Chapter 6
“Well,” Sofia’s smile faded. “Alessandro, perhaps Miss Collins to mill upset at the other day? I did low–1 wouldn’t want to spoil your evening
As she turned to go. Alessandro caught her arm, then shot Arisa disapproving look. “the’s trying to be kind, Aria. You’ve always loved animals. Please arrept it
Seeing his displeasure, Aria dug her nails into her palms and turned to his assistant. “Would you mind watching the dog? These heels make it difficult…
The whispers started immediately how ungrateful she was, how she didn’t know her place
Alessandro, assuming she was deliberately slighting Sofia, escorted Sofia inside with a darkened expression
Left alone. Aria sipped water, willing her hands to stop shaking
She used to love dogs, before that stormy night five years ago. During a blackout, Alessandro had developed a dangerous fever. While rushing through the rain for a doctor, a neighbor’s guard dog had attacked her, tearing into
her calf.
She’d only sought treatment after ensuring Alessandro was stable. The trauma left her terrified of dogs, but she’d never told him, not wanting to add to his burdens.
Even now, through her dress, she could feel the raised scar tissue.
The elite guests, ever attuned to power shifts, followed Alessandro’s lead in snubbing Aria. During the celebration, they flocked around Sofia as if she were the guest of honor.
When Alessandro’s anger had cooled, he summoned Aria for the cake cutting. As she approached to make her wish, Sofia’s voice rang out with calculated sweetness:
“Oh, what a delightful coincidence! Miss Collins shares a birthday with Leo! We simply must celebrate together!”
Poorly concealed laughter rippled through the crowd.
Meeting Sofia’s triumphant gaze, Aria’s nails bit deeper into her palms. “In that case,” she said, her voice glacial, “let the dog blow out the candles. You can all sing to him. I’ll excuse myself.”
“Aria!” Alessandro’s voice hardened. “This is your birthday celebration. How does it look if you leave?”
She continued walking, but Alessandro caught up and gripped her arm, his voice low in her ear: “Be reasonable. Everyone here is influential. If you make a scene, it’ll get back to my family. They’ll have even more reason to
oppose us.”
Oppose us? What was there to oppose when he was already married to Sofia?
The birthday song started playing. Aria stood rigid as a statue, her smile frozen and empty.
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I Love You So Much. But 1 Just Don’t Like Ypo‘
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Chapter 6
Then someone thrust the poppy into her arms list win mawded with fear
Midway through the song, the dog squirmed and lesped, cresting into the towering champagne fountain Glass and liquid cascaded toward Arts and bodis
Screams filled the air. Through her shock widened eyes, Arie watched Alessandro pull Sofia to safety, leaving her directly in the path of the falling glass
Shards sliced her bare shudders, drawing crimson lines. Blood dripped onto her white dress, blooming like roses
She collapsed, a pained gasp escaping her lips as cold sweat headed her forehead.
Alessandro turned at the sound, but before he could move toward her, Sofia’s shriek pierced the air.
“Alessandro Leo scratched me! What if it has rabies?”
Looking at the tiny scratch on Sofia’s ankle, Alessandro hesitated, then instructed his assistant: “Take Aria to the hospital for her cuts.”
With that, he hurried out with Sofia.
The guests followed, but not before adding their barbed comments:
“Leo,‘ ‘Aria‘ how fitting. One’s a beloved pet, the other’s just a stray hoping to climb the social ladder.”
“Don’t insult the puppy by comparing it to a gold–digger.”
Every word cut deeper than the glass had.
Aria stared at her bloodstained dress, tears finally falling freely. The birthday banner crashed down in front of her.
Picking it up, she surveyed the demolished party scene through her tears. This was how her twenty–third birthday ended in ruins, just like her dreams.
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Chapter 7
