Aria's pov
I exhaled deeply, finally letting my shoulders drop. From now on, this would be our arrangement.
We could play a loving couple in front of others, but in private, I needed to keep my distance.
No emotions. No expectations. Just a partnership built on convenience and clear rules.
--
The next morning, I went with Damien to meet his parents at East Wing, their old family estate surrounded by tall oaks and the smell of expensive polish.
I'd practiced polite smiles and calm answers in the mirror the night before, determined to seem composed no matter what they thought of me.
But an unexpected guest destroyed my confidence.
A woman sat beside Damien's parents, looking as if she had just walked out of a fashion magazine.
Her makeup was perfect, her posture
