Aria returned to the main hall, her expression calm and unreadable.
The music was still playing. Guests were still laughing. Glasses clinked. Nothing had changed.
Except her.
She scanned the room until her eyes landed on Ryan. He was standing near the staircase, speaking to two business people. His posture was straight, confident, detached.
Untouchable.
She walked toward him without hesitation.
"We have to go," she said quietly once she reached him.
Ryan glanced down at her.
"I'm tired."
The men paused, sensing the shift in atmosphere. Ryan gave them a short nod, and they quickly excused themselves.
When they were alone, he looked at her more carefully.
"You were fine earlier."
"I'm not now."
Her tone was steady, conveying confidence and calm, reassuring the audience of her composure amid tension.
Just firm.
He studied her face for a moment longer, then nodded once.
"Let's go."
No scene. No questions here.
He placed a hand lightly at her back and guided her toward the exit. Whispers followed them, but neither of them reacted.
Outside, the cool air brushed against her skin. The driver opened the car door, and they both got in.
Silence filled the space as the car began to move.
A few minutes passed before Ryan spoke.
"What did she say?"
Aria kept her eyes on the passing city lights.
"Your mother told me to break up with you."
His expression darkened slightly, a flicker of doubt crossing his face as he processed her words, betraying his internal conflict.
"She said I don't belong in your world. That I appeared out of nowhere, that girls like me always have an agenda."
His jaw tightened.
"She warned me that if I don't disappear quietly, my life might become uncomfortable."
The car felt smaller.
Ryan's voice dropped, colder now. "She overstepped."
Aria shook her head lightly.
"It doesn't matter."
"It does."
She turned to look at him then, calm but unwavering.
She turned to look at him, her voice calm but unwavering, feeling the weight of the unspoken fears lurking beneath the surface of their agreement.
He didn't argue.
"I'm here to play my role," she continued. "Smile when needed. Stand beside you. Attend events. That's it. I don't expect your family to like me."
She paused for a second before adding quietly,
"But please — if your mother comes to me again telling me those kinds of things, I won't be nice either."
There was no anger in her voice.
Just a boundary.
Ryan held her gaze steadily, his posture firm, reinforcing his sense of control and the seriousness of the boundary he's setting.
"She won't approach you again."
"And if she does?"
"She won't," he repeated firmly.
Aria studied him for a moment, then leaned back against her seat.
"I was respectful tonight because she's your mother," she said. "But I won't allow anyone to insult me repeatedly."
"That won't happen again," he said.
Silence returned, but it wasn't heavy anymore.
Just controlled.
Professional.
"I don't want this to become personal," Aria added softly. "We agreed on terms. We finish the contract. That's all."
Ryan's voice matched her calmness.
"That's all."
The car slowed as they reached the house.
When it stopped, they stepped out without another word and walked inside together.
Composed.
Unshaken.
Still just business.
When they entered the house, the atmosphere felt different.
The lights in the living room were still on.
Justin was seated, leaning forward with tense shoulders, his jaw tight and expression unreadable — heightening the sense of underlying conflict.
Ryan slowed to a stop.
"What are you doing here?" he asked coldly.
Justin stood up.
"We need to talk."
Aria felt the shift in the air immediately.
She didn't ask questions.
"I'll go upstairs," she said calmly. "Goodnight."
Ryan didn't stop her.
Justin didn't look at her again.
She walked away quietly.
.
.
The house fell into silence.
Ryan removed his jacket slowly and placed it over a chair.
"Well?" he said flatly.
Justin didn't waste time.
"For how long?"
Ryan's eyes lifted.
"For how long what?"
"For how long have you been with her?"
"That's none of your concern."
Justin let out a humourless laugh.
"It became my concern the day you told me to stay away from her."
Ryan's expression hardened slightly.
"I told you she wasn't a good idea."
"You didn't say she wasn't a good idea," Justin replied sharply. "You said it wouldn't work. You said she wasn't suitable. You shut it down immediately."
"And?" Ryan asked.
Justin stepped closer.
"And now she's suddenly your girlfriend."
Silence.
Ryan didn't defend himself.
"You could've just said you were interested," Justin continued. "Instead, you made it sound like I was making a mistake."
Ryan's tone remained calm.
"You would've been."
"That's not the point."
"It is the point."
Justin stared at him.
"So you admit it?"
Ryan's gaze was steady. Controlled.
"I don't discuss my personal decisions."
Justin's frustration surfaced.
"You didn't even give me a chance."
"You don't need my permission to date someone," Ryan replied.
"That's not what I'm saying, and you know it."
A pause.
Justin exhaled slowly.
"You knew I liked her."
Ryan didn't answer immediately.
"I don't manage your emotions," he said finally.
Justin's hands curled into fists.
"This isn't about managing emotions. It's about respect."
Ryan's eyes sharpened slightly.
"Be careful."
Justin held his ground.
"You've never brought a woman to a family event. Not once. And tonight you walk in with her like she's been there all along."
Ryan's expression didn't change.
"That is my choice."
"Why her?" Justin asked quietly.
The question lingered in the air.
Ryan didn't respond.
Justin noticed the silence.
"That's what I thought."
Ryan's voice lowered.
"You're overthinking this."
"No," Justin replied. "You're avoiding it."
Silence stretched between them.
Then Ryan stepped forward, closing the distance slightly.
"This conversation is over."
Justin studied him for a few seconds.
"You don't do relationships," he said more calmly now. "You don't commit. You don't bring women into your world. So either this is serious… or it's something else."
Ryan's jaw tightened subtly.
"Go home, Justin."
Justin grabbed his jacket.
"This won't stay simple," he said quietly.
"It will," Ryan replied.
Justin walked toward the door.
Before leaving, he stopped.
"For what it's worth… I actually liked her."
There was no sarcasm this time.
Just honesty.
Ryan didn't react.
Justin left.
The door closed.
The house went silent.
Ryan stood there alone, expression unreadable.
Upstairs, water was running in Aria's shower.
He glanced toward the staircase once.
Then looked away.
Justin's question echoed clearly in his mind.
Why her?
And the fact that he couldn't answer it immediately —
bothered him.