Aria’s POV.
I stood there, caught between them like a spectator at the edge of a battlefield, unsure of what to say or do. The weight of their history hung in the air, pressing down on me, and I realized with a sinking feeling that this encounter was far from over.
But I wasn’t here to play peacekeeper.
I wasn’t here to stand between Zander and Asher like some kind of mediator, trying to ease the tension or calm the storm that was brewing between them. No, I had no intention of smoothing things over or pretending everything was fine. I was done with that.
The weight of Zander’s control, his possessiveness, had been suffocating me for far too long, and I wasn’t going to let him dictate my every move anymore. If he thought he could intimidate me into submission, he was sorely mistaken.
So, instead of stepping away or backing down, I deliberately stepped closer to Asher, my movements slow, a small smile playing on my lips as I tilted my head up to meet his gaze.
“Are you staying here as well?” I asked, my tone light, casual, but with just enough warmth to make sure Zander noticed. I could feel his eyes boring into me from behind, his silent fury pressing down on the back of my neck, but I refused to acknowledge him. This moment wasn’t about him.
Asher nodded, his dark, piercing eyes never leaving mine. He didn’t seem fazed by Zander’s presence or the tension crackling in the air around us. If anything, he looked amused, though it was subtle-just a flicker of something in the way his lips curved slightly at the edges. “I am,” he replied smoothly, his voice rich and calm, as if we were the only two people in the room. “Business, mostly,” he added with an elegant shrug, “but I might allow myself some time to relax. This place does seem worth indulging in.”
“That’s wonderful,” I said, letting my tone soften, deliberately warm and inviting. I smiled a little brighter, knowing exactly what I was doing. “You must join us for dinner tonight. It’ll be good to catch up and hear more about what you’ve been up to.” The invitation rolled off my tongue easily, but I could feel the ripple of tension it caused behind me.
Before Asher could even respond, Zander’s hand shot out, his fingers wrapping tightly around my wrist in a grip that was firm but not painful-yet. It was a silent warning, one I chose to ignore. “Aria,” Zander said through gritted teeth, his voice low, sharp, and dangerous, each word laced with barely controlled fury. “A word.”
I turned to him slowly, meeting his stormy gaze with a calm defiance that I knew would only push him further. My expression was deliberately composed, almost bored, as if his anger didn’t faze me at all. “Is something wrong, husband?” I asked, my voice dripping with mock sweetness, my eyebrows raising in feigned innocence.
His grip tightened slightly, his fingers pressing into my skin, but I didn’t flinch. He wouldn’t dare make a scene. Not here. Not in front of Asher, who was watching us with quiet amusement, his sharp eyes missing nothing. For all his anger and possessiveness, Zander was careful about appearances. He wouldn’t risk losing control in public, and I knew it.
“Excuse us,” Zander said curtly, his tone barely masking his simmering anger as he pulled me a few steps away from the bar, just far enough that Asher wouldn’t hear what was about to be said.
“What the hell are you doing?” he hissed, his voice low but sharp, the kind of tone that would have made most people cower. But I wasn’t most people. I tilted my head slightly, meeting his glare head-on.
“Being polite,” I replied sweetly, though my voice was laced with venom. I didn’t bother hiding the edge in my tone, nor did I try to placate him. I was done playing the obedient wife, the silent, docile partner he wanted me to be.
“You’re trying to humiliate me,” he snapped, his eyes blazing with fury, the intensity of his anger barely contained.
“Humiliate you?” I repeated, my voice dripping with mock innocence. I tilted my head further, as if I was genuinely puzzled. “Why would I do that?”
“You’re playing with fire, Aria,” he warned, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper that sent a shiver down my spine. But I didn’t back away. If anything, I leaned in closer, a small, defiant smile curving my lips.
“Good,” I said softly, my voice steady and unflinching. “Maybe it’s time you got burned.”
His jaw tightened at my words, his nostrils flaring as he struggled to control the anger that threatened to spill over. For a moment, I thought he might snap, that the carefully constructed mask he wore in public might crack. But then, abruptly, he released my wrist, his fingers twitching slightly as they fell to his side. His breathing was heavy, his chest rising and falling as he tried to rein himself in.
“Go ahead,” he said finally, his voice sharp and bitter, each word cutting like a blade. “Invite him. But don’t forget, Aria-you’re mine. And I don’t share.”
I didn’t respond. There was nothing left to say. Instead, I turned on my heel, my head held high as I walked back to Asher. I didn’t glance back at Zander-I didn’t need to. I could feel the heat of his gaze burning into my back, the weight of his fury following me like a shadow. But I didn’t care. Let him seethe. Let him stew in his anger and possessiveness. I wasn’t his possession, no matter how much he wanted to believe otherwise. And no matter what it took, I would make him realize that.