Chapter 3 The Stranger

Aria P.O.V

Yes. The deed had been done. My heart had been shattered, and I would forever be the stupid girl with battered hopes and shattered dreams. A fitting end to a bond that had been dommed from the very beginning.

Our eyes locked for a few seconds. Those dark eyes that swept me off my feet gave a contemptuous look.

I felt betrayed. No. I betrayed myself thinking we had something even though it was clear that we had nothing.

Stupid girl.

They kissed for a second time. I shuddered at the thought of ever kissing those lips. His lips.

Bastard.

"Let's make some money!"

Everyone raised their glasses and cheered for another toast. Silently sobbing, I maneuvered my way out of the crowd. Someone snickered. Pamela came to mind. But a girl whose world had come crashing down was too busy to care.

Mrs Redwood could go to hell. Solitude was all I needed. Not serve wine and do someone else's bidding, even though it was the only thing I had done in my eighteen years of existence.

I found a room upstairs, dimly lit, but empty. Perfect. Whatever barrier that had hitherto held back the tears disappeared. After the first drop, the rest followed like a stream running down a slope.

Stupid girl.

How did I not see it coming? I guess I was blind. Yes. And blinded by a man whom I thought to be mine. Love is blind.

'Damn it' How did I not see it coming? He never wanted to be seen with me in public. He had preferred to keep things low to foster his agenda.

So many red flags. Yet, this stupid and naive girl saw none coming.

The door opened. I rubbed my cheeks to dry the tears. Stupid dress on a stupid girl.

"Freya. It's not what you think. I can explain."

Had he followed me? How did he know where I was? But one thing was clear, I wanted nothing to do with him.

"Freya, please say something," he said.

"What the hell do you want me to say? That I got betrayed and lied to? Huh," I cried.

"You think all we had was a lie. Huh! Are you kidding me right now?"

"It doesn't matter. Good luck to you both," the anger in me deadpanned.

"Don't say that. I never lied. It's real, Aria. What we have is real."

"What! That's in the past right now. And get the hell out of here," I barked.

"Don't say that. You know I love you. I love you Freya...but."

"But what?" I blurted. Despite the rage, how the hell I wanted to hear him out remains a mystery. He sighed and combed his hair with his fingers.

"My father had it all planned out. He always had eyes on the Redwood family...and their business," he explained.

"What!"

His revelation hit me like a knife. He combed his hair once more as if holding back some information.

"My Dad always wanted to dominate the commodity sector, so he figured allying with the Redwood family would be an edge. And family is the strongest bond," he added.

Now it made sense. No stronger bond than that of family. Ethan was always interested in the family business, the only thing he enjoyed talking about. But what made no sense were the lies, and the deceit of two years.

Yes. We had known each other for two years. It all started the very day his father came for a family dinner. I was made to serve the fortunate table. Ethan, then a freshman at Chadwick university, took an interest in me. And we immediately bonded right away. But how could I have known that the two years would result in lies?

Such a man should be far from me. I rubbed my cheeks even though the tears had dried up.

"You should leave," I said, jabbing a forefinger to the door.

"Aria, don't say that. I love you, and you know it. And I know you love me back." His tone was low and romantic. He wanted to sway me with his words, just like past times. But I wouldn't fall for it again. Never.

"Please leave!" I barked.

No sooner had I said the words did he press his lips on mine. And my emotions betrayed me for a few seconds, but I willed them back to order. With all the force my eighteen years old muscles could muster, I pushed him away. He staggered a few steps backward.

"Don't! Don't you dare come close," I threatened. But he wouldn't listen. He thrust himself forward for another kiss. I tried to stop him but he kept pressing his body, trying to take my lips.

"Stop it, Ethan. You are out of your mind. You are crazy-"

"I think the lady wants you to leave," a voice echoed in the background.

Ethan jerked backwards. We both glanced around but no sign of anyone in the dimly lit room. The sound of a chair being dragged rumbled from a distance. We both stare at each other at the sound of heavy footsteps.

A light-skinned man with a well-shaved bear registered. With his golden-brown eyes and the six-foot frame, I figured his age to be twenty-seven or so.

"The lady wants you to leave," he said bluntly.

"And who are you? How dare you talk to me like that? Do you even know who I am?" Ethan threatened.

The man took a few steps forward and his full frame registered.

"Yes. I know who you are. A piece of shit," the man cursed.

Ethan threw a punch out of rage. but the stranger, who was intuitive and already in anticipation, dodged.

Ethan threw another punch but the man stood firm this time. He grabbed the wrist, and a 'kwack' sound echoed. Ethan held his feast, sobbing as the unimaginable pain coursing through his wrist.

Perfect.

"Your scaphoid and lunate are broken. Put an ice for twenty minutes and you're good. Don't bother to see a doctor. They did tell you the same thing." He took some steps forward and added, "Now get the fuck out of here."

Ethan held the red wrist to the door, probably cursing the day his mother gave birth to him. "You would regret this."

"I will be waiting," the stranger replied.

A perfect response.

The door closed with my feet still glued to the floor.

Who the hell are you?

"Are you a doctor or something?" I asked, still trying to figure out his identity.

"No. Just a man trying to put the bad guys where they belong. Like that shit back there." He turned on his heel and disappeared into the darkness.

"Care to join the ceremony?" I thought it best to ask as a sign of courtesy.

"Not now. I'm on the trail of big bad wolf," echoed from a distance.

I laughed. The stranger would do well for an entertainer.

Satisfied he wasn't going to come, I exited the room. For some inexplicable reason, a part of me was excited. I got dumped and betrayed. But he got what he deserved. I grinned at the thought of seeing Ethan in pain.

I hurried to pour a few drinks. Some guests would probably need their glass refilled and Mrs Redwood would probably want to know my whereabouts. And my absence should go unnoticed. With a tray on my left arm, and lost in thought of what had happened in the last couple of minutes, I took the left turn that would lead me downstairs. But the tray came crashing down when I bumped into a huge frame.

"Oh my God. I'm sorry!" I pleaded. But the man in a black suit appeared to be less concerned. I reached for a handkerchief in an attempt to rub off the stain. But no. The damage had been done. The red spot widened on the white shirt.

"Don't bother. It's fine," he said. The six-foot-plus size frame lowered to assemble the pieces on the tray. I watched in amazement that such a well-dressed man could do such a thing. Judging by the appearance, he was probably one of the rich guests. And when his height towered over me, some glistening blue eyes returned my gaze.

Handsome. No. Beautiful.

"Take, have it," he said, handing back the tray.

I almost lost it. How could a man be so beautiful? Control yourself, Freya.

I found my way back to clean up, leaving the tall frame who kept staring at my butt. The blue eyes were like a magnet because I felt their gaze.

****

By the time I got back to the hall, the bidding was still going on. More money to throw around.

"Do we have a ten!"

"Fifteen!" Echoed from the crowd.

"How about twenty. Do we have a twenty?"

"Twenty!" Another voice came forth.

"Twenty-five!"

"Thirty!"

"Hundred!" A voice thundered.

Silence swept through the crowd after a brief "Humm". Everyone turned when a tall frame, all wrapped up in some suits, marched to the center with some slow steps that showed arrogance and dominance. Like he owned the place.

"A hundred million dollars for the necklace," he reiterated. Most of the guests threw their mouths open. Silence swept through as no one dared to bid further.

"Well then, I guess we have our highest-"

"Wait!" the voice echoed, interrupting the moderator. My gaze moved to Ethan who was still nursing his wrist. I almost laughed but froze when I felt a gaze. The gaze of some blue eyes that seemed to scrutinize my entire body. The same glistening blue eyes I had seen a while ago. And they were only a few inches away.

Oh my God! The red stain on the shirt. The same man from the lobby. He didn't care to change?

"As a sign of goodwill and a business well done, I would have this lady." He turned his gaze to me. " Perhaps she would want to compensate for ruining my shirt." His grin revealed some whitish teeth. And I almost dropped dead.