Ariana raised a hand, stopping them before the argument escalated. "Enough!" She turned to Vincent. "I need to know something, Vincent. Do you know Richard Coleman?"

Vincent stiffened.

A pause—too long.

It was enough for Ariana to understand the answer.

"You lied to me," she whispered, her voice trembling with anger and hurt.

Vincent’s fists clenched. "I can’t explain right now, Ariana. But I didn’t lie to you."

Daniel let out a bitter laugh. "That sure sounds like a lie to me."

Vincent ignored him. He stepped closer to Ariana, his voice softer but still heavy with pressure. "I’m here to protect you, Ariana. That’s the only truth that matters."

Ariana took a step back, confusion swirling inside her. "Protect me from who? Richard? Or yourself?"

Vincent’s eyes clouded for a moment before he spoke again, his voice barely above a whisper. "I never wanted to hurt you."

"But you're hiding something from me."

"For a good reason," Vincent insisted. "If you trust me, leave this place. Now."

Daniel crossed his arms. "See? He’s not even denying it. If you go with him now, Ariana, you’ll just sink deeper into his lies."

Ariana stood between the two men, both offering opposite choices.

Trust Vincent or trust Daniel?

Her gaze shifted to Vincent, who now looked tense, as if holding back something he didn’t want to reveal. Then to Daniel, whose eyes burned with conviction that he was telling the truth.

Her heart pounded with fear and uncertainty.

But she had to choose.

"Ariana, you have to leave now," Vincent urged, his eyes flashing dangerously. "Trust me."

Daniel stepped closer, his voice low but laced with warning. "Don’t make the same mistake again. You’ve trusted the wrong person too many times."

Ariana's pulse raced. The weight of the situation pressed down on her, pulling her deeper into a never-ending spiral.

Vincent extended his hand toward her. "Ariana, come with me."

Daniel grabbed her arm first. "Don't."

Ariana's eyes widened as the two men stared at each other with an intense hostility. Her hands trembled at her sides, and before she could make a decision, something happened.

A loud noise erupted from outside.

The hotel room door suddenly burst open, and a man in a black suit entered, his face full of urgency.

"Vincent, we have to go. Now."

Ariana turned, startled.

Who was this man?

Daniel narrowed his eyes. "So this was your plan, Vincent? Take her away before she learns the truth?"

Ariana's head spun. Too much information, too much uncertainty—it all swirled inside her mind.

Vincent turned to the man. "I can't leave her here."

The man shook his head. "We don’t have time. Richard knows she’s here."

Ariana’s breath caught. Richard?

"What does he mean?" she whispered.

Vincent looked at her, his expression unreadable. "Ariana, I promise I’ll explain later. But we need to leave. Now."

Daniel stepped in front of her protectively. "Don’t listen to him, Ariana. He’s just leading you somewhere worse."

"I don’t know who to trust!" Ariana finally cried out, her voice filled with frustration and fear.

Vincent extended his hand again. "Trust me, Ariana. I’ll keep you safe."

Daniel shook his head. "Don’t fall for it again."

Ariana looked at both men, her breathing uneven. The choice was in her hands.

And for the first time, she was truly terrified of the consequences of her decision.