Chapter 14
The awards ceremony is in full swing, but I’m not in the mood to celebrate. I’m sitting at a round table, staring at Brandon across the room with a hard expression.
My fingers are tapping against the side of my glass, the sound of it annoying me, but I can’t stop. Everything in me feels tight, like I’m about to snap at any second.
Brandon’s over there, like he owns the room. He’s talking to some other woman, his usual charm on full display. But it’s not working on me.
Not anymore. Every time I look at him, I remember the lies, the pain, the betrayal.
I take another gulp of my drink, trying to calm down, but it’s impossible. How am I supposed to relax when he’s here?
Harry notices my stiff posture and the way my eyes are practically burning holes into Brandon.
He leans over, putting a hand on my arm in a gentle but firm way.
“Aria, you need to breathe. Just relax, okay?”
I look at him, but my frustration is clear. “Relax? How am I supposed to relax when he’s here?” I gesture toward Brandon with my chin, my voice rougher than I intended.
Harry sighs and lowers his voice, as if he’s trying to keep things calm. “I get it, I do. But this is your night. Don’t let him ruin it. You’re here for you, not him.”
I shake my head, my gaze flicking back to Brandon. “You don’t understand. I can’t just forget everything he’s done. I can’t pretend like he hasn’t been screwing with my mind for months.”
“I’m not asking you to forget,” Harry says gently, his voice steady.
“But I want you to focus on what you’re doing tonight. You’re here to be you, not to fight with him in your head.”
I bite my lip, trying to calm down, but it’s not working.
Every time I look at Brandon, I feel anger rising up inside me. The very idea of him asking me to come back, to forgive him for everything… it makes me sick.
“I don’t know how,” I mutter. “I just… I’m not there yet. I’m not ready to be okay.”
Harry squeezes my hand, giving me a reassuring smile, but I can tell he’s worried.
“I get that. But let’s just get through tonight, yeah? Don’t let him steal any more of your energy.”
I nod, but I don’t feel any better. The anger is still there, bubbling under the surface, and I can’t push it away.
I try to focus on the conversations happening around me, on the people enjoying the night, but my mind keeps drifting back to Brandon.
After what feels like hours of pretending to be okay, the ceremony finally ends..
The lights flicker, and the crowd begins to disperse, some people heading to the after–party, others just heading home. I stand up, feeling the weight of the night settle on my shoulders.
Harry looks at me, giving me a small smile. “You made it through,” he says, his voice light.
I nod, but my mind is still miles away. “Yeah. Barely.”
As we make our way toward the exit, I hear someone call my name. It’s a voice I would recognize anywhere.
“Aria!”
I freeze. I don’t want to turn around. I don’t want to deal with him right now. But against my better judgment, I do.
Brandon is standing there, his expression… serious. Almost pleading. The sight of him makes my stomach churn, but I can’t look away.
“Aria, wait,” he says, stepping toward me.
Harry’s hand tightens around mine as he pulls me closer, standing between me and Brandon.
as “This isn’t the time, man,” Harry warns, his voice low.
But Brandon doesn’t listen. He drops to one knee right in front of me, his face a mixture of desperation and sincerity. My heart sinks. What is he doing?
“Aria,” he says, his voice cracking slightly, “I know I’ve messed up. I know I’ve hurt you, but I can’t stop thinking about you. I can’t live without you.”
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small, velvet box, opening it to reveal a ring. “Marry me, Aria. Please.”
I freeze. For a moment, everything goes silent. The world slows down, and I can feel my heart pounding in my chest. This is not happening.
The ring. He’s asking me to marry him. After everything.
I glance at Harry, who’s standing a few steps away, looking at me with a mix of concern and confusion.
He’s not surprised by Brandon’s actions, but I can tell he’s just as frustrated as I am.
I shake my head slowly, my voice quiet but firm “Brandon, stop. Just… stop embarrassing yourself.”
He looks up at me, his face pleading, like he doesn’t understand why I won’t take him back. “Aria, please. I made a mistake. I want to make it right. I can’t lose you again.”
I feel a rush of anger. The nerve of him. After everything he put me through, after all the lies, and now he thinks he can just waltz back into my life with a ring?
“Embarrassing myself?” I repeat, my voice rising. “You think this is about me? You’re the one who looks like an idiot right now.”
Brandon flinches, but I don’t care. “You don’t get it, do you? You don’t get that I’m not the same person I was when I was with you. I’m not the girl who’ll fall for your charm anymore. I’m not the girl you can just walk back into and ask to be with you again.”
His face falls, but he doesn’t move. “Aria, I-”
“No,” I cut him off, my voice steady and cold. “I’m done, Brandon. I’m done with you. I don’t need you anymore, and I don’t want you anymore.”
I look at Harry, who’s watching the exchange with a hard expression, but there’s a hint of relief in his eyes.
“Let’s go,” I say to Harry, not even giving Brandon another glance.
Harry nods, his hand still on mine as he leads me away. We step out into the cool night air, and I feel the weight of the world lift off afy shoulders. For the first time in a long time, I
Chapter 14
feel free
I glance at Harry, my voice softer now. “Thank you for being here. For everything.”
He smiles at me, his eyes warm. “Always, Aria. Always.”
