Chapter 13

The night was wonderful. Every detail of the engagement party had been precisely planned—a large ballroom, a sea of prominent guests, and a love tale that the world had no option but to believe. Aria stood at the heart of it all, her champagne glass in hand, clad in a custom silver gown that shimmered under the golden lights. The diamond ring on her finger caught the mirror, a symbol of everything she had built, everything she had become. Liam stood behind her, effortlessly charming as he entertained their visitors. He was cool, collected—exactly what she needed. Exactly who Adrian Marsden was not. The concept should have felt like victory. Then why did she feel that storm brewing? She took a leisurely sip of her drink, ignoring the whispers around her. The media was already having a field day with the engagement, speculating whether this was a true love story or just another play in the game of power. Aria didn’t care what people thought. This was her story to tel