Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Restless Night, Burning Shame

"Is he really that good-looking?" Dominic said with a teasing grin.

"He's not bad, but you're actually pretty handsome too." Ariella gave him a once-over, suddenly realizing that despite knowing him for four years, she'd never seriously looked at his face.

"Hold still a sec, Dominic!" she blurted out dramatically, like she'd just found buried treasure.

"What's up?"

"Whoa, I just noticed-you look a lot like Lucian! No wonder you're good-looking!"

Dominic's expression stiffened a bit, and he turned his head away like he didn't want to be stared at.

"Come on, he's way out of my league. I could never look like him."

"I'm serious! You've got this sharp look, really charming. You totally have that leading-man vibe. Being a driver doesn't do you justice."

Just as she finished, her phone rang. Her first thought was that it might be Lucian, and she didn't know whether to be excited or dread it.

But it wasn't him. It was Fiona.

Her heart clenched immediately, like she'd just been caught doing something wrong. Her face flushed with heat.

"Answer it," Dominic said gently.

She tapped to pick up, and Fiona's cheerful voice came through.

"Ariella, where are you? I really want to chat. Can we meet?"

"I... yeah, I'm free." She had to see Fiona, at least to check if she was really okay... maybe even find a subtle way to open her eyes about Lucian.

"I'll send Alex Bloom to grab you. Where are you now?"

Ariella told her she was at home - Alex had been there enough times to know the way.

"Go glam up a bit. Be hotter than her," Dominic said with a smirk.

Ariella smiled bitterly.

"It's not about looks, Dominic. I honestly wish none of this happened. I want her to be happy, truly. But... you have no idea how torn I am. If I tell her the truth, Lucian will come for me. If I don't, am I really okay with her living in a lie forever?"

"Don't worry. We'll figure this out. I've got your back," he said, giving her shoulder a reassuring pat.

"Alright, next time I'll show you a picture of Lucian. You'll see I wasn't lying-you two really do look alike."

"If that's true, should I start planning my breakout role? Maybe Lucian needs a stand-in. I mean, I've got some serious acting chops."

Ariella laughed. Dominic always knew how to make her smile-but Lucian, the man who looked just like him, always managed to drag her deep into a mess she couldn't escape.

Not long after, Alex's car pulled up. Ariella said goodbye and got in.

"Miss Rios, Miss Ross is waiting in the VIP lounge upstairs," Alex said politely as he opened the door.

"Alex, you don't have to be so formal with me or Fiona, really. Relax a little." Ariella could tell he had feelings for Fiona. Could it be that his position made it hard for him to confess?

Honestly, she'd rather Fiona ended up with someone like Alex-at least then she'd truly be the queen of someone's world.

"It's part of my job, Miss Rios. This way, please."

VIP lounge, top floor.

Two waiters greeted her politely before pushing open the heavy glass doors and bowing slightly. "Please come in."

Ariella walked in with poise, heels clicking against the floor, and almost instantly, Fiona's sweet, melodic voice rang out across the room.

"Ariella! Over here!"

Fiona was wearing a white layered dress today-simple yet stunning, like a flower fresh out of water. Breathtaking didn't even begin to cover it.

"You're here too, babe?" Fiona's eyes lit up as she glanced past Ariella. She stood up in surprise and walked forward.

Ariella turned around instinctively-and there he was. Lucian. The picture-perfect face, the slight smirk playing at the corners of his lips, watching her casually.

He looked so damn composed, like he didn't have a care in the world. Like betrayal had never even crossed his mind.

But Ariella wasn't built like him. The moment she laid eyes on him, all she could think of was getting the hell out of there.

"Fiona, I didn't realize your husband was coming too. I didn't mean to intrude. Maybe we can catch up another time," she said quickly and turned to leave.

"Wait, don't go! I have something important to talk to you about!" Fiona grew anxious and grabbed her arm.

"Let's talk one-on-one later, okay?"

"Since you're here, sit down. Do I look that dangerous to you?" Lucian interjected casually, that familiar indifferent tone in his voice.

"You're impossible! Always with that poker face-no wonder you scared Ariella half to death. Put on a friendlier smile in front of my friends, will you?" Fiona playfully scolded Lucian before tugging Ariella toward the table.

Reluctantly, Ariella sat across from him, her eyes darting everywhere but his face.

"Ariella, you look exhausted. Haven't been sleeping well?"

A simple question, but to Ariella's panicked heart it felt loaded-like Fiona somehow knew her secret.

Her heart skipped a beat. Under the table, her hands twisted around themselves, nerves eating her alive.

Her cheeks flushed red. She looked at Fiona, completely flustered, wanting to say something, anything-but afraid she'd mess up.

"Waiter." Lucian spoke up, breaking the tension like he always did.

"Yes, sir. How can I help you?"

"One pot of lily and honey tea for the lady here. Thank you."

Lily and honey-calming, soothing. He never paid this kind of attention to her before. Now he did it here, in front of Fiona?

Was he out of his mind? What was he playing at?

Ariella sat there, feeling like she was sitting on needles. Her heart was a tangled mess, and none of this felt right.