Chapter Three
1855 Words
Sunlight slipped through the curtains. Ariella woke slowly.
She turned her head. Dylan was still asleep beside her. His face looked different, less hard, Dark lashes against his skin, lips slightly parted.
Her heart did something strange. Something warmer she didn't want to name.
She stared too long. He stirred. He opened his grey eyes, and they locked on hers immediately.
The air felt thick, Like the night before, when his hand stayed on her hip without demanding more.
"You didn't..." she whispered, voice small. "Last night. You didn't do anything."
Dylan blinked once. His jaw tightened. "I was tired."
But he didn't move away. Neither did she.
His hand lifted slowly. His fingers brushed her cheek, Heat spread from that one touch. Memories of rough nights mixed with this gentleness. It confused her.
Then his expression changed. The softness vanished. He pulled his hand back like it burned him.
"Get up," he said, voice rough again. He sat up, back to her. "Breakfast is soon. Don't make me drag you down."
Ariella sat up too. The moment was gone. But her skin still tingled where he touched.
After breakfast, Dylan came back to the bedroom after a call. Ariella was sitting on the bed,
He looked at her. "You were quiet at the table."
She didn't answer.
He walked closer. "Rules haven't changed, Ariella. This marriage is business. Nothing more."
She looked up. "Then why didn't you touch me last night?"
His eyes darkened. "Because I choose when. Not because I care."
But his voice wasn't as cold as usual. He reached into his pocket, pulled out his phone instead of a pill. "Your phone. Give it."
She hesitated. "Why?"
"I check it. Every day." He held out his hand. "Now."
She looked confused, but gave it slowly. He scrolled through messages, Then he handed it back. "No calls to old friends. No texting anyone outside this house without telling me."
Ariella's chest hurt. "You don't trust me."
"I don't trust anyone." He turned to leave. At the door, he paused. "And stay away from Mia. She's here too much."
He walked out.
Ariella stared at the door. Tears streaked down her face. He controlled everything, her body, her phone, her freedom. But last night... that one touch... it felt different.
She wiped her face. Maybe he was starting to crack. Or maybe she was just hoping too hard.
Ariella sat on the edge of the bed for a long time after Dylan left.
The room felt too quiet.
His scent still lingered on the sheets. The same scent that followed him everywhere like a warning.
She pressed her palms to her eyes.
'Don’t think about him'
But her mind betrayed her again.
The way his fingers brushed her cheek that morning.
The way he looked at her for one strange second… not with cold, angry eyes.
Her chest tightened.
Then she stood quickly, shaking her head as if she could shake the thought away.
“Stop it,” she whispered to herself. “He doesn’t care.”
She walked to the wardrobe and chose the plainest dress she owned, a simple cream one with long sleeves. Nothing fancy. Nothing that would attract attention.
That was the safest way to survive in this house. Being Invisible.
Downstairs, the mansion was strangely busy.
Voices floated through the large halls. Laughter. Female voices.
Ariella slowed her steps.
She didn’t like the sound of that laughter.
When she reached the bottom of the staircase, she immediately saw why.
The living room was full of women.
Elegant dresses. Diamond earrings. Perfect hair.
The city’s young socialites.
And in the center of it all sat Jasmine Blackwood, looking perfectly pleased with herself.
Sophia stood beside her, holding a glass of champagne.
Mia Harrington sat close to Jasmine, her pink dress flawless, her smile sweet and poisonous.
Ariella stopped walking.
Sophia noticed her first.
Her lips curled slowly.
“Well, look who decided to join us.”
All the women turned to look.
The room went quiet for a second.
Ariella suddenly felt very aware of her simple dress.
Jasmine’s eyes moved over her slowly, from head to toe.
“Oh,” she said lightly. “You’re awake.”
Ariella lowered her gaze politely.
“Good morning, Mrs. Blackwood.”
Jasmine smiled, but there was no warmth in it.
“You’re just in time.”
“For what?” Ariella asked quietly.
Sophia laughed.
“For our little gathering, of course.”
Ariella frowned slightly.
“I didn’t know there was a gathering.”
“That’s because no one told you,” Sophia said sweetly.
Several women giggled.
Jasmine waved a graceful hand.
“Oh, don’t be dramatic. I assumed you would want to join us. After all, you are technically part of this family.”
Technically.
The word landed like a slap.
Ariella forced a small smile.
“Of course.”
Sophia stepped closer, circling Ariella like she was inspecting something strange.
“My friends were just curious,” she said. “They’ve heard so much about you.”
One of the women spoke up.
“This is the girl Dylan married?”
Another whispered something behind her hand.
Ariella felt the heat rise in her face but kept her posture straight.
Sophia tilted her head.
“Oh don’t worry, Ariella,” she said mockingly. “They’re just trying to figure out how someone like you ended up with someone like my brother.”
More laughter.
Ariella’s fingers tightened slightly at her sides.
But she said nothing.
Mia suddenly stood up.
Her smile was dazzling.
“Ariella,” she said sweetly. “Come sit with us.”
Ariella hesitated for half a second.
Then she walked forward.
Mia picked up a glass of orange juice from the table.
“Here,” she said kindly. “You look like you need something to drink.”
Ariella reached for it, but the glass tipped.
Orange juice spilled everywhere.
Right down the front of Ariella’s cream dress.
The cold liquid soaked the fabric instantly.
Ariella froze.
“Oh my goodness!” Mia gasped.
But her eyes were smiling.
“I’m so sorry,” she said dramatically.
The room burst into soft laughter.
Sophia covered her mouth.
“Oh no,” she said. “That dress was already so simple. Now it’s ruined too.”
One of the socialites muttered,
“Did she buy that from a thrift shop?”
Another laughed.
Jasmine sighed like she was mildly embarrassed.
“Ariella, dear, you really should be more careful.”
Ariella stared down at the stain spreading across the fabric.
Her chest felt tight.
For a moment she thought she might cry.
But she refused.
Instead she lifted her head slowly.
“It’s alright,” she said quietly.
Mia blinked, slightly disappointed.
“Oh… you’re not upset?”
Ariella shook her head.
“It was an accident.”
Sophia leaned closer.
“Of course it was.”
Her voice dripped with sarcasm.
The laughter continued.
Ariella could feel every pair of eyes on her, they were all judging and mocking her in their hearts.
Measuring her against their world of money and power.
She turned slightly.
“I’ll just go change.”
“Wait,” Jasmine said smoothly.
Ariella paused.
Jasmine smiled at the room.
“We were just about to take photos for the charity event announcement.”
She looked at Ariella.
“You should stay.”
Sophia grinned.
“Yes,” she said. “Stay.”
Ariella understood immediately.
They wanted her standing in photos looking messy and humiliated.
A perfect joke.
Ariella swallowed.
“I don’t think.....”
The front door suddenly opened.
Heavy footsteps echoed through the hall.
A familiar voice spoke.
“Why is the house full of strangers?”
The room went silent.
Dylan Blackwood walked in.
His eyes scanned the room once, then they stopped on Ariella.
He saw the stain immediately, his expression changed.
The temperature in the room seemed to drop.
Dylan walked forward, he stopped in front of Ariella.
His grey eyes moved from the stain on her dress… to Mia.
“Mia,” he said calmly.
She smiled nervously.
“Yes?”
“Explain.”
Her smile faltered.
“It was just an accident,” she said quickly.
Dylan looked at the orange juice glass still in her hand.
Then he looked back at Ariella.
“Go upstairs,” he told her quietly.
Ariella hesitated.
He repeated, more firmly.
“Now.”
She nodded and turned to leave.
But just before she reached the stairs, she heard Dylan speak again.
His voice was cold.
“If anyone in this house humiliates my wife again…”
The pause was terrifying.
“…they won’t be invited back.”
No one laughed anymore.
The socialites looked uncomfortable.
Mia’s face had gone pale.
And upstairs, Ariella stood frozen on the staircase.
Her heart beating fast.
Because for the first time…
Dylan Blackwood had defended her in front of everyone.
- Writer
