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He stood over her, his chest heaving from the excursion. “There will be no more music in this house. Maybe if you’re lucky, your husband will allow it.” His voice dipped. “I hope he does,” he added in a softer voice that held a hint of sadness.
“Goodnight, Ariella.” He stepped around her and left her.
She choked back a sob, determined to keep herself together until she was alone in her room.
“What the fuck?” Finn gasped as he entered. “Are you okay?”
“She’s fine.” Bastian’s voice crept in behind Finn. Ariella nodded.
“I’m all right.” She took a deep breath. She needed to get off the floor and up to her room where she could think.
She looked up and found Bastian standing over her. She expected him to gloat. The timing was perfect for one of his lectures.
“C’mon.” He extended his hand to her and helped haul her to her feet. His hand lingered around hers after she steadied herself.
“Thanks,” she whispered, gently untangling her hand from his.
“I’ll get someone to come clean this up.” Finn disappeared through the door.
It hadn’t been fair of her to expect Finn to lie to his boss. Her father would rage at her, but he could and would do worse to Finn.
“My guitar is in your car,” she said after a silent moment. The only instrument safe from her father’s temper.
“I’ll keep it until your father leaves tomorrow. Just to be safe,” he said. “You were wrong tonight, Ariella. Sneaking around like that. It was wrong.”
“I know.” She tensed her jaw. The last thing she needed was more guilt.
“But you were amazing on that stage.”
She jerked her eyes up to his. An hour ago, that compliment would have sent her heart racing. But now, seeing the carnage of her father’s anger around her, she could only feel sad.
“Thanks.” She turned on her heel. “I’m going to bed.” Where hopefully, she’d be swallowed whole and wouldn’t have to face her future in the morning.
“Good night.” His tense voice followed her out of the room.
She walked up the stairs to her room, the haze that had been elation only a short time ago now a thick fog of anger and sorrow. What was she going to do now? Her father wouldn’t let her live her own life or find her own path. He would force her down the aisle.
“He was wrong, you know.” Aunt Ursa’s voice caught Ariella as she walked past her rooms.
Ariella paused.
“You look absolutely devastated. Come on in, sweetie, let’s talk it out.” She stepped out into the hallway and gestured for Ariella to enter her suite of rooms.
Her father had told her to stay away from her aunt. Her father had also told her to stay away from the stage. She glanced back at the stairs.
The sound of the piano keys being struck as someone cleaned up the mess downstairs floated to her ears.
Ariella firmed her jaw and walked straight into her aunt’s suite.
CHAPTER4
Ariella
* * *
Ursa closedthe door behind Ariella. The quiet of the open space amplified the click of the door latching.
Standing at the coffee table between two couches, Ariella stared blankly toward the large windows looking out at her father’s vast estate below. Her insides still shook with rage, but there was something else, a deep sorrow for what she lost, for what she stood to lose if she followed her father’s orders.
