"Is he really that good-looking?" Dominic said with a teasing grin.

"He's not bad, but you're actually pretty handsome too." Ariella gave him a once-over, suddenly realizing that despite knowing him for four years, she'd never seriously looked at his face.

"Hold still a sec, Dominic!" she blurted out dramatically, like she'd just found buried treasure.

"What's up?"

"Whoa, I just noticed-you look a lot like Lucian! No wonder you're good-looking!"

Dominic's expression stiffened a bit, and he turned his head away like he didn't want to be stared at.

"Come on, he's way out of my league. I could never look like him."

"I'm serious! You've got this sharp look, really charming. You totally have that leading-man vibe. Being a driver doesn't do you justice."

Just as she finished, her phone rang. Her first thought was that it might be Lucian, and she didn't know whether to be excited or dread it.

But it wasn't him. It was Fiona.

Her heart clenched immediately, like she'd just been caught doing something wrong. Her face flushed with heat.

"Answer it," Dominic said gently.

She tapped to pick up, and Fiona's cheerful voice came through.

"Ariella, where are you? I really want to chat. Can we meet?"

"I... yeah, I'm free." She had to see Fiona, at least to check if she was really okay... maybe even find a subtle way to open her eyes about Lucian.

"I'll send Alex Bloom to grab you. Where are you now?"

Ariella told her she was at home - Alex had been there enough times to know the way.

"Go glam up a bit. Be hotter than her," Dominic said with a smirk.

Ariella smiled bitterly.

"It's not about looks, Dominic. I honestly wish none of this happened. I want her to be happy, truly. But... you have no idea how torn I am. If I tell her the truth, Lucian will come for me. If I don't, am I really okay with her living in a lie forever?"

"Don't worry. We'll figure this out. I've got your back," he said, giving her shoulder a reassuring pat.

"Alright, next time I'll show you a picture of Lucian. You'll see I wasn't lying-you two really do look alike."

"If that's true, should I start planning my breakout role? Maybe Lucian needs a stand-in. I mean, I've got some serious acting chops."

Ariella laughed. Dominic always knew how to make her smile-but Lucian, the man who looked just like him, always managed to drag her deep into a mess she couldn't escape.

Not long after, Alex's car pulled up. Ariella said goodbye and got in.

"Miss Rios, Miss Ross is waiting in the VIP lounge upstairs," Alex said politely as he opened the door.

"Alex, you don't have to be so formal with me or Fiona, really. Relax a little." Ariella could tell he had feelings for Fiona. Could it be that his position made it hard for him to confess?

Honestly, she'd rather Fiona ended up with someone like Alex-at least then she'd truly be the queen of someone's world.

"It's part of my job, Miss Rios. This way, please."

VIP lounge, top floor.

Two waiters greeted her politely before pushing open the heavy glass doors and bowing slightly. "Please come in."

Ariella walked in with poise, heels clicking against the floor, and almost instantly, Fiona's sweet, melodic voice rang out across the room.

"Ariella! Over here!"

Fiona was wearing a white layered dress today-simple yet stunning, like a flower fresh out of water. Breathtaking didn't even begin to cover it.

"You're here too, babe?" Fiona's eyes lit up as she glanced past Ariella. She stood up in surprise and walked forward.

Ariella turned around instinctively-and there he was. Lucian. The picture-perfect face, the slight smirk playing at the corners of his lips, watching her casually.

He looked so damn composed, like he didn't have a care in the world. Like betrayal had never even crossed his mind.

But Ariella wasn't built like him. The moment she laid eyes on him, all she could think of was getting the hell out of there.

"Fiona, I didn't realize your husband was coming too. I didn't mean to intrude. Maybe we can catch up another time," she said quickly and turned to leave.

"Wait, don't go! I have something important to talk to you about!" Fiona grew anxious and grabbed her arm.

"Let's talk one-on-one later, okay?"

"Since you're here, sit down. Do I look that dangerous to you?" Lucian interjected casually, that familiar indifferent tone in his voice.

"You're impossible! Always with that poker face-no wonder you scared Ariella half to death. Put on a friendlier smile in front of my friends, will you?" Fiona playfully scolded Lucian before tugging Ariella toward the table.

Reluctantly, Ariella sat across from him, her eyes darting everywhere but his face.

"Ariella, you look exhausted. Haven't been sleeping well?"

A simple question, but to Ariella's panicked heart it felt loaded-like Fiona somehow knew her secret.

Her heart skipped a beat. Under the table, her hands twisted around themselves, nerves eating her alive.

Her cheeks flushed red. She looked at Fiona, completely flustered, wanting to say something, anything-but afraid she'd mess up.

"Waiter." Lucian spoke up, breaking the tension like he always did.

"Yes, sir. How can I help you?"

"One pot of lily and honey tea for the lady here. Thank you."

Lily and honey-calming, soothing. He never paid this kind of attention to her before. Now he did it here, in front of Fiona?

Was he out of his mind? What was he playing at?

Ariella sat there, feeling like she was sitting on needles. Her heart was a tangled mess, and none of this felt right.

"Why is that guy still not here?" Fiona muttered, glancing at her watch.

"Babe, who else did you invite?" Lucian asked gently.

"You'll see, sweetie!" Fiona replied, her smile glowing.

With all the "babe" and "sweetie" being thrown around, Ariella felt like an extra in someone else's love story.

If she weren't here, they'd probably be making out already. That thought made her chest tighten uncomfortably.

"You and your secrets," Lucian said dotingly, leaning in to kiss Fiona's cheek right in front of Ariella, like she wasn't even there.

"Stop it! Ariella's right here..."

"Um... I need to use the restroom," Ariella interrupted, her chest tightening like there wasn't enough air to breathe. She had to get out.

She quickly stood up and walked away, ducking into the bathroom to hide from the sweet, suffocating atmosphere.

Looking in the mirror, she whispered to herself.

"Ariella, what the hell happened? Should I just bail? Or tell Fiona everything?"

But Fiona looked so happy just now. Crushing that happiness - was that fair?

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm in her head.

"Jealous, huh?" a voice whispered near her ear. Then, a pair of arms wrapped tightly around her from behind.

She felt his teeth graze her earlobe, slow and deliberate, warm breath fanning across her skin.

Her ears were too sensitive - her body shivered involuntarily, knees almost giving out.

"Let me go!" She twisted hard, trying to break free.

"That look in your eyes a minute ago? Totally said you wanted a kiss. Now you're playing hard to get? Is this supposed to be foreplay?" he murmured, still nibbling on her ear.

That was it! She didn't care anymore. Seething, Ariella slammed her heel toward his foot.

The second the stiletto grazed his shoe, he dodged fast and let her go.

Her chest rose and fell rapidly, face flushed red with rage. She wanted to slap him so bad. But to him, that flamed-up, furious look only made her more irresistible.

"You seriously tried to stomp me? Are you out of your mind? Believe me when I say-I could take you right here."

"I believe it. Animals in heat don't exactly have manners," Ariella shot back, chin held high.

He grabbed her waist again, yanking her close as his face moved toward hers.

She knew what he was about to say - that she had no right to fight back.

So she closed her eyes. Just before his lips touched hers, hot tears silently slipped down her cheeks.

Her waist was suddenly freed, regaining her space again.

"If Fiona finds out you were crying, deal with it yourself," Lucian said coldly, then turned and walked off without looking back.

Ariella quickly wiped away her tears. She didn't have the guts to let Fiona know-she couldn't handle seeing her hurt, and she was terrified of losing their friendship.

To avoid raising any red flags, she waited until all traces of crying were gone, forced a smile at her reflection in the mirror, and headed back to the VIP lounge.

"Ariella, if you didn't show up soon, someone was about to dial 911!" Fiona teased, chuckling behind her hand while glancing at the man sitting across from Lucian.

Only then did Ariella notice someone new sitting next to where she had been-Ryan, the same guy who'd chatted her up at Lucian's wedding.

"Come on, let me introduce you. This is Ryan, Lucian's younger brother. I brought you out today because he begged me. Seriously, he wouldn't stop! Our Ariella's just too charming-even the infamous playboy's gone shy and didn't have the guts to ask you out himself!" Fiona said, practically bursting with excitement.

Ariella took a fast glance at Lucian. His face looked like a thunderstorm was brewing.

Something about it pushed her to dig the knife deeper. So she turned to Ryan with a sweet smile and said, "Nice to meet you," even offering her hand.

"You're gorgeous, Ariella," Ryan said sincerely, gently shaking her soft hand.

"What, and your sister-in-law isn't pretty?" Fiona joked.

"You are, totally! But I can't say it out loud-don't wanna get beat up by my big bro!"

"Sit down already! You standing there's making me nervous!" Ryan said dramatically to Ariella.

Still smiling, Ariella slid into her seat. The lily honey tea had just arrived, and Ryan, acting all gentlemanly, poured her a cup himself.

"I know I've got a reputation... everyone calls me a player. But the truth? I just hadn't met the right one. Until I saw you at the wedding. I felt something real. I know this might come out of nowhere, but I really want to be serious with you. I even asked Fiona to set this up, and I wanted Lucian here too, kinda like a witness. So... if you'd be willing to date me-"

"You're not a good match!" Lucian cut in, his voice sharp and cold like he was the family patriarch.

He couldn't take it anymore. What the hell was Ryan on about? Trying to turn over a new leaf, out of nowhere?

Wasn't it him who swore up and down he'd bed every gorgeous woman on earth? Now just because that damn woman hooked a finger, he's ready to quit the game?

As a Sterling, acting like some love-sick stray dog-it was embarrassing.

Ryan hadn't expected this reaction, especially not over his first try at a serious relationship. Wasn't Lucian always bugging him to settle down?

"Bro, what's not right about it?" Ryan asked carefully. Normally, he wouldn't dare question Lucian like this.

But now, with the girl he liked standing right there, he couldn't just back down.

"Everything's wrong with it!"

Ariella stayed quiet, but her thoughts were all over the place. What right did he have to be this aggressive? Who Ryan dated was none of his business!

It's only because they had an agreement that she played along - otherwise, she might've really gone for it, just to see what Lucian would do.

Ryan's face flushed an awkward shade of red, nearly purple, as he stood there frozen, struggling for words.

"Bro, you're always telling me to be serious about relationships..."

Lucian waved him off before he could finish, his face still dark and cold.

"Serious? You met her once and you're already acting like she's 'the one'? That's not being serious - that's being reckless! All you see is her pretty face. What else do you even know about her? Some girls might look sweet, but trust me, they've got a bag full of tricks..."

"Lucian, Ariella's not that kind of person," Fiona cut in, frowning, clearly annoyed.

"I didn't say she was," Lucian replied with a sigh, looking like he was trying to be the wise elder. "I'm just saying, Ryan doesn't know her well enough. He's rushing in blind."

"Okay, maybe I don't know her that well yet, but shouldn't you at least let me try? People attract people like themselves - and if she's close with someone like Fiona, that already tells me a lot. I swear, I'd never hurt her."

"No." Lucian was still firm, almost harsh this time.

"Why not?"

"Because I said so. That's it."

Ryan was honestly thrown. His big bro was always strict, sure, but never unreasonable like this.

Lucian had always been the composed, dependable type - someone Ryan looked up to and admired. But today? He was like a different person.

Just flat-out shutting down a normal relationship like this felt way out of line. That harshness lit a flame in Ryan, and in one burst of frustration, he finally blurted what he'd been holding back for years.

"Lucian... am I really your brother? If this were Liam, you'd be totally fine with it, right? Liam's great, sure, he looks like you and acts like you, but he's not your real brother. I am. Same mom, same womb - so why does it feel like I'm always the one falling short in your eyes?"

"You..." Lucian always had the final say among the siblings, and no one ever pushed back. Being called out like that made something click for him - maybe he had been a bit unreasonable. But even he couldn't quite put into words why Ryan going after Ariella bothered him so much.

Maybe it was because Ariella was his. And the idea of her being with his own brother? That just didn't sit right.

"What nonsense are you spouting? I heard she already had a boyfriend, that's the only reason I said it wouldn't work," Lucian added, his tone softening.

"When did Ariella get a boyfriend? I had no idea. Where did you hear that?" Fiona asked, clearly confused.

"I just figured she must have one-she's beautiful," Lucian replied stiffly, silently cursing Ariella.

She was the reason his brother was acting like this. She had to be doing it on purpose, trying to stir up trouble between them. He'd definitely have to deal with her later.

"You guessed?" Ryan looked like he'd been hit by lightning. That wasn't just a flimsy excuse-it was basically nonsense and totally unfair.

"Ariella, you do have a boyfriend, right?" Lucian ignored Ryan and turned directly to Ariella.

If she dared say no, he'd make her regret it.

All eyes zeroed in on Ariella. Ryan had already asked Fiona, who'd said Ariella didn't have a boyfriend.

Still, he couldn't shake the worry-what if Fiona didn't know either?

Ariella opened her mouth, hesitating. She wanted to say no, but knew that'd be giving Lucian what he wanted. If she said yes, Fiona would definitely press her for details.

So she decided to dodge the question altogether.

"I've got something really important to take care of. I need to go. See you guys later!" she said quickly, standing up.

"I'll walk you out!" Ryan jumped to his feet too. No way he was staying under his brother's eye any longer.

He'd done the polite hello thing-he could handle the rest from here.

"That's okay, thanks," Ariella responded politely.

"Come on, even if you do have a boyfriend, we can still be friends, right? A proper guy should at least see you off," he insisted.

"Exactly, Ariella, don't be too formal. Lucian and I have to head home anyway-we can't walk you out, but he can," Fiona added.

"After you," Ryan gave a small bow, totally playing the gentleman. Ariella couldn't refuse anymore and had no choice but to go with him.

Behind them, Lucian's expression went ice cold, his jaw tightening.

Inside Ryan's flashy sports car, Ariella sat stiffly, her mood heavy. She knew she'd pissed Lucian off, and badly.

"Can I pursue you? Is that okay?" Ryan asked earnestly.

"Sorry, I already have a boyfriend," she said firmly. She didn't want to give him false hope.

"But Fiona said-"

"She doesn't know."

"Don't turn me down just because of something my brother said. It's my life, and who I date has nothing to do with my family's business. They won't get involved."

"So you're saying Lucian and Fiona's marriage was business-related?" Ariella asked before she could stop herself. It sounded way too nosy, but the words were already out.

"Yeah, there was a benefit involved. But they love each other, so it worked out perfectly."

Just as he said that, Ariella's phone buzzed with a new message.

"Be in bed waiting for me in twenty minutes!"