Chapter 13
Aria’s POV
The smell of fresh coffee and pastries woke me the next morning. For a moment, disoriented by the familiar ceiling of my childhood bedroom, I almost forgot the events of the previous night. Then reality crashed back—Ethan's scene at Pantheon, Devon's conditional second chance, and the proposal I needed to perfect before tonight.
I checked the time: 9:30 AM. I'd only slept a few hours, but there was no time to waste. After a quick shower, I dressed in a simple black turtleneck and jeans from the few clothes I kept at the mansion. As I descended the stairs, voices from the dining room grew louder—my father's deep authoritative tone, Victoria's practiced melodious laughter, and Scarlett's artificially sweet responses.
Taking a deep breath, I stepped into the dining room. The conversation halted abruptly.
"Well, look who's decided to join us," my father said, lowering his newspaper. William Harper, with his silver-streaked dark hair and perpetually disapproving expression, dominated the head of the table as he did every boardroom.
"Aria!" Scarlett exclaimed with false brightness, rising slightly from her seat. "Oh my, we had no idea you came home last night! I would have set another place for breakfast." She moved toward the sideboard where the extra plates were kept, her flowing white dress making her look like the picture of innocence.
"Don't trouble yourself," I said coolly, helping myself to coffee.
"Where were you last night, young lady?" My father's tone was sharp. "You know I don't appreciate you coming and going at all hours without informing anyone."
I bit back a laugh. "I wasn't aware I needed to report my movements. I'm twenty-four, not fourteen."
"While you're under my roof—"
"I was working," I interrupted, taking a seat as far from Scarlett as possible. "Some of us have actual jobs and responsibilities."
Victoria cleared her throat delicately. "William, darling, Aria is right. She's a businesswoman with her own schedule now." Her perfectly manicured hand rested on my father's arm in a calculated gesture of mediation.
Scarlett returned with a place setting for me, her smile never reaching her eyes. "Here you go, sis."
"Thanks," I replied, adding pointedly, "You're really good at taking things that aren't yours."
The table fell silent. Scarlett's smile faltered for just a second before she recovered. "I don't know what you mean."
My father glared at me. "Aria, that's enough. Scarlett is being kind, which is more than I can say for you this morning."
I sipped my coffee, refusing to back down. "Just an observation."
The atmosphere grew heavy with tension. Victoria, ever the expert at manipulation, smoothly changed the subject.
"Did you hear about Ethan?" she asked, her voice a perfect blend of concern and gossip. "He was in a car accident last night. Nothing too serious, apparently, but he's in the hospital for observation."
I froze, my cup halfway to my lips.
"How terrible," Scarlett murmured, her eyes downcast in a performance of distress.
Victoria continued, "Perhaps you girls should visit him today. I'm sure he'd appreciate seeing both of you."
"Both of us?" I repeated incredulously. "I'm sure Scarlett's presence would be more than enough for him."
Scarlett's cheeks flushed. "I promise I won't bother him anymore, Aria. I know you two are meant to be together."
I nearly choked on my coffee. "Are you serious right now?"
"Aria," my father warned.
"No, really, I want to hear this." I turned to face Scarlett directly. "You sleep with my boyfriend, and now you're promising not to 'bother him anymore'? How generous of you."
"That's enough!" My father slammed his hand on the table. "I won't have you making these outrageous accusations against your sister!"
"Scarlett has denied any inappropriate relationship with Ethan, and I believe her," my father continued, his face reddening with anger. "You've been acting out since your mother's anniversary, and while I understand you're emotional, I won't tolerate these baseless attacks."
I laughed bitterly. "Baseless? I have evidence—"
"Whatever you think you have," my father cut me off, "it doesn't change the fact that the Blake-Harper merger depends on your engagement to Ethan. The contract has been drawn up, and the announcement will proceed as planned next month."
I stared at him in disbelief. Even with everything that had happened, he was still pushing this arranged marriage for business purposes. Looking at his unyielding expression, I knew further argument was futile. My father had never been one to let personal feelings interfere with business opportunities, not even when those feelings were his daughter's.
I sat in stony silence for the remainder of breakfast, picking at the food I had no appetite for. My father finished his coffee and stood.
"I have a board meeting this morning. We'll discuss your behavior later, Aria." With that final threat hanging in the air, he kissed Victoria's cheek, patted Scarlett's shoulder affectionately, and left without so much as a glance in my direction.
The moment the front door closed behind him, Victoria's pleasant facade dissolved.
"You really need to stop this childish vendetta against Scarlett," she said, her voice low and dangerous. "Your father believes her version of events, not yours. All you're doing is damaging your own standing in this family."
"What family?" I scoffed. "This isn't a family. It's a business arrangement with living quarters."
Scarlett's innocent expression twisted into something uglier. "You're just bitter because Daddy loves me more now. And because Ethan prefers me."
I stood up, gathering my papers and laptop. "Keep telling yourself that, Scarlett. Enjoy my leftovers."
Victoria's eyes narrowed. "Your father is considering removing you from the board of Harper Group if you continue this behavior. Is that what you want?"
Instead of answering, I simply gave them the middle finger as I walked out, enjoying the scandalized gasp from Victoria and Scarlett's outraged "How dare you!"
I headed for the front door, my mind already shifting to the day ahead and the critical meeting with Devon tonight. As I reached for the handle, my phone rang. The screen displayed "Marianne Blake."
I hesitated, then answered. "Marianne, good morning."
"Aria, dear," Marianne's voice was strained with worry. "Ethan was in an accident last night. He's been asking for you since he regained consciousness. He keeps saying your name. Could you... would you please come to the hospital?"
I closed my eyes, a wave of conflicting emotions washing over me. Part of me wanted to refuse outright, to tell her that Ethan's problems were no longer mine. But I just can't say no to Marianne.
"He's manipulating you to get to me, Marianne," I said, unable to keep the bitterness from my voice.
"Perhaps," she admitted softly. "But I'm worried about him, Aria. I've never seen him like this."
I sighed, already regretting my decision. "Which hospital?"
"Mount Sinai. Thank you, Aria. I know this isn't easy for you."