Aria's POV

"Chloe. I hate that I'm a fvcking sidepiece." Her eyes narrow in on me and I can see the confusion in them.

"What could you possibly mean by that?" She draws in closer.

I catch my breath. "This is all Lucien's fault. He uses my ideas to please his brat of a girlfriend. He calls my ideas brilliant, great; you name it. My taste for high-class fashion impressive, but only when it has to do with her."

My whole body is coursing with anger at this point, my veins twitching, my heart pounding so hard in my chest. My feelings for Lucien might cost me a lot this time, but I couldn't care less. Chloe's eyes are filled with sympathy; she takes my hands into hers.

"Oh my God, Aria. I'm so sorry, I had no idea Lucien would ever do that to you." I try to lock in my anger, but it only grows worse. I can't really tell if it's the intoxication of the alcohol that keeps fueling it. My eyes steal a glimpse of Lucien with Mara and that infuriates me even more. I squeeze Chloe's hands, forcing her attention to stay on me.

"That's not all you know. That birthday dress she has on. I point in Mara's direction, shifting Chloe's focus to the dress. "Guess whose idea that was?" Chloe's face wears a puzzled look, but I don't allow her to say a thing before voicing out again.

"Me. The purse, guess who? And if you're thinking it's me, yes, you are correct. It's all me. Everything was my idea all along." I slam my fist repeatedly onto the table.

It makes a sound that captures a few people. They flash both of us scrutinizing looks. But I couldn't care less what is going through their minds at the moment.

Chloe grabs hold of my hand, trying to get me to stop. "Take a chill pill, Aria. Everyone is staring," she says, her voice low and rushed.

"I can't take a chill pill, Chloe. I feel like an endless fountain of ideas that he taps from whenever he runs out of ways to impress his so-called girlfriend." My hands curl up against my face in a frustrated gesture, like I could strangle the surrounding air around me.

"And the truth is that I let him. Jeez, I always fvcking let him, because of my stupid..." I break off midway, scared that I might spill the secret about my feelings. I take a deep breath, eyes closed, and as they flicker back open, I sight a waiter serving a tray containing glasses of whiskey. I snatch a glass from the tray.

I gulp it all down, dodging Chloe's protest to take the drink from me. She manages to grab hold of the empty glass. "Oh no, you don't. You can't have any more drinks, Aria."

I rise to my feet, trying to help myself to another drink. Suddenly, my distaste for consuming alcohol has long gone, and I want more of it. Chloe steps in front of me, blocking me from taking another step.

"No more drinks, Aria. Not another this time. Anger and alcohol aren't a very nice combo."

I rub against my temple in frustration. My head is pounding, and I can hear the thumping sound of my heart. I feel wasted. Is this what love looks like? Every time I think about it, I only wish Lucien could see how much I've grown to love him, wish he could be mine. A drop of tear trickles from the corner of my eye, rolling down my cheek. I dab the corner clean.

My mind flashes back to all the sacrifices I've made for him in the past. My heart hurts, it hurts so badly that he might never know my reasons for doing such. I glare at Chloe; I know she can see my frustration right through me.

"Chloe," I say, my hands cupping hers in mine. "I don't want to be a middleman anymore. I can't be a shortcut for Lucien to go about impressing Mara. I just can't do it anymore." My voice catches a sob while my eyes close shut.

By the time they are open, I feel dizzy. My legs suddenly feel wobbly, I try to keep my balance but end up tugging hard on the table carrying the champagne tower, sending the entire thing crashing to the ground.

The sound of shattering glass fills the air. Gasps cut through the room. I shake my head in a bid to clear off the hazy feeling inside. My eyes snap shut, the room erupts into more gasps, and people start whispering.

"Aria!" I hear Chloe scream at the top of her voice. The hall suddenly observes pin-drop silence. I can feel my head spinning while I tug harder on the table, my whole weight resting on it for support, preventing me from falling flat on my face.

"Aria..." Lucien's voice cuts through the air. Chloe and Lucien close in on me in time. Lucien takes me into his arms. I'm too weak to give any response. My hands dangle in midair, weightless, as if lifeless.

"Oh my God. My champagne tower; it's all ruined," Mara cries out in frustration.

"What happened to her?" Lucien questions Chloe.

"She had a lot to drink, Alpha Lucien. I feel that's why she passed out."

"She's drunk," I hear Mara's voice once more, and then she scoffs. "That's it. She ruined my party, and now she'll just pretend as though she is drunk. That's really it."

I wish she could just stop her whining already.

"Mara, this is not the time for all this. You can see she is not herself," I hear Lucien protest against her complaints. Suddenly, I feel myself drifting in and out of consciousness.

"Please, Alpha Lucien, we need to hurry." I can sense the fear in Chloe's voice as she pleads.

Lucien readjusts me in his arms and rushes through the crowd.

"Aria, Aria, what happened to her?" Mum's voice pierces through the air, curious and troubled as she closes in on us.

"Aria. Is she alright?" Dad also asks, making his way toward us.

"We need to get her home. She is feeling nauseous," Lucien says, not slowing down for a second.

As we get into the car, I hear Chloe's voice. "Hang in there, Aria, you'll be alright," her tone is subtle, and the other voices I hear in the background start to grow faint.

I slowly fall into a trance of haziness. Even the sound of the engine starts to fade out in my mind, and as I slowly black out, I hear Lucien's voice last, rimmed with distress.

"Hang in there, Aria, stay with me. You'll be just fine," he utters before I slowly black out.

Aria's POV

My eyes slowly flicker open, my vision is a blur of light at first glance.

"Where am I?" I ask as my vision slowly return back. My body feels weak, but I still try to sit up and someone pulls me into their embrace while rubbing my back soothingly.

"Aria, you're alright. Okay, I'm right here." Just then I detect Lucien's voice while his hands wrap around me. My head rests against his broad chest, with my hands holding onto my temple, trying to soothe the splitting sensation I feel inside.

A nauseous feeling weighs down on me and I feel unrest in my stomach making me sick. Lucien puts me back to rest, my body sinks back into the bed. My hands still hold my head in place.

In no time, I feel a glass of water pressed into my palm.

"Here, take this. It will help." I sit upright on the bed, take a sip and hand it over. Everything suddenly starts coming back, and it hits me all at once.

"Lucien..." I mutter, but he presses a finger to my lips.

"Don't speak, you're still weak from all that drinking. You know?"

I chuckle, pushing his finger away. "You really think so."

"No, I don't think so, I know so." He moves to my face with a damp cloth in hand and begins mopping. "Come to think of it, what made you drink so much tonight?" I watch as his hands move across my face, he's fully focused.

I trace every curve and every structure of his well-defined facial appearance with my eyes. His jawline, how it tenses when his attention is focused on me.

I just can't get enough of him, his details I'd catalog and register in my mind. Those hazel eyes of his that always leave a lasting impression on me, when they narrow in on mine.

I'm lost in thought, but I see his mouth move. He must be trying to mumble words to my hearing.

He calls out to me. "Aria..." And I snap back to reality.

"Jeez, have you suddenly gone deaf?"

"What?" I close my eyes, trying to remember the last statement he made. "I'm so sorry, what were you saying again?"

He shakes his head in disappointment and resumes mopping off the trickle of sweat still clinging to my arm.

"I was asking a question. What made you drink so much today? It's very much unlike you to drink. Remember, in your own words, alcohol is bad for you," he says, with a scrutinizing look plastered across his face. One that screams, you say it was bad, but look who is doing it now.

I let out a soft huff, "Oh come on, Lucien, you and I know I never said that."

"Yes, maybe, but you did say something close to that. You can't deny that." This time it isn't about scrutiny, he's mocking me to my face and I can't do anything about it. I sink back into the bed.

"Maybe I did, but you can't just blame me for what happened today. It wasn't my fault. I promise." I lie. And he doesn't even have the slightest idea; I have a meltdown all because of him.

I also feel a need to ask about his car gift to Mara, but I let it slide. I can't bear hearing him go back and forth on how she is so dear to him and how she deserves nothing less. Call me jealous if you may, but I'm not sticking around for that.

I glance around the room and ask the question that comes to my mind. "What about Mum and Dad? And how long have you been here?"

Lucien returns his gaze to me, gently patting my head, helping lure me back to sleep.

"I told them not to worry, I was going to look after you tonight. And for the second question, you seriously don't want to know how long I have been here. Do you?" he tilts his head.

"Awnn. That's so sweet of you," I tease, causing him to let out a chuckle.

"Lucien." His eyes narrow in on me. "Tell me the truth, I made a fool of myself today." I watch anxiously, as he confirms my suspicion.

"Not really," he says, sounding unsure, and I immediately feel a sigh of relief just before he adds, "But you crashed Mara's party."

I'm not shocked at this moment, not that I crashed Mara's party by accident, but that somehow all Lucien's conversations always lead to her. He always manages to squeeze her in one way or another. He really cares more about her party than if all those glasses of champagne came crashing down on my face.

"And you know what?" He says and I glare in his direction. "What?"

"She's really mad at you." I scoff at how unbelievable that sounds. I have more to worry about and all she cares about is her party. This really shows she's a bitch, nothing more.

"Like she should be." Lucien flashes me a stare, the kind that screams disappointment. "Lucien, I almost died out there, talk about bumping into champagne towers. I had more to lose than she did." I let out in a heartbeat, not holding back words.

"Aria, I know you almost got hurt; I was terrified. But... Mara worked so hard on that party. You could at least show a little sympathy." Now he is becoming more unbelievable, taking Mara's side again.

I chuckle. "Sympathy. You really think Mara had any sympathy for me? Talk about sympathy, way to go, brother. Mara didn't feel a thing when I crashed into that tower and worse....."

He cuts in angrily. "That's enough, Aria. Drop it. You clearly don't get it, do you?" I can't believe he just said that. He withdraws from patting my head. "Get some rest," he says, dismissing my complaints as though they are nothing to him.

He moves towards the door, his fingers reaching for the light switch. "Good night, Aria," he says, before turning off the light. I really don't know when he will finally see the bad in Mara, for real.

He exits the room and I can only close my eyes, trying to process the last moment of our conversation. He seriously can't be worried about me talking down on Mara, because it's about time.

She does this to me, and he doesn't even flinch. The thought of him dismissing our conversation settles in.

"Ugh." I let out in frustration while burying my head into a pillow.

He's just impossible and this is a fact undeniable. But as I cast my mind back, I can't help but feel like I did too much. I could have gone easier on him, I think. It's crazy how my feelings always get in the way, even if he is wrong. Gosh, love makes you think and do sickening things at times. I replay our conversation in my last minute before drifting into sleep.

In the Morning,

I open my eyes to rays of sunlight streaming through my window. I feel better, more relieved, unlike yesterday, which was much worse. I peel myself out of bed. I have training with Lucien early today. I always train with him any day I am free and that implies today. I recall our verbal altercation, but I wave it off.

Remembering my promise to Raymond to watch him practice with his team later today, I really don't know how it is going to turn out, but I am going regardless.

And to crown it up, today is the eve before my eighteenth birthday. I can't believe that by tomorrow, I am turning eighteen. A wave of excitement suddenly floods me from inside, making me forget my worries for a second. I throw in a little dance and just then I hear muffled voices with footsteps approaching.

Aria's POV

The footsteps settle at my door, then a knock follows. "Aria darling, are you up already?" Mum says and proceeds to turn the door knob, cracking the door open. She walks in with a maid carrying a tray, which I presume contains my breakfast.

"Good morning Mum," I say, and she pulls me in for a hug.

"Oh my darling. I was scared to death, seeing you in your helpless state yesterday. How're you faring now?"

I smile reassuringly. "I feel better, Mum." She places her hand at the side of my face.

"Here you go. Your breakfast." Her gaze shifts towards the maid while she proceeds to place the tray on the dressing table. "I feel you might still be weak, so I brought it up for you."

"Oh Mum, you shouldn't have. I would have come down for breakfast myself," I protest.

"You're still very weak, why let you bother with that?" She moves over to the tray, repositioning the fork and knife. Mum is a clean freak, always organizing at every chance she gets. I can't help it either. I have grown to love this aspect of her regardless.

"Now eat your breakfast and have your rest. I'll call Dr. Blake, the park doctor, to check up on you." I don't waste another second before retorting.

"No Mum. You don't have to. I'm perfectly fine." She surveys my appearance, but isn't quite sure about my claims. When I see she doesn't look convinced, I try to say something to shift her attention.

"I have a training session with Lucien today," I say, wishing she would let me off her hook.

She takes me by my hands. "Darling, I don't think Lucien would mind if you decide to sit out this session with him. What do you say I tell him to let you take a break?"

"No Mum," I retort. "Another thing; I promised Raymond I'd watch him practice today. Please Mum... pretty please." I swing her hands in opposite directions, hoping she buys into my plea this time around. Mum flashes me a smile.

"Okay Aria. But you must promise you won't come back late. We don't want you falling ill a day before your big day. Okay?" She cups my face into her palm.

"Okay Mum. I love you." I move her hands aside, embracing her as she mutters.

"Love you too darling." We pull away and she makes her way out.

I rush into the bathroom to freshen up, eat breakfast, and get dressed for training.

I make my way towards Lucien's training ground. It's an open space, more like a field; nothing really special apart from a few training weapons.

I see him engaging in physical combat, and he isn't alone. Adrian, his beta, is with him. They are going at each other, sparring like their lives depend on it. Lucien is fierce, sending his spear in every direction, but Adrian calculatively blocks him at every point.

"Good morning guys," I say, trying to draw in their attention. Adrian looks in my direction, but Lucien doesn't, using the opportunity to send a spear across Adrian's right arm. He barely misses, dodging the attack as the spear slightly cuts through his skin. He falls to the ground, holding onto his wounded arm as he lets out a whimper.

Lucien gives him his arm in a quest to help him up on his feet.

"Next time, focus. You can't afford to be distracted while on the battleground. Got it?" Adrian lets out a grunt as Lucien pulls him back up with his wounded arm.

"There's certainly no distractions over here, Lucien. It's just Aria," Adrian says as he tends to his wounds. Lucien glares in my direction and returns to practice. I can't believe he just ignores me like that.

Just as I'm about to give him a piece of my mind, Adrian steals my focus with his warm greetings. "Hi Aria, how is your day going?" I switch my attention over to him, tending to his injured arm.

"Hi Adrian. So sorry about that," I say.

"No problem, I'll just take care of this real quick." I move past him, making my way towards Lucien. As I close in on him, he stops training with the spear, halting his practice.

He picks up a cloth and cleans the spear. "Shouldn't you be resting? You're not strong enough to practice today," he says, not meeting my gaze, still cleaning the blood on the blade.

"You barely even responded to me, Lucien. Is there any problem?" He finally looks in my direction, his expression unreadable.

"That's not an answer." He puts the spear back in place and grabs a towel to clean the trickle of sweat rolling down his bare chest. He drags the towel slowly against his skin, his muscles flex in an attempt to mop his body clean. It's tempting, No... It's enticing. My stomach flips, my chest tightens, I bite the inside of my lip to fight the urge not to drool. My jaw tenses.... I have to look away. Just when I'm in need of a distraction.... There my eyes fall on a perfect distraction: a sword.

I go to it, pick it up and start surveying its beautiful design. It's intricate detailing, it's beautiful. Once he's done, Lucien moves towards a hanging support and drops the towel on it.

He inches closer, then l hear him say at my back, "I'm still waiting for an answer." I flinch, spinning towards him, forgetting the proximity that our bodies are at. My hand touches his bare chest and I pull away as though I've touched something hot.

I try to argue about his nonchalant response towards me, but I withdraw. It was pointless, he's probably still mad at me from yesterday's altercation.

I inhale, then exhale. "You're still angry at me from last night. Right?" He leans on a thick wooden pole, while he stares in my direction. "You bet I'm still angry," he says.

"OK, let's just put all that behind us," he smirks at me, like he totally agrees with me.

"That's not a problem, provided you apologize for yesterday. Remember you started it, so it's all your fault." I look at him, puzzled that he would even think of asking for an apology when I'm clearly right about Mara.

"Hell no, Lucien. Not when I know I'm right and definitely not over Mara; who wouldn't give a care if I lived or died." I say as I watch his expression turn sour, lips curl downward. He is about to say something but stops when we hear a familiar voice mutter from afar off.

"Hi Babe."