AIDEN

ex

e. His silence was like a ticking time bomb, each second threatening to shatter the fragile

exclaimed, shocked by h

is a matter of family honor and business,

've... we've slept together," I whispere

the desk. "The alliance with the Suarez family is too imp

gs over cold, hard logic, but this was beyond what I had expected. "But Father

will marry Prince Aiden, and you will do so with a smil

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. This wasn't just about m

iness. Despite her own feelings and a shared intimate night, she's instructed to keep their encounter a secret for the sake of "honor and

gaze silenced me. "I will handle this," he said firmly. "

him when he was in this mood. With a heavy heart, I turned and lef

tornado. How could I tell Aiden the truth without losing everything? How c

my trembling fingers t

see you. It'

way. What

ou when you get

caged animal. When she finally showed up, I spilled out the en

hed, her eyes wide with shoc

murmured, feeling

arry him like this," sh

ay to save face?" I asked, des

. "You're worth more than that, Lexi. You can'

e in the chaos. Maybe she was right. Maybe it

be the hardest battle I had ever faced. I was going to have to choose between

I had to make a decision, and fast. But as I looked into Sin's eye

I admitted, my vo

ng my hands another squeeze. "Bu

, soothing the raw edges of my fear. I took

uth," I said firmly. "I ca

face. "That's the Lexi I know," she said. "No

ery possible scenario. We knew it wasn't going to be eas

we would be meeting for the first time as designer and client. It was risky

I wore a simple, yet elegant dress, one that made me feel powerful and confident.

feel a sense of déjà vu. The opulence was overwhelming, and I felt like an impost

ise. "Alexia," he said, his voice filled with

s was my moment. I had to tell him everything. But as I op

ing is about to begin,"

ple who all turned to stare at me. My heart hammered in my chest. This was

eep breath and stepped forward. "Aiden, I need to t

o us, and the tension grew th

, leaning in so only he could hea

his jaw tightened. "Wha

d, the words coming out in a rush. "I can't l

en truth hanging heavily between us. And in that moment, I knew that no