---- Thad cried, saying he was too foolish. That I was just an orphan no one cared about, not worth such sacrifice. He'd answered me from his heart: "Aria, you never knew-in this world, no one but you could ever stop me from loving you." That part, at least, had been true. His love for me was real, even if the foundation it was built on was a lie. In that moment, his sincere declaration had finally received a response. The girl he'd pursued for months became his girlfriend. But the guilt had never left him. Later, he'd inadvertently learned that the Alpha Sebastian Cross from southern territory had people constantly searching for information about me. Wave after wave of investigators had come asking questions about my health, my happiness, my life. Using his family's wealth and influence, Kieran had easily dismissed them all. He'd paid them off, ---- threatened them, done whatever it took to keep Sebastian away. He'd also felt an urgent sense of crisis growing inside him. What if Sebastian remembered more details from that day? What if he came looking for me personally? So Kieran had desperately pushed for us to mate. The faster I was bonded to him, the safer his deception would be. The girl of his dreams had finally become his. From then on, Sebastian's name had never appeared in his life again. Kieran had thought he'd won completely. Until that banquet, when Sebastian's familiar face had overlapped with his name, and Kieran had finally realized the truth. The beloved girl Sebastian had mentioned all those years ago was me. And now Sebastian was back to claim what should have been his from the beginning. ---- Kieran walked out of the hotel in a complete daze, his world tilting on its axis. Looking up, he saw Scarlett waiting by the entrance. Her face was full of triumphant mockery, like a predator savoring its kill. "Well, well," she purred, her voice dripping with satisfaction. 'How did it feel to watch your most beloved woman enjoying herself beneath another man?" The cruel words cut through Kieran's grief like a blade. He turned on her with vicious intensity. "You orchestrated this," he snarled, grabbing her arm roughly. "You planned everything that happened tonight." Scarlett laughed, not even trying to deny it. "Of course I did. Did you really think I'd just disappear quietly after everything you put me through?" "T guarantee you'll pay for what you did tonight," Kieran threatened, his voice deadly quiet. Scarlett's laughter grew louder, more unhinged. "I