Chapter 15 The End of Us
Aria’s POV
When I demanded that Liam kneel to apologize, the atmosphere in the private dining room instantly became suffocating. The shock on everyone’s faces was almost satisfying,
Mrs. White was the first to recover. “Aria, dear, that’s not necessary in this day and age. We can resolve this like civilized-”
“Isn’t this what he promised?” I cut her off, my voice eerily calm. “Just moments ago, he said he would do ‘ anything’ to make amends. I’m simply taking him at his word.”
Emily leaned forward, eyes wide with disbelief. “You can’t seriously expect my brother to-”
“If he’s truly sorry,” I interrupted without looking at her, “then proving it shouldn’t be difficult.”
Liam’s face had turned ashen. He looked trapped, caught between preserving his dignity and proving his sincerity. After several agonizing seconds, he finally spoke.
“If I do this-if I kneel down right now-will you forgive me, Aria? Can we put this behind us and start over?”
I met his gaze steadily. “Your apology is your choice, Liam. My forgiveness is my right.And the only reason I’m even here today is because my father told me this morning that you planned to kneel and apologize.”
I didn’t sugarcoat it. I didn’t leave him any room.”
He stared at me for a long moment, then slowly pushed his chair back. The legs scraped against the floor, the sound unnaturally loud in the silent room. With visible reluctance, he began to lower himself.
Just as his knee was about to touch the ground, the door burst open.
Sophia rushed in, tears streaming down her face, her perfectly made-up eyes somehow still intact despite the waterworks. Without hesitation, she dropped dramatically to her knees in front of me.
“Please forgive him, Aria!” she sobbed, grabbing at the hem of my dress. “It’s all my fault! I was the one who called him that day. I was in a terrible state and threatened to hurt myself if he didn’t come!” 1
Liam stepped forward immediately, trying to pull her up. “Sophia, stop. You don’t have to do this.”
But she pushed him away.”Don’t stop me, Liam! If Aria needs someone to beg for forgiveness, let it be me!”
He turned to me, looking helpless.”Aria… what do you want me to do?”
I looked at him coolly.”What’s wrong? Feeling sorry for her now?”
“Please, Aria!” she sobbed louder, her voice trembling just enough to sound sincere. “If you need someone to blame, let it be me!”
I stared down at her, unmoved. The performance was so over-rehearsed, my patience, already paper-thin, finally snapped.
I reached for the nearest glass of red wine-deep, dark, and untouched-and without a word, tipped it straight over her head.
The wine poured down her perfectly curled honey-blonde hair, soaking into the roots, dripping over her face and staining the neckline of her ivory silk blouse a deep, unmistakable crimson.
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She gasped-sharp and real this time-and jerked backward, staring up at me in pure disbelief.
“Aria!” Liam shouted, lunging forward to grab the cup from my hand. He threw it to the ground, where it shattered against the plush carpet. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
I watched the red wine seeping into the expensive carpet, spreading like a dark stain. Like our relationship.
“Nothing is wrong with me,” I said quietly. “For the first time in years, I see things exactly as they are.”
I turned to face Sophia, who was still kneeling, her false tears now mixed with real indignation.
“I never asked for your forgiveness,” I told her calmly. “And I certainly never asked for this pathetic display.”
Looking back at Liam, who was helping Sophia to her feet, I felt a strange sense of peace wash over me. “It’s over, ” I said simply. “All of it.”
My father stood up beside me, placing a protective hand on my shoulder.
“We’re done here,” he announced, his tone brooking no argument. “Whatever business proposals you wanted to discuss, Mr. White, you can send them through our lawyers.”
Without another word, I turned to leave. Behind me, I could hear Liam calling my name, but I didn’t look back.
In the hallway, I took a deep breath, feeling lighter than I had in months. The confrontation I’d dreaded had become my liberation.
As I walked toward the elevator, a familiar figure appeared ahead of me, his tall frame unmistakable even from a distance.
“Mr. Carter,” I said, surprised to see Aiden standing there in an impeccably tailored charcoal suit. “What are you doing here?”
“Company dinner,” he replied nonchalantly. The faint scent of whiskey lingered on his breath.
I suddenly remembered something I’d been meaning to ask him. “I’ve been thinking about what to get your grandmother as a gift when I meet her. Is there anything specific she might like?”
A slight smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “You don’t need to bring anything. Just your presence will be enough-she’ll adore you.”
My brain short-circuited for half a second.
Wait-what?
My heart stuttered.
Was he flirting with me?
I couldn’t stop the warmth creeping up my neck.”That’s kind of you to say, but I’d still like to bring something. First impressions are important.”
He looked at me, that same unreadable look in his eyes. “She’s been wanting me to settle down for years. As long as you’re my wife, she’ll love you-no gift necessary.”
Oh.
Right. Of course.
It wasn’t about me. It never was. It was about the role I filled, the box I checked. Wife.
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Not Aria.
I forced a polite smile, nodding like it didn’t sting.”Good to know.”
We started walking toward the elevator in silence. 1
Each step echoed a little too loudly in the quiet hallway. I kept my gaze forward, but my thoughts were anything but steady.
What the hell was I thinking?
Why did one line from him-one stupid smile-make me feel like a teenager with a crush?
By the time we reached the elevator, my face was hot for all the wrong reasons-embarrassment, mostly.
Then I felt him shift beside me.
“Your earring is caught in your hair,” he said, his voice low, eyes fixed just beside my ear.
I reached up instinctively, but he gently caught my hand. “Let me.”
His fingers were surprisingly gentle as they worked to free the diamond stud from the strand of hair it had tangled in. The brush of his knuckles against my neck sent an unexpected shiver down my spine.
“There,” he said softly, his hand lingering just a moment longer than necessary.
Our eyes met, and for a split second, I forgot where we were-forgot everything except the strange tension crackling between us.
Before I could formulate a reply, my father approached from behind.
“Mr. Carter,” he greeted with a nod, breaking the tension.
“Mr. Jones,” Aiden acknowledged my father with equal formality, then gestured toward the exit. “Shall we?”
Just as we were about to leave, I heard rapid footsteps behind us.
“Aria!” Liam called out, his voice desperate. “Please wait!”
I turned slowly to face him one last time. As I did, I felt Aiden’s arm slip protectively around my waist, pulling me slightly closer to him. The heat of his palm burned straight through the thin fabric of my dress, and my breath caught without warning.
The scent of his cologne enveloped me like a second skin.My heart gave a traitorous flutter.
I should’ve stepped away. I didn’t.Something about having him beside me as I faced Liam felt inexplicably right.
“What is it, Mr. White?” I asked, deliberately formal.
Liam flinched at my use of his surname. “Can we talk? Privately?”
I stared at him, truly seeing him for perhaps the first time. The man I’d loved for twelve years. The man I’d planned to spend my life with. The man who’d left me standing alone in a wedding dress.
And I felt… nothing.
No anger. No pain. No longing. Just a peaceful emptiness where those emotions used to live.
“Private conversation?” Aiden’s deep voice rumbled beside me, his arm tightening imperceptibly around my
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waist. “Is there any reason my wife can’t have this conversation in front of me?”
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