Aria’s POV.
I wasn’t going to let Sarah walk away like that-not after everything she’d just said to me. Her smugness, her veiled threats, her constant interference-it was all too much. She thought she could manipulate me, drive a wedge between Zander and me, and get away with it? Not a chance.
As soon as she left the drawing room, I followed her. My footsteps were quiet against the marble floor, but my heart was pounding loud enough to echo in my ears. She turned down the hallway leading to the guest rooms, her hips swaying in that exaggerated way she always did when she thought someone might be watching.
I kept my distance but didn’t take my eyes off her. Something about the way she carried herself now, with that falsely confident stride, made my blood boil. It was as if she thought she’d won.
When she reached the door to her room, I stepped forward, my voice sharp and cutting through the silence like a blade.
“Sarah.”
She froze, her hand hovering over the doorknob. For a moment, she didn’t turn around, and I could see the tension ripple through her shoulders. When she finally faced me, her expression was carefully neutral, but her eyes betrayed the slightest flicker of irritation.
“Aria,” she said in a voice that was smooth and sweet, as if she had dipped her words in honey. Her tone was calm and light, but there was something sharp underneath it, like the edge of a knife. “Is there something else you wanted to accuse me of? Or have you already said everything that’s on your mind?” She tilted her head slightly, pretending to be curious, but I could see the mocking look in her eyes. It was as if she was daring me to respond, as if she enjoyed watching me get upset.
I crossed my arms tightly over my chest, holding my ground as I took a step closer to her. “I’m not finished with you yet,” I said, keeping my voice steady and firm. “You don’t just get to walk away after what you just did. You don’t get to act like everything’s fine and expect me to stay quiet. Not after the stunt you pulled. We’re not done until you hear exactly what I have to say.” My words were sharp, but I made sure every one of them was clear. I wasn’t going to let her shrug this off or pretend like it didn’t matter.
Her lips curved upward into a smile, but there wasn’t an ounce of kindness or warmth in it. It was the kind of smile that made you feel colder, not warmer. “Oh, really?” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “And what exactly would that be? Another one of your long speeches about how I’m such a terrible friend? Another lecture about how I’ve let you down? Spare me, Aria. Honestly, I’ve heard it all before. You don’t have anything new to say.” She crossed her arms too, like she was trying to show she wasn’t bothered, but I could see through her act.
I didn’t let her sarcastic tone get to me. I kept my focus and stepped closer to her again, closing the distance between us until only a few feet remained. “You think you’ve got the upper hand here,” I said, my voice calm but full of meaning. “You think that just because you showed Zander those messages, you’ve somehow managed to knock me down or make me lose my place here. But let me tell you something, Sarah-you’re wrong. Completely wrong. If anything, what you did only reminded Zander of one very important thing: exactly who I am to him, and why I matter to him more than you ever could.”
Her smile wavered for just a second, and I saw her eyes narrow as if she was trying to figure out what I meant. She was still smiling, but I could tell she wasn’t as confident as before. “And what’s that supposed to mean?” she asked, her voice a little less steady now.
I let my arms fall to my sides, no longer needing to shield myself, and I took one more step closer. My voice dropped, becoming lower and steadier, filled with a confidence I knew would hit her hard. “Zander isn’t upset because of the messages you showed him,” I said slowly, making sure each word hit its mark. “He’s not angry at me for not telling him about them. Do you know why he’s actually mad, Sarah?” I didn’t wait for her to answer. I wanted her to feel the weight of what I was about to say.
She didn’t say anything, but I didn’t need her to. I saw the way her jaw tightened, the way her fingers twitched ever so slightly at her sides. She was trying so hard to stay calm, to act like my words didn’t bother her, but I could see the cracks starting to show. She wasn’t as composed as she wanted me to believe.
“He’s mad because he kissed me,” I said, my words slow and deliberate, letting each one sink in. “And it wasn’t just any kiss, Sarah. It wasn’t an accident or something meaningless. He kissed me because he couldn’t stand the thought of someone else even *thinking* about me. It drove him crazy. It made him jealous. That’s why he’s mad-not at me, but at himself for feeling that way. And you know what? He doesn’t regret it.”
For the first time, her carefully crafted mask of indifference cracked. The fake smile she always wore fell apart, and for a brief moment, I saw something raw and real flash across her face. It was jealousy-pure, unfiltered jealousy. The kind of jealousy she had tried so hard to hide behind her sugary words and fake, sweet smiles. She couldn’t hide it anymore, not after what I’d just told her.
I smiled softly, just a faint curve of my lips, as I tilted my head slightly to the side and kept going. “And do you want to know something else, Sarah?” I said, my voice calm but carrying a deeper meaning. “That kiss between Zander and me? It wasn’t because he was upset or angry. It wasn’t out of frustration or some kind of fleeting emotion. It was something much stronger than that. It was possessive, like he was claiming me as his. It was passionate, like he couldn’t hold back what he was feeling anymore. That kiss wasn’t just a random moment-it was a reminder of exactly where I stand in his life. It showed me exactly how much space I take up in his heart and mind. So while you’re busy trying to sneak your way into his world, trying to get him to notice you or pay attention to you, let me make one thing perfectly clear: Zander isn’t thinking about *you*. Not even a little bit. He’s thinking about *me*. I’m the one he wants, Sarah, not you.”
Her expression changed immediately, hardening like a wall slamming into place. Her lips pressed together into a thin, tight line, and her eyes narrowed in frustration. “You seem so sure of yourself,” she said, her voice cutting through the air like a knife. There was bitterness in her tone, a sharpness that showed how my words had hit her where it hurt. “You talk big for someone who’s stuck in a marriage without love,” she added, her words dripping with venom. “Just because he kissed you, it doesn’t mean anything, Aria. You’re nothing but a convenience to him. That’s all you are. You’re just *there*. You’re easy. Don’t fool yourself into thinking it’s something more than that.”
I couldn’t help but laugh softly at her words, shaking my head as I let her bitterness roll off me like water. “If that’s what you need to tell yourself to feel better, then go ahead,” I said lightly, my tone calm but carrying a hint of amusement. “If it helps you sleep at night, that’s fine by me. But let me give you a little piece of advice, Sarah. You might want to stop wasting your time playing these silly little games you’re so fond of. Because, honestly, they’re not working, and they never will. Oh, and one more thing-you should probably start thinking about making other plans for tomorrow. I don’t think you’re going to be joining us on the trip to Thailand anymore.” I kept my tone light, almost casual, but the meaning behind my words was sharp enough to cut.
Her eyes widened slightly, her confidence finally cracking as the jealousy on her face was replaced by something else-shock. Pure, unfiltered shock. “What?” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. It wasn’t loud or dramatic, but the disbelief in her tone was clear. She wasn’t expecting that, and it showed.
“Oh, you heard me,” I said, letting my voice take on a sweet tone, though there was an unmistakable edge underneath it. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to come along on the trip anymore. Zander and I don’t need any distractions while we’re away, and after everything that’s happened today, I think it’s pretty clear that you’re not exactly… welcome in our plans anymore. You’ve made yourself unwelcome, Sarah. And that’s not something I can ignore.” My words were calm but firm, leaving no room for argument.
Her mouth opened slightly, like she was about to say something, but no sound came out. She was completely stunned, too shocked to form a proper response. Her mind was racing, but I could tell she couldn’t figure out what to say. I could see it in her eyes-the way they darted back and forth, the way her lips moved but no words came. She was trying to come up with something, anything, but nothing seemed to fit. For the first time, Sarah looked completely lost.
I took a step back, putting a little space between us as I gave her one final look. “You should start packing your things, Sarah,” I said, my voice calm and steady. “But not for Thailand. You should be packing for home. Because you won’t be coming with us.” I didn’t wait for her to respond. I didn’t need to. I had said everything I needed to say, and there was nothing left for her to argue.
With that, I turned around and walked away, leaving her standing there, frozen in place, completely speechless. I didn’t look back as I moved farther away. I didn’t need to see her face again to know what she was feeling. I could feel the weight of her silence behind me. She had no idea what to do, and that was exactly how I wanted it.
As I walked back toward my room, a deep sense of satisfaction began to settle over me, warming me from the inside out. Sarah had pushed too far this time. She thought she could mess with me, thought she could come between me and Zander, but she had made a mistake. She had overplayed her hand, and now she was finally facing the consequences of her actions. She wasn’t as clever as she thought she was.
Zander was mine. He had always been mine, and he always would be. No one, not even my so-called best friend, was going to change that. No one was going to take him away from me. Not Sarah. Not anyone.