CHAPTER THIRTEEN
1509 Words
The city never truly slept.
From the floor-to-ceiling glass walls of his penthouse, the lights below shimmered like a restless sea—alive, endless, indifferent. Cars moved like veins of light, people like shadows chasing something they could never quite hold.
Dominic Blackwell stood still, a glass of whiskey resting loosely in his hand.
Untouched.
His reflection stared back at him through the glass—sharp jaw, calm eyes, perfectly composed. Anyone looking at him would think he had everything under control.
They would be wrong.
His mind wasn’t in the present.
It hadn’t been since the party.
Since her.
Aria’s flushed face. The way her breath had caught. The way her fingers had tightened around his shirt like she was holding onto something real.
And then—
Rosette.
Dominic let out a quiet breath, his fingers tightening slightly around the glass.
“…Troublesome.”
He downed the whiskey in one go.
It burned, but not enough.
Nothing ever was.
A soft vibration broke the silence.
His phone.
He glanced at the screen.
Father.
Dominic stared at it for a moment… then picked it up.
“Dad.”
“Where are you?”
Dominic turned slightly, resting his shoulder against the glass wall.
“Home.”
A pause.
Then Mr. Blackwell’s voice came, calm but firm—the kind that didn’t need to be loud to carry authority.
“Good. Come to the estate tomorrow morning. We need to talk.”
Dominic smirked faintly.
“That serious?”
“Yes.”
The line went quiet for a second… then—
“It’s about your marriage.”
Dominic’s expression didn’t change.
But his eyes did.
“I see.”
“You’ve met Aria Kingsley. You’ve spent time with her.”
“That depends on your definition of ‘spent time.’”
“Dominic.”
That one word carried a warning.
Dominic chuckled softly.
“Alright. I’ll be there.”
“Good.”
The call ended.
Silence returned.
Dominic lowered his phone slowly, his gaze drifting back to the city.
Marriage.
Alliance.
Business.
He exhaled, running a hand through his hair.
“To think it would come to this…”
But there was no resistance in his voice.
No anger.
Just… mild annoyance.
Because to him—
Marriage wasn’t about love.
It never had been.
The Next Morning
The Blackwell estate stood like a statement—grand, controlled, untouchable.
Just like the man who owned it.
Dominic walked in without hesitation, hands in his pockets, posture relaxed.
A servant greeted him, but he barely acknowledged it.
“Your father is waiting in the study.”
“Of course he is.”
He walked in.
Mr. Blackwell sat behind a wide desk, flipping through documents, glasses resting low on his nose.
He didn’t look up immediately.
“Sit.”
Dominic did.
Calm. Casual.
Like this wasn’t about to decide something major in his life.
After a few seconds, Mr. Blackwell closed the file and finally looked at him.
“Let’s not waste time.”
Dominic leaned back slightly.
“I wouldn’t expect you to.”
“Your marriage to Aria Kingsley will strengthen our position.”
Straight to the point.
Dominic nodded slowly.
“Business, influence, stability… sounds like a good deal.”
“It is not a deal.”
Mr. Blackwell’s gaze sharpened.
“It is a necessity.”
Dominic’s lips curved slightly.
“Everything is a deal, Dad. Some are just dressed better.”
Silence.
Then—
“Do you have any objections?”
Dominic tilted his head, thinking.
Then he spoke.
“No.”
Mr. Blackwell studied him carefully.
“…That was easy.”
Dominic smiled faintly.
“Should it be hard?”
“This is your life.”
Dominic’s eyes darkened just a little.
“My life has always been yours to manage, hasn’t it?”
That landed.
But Mr. Blackwell didn’t react.
“Don’t be dramatic.”
Dominic chuckled.
“I’m not. I’m being honest.”
A pause.
Then—
“Do you like her?”
Dominic didn’t answer immediately.
He thought about Aria.
Her eyes.
Her voice.
The way she tried to stay strong even when she was clearly affected.
Then he shrugged lightly.
“She’s… interesting.”
“That is not an answer.”
“It’s the only one you’ll get.”
Mr. Blackwell leaned back.
“You will treat her properly.”
Dominic smiled.
“I always do.”
That wasn’t a lie.
But it wasn’t the truth either.
Later That Day
Aria stood by the window, arms folded, her reflection staring back at her.
She looked composed.
But inside—
Nothing was steady.
A knock came.
She didn’t turn.
“Come in.”
The door opened.
She didn’t need to look to know who it was.
“…You came.”
Dominic’s voice was calm.
“Of course.”
He walked in, closing the door behind him.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Aria turned.
Their eyes met.
And just like that—
Everything from that night came rushing back.
Dominic broke the silence first.
“You look better.”
Aria scoffed lightly.
“Is that your way of saying I looked bad before?”
“No. Just… different.”
She walked past him, keeping a bit of distance.
“That night shouldn’t have happened.”
Dominic didn’t respond immediately.
Then—
“But it did.”
Aria turned sharply.
“That’s all you have to say?”
Dominic met her gaze.
“What do you want me to say?”
Her chest rose slightly.
“An explanation would be nice.”
“For what?”
“For… everything!”
Her voice cracked slightly, but she steadied herself.
“For what we did. For how you’ve been acting.”
Dominic watched her carefully.
Then he walked closer.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
“You’re overthinking it.”
That hit harder than anything else.
Aria laughed—but it wasn’t real.
“Overthinking?”
“Yes.”
He stopped in front of her.
“It happened. We both wanted it in that moment. That’s all.”
Her expression shifted.
Hurt.
Anger.
Disbelief.
“That’s all?”
Dominic didn’t look away.
“That’s all.”
Silence filled the room.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Aria swallowed.
“…What am I to you, Dominic?”
There it was.
The question he knew would come.
He looked at her.
Really looked at her.
Then answered—
“Someone I don’t mind being with.”
It wasn’t cruel.
But it wasn’t kind either.
And that made it worse.
Aria’s fingers curled slightly.
“…That’s it?”
Dominic tilted his head.
“What else should it be?”
She shook her head slowly.
“You’re unbelievable.”
“I’ve been called worse.”
She turned away, trying to regain control.
But her voice still carried emotion.
“Then why Rosette?”
Dominic’s eyes flickered.
Just for a second.
But it was enough.
Aria noticed.
“I knew it.”
Dominic sighed softly.
“This again?”
“You said it yourself.”
“Yes.”
He didn’t deny it.
“I did.”
Aria turned back, staring at him.
“You like her.”
Dominic smirked faintly.
“I’m interested.”
“That’s not the same thing.”
“It is to me.”
Aria stepped closer.
“Then what am I?”
Dominic didn’t hesitate.
“You’re here.”
That answer…
It broke something.
Aria laughed bitterly.
“Wow.”
She shook her head.
“So I’m just… convenient?”
Dominic didn’t answer.
Which was answer enough.
She stepped back.
Putting distance between them again.
“Then let me make this clear.”
Her voice steadied.
“I’m not going to be something you use when you’re bored.”
Dominic raised a brow.
“Use?”
“That’s what it feels like.”
He exhaled lightly.
“You’re taking this too personally.”
Aria’s eyes flashed.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I forgot I’m supposed to feel nothing.”
Another silence.
Then—
Dominic turned slightly.
“Your father wants this marriage too.”
Aria froze.
“…I know.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
She looked at him.
“You.”
That was honest.
Dominic chuckled softly.
“That’s unfortunate.”
He started walking toward the door.
Then paused.
“…We’ll both get what we need out of this.”
Aria didn’t respond.
Because she didn’t believe that.
Not anymore.
As he reached the door, she spoke.
“…Do you ever take anything seriously?”
He stopped.
For a second.
Then—
“No.”
And he left.
Dominic walked out like nothing happened.
Calm.
Unbothered.
Untouched.
But as soon as he got into his car—
His expression changed.
Just slightly.
He leaned back, closing his eyes briefly.
“…Troublesome.”
But this time—
He wasn’t talking about Aria.
Because for some reason…
Rosette Monroe was still on his mind.
And that—
Was far more dangerous.
Dominic picked up is phone, scrolled for a while , he smirked ,facing back.Then he said "Aria,we will see who is playing games".
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD