Chapter 19

Aria’s POV

The soft clinking of champagne glasses and the low murmur of voices filled the opulent ballroom, but none of it could drown out the tension simmering in the air.

Liam’s friends, gathered in a semi-circle, eyed me with surprise as I stood by the entrance.

Their eyes darted between me and Liam, silently questioning what I was doing here. Their glances held a mix of curiosity and disdain, clearly not accustomed to seeing me in their circle.

“Aria,” one of them finally said, a smug smile creeping onto his face. “Come back to reconcile with Liam, have you?”

I gave him a cold smile, my eyes narrowing. “I don’t believe we know each other well enough for you to ask me that.”

The remark landed exactly as intended. The man’s smile faltered, and he shifted awkwardly, clearly unsure how to respond.

They were no strangers to me. These were the same people who used to mock me when I was married to Liam, dismissing me as nothing more than a trophy wife. I had no desire to engage with them now.

As if sensing the growing discomfort, Logan appeared at my side, his presence a calming force amidst the judgmental stares.

Without hesitation, he slid an arm around my waist, pulling me close. “She’s here with me,” he said, his voice firm and unapologetic.

The group exchanged confused glances, clearly taken aback. They had expected me to be here with Liam, not Logan.

Liam’s eyes were sharp and fierce.

The awkward silence that followed hung in the air like a thick cloud before one of them cleared his throat and shifted the conversation to safer ground.

I could feel their eyes on me, but I kept my head high, determined not to let their opinions affect me. Their whispered speculation about our relationship did nothing to faze me.

“Excuse me,” I muttered to Logan, gently untangling myself from his arm. I needed a moment to clear my head, away from the stares and whispered gossip.

The cool night air called to me, and I slipped out onto the balcony. The distant hum of the city provided a welcome escape from the noise inside, a soothing contrast to the tension I had just left behind.

Leaning against the railing, I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, letting the breeze wash over me. The reprieve was short-lived, though, as voices drifted from a corner of the balcony.

I turned my head slightly, catching a glimpse of Liam standing by the railing, a young woman approaching him with a playful smile.

"Hey," she said, her voice light and flirtatious as she stepped closer. "I’ve seen you around before, haven’t I?"

Liam barely glanced at her, his posture rigid, arms crossed over his chest. "Maybe," he replied, his tone flat, uninterested.

Undeterred, she moved in even closer, tilting her head as she let out a soft laugh. "Well, I’d remember someone like you. Alone out here? Seems like you could use some company."

I stiffened at her boldness, trying to retreat back inside before I became a witness to something I had no desire to see.

But just as I took a step toward the door, Liam’s eyes locked onto mine. His gaze sharpened, and without hesitation, he pointed in my direction.

“My wife is right there,” he said, his tone leaving no room for doubt.

The girl blinked, clearly startled, and quickly backed away, leaving the balcony as fast as she had appeared.

I sighed, stepping forward. “We’re divorced,” I reminded him, my voice cold as ice.

“Not yet,” Liam retorted, his expression unreadable but his stance firm.

The air between us grew thick with unspoken words. Before the tension could escalate further, the sharp trill of my phone broke through the silence.

I glanced at the screen—Joe. My heart throbbed with worry.

“Joe, is everything ok with you and Isabel?”

His sweet voice greeted me the moment I finished, no fear in his voice. "Mom, when are you coming home? I want to see Dad!"

Before I could respond, Liam snatched the phone out of my hand with a quick swipe.

"Hey, buddy," he said into the receiver, his voice softening as he spoke to Joe.

"Uncle Liam!"

"You want me to come over tonight?"

I reached for the phone, but Liam dodged easily, holding it high above his head.

I glared at him, stretching up on my toes to grab it back, but he kept it just out of reach, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.

"Give it back," I demanded, my voice low but forceful. We danced around each other, me lunging and him evading, the scene quickly turning into a ridiculous tug-of-war.

From a distance, it must’ve looked like a bickering couple caught in a moment of lightheartedness. But nothing about this felt playful to me.

Just then, Logan’s voice cut through the air like a knife. "Aria."

I froze, my hand still outstretched as I turned to see Logan approaching, his eyes fixed on Liam. The embarrassment of the situation hit me.

Behind him, a few of Liam’s friends lingered, watching the scene with expressions that ranged from curiosity to disdain. They shifted uncomfortably, clearly aware of the tension crackling in the air.

One of them, emboldened by the spectacle, couldn’t resist throwing a jab.

“Seems like Aria’s trying to play both sides, huh? Trying to keep the ex and the new man on a string?” His sneer was unmistakable. I tried to ignore the giggles several others’ made no attempt to cover.

The comment was met with two simultaneous glares—one from Liam and the other from Logan.

Their combined intensity was enough to shut the man up immediately, though his eyes darted away, clearly stung by the rebuke. The group of friends exchanged uneasy looks before they quickly moved away, their whispers fading as they exited the scene.

My head throbbed from the confrontation, the headache growing with every second spent in this uncomfortable mess. The atmosphere in the room had shifted palpably, leaving an echo of awkwardness in its wake.

After what felt like an eternity, the gala finally drew to a close.

The crowd slowly trickled out of the ballroom, leaving behind an air of exhaustion. Logan offered to take me home, and I gladly accepted.

But as we made our way outside, Liam’s car pulled up beside us, his driver waiting patiently by the curb.

"Get in," Liam said, his voice firm as he opened the door.

I ignored him, stepping toward Logan’s car instead.

But Liam wasn’t finished. "I have something to discuss with you," he added, his voice laced with an edge of authority that I wasn’t in the mood to indulge.

"We have nothing to talk about," I replied, keeping my tone even.

Liam raised an eyebrow, a knowing smile creeping onto his face. "Divorce papers—want to talk about those?"

That stopped me in my tracks. I hesitated for a moment, glancing at Logan, who stood silent by my side. With a sigh, I turned back toward Liam. "Fine."

Logan’s expression was unreadable, but I could feel the weight of his eyes on me as I slipped into Liam’s car.

The door shut with a soft thud, and as we pulled away from the curb, I caught sight of Liam shooting Logan a triumphant look from the corner of his eye. The glare I sent his way was sharp.

From the other side of the car, Liam just watched me.

“You look nice,” He said softly. I couldn’t remember the last time he’d said something like that to me.

Still, I didn’t answer him. He knew what I was here to discuss.