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Scrubbing a palm down my face, I pin her with serious eyes, imploring her to listen to me. “Look, I get that you are upset, but you need to listen and listen good. Yes, I should have told you and explained what was going on before you had to see it in the tabloids, but I thought I could work everything out before it came to that.” Aria glares, and I think if looks could kill, I would be six feet under. I run a hand through my hair. “My father arranged it before I knew about you and Baron. I was never going to go through with it. I just needed to bide my time. My dad… He is a powerful man, He was behind your sister's kidnapping, but it’s you he actually wanted. It was a way to control me. To bring me back when my brother died. I am his only remaining heir, and when you are the head of a society like Calvin Hastings is, then you need an heir.”
Aria stares at me like I have grown two heads. “What? What does all this mean?”
“It means that I have to go along with his plans until I find a way out.” I step closer to her, enjoying it when she shivers. She can pretend to hate me all she likes but her body knows who owns her. “It means I must keep up appearances with this engagement to keep you and Baron safe. It’s fake. I don’t want that girl; I don’t want the wedding. Theonlywoman I will make my wife isyou.”
Aria inhales a breath, her eyes glassy before they turn hard. She shakes her head. “No. You are Baron’s father, but you need to understand it when I say that we are not going to happen, I mean it. I can’t put myself through the turmoil that comes with loving you again. We need to both move on. You with that Stacey girl and me with someone else.” She straightens, and I know her next words are going to hurt me further. “I am going to start dating,” she states, and I see red.
Stepping into her, I push her against the wall and cage her in with my arms. “Like hell you are,” I growl.
“You need to let the idea of us go,” she chokes out, and, in that moment, I know she doesn’t mean it.
Leaning into her, my lips brush her ear. “No. Never. It’s me and you, Aria. It will always be me and you.” Pulling back, I eye her for a beat and then smash my lips to hers. She whimpers, her hands landing on my chest as she tries to push me away and cling to me at the same time. Her lips part, and I take that moment as my cue to push my tongue inside and taste her. Damn, I forgot how good she tastes. Howmineshe tastes.
I don’t know how long the kiss lasts, but eventually, my princess puts a stop to it. She pushes me back this time, her hand flying up to her mouth. “That shouldn’t have happened,” she whispers.
I smirk. “It’s exactly what should have happened.”
“It was a momentary lapse in judgment.”
I shake my head with a chuckle. “You can keep fooling yourself, princess, but you can’t fool me.” I point a finger at her. “You will not be dating anyone. You are mine, Aria; you know it as well as I do. And as soon as I can end my farce of an engagement, we will be together. Properly. As a family.” My tone is full of conviction. My words leaving no room for argument. Aria’s mouth pops open, her eyes wide, and with that, I leave the room. Leave her to think over what I just said as I go and get my son.
ChapterSeventeen
ARIA
Checking myself out in the full-length mirror, a smile curves my lips.
Not bad. Not bad at all.
My hair is a sleek blow dry; my face is a mix of subtle and smokey thanks to the hair stylist and make-up artist. I am wearing a little silver dress—just above the knee—with spaghetti straps and red-sole pumps. For the first time since I gave birth, I feel sexy.
“Whoa, you look hot.” My sister whistles as she enters my room.
My gaze meets hers in the mirror before I spin around to face her. “Says you. Theo is going to lose his shit tonight with you wearing that.” I jerk my head to her dress.
“Yeah, well, he has no say in the matter. I can wear what I want.” Thalia smirks as she runs her hands down the fitted, red, bandeau dress. She looks stunning, the color perfect for her skin tone. “And anyway, it’s not Theo I am worried about. Bishop is going to freak out when he sees you.”
I huff a laugh. “Yeah well, he has no say in what I wear.” I throw back her own words. After our little conversation yesterday, I have stayed away. He came to visit Baron earlier, but I left him to it and went to my room. I don’t want to be around him. I know I have no right to feel hurt and betrayed, considering I told him we would never be more, but I do. He should have told me what was going on, so I had time to process everything. Instead, he decided to let me find out in the worst way possible. I’m not going to just let that slide. He hurt me enough by leaving the first time, and now this. It’s drama that I don’t want or need. “I doubt he will come tonight; I sort of uninvited him.”
Thalia snorts, moving further into the room. “Oh, he will be there. I bet my life on it.” She drops down on my bed, her eyes meeting mine in the mirror. “Are you okay? I mean, all this can’t be easy.”
Turning to face her, I swallow down the lump in my throat and shake my head. “I hate it. I wish Bishop had never left. I wish we were a family. But he keeps disappointing me. I am so afraid he is going to do the same to Baron, and he deserves more than that.”
Her eyes soften. She pushes off the bed, closing the distance between us. Her arms wrap around me, and she holds me tight. “I know everything is messed up right now, but Bishop loves you. You only need to see the way he looks at you that the man is besotted. I know you are scared, but everything is going to work out. I just know it. Look at what Theo and I went through. If we can get through that, then there is hope for you and Bishop.”
Pulling back to look at her, I admit, “I love him, but I hate him.”
She smiles knowingly. “There is a very fine line between love and hate, sis. Honestly, just go at your own pace and what you are comfortable with. You don’t need to rush into anything. Just let it happen organically if that’s what you want. You two are meant to be together despite all that is trying to keep you apart. Yes, he has made mistakes, and for that, I don’t think you should easily forgive him, but he does love you, Aria. We all see it,” she finishes.
I huff a laugh. “When did my little sis get so wise?”
She chuckles. “Around the time that I was going through my own turmoil and you were there to help me and give me advice. Now, I want to be there for you. Remember what you said to me all those months ago?Remember who you are and straighten your crown. You are a queen, Aria Maxwell. It is about time you remember it.”
I cup her cheeks as emotion takes over. “Thank you. I couldn’t have gotten through any of this without you. I flove you, baby sis.”
“I flove you too. Now, let’s get out of here and go have some fun.”
* * *
