Chapter 6 Unraveling the truth

The next few days passed in a blur for Aria. Despite her attempts to focus on her studies, her thoughts kept circling back to Kael. His words echoed in her mind-"We're both in deeper than we realize." What did he mean by that? And why did it feel like her world was shifting beneath her feet every time he was near? She couldn't shake the image of him standing there in the garden, the faint vulnerability in his eyes that contradicted everything she knew about the infamous Romanov family. But she had no time to waste on him.

There were assignments to be turned in, exams to study for, and most importantly, her father's expectations to live up to. Yet, no matter how much she tried to concentrate on anything else, Kael's presence lingered, like a shadow that never quite left. It was in the halls when she passed by students gossiping about him, in the way people watched her when she entered a room, as if they were waiting for something to happen between them. Aria tried her best to ignore the tension. But the more she resisted, the more it seemed to pull her in. One chilly evening, after a long day of lectures, Aria walked to her car, ready to head home. The campus was nearly deserted, the late hour leaving only a few stragglers hanging around. She didn't expect to see anyone as she crossed the parking lot, but as she neared her car, her steps slowed. There, leaning against the side of her car, was Kael. His dark coat blended with the shadows of the night, his arms crossed casually over his chest, a cigarette hanging loosely between his fingers. He didn't seem surprised to see her, but his gaze never left her as she approached. His eyes held a glimmer of something-amusement, anticipation, or maybe something more. "Kael?" Aria's voice was steady, though her heart thudded louder in her chest. "What are you doing here?" He smiled, a wicked smirk that made her stomach twist. "Waiting for you," he said simply. "Why?" Aria didn't hide the skepticism in her voice. She wanted to be angry, to demand answers, but there was an unfamiliar part of her that wanted to know more, to unravel the mystery behind his cold exterior. Kael pushed off from the car and stepped closer, his presence filling the space between them. "You're not as immune to me as you like to pretend," he said, his voice low and husky. "I know you feel it too. The pull. The tension." Aria's breath caught in her throat. She wanted to deny it, wanted to argue that she didn't care, that Kael Romanov wasn't her problem. But the truth was, she couldn't stop thinking about him, couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to him than just the mafia prince everyone feared. "I don't know what you're talking about," she said, trying to sound confident. But even to her own ears, the words sounded hollow. Kael stepped closer still, his eyes darkening with a mix of challenge and something else she couldn't quite place. "You're lying," he said softly, his voice barely a whisper. "You're lying to yourself, Aria. You want this. You want me. And deep down, I think you're scared of what that means." Her pulse quickened, her heart pounding in her chest as she took a step back, trying to put some distance between them. "I don't want anything from you, Kael," she snapped, trying to steady her voice. Kael chuckled, the sound deep and rich, a little too confident. "You keep saying that. But I see through you. I know you're curious, just like I know you're scared of getting too close." Aria's eyes flashed with anger, but she couldn't deny the truth in his words. A part of her was curious-curious about the man behind the reputation, curious about what it would mean to let go of her fears and embrace something wild, something dangerous. But that wasn't who she was. She wasn't someone who let herself get lost in a game she couldn't control. "I'm not scared of you," she said, her voice steady now, though her hands trembled slightly at her sides. Kael's smile softened just a fraction, as though he could see the vulnerability beneath her bravado. "Maybe not scared. But you're not immune either." His gaze was intense, like he could see right through her, and it made her feel exposed, vulnerable. "You're in deeper than you think, Aria. You can try to resist all you want, but the deeper you go, the harder it'll be to pull back." The words hung in the air between them, heavy and loaded. Aria opened her mouth to reply, but nothing came out. She didn't know what to say, didn't know how to argue with someone who seemed to know her better than she knew herself. Kael reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper, offering it to her. "I don't want you to ignore me anymore, Aria," he said, his voice steady and serious. "Meet me tomorrow. I'm not going anywhere, and neither are you." She hesitated, staring at the paper in his hand. It was an address. No explanation, no phone number. Just an address. Her fingers brushed against his as she took the slip of paper, and the moment their skin touched, a jolt of electricity shot through her. She quickly pulled her hand back, her breath catching in her throat. "Don't forget, Aria," he said with a smirk, his voice low. "I'll be waiting." And with that, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the night. Aria stood there for a long time, the piece of paper clenched in her hand. Her mind raced, her heart beating faster than it should have. What was this game he was playing? And why did she feel like she was already losing?