AIDEN

5~ Secrets and Lies

The tension in the room was palpable as I stared back at my father, waiting for his response. His silence was like a ticking time bomb, each second threatening to shatter the fragile peace between us. Finally, he spoke, his voice cold and hard, "You will tell him nothing."

"What do you mean?!" I exclaimed, shocked by his sudden change of tone.

"You will tell him nothing, Alexia. This is a matter of family honour and business," he said, his eyes narrowing into slits.

"But Father, I can't just lie to him. We've... we've slept together," I whispered, feeling the heat rising to my cheeks.

"You will do as I say," he snapped, slamming his fist on the desk. "The alliance with the Suarez family is too important to throw away over a fleeting moment of pleasure."

I felt a knot form in my stomach. My father had never been one to value feelings over cold, hard logic, but this was beyond what I had expected. "But Father, I can't marry a man who thinks I'm just a business transaction," I protested.

He leaned in closer, his face reddening with anger. "You will marry Prince Aiden, and you will do so with a smile on your face. This is not a negotiation, it's an order."

The words hung in the air, suffocating me with their finality. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. This wasn't just about me anymore; it was about Aiden too. He deserved to know the truth.

But as I opened my mouth to argue further, my father's icy gaze silenced me. "I will handle this," he said firmly. "You will go back to your room and wait for my instructions."

I felt a wave of anger wash over me, but I knew better than to push him when he was in this mood. With a heavy heart, I turned and left the study, the weight of the world pressing down on my shoulders.

In my room, I collapsed onto my bed, thoughts racing through my mind like a tornado. How could I tell Aiden the truth without losing everything? How could I marry him knowing it was all a lie? And what about my art? My dreams?

I picked up my phone, my trembling fingers typing out a text to Sin.

Me: I need to see you. It's an emergency.

Sin: On my way. What happened?

Me: I'll tell you when you get here. Just come.

I waited anxiously for Sin's arrival, pacing the floor like a caged animal. When he finally showed up, I spilt out the entire story, from the drunken encounter to my father's ultimatum.

"Oh my God, Lexi," he breathed, her eyes wide with shock. "What are you going to do?"

"I don't know," I murmured, feeling more lost than ever.

"Well, you can't just marry him like this," he said, his voice firm.

"But what if that's the only way to save face?" I asked, desperation creeping into my voice.

Sin took my hands in his and squeezed tightly. "You're worth more than that, Lexi. You can't let your father dictate your life like this."

His words echoed through me, a glimmer of hope in the chaos. Maybe he was right. Maybe it was time to stand up for myself and my heart.

But as the reality of my situation set in, I realized that this was going to be the hardest battle I had ever faced. I was going to have to choose between my family's legacy and the man who had unwittingly claimed a piece of my soul.

The clock ticked on the wall, a reminder that time was running out. I had to make a decision, and fast. But as I looked into Sin's eyes, I knew that no matter what I chose, I wasn't going to do it alone.

"I'm scared, Sin," I admitted, my voice small and shaky.

"I know you are," he said, giving my hands another squeeze. "But you're stronger than you think."

His belief in me was like a balm to my soul, soothing the raw edges of my fear. I took a deep breath, feeling a newfound resolve.

"I need to tell him the truth," I said firmly. "I can't go through with this."

Sin nodded, a proud smile spreading across his face. "That's the Lexi I know," he said. "Now, let's think about how you're going to do it."

We spent the next few hours brainstorming, going over every possible scenario. We knew it wasn't going to be easy, but we were determined to find a way to make it work.

Finally, we had a plan. I was going to confront Aiden at the estate, where we would be meeting for the first time as designer and client. It was risky, but it was the only way to ensure that he heard the truth directly from me.

The day of the meeting came, and my nerves were stretched tighter than a bowstring. I wore a simple, yet elegant dress, one that made me feel powerful and confident. Sin had convinced me to leave my hair down, saying it made me look more approachable.

As I walked through the grand entrance of the Suarez estate, I couldn't help but feel a sense of déjà vu. The opulence was overwhelming, and I felt like an imposter in my skin. But I pushed the thoughts aside and focused on the task at hand.

When Aiden saw me, his eyes lit up with surprise. "Alexia," he said, his voice filled with genuine warmth. "What a... pleasant surprise."

I could see the curiosity in his gaze, and I knew that this was my moment. I had to tell him everything. But as I opened my mouth to speak, I was interrupted by his assistant.

"Your Highness, the meeting is about to begin," she said, her tone urgent.

He nodded, and I followed him into a grand conference room filled with people who all turned to stare at me. My heart hammered in my chest. This wasn't the intimate setting I had hoped for, but I had to do this now or never.

As he sat down at the head of the table, I took a deep breath and stepped forward. "Aiden, I need to talk to you. It's important," I said, my voice steady.

All eyes in the room turned to us, and the tension grew thick enough to cut with a knife.

"I know who you are," I whispered, leaning in so only he could hear. "And I know about the marriage."

His eyes darkened, and his jaw tightened. "What are you talking about?"

"I know about the deal with my father," I said, the words coming out in a rush. "I can't let this go on. I need to tell you the truth."

The room was silent as we stared at each other, the weight of the unspoken truth hanging heavily between us. And in that moment, I knew that no matter what happened next, my life was never going to be the same again.