Aria's POV

Sunlight pushed through the curtains and landed on my face. I blinked and pulled the sheet higher, my heart thumping fast. My body felt sore in a strange way. Memories rushed back, bright and messy. Dante's voice. His hands. The way he looked at me like I mattered.

I sat up quickly, the sheet slipping to my waist.

The bed beside me was empty.

The room held his scent, rain mixed with smoke, warm and sharp. My cheeks heated as I remembered how close we had been. How bold I had felt. How free. A smile tried to form, but worry followed right after.

He was gone.

No note, No message, Nothing.

I pressed my fingers to my lips. They still tingled. My chest felt tight, not with regret, but with questions. What if Rhys found out? He would not just shout. He would punish. Still, another thought whispered louder.

Last night, I felt alive.

I slid out of bed and walked to the bathroom, wrapping the sheet around me. The mirror showed faint marks on my neck. My eyes widened. I touched them softly. My heart raced. This was careless, This was dangerous.

The shower helped clear my head. Warm water ran over my skin, calming and sharp at the same time. When I finished, I dressed in yesterday's clothes. The dress looked tired, like me.

My phone waited on the table. Ten missed calls, All from Rhys.

My stomach twisted. I placed the phone in my bag without calling back and left the room.

The hotel lobby buzzed with voices and rolling suitcases. I kept my head low. Outside, a familiar car waited. Jameson stood by the door, calm as always.

"Miss Belmont," he said, opening the door. "Everything alright?"

"Yes," I replied, sliding inside. "Just a long night. Please take me home."

The city passed by in flashes of glass and steel. I stared through the window, but my thoughts stayed elsewhere. Dante's dark eyes followed me in my mind. He felt nothing like Rhys. Strong, quiet, watchful.

My phone buzzed again. I answered.

"Where are you?" Rhys snapped.

"Out with a friend," I said. The lie came easily, which surprised me.

"You disappeared," he said. "Dinner tonight, Wear something decent."

The call ended.

The house came into view, tall and cold. Jameson stopped the car. 

"Thank you," I said.

Inside, the halls felt empty. I went straight to my room and locked the door. My body sank onto the bed. I closed my eyes, but sleep would not come. Dante's face filled the dark.

A knock broke the quiet.

"Aria?" Catherine's voice called. Sweet, Fake.

"What?" I asked.

She entered anyway, dressed perfectly, hair shining. Her eyes scanned me.

"Rhys called," she said. "You ran off again."

"Mind your own life," I replied.

She laughed and sat near the window. "Big dinner tonight, Important talk do not ruin it."

"Important how?" I asked.

"Business," she said. "You would not understand."

She stood and looked me over. "Wear blue and hide those marks."

My breath caught. She left before I could speak.

I rushed to the mirror and covered my neck as best I could. My hands shook. Dinner with Rhys felt like a storm waiting to break.

That night, candles lit the long table. Voices filled the room. I sat beside Rhys. His hand rested on my knee, gripping too tight.

"So," he said, smiling for show. "How was your day?"

"Quiet," I answered. He leaned closer. "You smell different."

I stiffened. "You are imagining things."

Across the table, my parents watched. Catherine laughed with Victor Granger.

"Contracts are ready," Victor said. "The land deal stands."

"Yes," my father replied. "And the Blackwood promise."

My heart skipped. Blackwood. I said nothing, but my thoughts raced.

After dinner, Rhys pulled me outside. The garden glowed under the moon.

"Tell me the truth," he said. "Now." 

"I did nothing wrong," I replied. His hand struck my face, Pain flashed bright.

"You belong to me," he hissed.

Anger burst free. "No, I do not."

He grabbed my wrist. "Your family needs this, You cannot leave."

I pulled away and ran. Then I saw Dante stood near the trees, calm and solid. My breath caught.

"Aria," he said. Rhys turned. "You again?"Dante stepped forward. "Let her go."

Rhys laughed. "You think you can take what is mine?"

"I am not his," I said.

Rhys lunged, Dante moved fast. A punch landed. Rhys fell back, shocked.

Then a blade flashed in his hand. I screamed.

Dante tackled him. The knife flew away. They struggled until sirens sounded.

Catherine ran out, shouting. My parents followed. Police lights painted the garden red and blue.

Dante held Rhys down. "It ends here."

Rhys laughed through blood. "Ask her about the pact. Ask him why he is here."

I looked at Dante. His face went still. He leaned close and whispered, "Trust me."

My heart raced as the officers stepped forward.

Aria's POV

Eyes Everywhere.

The police cars drove away, taking Rhys with them. The red and blue lights faded, but the noise did not. My head was still spinning. My cheek burned, and my wrist ached. The night air felt too cold for the way my body felt hot and angry.

I stood in the garden, staring at the spot where Rhys had been. The grass was crushed from where he had stepped. The flowers near the path smelled sweet, but my mind only smelled fear.

Catherine watched me like she was watching a show.

My mother rushed forward, her hands shaking. "Aria, come inside. You need rest."

My father stayed near the doorway, his face stone. He did not speak. He did not move. He looked like he was waiting for something to explode.

Rhys's voice came from the police car, loud and sharp. "You will pay for this!"

The door slammed. Silence followed, heavy and strange.

Catherine stepped forward, her smile fake and bright. "Oh, darling," she said softly. "You made a scene."

I swallowed hard. "He hit me."

Catherine blinked slowly, like she was surprised. "That is not what happened, You were rude to him."

I stared at her. "He slapped me."

She laughed, quiet and cruel. "You always act like you are the victim, You do not deserve sympathy."

My mother gasped. My father's jaw tightened.

Dante stood near the gate, his hands in his pockets, watching me with a calm face. He looked like he had been carved out of stone. Even in the dark, his eyes seemed bright.

He spoke for the first time since the police left. "She is not the victim."

Catherine's eyes snapped to him. "Who are you?"

Dante did not answer her. He looked at me. "Are you okay?"

I wanted to say no. I wanted to say I was tired of being scared, I wanted to say I was done with all of them.

Instead, I said, "I am fine."

Dante shook his head slightly. "No, you are not."

My mother stepped closer. "Aria, please, come inside."

I felt trapped between them all. Between my parents, between Catherine, between Rhys, and now between this stranger who felt like a storm.

I turned to Dante. "Why are you here?"

He looked at me for a moment, like he was trying to decide how much to tell. "Because I saw you."

"Do not act like you saved me," I snapped. "You did not. The police did."

He did not respond.

Catherine crossed her arms. "You two have some kind of story, do you?"

I shook my head. "No."

She smiled, but it was sharp. "You think he cares? He is just another rich man who likes to play."

Dante's eyes narrowed. "Do not speak to her like that."

Catherine stepped closer to me, her voice quiet. "You belong to our family, You do not belong to him."

I felt something in me snap. "I do not belong to anyone."

Catherine's face changed for a moment. The smile disappeared, Something dark passed through her eyes.

"You will regret this," she said softly.

Then she turned and walked back toward the house, her heels clicking on the path. She did not look back.

My mother watched her go, then looked at me with worry. "Aria, your father is going to be furious."

I looked at my father. His eyes were fixed on the house, not on me. He looked like he was thinking about something I could not see.

Dante stepped closer. "You should not go back inside right now."

"Where else can I go?" I asked. He glanced at the house. "My car."

My heart raced. "No."

"Aria," he said, his voice gentle. "You are not safe here tonight."

I stared at him. "Safe from what?"

He looked away, as if he did not want to say the words. "From people like him."

I swallowed hard. "I am not a child."

"I know," he replied. "That is why I am telling you."

I looked at my parents again. My mother's face was pale. My father looked like he wanted to speak but could not. Catherine was gone, Rhys was in the police car. The house felt empty, but it still held me like a cage.

My phone buzzed. A message from an unknown number flashed on the screen.

"You ruined everything."

My hands trembled. I looked at Dante. "Do you know who that is?"

He shook his head. "No, But it is not good."

More messages came.

"Your family is angry."

You will pay, You think you can hide? I felt a cold wave in my stomach.

My mother took the phone from my hands without asking. She read the messages, then looked up at me with eyes full of fear.

"Who sent this?" she whispered. I shook my head. "I do not know."

Dante spoke quietly. "We should leave."

My mother looked at him. "Who are you to tell us what to do?"

He turned his gaze to her, calm but firm. "Someone who does not want her to get hurt."

My father finally spoke. "Aria is my daughter, I will decide."

The words sounded like a threat.

Dante stepped back. "Then you decide. But do not pretend you care when you do not."

My father's face tightened. He looked at me, then at Dante, then at the house.

"You can leave," he said to Dante. "But do not bring trouble to my door."

Dante did not move. "I will not bring trouble, He will."

My father stared at him, then nodded once. It was not approval, It was a warning.

Dante looked at me again. "Are you coming?"

I hesitated.

My mother spoke quickly, her voice trembling. "Aria, if you leave with him, you will never be allowed back."

I looked at her. "You think I care?"

My mother flinched. "I am trying to protect you."

I felt anger rise. "Protect me from what? From living?" My mother's eyes filled with tears. "From ruin."

My father stepped forward. "Do not speak like that. You are the one who ruined everything."

I stared at him. "I did not ruin anything. He hit me, You let him."

My father's face went hard. "That is enough."

Catherine appeared at the doorway again. Her face looked different now. Not smiling, Not bright. Her eyes looked like she had been crying.

"Aria," she said softly. "You should not leave."

I looked at her. "Why are you crying?"

She swallowed. "Because you are making us look weak." My chest tightened.

"What do you want?" I asked. Catherine's eyes flashed. "I want what is best for the family."

I laughed, bitter. "You mean what is best for you."

She took a step closer. "You do not understand. Rhys is the only way our family stays powerful."

I stared at her. "You mean he is the only way you stay powerful."

Catherine's lips pressed together. "You are the one who is naive."

Dante stepped in front of me. "She is not going anywhere tonight."

Catherine's eyes widened. "Who are you to stop her?"

Dante looked at her with cold calm. "I am the person she chose."

Catherine's face turned red. "You think she chose you?"

Dante's voice stayed steady. "Yes."

Catherine laughed loudly, but it sounded broken. "She is yours now? You think you can take her from us?"

Rhys's voice came from the police car again, louder than before. "You will see. You will all see."

My heart jumped. He was still there. Dante looked at the car. "He is not finished."

I felt fear for the first time since the fight. I looked at my family, I looked at Dante. I looked at the dark sky.

I felt like I was standing on the edge of something that could break.

The front door opened.

A man stepped out. He was tall, dressed in a suit, and he had a camera in his hand. He looked like he belonged in the same world as Rhys.

He pointed the camera at us.

"Aria Belmont," he called. "Is it true your fiancé assaulted you?" My breath stopped.

My mother tried to speak, but her voice broke. My father stepped forward, his face angry.

The man continued. "Is it true you were seen with a strange man tonight?" My cheeks burned.

Catherine looked at me with a smile that made me feel sick. The camera clicked again.

The man stepped closer. "We are live. Miss Belmont, do you have anything to say?" My mouth went dry.

Dante moved in front of me. "That is enough." The man smiled. "Who are you?"

Dante did not answer. The camera continued to flash.

My heart pounded. I felt like I was trapped inside a glass box, with everyone watching.

I turned to Dante. "What do we do?" He looked at me, his eyes serious. "We do not answer."

The camera kept filming.

The man spoke again. "Miss Belmont, your family is powerful. Why did this happen? Is it true you are leaving the Belmont name?"

My mother gasped. My father looked like he wanted to punch the man.

Catherine smiled.

The camera kept rolling. I felt like I was drowning.

Dante's hand found mine. His touch was steady, strong.

He leaned closer and whispered in my ear, "Stay with me. Do not let them take your voice."

My heart raced. I looked at the camera, then at my family, then at Dante. I knew something was changing, I knew nothing would ever be the same.

And then, the man with the camera said the words that made my blood freeze.

"Miss Belmont, your fiancé is not the only one who was arrested tonight."

My heart dropped. "What?" I whispered.

The camera man smiled, like he was waiting for my reaction.

"You are under investigation," he said. "For the attack on Rhys Granger."

My legs went weak. I stared at Dante, but his face stayed calm.

Then a police officer stepped forward, handcuffs in his grip. He looked at me and said, clear and cold:

"Aria Belmont, you are under arrest."

Aria's POV

I woke up with my heart pounding so hard it felt like it would break out of my chest. My hands were tied behind me, and the room was white and bright like a hospital. My head felt heavy, like I had been hit by a truck.

I tried to sit up, but my body was too weak.

A door opened.

A man in a dark uniform walked in. He looked serious, like he had never laughed in his life. His eyes scanned the room, then landed on me.

"Aria Belmont," he said, his voice low. "You are awake."

I stared at him, trying to remember where I was. The last thing I remembered was the camera flash, then Rhys shouting, then the police officer saying my name.

I swallowed hard. "Where am I?"

The man's lips tightened. "A holding room." I felt my throat close.

"Why am I here?" I asked.

He looked at me like I was a problem. "You are under investigation for assault."

I blinked. "I did not assault anyone."

He raised an eyebrow. "You were seen fighting with Rhys Granger."

I closed my eyes. That night replayed in my head, like a bad movie. Rhys's face, the knife, Dante tackling him, the police sirens, the camera flash.

I opened my eyes again. "I was defending myself."

The man sighed. "We will ask questions later."

He left the room, the door clicking shut.

I sat there, heart racing, trying to breathe. The walls felt like they were closing in. I could not stop thinking about Dante. He had been with me, He had been strong, He had been my shield. But now I was alone.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, but I could not reach it. The handcuffs were tight and the chain pulled my arms behind me.

Then the door opened again. This time, it was not a police officer.

It was Dante. My heart jumped so hard I thought it might fly out of my body.

He walked in like he owned the room. His hair was messy, his suit rumpled. His eyes were dark and burning. He looked angry.

He stopped in front of me. I stared at him, my mouth open.

He leaned down and whispered, "They cannot keep you here."

I swallowed. "How did you get in?"

He smiled, but it was not a kind smile. It was a dangerous one. "I have my ways."

My eyes filled with tears. "They think I attacked Rhys."

Dante's jaw tightened. "They will say anything to protect him."

I looked at him, my heart aching. "Why are you helping me?"

His gaze softened for a moment. "Because you are not a toy."

I stared at him. "You do not even know me."

He shook his head. "I know more than you think."

He turned to the door and looked back at me. "Do not talk to anyone until I say so."

Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small tool.

My eyes widened. "What is that?" He smiled. "A key."

He placed the tool near the handcuffs and began working on the lock. The sound of metal clicking made my stomach twist.

I watched him, unable to move. The lock clicked open, My hands fell free.

I rubbed my wrists, feeling the red marks.

Dante stood up and walked toward me."Come," he said. I hesitated. "Where?"

He looked at me with a hard expression. "Anywhere but here."

We walked down the hall. The building felt like a maze. Lights flickered, and the air smelled like cleaning products. My heart kept beating fast.

We reached a stairwell.

Dante opened the door and we went down. The stairs were cold under my feet, The sound of our shoes echoed.

Then we heard voices. A man's voice.

My father's voice, I stopped. Dante looked at me. "Stay quiet."

We moved closer to the door.

My father was talking to someone. "I told you she would cause trouble," he said. "We need to control this."

I held my breath.

I heard my mother's voice, weak and scared. "Robert, please. She is our daughter."

My father's voice turned cold. "She is a mistake." My chest hurt.

Dante grabbed my hand and pulled me away from the door.

"Do not listen," he whispered. But I could not stop myself.

I heard my father say, "We will make her pay. We will make her disappear." My blood ran cold.

I pulled away from Dante, my eyes wide. "Did you hear that?"

He nodded, his face hard. "Yes."

I stared at him. "They want to disappear me." Dante's jaw tightened. "We are not going to let that happen."

I wanted to believe him. But fear rose inside me like a wave.

We continued down the hall. We reached another door. Dante opened it and we stepped inside.

The room was dark. A single lamp lit the corner. There was a chair, a table, and a file folder on the table.

Dante walked over and opened the folder. My eyes widened as I saw my name on the cover.

"Those are my files," I whispered.

He looked at me. "They have been collecting information on you for years."

My heart beat faster. "Why?"

Dante's voice was low. "Because you are useful."

I stared at him. "Useful for what?" He closed the folder and turned to me. "For control."

My hands shook. "Control of what?" I asked.

Dante looked at me, his eyes dark and intense. "Control of your family's power."

I stared at him, confused. "My family?"

He nodded. "Your father and Rhys are not the only ones involved."

My stomach dropped. "You are saying this is bigger than just Rhys?"

Dante nodded again. "Much bigger." My mouth went dry.

The sound of footsteps echoed in the hall. I held my breath.

Someone was coming. The footsteps grew louder. Dante grabbed my hand and pulled me behind the table.

The door opened. A woman stepped inside.

She was tall, dressed in a sharp suit, and her eyes were cold. Her hair was pulled back tight. She looked like someone who did not smile often.

Her eyes landed on me.

"Aria Belmont," she said, her voice calm. "You are a lot braver than I expected."

I swallowed hard. "Who are you?"

She smiled, but it did not reach her eyes. "I am someone who knows your family very well."

Dante stepped in front of me. "Who are you?"

The woman looked at him. "That is not your concern." Dante's eyes narrowed. "She is my concern."

The woman turned back to me. "You are in trouble, Miss Belmont."

My heart pounded. "Why?"

She walked closer. "Because you have been seen with Mr. Blackwood."

I felt Dante tense.

The woman's smile widened. "And because he is not the kind of man you want to be seen with."

Dante's voice was cold. "Do not talk about her like that."

The woman raised her eyebrows. "You think you can protect her? You think you can stop what is coming?"

I looked at Dante, scared and angry. "What is coming?"

The woman leaned closer, her voice barely above a whisper. "A trial."

My stomach dropped. "A trial?" I whispered.

She nodded. "For assault. For breaking into the Granger property, For lying to the police."

My eyes widened. "I did not do any of that."

The woman's eyes flicked to Dante. "That is what you think."

Dante's face hardened. "You are lying." The woman laughed softly. "I am not the one lying, Mr. Blackwood."

She reached into her bag and pulled out a folder.

She opened it and slid a photo onto the table. My eyes widened.

It was a photo of me.

In the photo, I was standing near the Granger garden. The camera flash had caught me with my hand near Rhys's face. But I was not alone.

In the background, there was a shadowy figure.

A figure that looked like me. A figure wearing the same dress, A figure smiling.

I stared at the photo, confused and scared.

"That is not me," I whispered. The woman smiled. "It is."

My throat tightened. "How is that possible?"

The woman leaned closer. "Because someone is using you."

My heart hammered. Dante's voice was sharp. "Who is using her?"

The woman looked at him, her eyes cold. "That is not for you to know."

I felt tears burn my eyes. The woman slid the photo back into the folder.

She stood up and walked toward the door.

"Enjoy your night, Miss Belmont," she said. "You will need your strength." Then she left.

The door clicked shut. Dante turned to me, his face hard.

"What was that?" I asked. He looked at me, his eyes serious. "That was your first warning."

My heart felt like it would burst. I stared at him. "Warning for what?"

Dante's voice dropped. "For the moment you realize you are not safe anywhere." My hands shook.

I looked at the door, the empty room, the dark hall.

And then I heard a sound. A voice coming from the hallway, A voice that made my blood turn cold.

"Miss Belmont," the voice said. "We are here to take you to the station."

I turned slowly, A group of officers stood in the doorway.

But one of them was not an officer. It was Rhys.

His face was bruised, his lip split, but his eyes were wild. He looked at me and smiled.

And then he said words that made my world fall apart.

"You are coming with me."