Chapter 4 Her choice

The morning sun was ruthless. It spilled through the thin curtains of Lina's bedroom, lighting up every corner of Aria's headache. She groaned, turning away from the window, only to be greeted by the sound of clinking mugs and the scent of freshly brewed coffee.

"Up, sleeping beauty," Lina said, breezing in with two mugs in hand. "You've got calls from the land of manipulation and forced marriages."

Aria squinted and sat up slowly. "How bad is it?"

Lina handed her the mug. "Your phone's on the counter. It's possessed."

With a groan, Aria dragged herself out of bed and retrieved her phone. Thirty missed calls. Her heart sank when she saw her mother's name dominate the list. Voicemails. A few from unknown numbers. Her fingers trembled as she hit play.

"Aria, a car will pick you up at ten sharp. The Riccis are hosting a brunch. Please wear something elegant. This is important."

She stared at the phone in disbelief. "They set up a brunch without even asking me."

Lina leaned against the doorway. "Shocker. So what now?"

"I'm not going."

"Aria," Lina said gently, "they'll just say you're being difficult. You want to survive this mess? Show up. Look good. Be the storm they didn't expect."

Aria stood outside the Ricci estate, heart hammering in her chest. The mansion before her looked like it belonged in a luxury magazine-tall gates, pristine hedges, expensive silence. She'd been here once for a charity gala years ago. Never as a potential bride.

Inside, the dining room smelled of citrus, champagne, and cold formality. Her parents were already seated with Leonardo's mother and father. All smiles. All lies.

"There she is," her mother cooed, as if they hadn't fought days ago.

"Aria, darling," Mrs. Ricci said smoothly. "We've been looking forward to this."

She nodded politely, slipping into the empty seat beside her father.

"We were just talking about how lovely the wedding will be," Mr. Ricci said. "A union of power and elegance."

"And Aria has always been so... modest," her mother added, with that false sweetness. "Unlike Bella."

Aria blinked.

The sound of footsteps stole the room's attention. Leonardo.

He entered without apology, tailored suit hugging his tall frame like second skin, his sharp features unreadable. He nodded to his parents, gave her a brief glance-barely-and sat down.

"Glad you could join us, son," Mr. Ricci said dryly.

Leonardo didn't reply. He simply poured himself a glass of water, then returned to scrolling through something on his phone.

Aria tried not to stare. Tried not to notice how coldly beautiful he was. How distant. How entirely uninterested.

Mrs. Ricci beamed. "Perhaps the two of you would like to speak privately?"

"Yes," her father agreed, already pushing back his chair. "It's time you two got acquainted properly."

Leonardo stood with all the grace of a man checking a box. Aria followed him toward the adjoining lounge, her heels clicking quietly against the polished floors.

The lounge was drenched in soft sunlight, with plush chairs and towering windows. Leonardo walked to the mini bar and poured himself a drink-scotch, not even blinking at the hour.

He didn't offer her any.

She stood awkwardly by the window, arms folded. "Do you always start your day like this?"

"I do when I'm forced into social rituals I didn't ask for," he replied, sipping. "You?"

She didn't smile. "I didn't ask for this either."

He turned to her then, finally looking at her properly. "So don't do it."

Aria blinked. "Is that supposed to be some reverse psychology?"

Leonardo shrugged. "You seem too soft for this world. I figured you'd be the one to back out."

"I'm not soft," she said quietly. "Just... tired of people deciding my life for me."

"Then why accept the marriage?"

"Because I wasn't given a choice."

He walked closer, towering and calm. "Neither was I. But I had to choose someone."

Aria's brow furrowed. "And you chose me because I'd stay quiet, right? Because I'd blend in and not cause problems."

His silence answered for him.

She laughed, bitterly. "You know, if you wanted Bella, you could've had her."

"I don't want someone who thrives on attention. I want peace. Control."

Her heart thudded. "I'm not a doll, Leonardo. I'm not just going to sit pretty while you go about your power games."

His eyes narrowed slightly. "Then you'll make this harder than it has to be."

She held his gaze. "Maybe you should've picked someone who was already broken."

He didn't reply.

She turned on her heel and walked out of the room without another word, head held high, blood pounding in her ears.

Leonardo didn't move for a long time after she left.

She wasn't what he expected. He'd chosen her because she was quiet at the gala. Soft-spoken. Almost invisible next to her sister. He thought she'd be easy.

But in that moment-when she walked away with fire in her spine-she was anything but easy.

And he found himself wondering what other surprises she was hiding.

Back at Lina's apartment, Aria collapsed onto the couch, silent. Her tea grew cold in her hands.

Lina joined her after a while. "How bad?"

"Worse than expected."

She explained everything. The brunch. Leonardo's silence. His words. Her decision to walk away from the conversation without giving in.

Lina nodded slowly. "You still want to go through with this?"

"I don't have a choice."

"Then change the game."

Aria blinked at her.

"Everyone expects you to fall apart. So don't," Lina said. "Be so strong that even Leonardo regrets underestimating you."

Aria didn't speak. But something shifted in her.

She was tired of being the forgotten sister. The afterthought. The burden.

If she had to walk into hell, she'd do it in heels.

And make the devil hold the door.

Later that night, Aria stood in front of Lina's full-length mirror, holding up two different dresses. One was sleek, dark, and daring-the kind of outfit Bella would wear without blinking. The other was more her-simple, elegant, with a high neckline and delicate straps.

"What do I wear to remind myself I'm not invisible?" Aria asked, turning to Lina.

Lina pointed at the dark one without hesitation. "That one. You've played quiet long enough."

The fabric hugged her curves in all the right ways. She slipped into the dress, ran a brush through her hair, and added just enough lipstick to make her feel bold. There was something therapeutic about getting ready. Like she was putting on armor.

"I don't want to go out to numb the pain," Aria murmured. "I want to feel like myself again."

Lina handed her a clutch. "Then tonight, you dance like no one's watching. And if they are? Let them burn with jealousy."

When they stepped out into the cool night air, Aria didn't look back. Her heart was heavy, but her spirit was sharpening like a blade.

If Leonardo Ricci wanted a wife who would fade quietly into his world-he'd made the wrong choice.