Aria’s POV
“You’re fucking ridiculous!”
Jace shoved his <b>chair </b>back <b>and </b>stormed off without another word.
Delh copsed into the seat he left behind. She covered her face with both hands and started sobbing softly
“That’s how he treats you?” Grayson demanded.
“Enough” Delh’s eyes were already brimming with tears.
“As the Hart family’s heiress, you shouldn’t let <b>anyone </b>treat you like this. Something needs to be done about this.” His voice was low/full of warning
“Stop it! I don’t want to hear it!” she suddenly jumped up, <b>shouting </b>through <b>her </b>tears. “Why do you always have something <b>to </b>say about my life? I’ve been stuck in your shadow ever since we were kids. And now I’m married but I still can’t escape your goddamn control? You know nothing about rtionships Grayson. It’s not like your own marriage was so perfect either!<b>” </b>
With that, she spun around and bolted out the balcony door.
I just sat there, stunned, my brain still stuck on what Delh had <b>said</b><b>. </b>
She said Grayson’s marriage wasn’t perfect…
He’s married?!
“Aria, would you mind going to talk to Delh?” <b>he </b>asked.
I blinked and was suddenly snapped out of my daze. “Of course.” I stood up and said.
“Thank you. She might actually listen to you<b>.</b><b>” </b>
I hesitated, wanting to ask more about that whole marriage thing. But he <b>had </b>already gotten up <b>and </b>left the living room.
I headed outside, following the path from the living room’s sliding doors down a wooden walkway that led toward theke.
I found Delh <b>at </b>the very end of it, curled up and crying into her hands.
I walked over slowly. “Hey…Are you alright?”
She said nothing. <b>Just </b>sobbing.
“<b>Don’t </b>be sad. You know <b>Alpha </b>Grayson was only-”
she
“Trying to protect me<b>?</b>” She whipped her head up, her eyes zing with <b>anger</b><b>. </b>“If you’re just here to defend him, then don’t bother!”
I sighed. “Is it possible you’re just mad <b>at </b>Jace<b>? </b><b>You </b><b>don’t </b>get why he won’t let you meet his parents, and you don’t understand why he’s to moody all the time. So maybe you’re taking <b>it </b><b>out </b>on Alpha Grayson.”
<b>She </b>sniffled, and then shook her head. “I don’t know, Aria.. maybe you’re right. Sometimes… sometimes I wonder if Jace even loves me. Hell I <b>think </b>he might care about that ex of <b>his </b><b>way </b>more than he ever cared me?
“That’s not true. They’re over.” I said without hesitation.
“How would you know?” she asked, narrowing her eyes.
How would I <b>know</b>? Because I was in that rtionship myself.
“Well,” she went on bitterly<b>, </b>“then let me tell you <b>this</b>–<b>Jace’s </b>phone password is still her birthday. <b>When </b>we moved into our vi, he brought this one box with him and never let me touch it. I snuck a look once. It was filled with all their vinyl records, and even pictures of them together. I told him to throw it all out, he refused. We had a huge fight about it.”
0:40 AM
My heart skipped a beat.
…He kept those things<b>! </b>
Why on earth would he do <b>that</b>?
I thought <b>he </b>hated me
“<b>What </b>kind of girl do you think <b>she </b>was, Jace’s ex?” <b>Delh </b>asked darkly.
Delh, I really don’t think it matters what she was like. They’re done”
“No! It fucking matters. Because she’s <b>still </b>haunting my Jace!” she snapped. “If I could find her..if I ever know who she is, I swear to the Moon Goddess that I will ruin her. I’d erase her from <b>this </b>goddamn world so she’d never upy even a second of Jace’s mind <b>again</b>!”
My body turnedpletely cold.
Just imagine… if she ever found out Jace’s ex was sitting <b>right </b>in front of her..I didn’t even dare think about it.
“Right now you just need to focus on you and Jace,” I said stiffly.
She let out a long breath. “<b>You’re </b>probably right. Well, I guess I should go find him <b>and </b>apologize for pushing his buttons.
She gave me a tired smile and slowly made her way back along <b>the </b>boardwalk.
I stayed behind, staring out at theke.
My mind was spinning with <b>so </b>ways to confess the truth to her, but every single scenario I came <b>up </b>with a feeling like <b>a </b><b>disaster </b><b>was </b>waiting to happen
It was already <b>dark </b>out, but I wasn’t ready to <b>go </b>back yet. Not ready to face the sad Delh, and moody Jace and Grayson and his past.
It was summer, and even after sundown the air was still warm.
I dipped a toe in theke, testing the water. Then I stripped off my clothes, left them in a pile by the edge, <b>and </b>jumped in wearing only iny underwear.
The water <b>was </b><b>surprisingly </b>warm<b>, </b>almost like a hot spring. I <b>swam </b>a fewps, enjoying the peace, then floated near the shore to catch my breath.
Theke was far from the vi, surrounded by trees. No <b>one </b>was around. It waspletely quiet except for the gentle ssh of water and rustling leaves.
I was so lost in the moment, so rxed.
That I didn’t <b>notice </b>anything.
Until <b>a </b>shadow loomed over me.
I saw <b>the </b>reflection on the water first, the ripples warping their face. I jerked my head<ol><li></li></ol>
“Who-”
Before I could even finish the sentence, a hand suddenly grabbed the top of my <b>head </b><b>and </b><b>shoved </b>me under the water<b>! </b>