CHAPTER TWO
Moming light filtered through the silk curtains of their bedroom in the Holloway mansion. David’s arm snaked around Aria’s waist, pulling her closer. She tensed, memories of last night’s text message flooding back
“pood morning, beautiful.” His lips brushed her neck. She tried to shift away, but his embrace tightened, “Someone’s grumpy today.”
“I’m just tired.” The excuse sounded weak even to her ears. His hand traced lary circles on her stomach, and despite herself, she felt her resolve weakening
“Too tired for breakfast in bed?” David’s voice held that playful tone she could never resist. “Lasked Mrs. Collins to make your favorite waffles.”
Aria rolled over to face him, studying his features. How could be look so Innocent, so loving, if what the suspected was true? Maybe she had misread the text. Maybe there was another Sofia R. Maybe she was losing hermind.
“There she is.” Dad smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Limissed those eyes!
“You’re impossible.” she meant it as a complaint, but it came out fond. When he kissed her, she let herself melt into it, desperate to believe in this moment rather than last night’s doubts.
The mansion buzzed with preparation for tonight’s engagement party. Florists and caterers moved through the halls like a choreographed dance. Aria supervised the setup of the string quarter in the grand ballroom, throwing herself into work to quiet her mind.
The roses should be white, not pink,” she heard Sofa’s voice drift in from the garden. Aria’s hands stilled on the sheet music she was arranging
“You’re right.” Dand’s response camed through the open French doors, “Everything needs to be perfect for tonight.”
Aria moved closer to the doors, her heart thundering in her chest. She didn’t want to look she needed to look
The garden stretched before her, a maze of perfectly manicured hedges and blooming Bowers, David and Sodia stood by the fountain, their backs to the house. They were discussing flower arrangements Just flower arrangements. Nothing more.
Then David’s hand brushed Sofa’s ar
na second, bot Aria saw Sofia lean into it. Saw David step closer. Saw their heads turn toward each other with the gravitational pull of
The touch lasted less than a secon inevitable collision.
The kiss was gentle Almost chaste. It destroyed Aria’s world nonetheless.
She stumbled backward, bumping into someone. Strong hands steadied her
“Careful there.” Marcus Holloway’s voice anchored her to reality. She spun to face him, praying her expression didn’t betray what she’d just witnessed.
Marcus I was just.. (“What? watching your son kiss another woman?
“Admining the gardens?” He smiled knowingly. “They’re my pride and joy. The roses especially.”
White roses. Not pink Aria felt Isteria bubble in her throat and forced it down. “They’re beautiful.”
“walk with me?” He offered his arm. “I’d love your opinion on the music selection for tonight.”
She took his arm, letting him lead her away from the garden. Away from David. Away from truth she couldn’t fare,
They ended up in his study, a room that breathed old money and power. “Brandy?” he offered.
“It’s barely noon”
“Sometimes noon is when we need it most.” He studied her with shrewd eyes. “You seem tense.”
Aria accepted the crystal glass with trembling fingers. “Just pre–party nerves.‘
“Ah yes, the burden of performance.” Marcus settled into his leather chair. “You know, I’ve always admired musicians. The control required, the discipline. The ability to make other dance to your tune
“Is that what you think music is about? Control?”
“hurt everything?” He smiled over his glass. “Power, control, influence – they’re all notes in the same symphony.”
Aria took a long sip of brandy, welcoming the bum. “Sometimes the most powerful moments in musiccome from letting go of control”
“To chaos?”
“To truth” The word tasted bitter on lertongue. “Wheneverything falls apart, that
when you discover what’s cral,”
Marrus leaned forward, his expression latent. “something’s troubling you‘
“Nothing’s troubling The lie came too quick, to sharp “I’m the”
“You’re many things, Ana, but right now ‘tine‘ hart one of them His concem seemed genuine, “If there’s anything you need…
“Lerd to check on the caterers. She stood abruptly, selling dewlies half–full glass. “Thank you for the brandy,”
ΓΙ
Evening descended like a velvet curtain. Aria stood before her minor, adjusting the emerald silk of her gown. The woman staring back looked composed, elegant. A perfert Holloway lide
The engagement party swirled around beer in a blue of fares and false smiles. She played her role flawlessly–accepting congratulations, laughing at jokes, leaning
But she saw everything now. The way Sodia’s eyes followed David across the mom. The slight brush of hands as they passed each other. The loaded glances that lasted a heartbeat too long.
“You’re stunning sonigld, David wispered in her ear as they danced.
CHAPTEE TWO
Once, those words would have made het glow, Now they made her skinetaw
“so is sotia,” she replied, keeping her voice light. “That red dress suits her.”
David’s step taltered slightly. “Thadn’t noticed.”
Anotherlie She’d seen him staring when Sotia arrived.
The party seemed endless, but finally the last guests departed, David was caught up saying goodbye to his business associates. Sotia had left an hour age, claiming aheadache
Aria slipped away to their bedroom, locking the door behind her, Only then did she let the tears fall. They came in silent streams at first, then in heaving sobs that shook her entire body.
She tumbled for her laptop, barely able to see through the tears. The screen glowed to life, and her trembling fingers hovered over the keys.
As articles filled her screen, she wiped her eyes. If her world was going to bum, she wanted to know exactly who held the matches. Marcus’s earlier words echoed in hermind: Power, control, indience.
Maybe it was time she leamed to play that tune herself.
She wasn’t okay. She would never be okay again. But as she read about the Holloway empire, a different emotion began to replace her grief.
