Chapter 28
Aria’s POV
Father's black Bentley glided through the Manhattan traffic, its luxurious interior silent save for the soft hum of the air conditioning. I watched the familiar buildings pass by, gradually recognizing the route we were taking.
"Dad, why are we heading to Mount Sinai Hospital?" I asked, the realization dawning on me with growing irritation.
William Harper didn't take his eyes off his phone as he replied, "Today is Ethan's discharge day. The Blakes and Harpers are having a small gathering to celebrate."
"And you didn't think to mention this earlier?" I struggled to keep my voice level. "I have no interest in seeing Ethan, especially after everything that's happened. It's pointless."
Father finally looked up, his expression hardening. "Pointless? You're his fiancée, Aria. How many times have you visited him during his hospitalization? This isn't just about you two—it's about our families."
"Ex-fiancée," I corrected, folding my arms across my chest. "And he's perfectly fine. It was a minor accident."
"An accident caused by Devon Kane," Father reminded me with a pointed look. "The same man whose company you're so desperate to work with. I find that connection rather concerning."
I bit back a retort. If Father knew the true nature of my "connection" with Devon, he'd be more than concerned. The memory of Devon's hands on my body sent an involuntary shiver through me.
"Aria," Father continued, his tone softening slightly, "you're an adult now. It's time you learned how to handle these relationships properly. The merger between Harper Group and Blake Fashion is too important to jeopardize over a lovers' quarrel."
"Is that all I am to you? A business asset?" The words escaped before I could stop them.
Father's jaw tightened, but before he could respond, the car pulled up to the hospital entrance.
Marianne Blake was waiting in the hospital lobby, elegant as always in a tailored navy suit that complemented her silver-streaked hair. Her face brightened when she saw me.
"Aria, darling, you came," she said, taking my hands in hers. Her grip was warm and firm, a stark contrast to her son's hesitant touches. "Ethan will be so pleased."
I forced a smile, feeling a genuine pang of affection for Marianne. Unlike Ethan, she had always been kind to me, even after our breakup. She was my mother's friend long before she became my almost-mother-in-law.
"I'm here for you, Marianne," I said honestly. "How is he doing?"
"Much better now that he's being discharged," she replied, leading us toward the elevators. "Though he's been quite difficult with the nurses. You know how he hates hospitals."
As we rode up to Ethan's floor, Marianne leaned closer to me. "I want you to know, Aria, that the Blake family still considers you our future daughter-in-law. Whatever happened between you and Ethan... well, young couples have their troubles."
I stiffened, unsure how to respond. William nodded approvingly. "And the Harpers still consider Ethan our future son-in-law."
"Has anyone bothered to ask what I consider Ethan?" I muttered under my breath.
The elevator doors opened before either of them could respond. Marianne led us down the corridor to a private room, knocking gently before pushing the door open.
Ethan Blake sat on the edge of the hospital bed, fully dressed in what I recognized as one of his own designs—a perfectly tailored light gray suit that made his blue eyes seem even brighter. His arm was in a sling, and a fading bruise colored his left cheekbone. Despite these injuries, he looked remarkably composed and handsome.
His face lit up when he saw me. "Aria, you came." The smile he gave me was the same one that had once made my heart race. Now, I felt nothing but a vague discomfort.
"Hello, Ethan," I said flatly.
William stepped forward, holding out a bouquet of lilies I hadn't noticed him carrying. "These are from Aria. She picked them out herself."
I shot my father an incredulous look, which he pointedly ignored. The lilies were definitely not from me—I knew Ethan was allergic to them, a fact my father had apparently forgotten.
Ethan accepted the flowers with a slight grimace that he quickly masked with a smile. "Thank you, Aria. It means a lot that you're thinking of me."
"No problem," I replied coolly. "It was the least I could do."
"Aria's been so worried about you," William continued the charade. "She's just too stubborn to admit it. But heart, she still cares."
Ethan's smile widened as he reached for my hand. "I know. It's one of the things I love about her."
I allowed him to take my hand, resisting the urge to pull away. The contact felt wrong, his fingers too soft, too hesitant compared to Devon's confident grip.
Devon. Just thinking his name sent a rush of heat through me. I needed to focus on the present situation.
"Ethan," my father said, folding his newspaper. "To celebrate your discharge, I've reserved a table at Le Bernardin. We should have a proper meal together."
The implication was clear, and judging by Ethan's eager nod and Marianne's pleased smile, they were all on the same page—a page I had no interest in reading.
"I'm not sure I'm up for a big lunch," I tried. "I have a lot of work waiting at the office."
"Nonsense," William dismissed my excuse with a wave of his hand. "Your company can survive without you for one afternoon. This is important."
I fell silent, already planning my escape strategy. Perhaps I could fake an emergency call during lunch...
After Ethan completed his discharge paperwork, we made our way to the parking lot where two luxury cars awaited us—Father's Bentley and Marianne's silver Mercedes. I attempted to ride with Marianne, hoping for a reprieve from my father's pressure, but William smoothly directed me into the Bentley alongside Ethan, while he joined Marianne.
"You look beautiful today," Ethan said once we were alone in the backseat. "I've missed seeing you."
I stared out the window, watching the hospital recede from view. "Thank you."
"Aria, I know things have been... complicated between us. But I want you to know that I never stopped loving you."
"You have an interesting way of showing it," I replied, unable to keep the bitterness from my voice.
Ethan sighed, running his fingers through his perfectly styled hair. "What happened with Scarlett was a mistake. A terrible, unforgivable mistake. But it meant nothing."
"So you risked our relationship for something that meant nothing?" I finally turned to face him. "That doesn't exactly make it better, Ethan."
"I know, I know," he said hastily. "But people make mistakes. I'm only human."
I almost laughed at the familiarity of his excuse. It was the same one he'd used when I caught him flirting with a model at Fashion Week last year. The same one he'd used when I discovered texts from his ex-girlfriend on his phone. Always just a mistake. Always meaningless.
"Some mistakes can't be undone," I said quietly.
Before he could respond, the car pulled up to Le Bernardin. As I stepped out onto the sidewalk, a familiar figure caught my eye—Devon Kane, immaculate in a charcoal suit, was approaching the restaurant with a tall blonde woman on his arm.
My heart lurched uncomfortably in my chest. Devon hadn't mentioned having lunch plans when he'd left me yesterday, and he certainly hadn't mentioned bringing a date. The woman beside him was stunning, with the kind of effortless elegance that spoke of old money and good breeding.
Ethan tensed beside me, his expression darkening as he spotted Devon. "Well, if it isn't the man who nearly killed me," he said, loud enough for Devon to hear.