A Fresh Start

Aria POV

The time had come. It was supposed to be the day Cole and I took center stage and revealed what had been smoldering for so long. Our involvement. The authentic one, not the phony one that had begun as merely a fix for an issue. A strategy to shield ourselves, our family, and the vineyard from the expanding network of dishonesty and fraud.

I couldn't shake the feeling that I wasn't who I was a month ago when I looked at my image in the bathroom mirror. The expression in the woman's eyes changed as she stared back at me. She had experienced more than she ever could have imagined. They had tested her. Pushed past boundaries she was unaware of. However, here she was—living the rest of her life with a man who had been a stranger but who had developed into her companion, defender, and—somehow, in a sense she still didn't quite comprehend—her love.

I had no idea when the barriers I had put up around my heart began to come down. Perhaps it was the peaceful times we spent together, discussing our concerns and dreams while sitting in the grape house late at night. Perhaps it was the way he had supported me when the outside world attempted to rip us apart. Perhaps he saw something in me that I was unaware of, based on the way he stared at me when he thought I wasn't looking.

I was startled out of my reverie by a knock on the door.

"Aria?" Cole spoke in a steady, low voice. I had always found solace in his tone, but today it was more. It had the feel of a pledge.

As I straightened my clothing, I yelled out, "Just a second." I felt both powerful and vulnerable at the same time because of the way the crimson satin clung to my body. It was a statement more than just an outfit. A fresh start. My fresh start.

Cole was standing there when I answered the door, looking like the strong businessman he was. As usual, his demeanor was impenetrable, his hair was groomed nicely, and he wore a black suit. However, his eyes... His eyes had softened today, and I pondered whether he shared my sense of being on the brink of something significant and transformative.

He remarked, "You look stunning," in a voice barely audible above a whisper, and I briefly caught a glimpse of something in his eyes. Something tangible.

I gave him a smile that fell short of my eyes and murmured, "Thank you." Despite the knots in my gut, I had learned to ignore them. "Are you prepared?"

Cole gave a nod. I was grounded by his warm touch as his hand reached for mine. We just stood there silently for a while. Between us, the weight of what we were going to do lingered in the air. This wasn't merely a global declaration. It was the start of a chapter in our story that none of us had anticipated but that we were both now prepared to write.

\---

When we got there, the press conference was in disarray. I had become accustomed to the sound of cameras flashing and reporters yelling questions during the last few weeks, but today was different. Everything seemed magnified today. The media wanted to know about us, not just the vineyard or our company. Regarding our partnership. Regarding the veracity of this.

I looked at Cole at my side. I could see the stress in the way his jaw tensed, even though he was wearing his typical stoic, confident expression. He was also anxious. He simply didn't display it.

We stood at the podium with the microphone in front of us. As I stood next to him, I felt like the entire world was resting on my shoulders. This was more than simply an engagement announcement; it was the beginning of something more significant and intricate than any of us had anticipated.

As he spoke to the reporters, Cole cleared his throat and spoke steadily. "I appreciate you coming. Aria and I are going to make a very private news today. The room went silent for a while as he turned to face me. I could see the honesty in his eyes as his gaze softened. "We have been engaged. Contrary to what many have assumed, this is not merely a collaboration for the vineyard. This is true. This is about two individuals who have discovered something unexpected in one another, and we have decided to move forward as a couple.

Almost instantly, there was an overwhelming volume of questions in the room, yet Cole's presence appeared to demand silence.

Is this engagement a component of a bigger business plan, Cole? Is it romantic? A reporter inquired in a piercing tone.

With an unwavering tone, Cole stated, "This engagement is built on something more than just business." "We're making this choice because Aria and I have genuine feelings for each other. Together, we have experienced a great deal, and we are prepared to face the future.

My throat tightened with each breath. His remarks struck a deep chord with me despite their simplicity. Saving the vineyard wasn't the only goal here. This went beyond legacy and business transactions. We were the focus. I knew I was prepared for this at that very time. All set to do it. All set to be with him in real life.

As the media turned to face me for my reaction, I could feel their gaze on me. I tried to steady my breathing by swallowing forcefully, but the nerves returned. Even though I was used to being in the spotlight, this felt different. It was a personal matter.

Cole's hand on the small of my back helped me navigate the flurry of flashing lights as I took a step forward.

I said, "We're engaged," with a strong voice despite my pounding heart. And it's not only for our families or the vineyard. It's for us. Together, we have created something tangible. We have faced and will continue to confront obstacles, but this— "This is the beginning of something new," I said, pausing as my eyes met Cole's. A new era for both of us.

The room became quiet once more. The rumbling and the pressing had stopped. The world was watching me, waiting to see if we would make it, and I could feel the weight of the situation. I was waiting to see if this was the beginning of something real. The light of the cameras was visible to me, but it now seemed far away. This was more than a show. It was for us.

\---

The air outside felt heavy with unsaid words after the news briefing. The reporters had temporarily stopped talking, but the question was still weighing heavily on my thoughts.

Was this sufficient?

I couldn't get rid of the feeling that something unexpected was going to happen as we made our way to the car. There was a lot of tension between us, and the ride to the estate was quiet. Cole wasn't looking at me when I looked at him. His mind was elsewhere, as evidenced by his tightened jaw.

"Cole?" I broke the pause with a quiet statement.

His eyes met mine as he turned to face me. I could notice the change, but his face was unreadable. The way he changed.

Unsure of how to express the questions that had been bothering me, I started, "I've been thinking about what you said earlier." Regarding your past... with my relatives. The vineyard.

For the first time today, he appeared aloof as his eyes hardened. "It's complicated," he added in a hushed, almost defensive voice. "Ariana, there are things I haven't told you. I'm not yet ready to share certain things.

A knot in my stomach tightened. "What are you saying? Are you withholding anything from me regarding the true reason for our marriage?

Cole was silent for a while. The quiet lingered, heavy and dense. And the automobile squealed to a stop as I opened my mouth to speak again.

My heart was pounding as I gazed out the window. In the distance, a person stepped out of the darkness. A man.

It was the same dude I saw at the news conference earlier.

The man stepped forward and met my eyes through the window before I could ask Cole who it was. That's when I realized.

This was not the end of it.