ARIA’S POV
I dragged my suitcase across the marble floor, praying this wasn’t the wedding I feared it was. No… it can’t be his wedding, I told myself, my heart hammering, my legs trembling beneath me.
I tried to push through the doors—but two guards stepped in my path.
“Excuse me, where do you think you’re going?” one of the hefty men asked, his tone clipped.
“Please… I need to get inside. I want to speak to Noah—Noah Trent. Please,” I said, my voice shaking as their eyes scanned me up and down, as though I were some strange creature that had fallen from the sky.
One of them chuckled, a cold, disbelieving sound.
“You want to speak to the groom?” he asked, glancing at his companions. They all laughed.
So Noah is really getting married… my chest constricted at the thought.
“Y-yes,” I stuttered. “I need to speak to him. It’s important. I must talk to him before the ceremony.”
“You don’t look like anyone Mr. Noah should know. Look at this hall—look at you. If you’re here for food, we can sort that later. But don’t lie, pretending you know him just to sneak inside and eat for free,” he said, smirking. The others nodded, mocking me.
It stung—too familiar. Insults about my clothes, my looks, my worth. But I refused to let them crush me. I had to see Noah. No matter what.
“If you don’t let me speak to him, I’ll cause a scene,” I warned, my voice sharp. “I’ll ruin every decoration in this hall. And your boss won’t pay you when I’m done. You’ll end up just like me—homeless, miserable. Is that what you want?”
I kept my face stern, praying they would buy my empty threats. My whole world rested on this one chance.
They didn’t move.
“Oh, you think I’m joking?” I snapped, stepping toward a tall glass vase. “I’ll push this over if you don’t go call Noah!”
One guard leaned toward another, whispered something. A moment later, he stormed off, finally taking me seriously.
“Stay here and wait for him,” the remaining guard barked, adjusting his suit. I exhaled, releasing the vase, and dragged my worn-out suitcase closer to me.
Only then did I notice the silence. Dozens of eyes were on me—contemptuous, amused. My cheeks burned with embarrassment.
Then I saw him.
Noah. In a black suit, the groom’s flower pinned to his chest. My suitcase slipped from my fingers and hit the floor with a dull thud.
“Noah…” I whispered, my voice hollow.
“What are you doing here?” he asked, irritation plain in his tone—no guilt, no surprise, just annoyance, as though seeing me was an inconvenience.
“You… you’re really the groom?” I asked, disbelief twisting in my chest.
“Obviously,” he replied, rolling his eyes.
“But… I thought we were in a relationship,” I said, confusion and hurt mingling in my voice.
“Oh, please, Aria. Don’t flatter yourself. What we had wasn’t real. I wasn’t in love with you,” he said, and a piece of me shattered. I blinked back tears.
“And… is that why you had me fired?” I asked quietly. “Why my things were thrown out of the staff quarters?”
“Yes,” he said bluntly. “You were of no use to me anymore. I gave you that job out of pity. And what did I get in return? Nothing. Not a single night with you. You clung to that ‘no sex until marriage’ nonsense. Do you think anyone will love you for anything but… looks? You can’t attract a man. Trust me.”
“Stop,” I whispered, choking back tears. “Your words… they’re cutting into my soul.”
I wiped my cheeks quickly. “Fine. You don’t love me. But please… let me have my job back. I can’t survive in this city without it.”
“Too bad,” he said casually. A smirk crept over his lips. “But… I can offer you a thousand dollars.”
“But what?” I asked, looking at the mischievous smirk on his face.
“Smart,” he said. “You’ll sleep with me. One passionate night. The whole night,” he whispered.
Rage exploded inside me before thought could intervene. My hand shot out—I slapped him across the face.
“How dare you,” I hissed through clenched teeth. “My body is not for sale. Not for a thousand dollars. Not for anything.”
His expression darkened into pure fury.
“And how dare you slap me in front of all these people—on my wedding day? You low-life gutter girl,” he spat. “You should be grateful I have an image to protect, or I’d beat you until you’re unrecognizable.”
He gestured to the guards. “My bride will arrive any moment. Throw her out.”
They obeyed immediately.
“You will not know peace, Noah!” I yelled as he walked away without looking back. “Your wedding night will be a curse!”
“Tsk, tsk,” a familiar voice chimed behind me.
Tracy. Stephanie. Liz. The witches of Tallhox Company—here to witness my humiliation.
“Who knew their little relationship wouldn’t last?” Tracy sneered.
“I did,” the other two chorused.
“Look at you. So pathetic. You never belong here—or at Tallhox,” one said, laughing cruelly.
“And guess who he’s marrying?” another taunted.
“Elara Dravon. Someone far above your league. Connected to the almighty Tallhox Company,” Liz said. Her words cut deeper than Noah’s own.
I swallowed my pain, forcing calm. “Well,” I said, steadying my voice, “you three are nothing but brainless wastes of space at Tallhox—Noah’s and other staff words, not mine. The way you hate me? Others hate you just the same.”
Their eyes widened, shocked. I smirked.
“Guards, do your job,” one snapped.
Rough hands grabbed me, dragging me toward the exit.
“Let go! I can walk myself!” I protested. They finally released me—but I stumbled, the polished floor rushing up toward me—
—but strong arms caught me before I hit the ground.
“What’s the chaos about?” a deep, commanding voice asked.
I lifted my head—and froze. Magnus Thane Dravon. The owner of Tallhox Company. Standing there, calm yet impossibly powerful, his eyes boring into mine.
