The hallway felt longer than usual or maybe it was just her.
Aria's steps were slow at first… then faster. Each heartbeat louder than the last, echoing in her ears as she made her way toward his study.
She didn't knock. She couldn't. The door pushed open with a quiet force. Rafael looked up instantly.
For a second, just a second something shifted in his eyes.
Relief but it vanished just as quickly.
"Aria—"
"Don't."
Her voice cut through the room, sharper than she intended. She stepped inside, closing the door behind her, as if sealing them both in with everything unsaid.
"You don't get to say my name like nothing happened," she continued, her chest rising and falling unevenly. "Not after that."
Rafael set the glass aside slowly, his gaze never leaving her.
"Then tell me how I'm supposed to say it."
"Start with the truth," Aria snapped. "Who is she, really?"
"You already know."
"No," she shook her head immediately. "I know what she said. I want to hear it from you."
Rafael's jaw tightened.
"She's… connected to my family. Our businesses—"
"Don't," Aria interrupted again, stepping closer now. "Don't give me half answers. Is she your fiancée or not?"
The question landed between them. This time he didn't answer immediately.
And that hesitation? It cut deeper than anything Elena had said.
Aria let out a small, bitter laugh, her eyes glistening now despite her effort to stay composed. "Wow… so it's true."
"It's not that simple."
"Then make it simple!" she shot back, her voice breaking at the edges. "Because right now, it looks exactly like what she said that I'm just some… temporary presence in your life."
"That's not what you are."
His response was immediate this time and it only confused her more.
"Then what am I,only a deal? " she whispered, the question softer now… more dangerous.
"Because I don't understand anymore."
Rafael took a step toward her.Then stopped like there was an invisible line he couldn't cross.
"You shouldn't be involved in this," he said quietly.
Aria blinked, hurt flashing across her face. "Involved? You're the one who pulled me into your world."
"And I'm trying to keep you safe in it." The words hung there but they didn't feel like an answer.
"They don't sound like protection," Aria said, her voice trembling now despite her effort to stay strong. "They sound like excuses."
Rafael's expression hardened slightly.
"You don't understand what you're asking."
"Then help me understand!" she stepped closer again, frustration spilling over.
"Why can't you just tell me the truth?"
Because the truth will put you in danger.The words sat on his tongue.
Burning but he didn't say them. Means he couldn't.
Instead, he looked away.
And that was the final blow. Aria went still. Her voice, when she spoke again, was quieter. Not angry anymore.
Just… tired.
"I get it now."
Rafael's gaze snapped back to her. "Aria"
"No," she shook her head slowly, taking a step back this time. "You don't have to explain."
"I do."
"You won't," she corrected softly. "And that tells me everything I need to know."
Her chest tightened painfully, but she forced herself to keep going.
"This was my mistake."
Rafael frowned. "What are you talking about?"
Aria let out a small, broken laugh, looking down for a moment before meeting his eyes again.
"I let myself believe there was something between us."
"There is."
He stepped forward again, this time more urgently but she stepped back just as quickly.
"No," she whispered, shaking her head. "There isn't. Not if you can't even be honest with me."
"It's not about honesty..."
"Then what is it?" she demanded, her emotions finally spilling over. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like I'm the only one who's been taking this seriously."
"That's not true."
"Then prove it!" her voice cracked. "Tell me what's going on. Tell me why she's here. Tell me why you couldn't deny it."
Rafael went silent again.
And this time he didn't even try to speak. Aria's eyes closed for a brief second, as if steadying herself. Tears came down from her eyes.
When she opened them again, something had changed. The softness was gone. Replaced with something colder. More distant.
"Right," she nodded faintly. "That's what I thought."
She turned away from him, her fingers curling tightly at her sides.
"I shouldn't have let this happen," she murmured, more to herself now. "I knew from the beginning this world wasn't mine."
"Aria, stop—"
"I'm serious," she cut in, her voice steadier now, even if it cost her everything to sound that way. "I crossed a line I shouldn't have."
Rafael's chest tightened. "You didn't do anything wrong."
"I did," she said softly. "I started feeling something I shouldn't have."
The confession hung in the air and it hit him harder than anything else she'd said.
But before he could respond she took another step back. Creating distance.
"I won't make that mistake again."
One last breath.
"If she really is your fiancée… then I don't belong here." And with that she turned and walking out of the room before he could stop her or before he could tell her the truth that might save her or destroy her.
Rafael stood there.
Frozen.
The door still slightly open, the echo of her footsteps fading into nothing. His hands clenched into fists at his sides. He had chosen silence to protect her.
Now that same silence was pushing her away and It felt like he might lose her because of it.
The room was quiet again. Rafael stood by the window now, the city lights stretching endlessly before him but his mind was nowhere near them. It was on her.
On the way she walked out.mOn the way she didn't look back.
His jaw tightened.
Good.
If she stayed away from him… She stayed safe. That was the only thing that mattered.
A knock came at the door.
"Come in."
Mr Tobby, the right hand of Rafael,stepped inside again, more cautious this time. "Boss, should we move forward with full surveillance on miss Bennett's family?"
Rafael didn't answer immediately. He was thinking. Calculating.
Every move now mattered.
"No," he said finally.
Tobby looked slightly confused. "No?"
Rafael turned, his expression calm but his eyes sharp. "Not directly."
A pause.
"If we make it obvious, they'll know we're onto them."
Understanding flickered across Tobby's face.
"They'll clean everything," he added quietly.
Rafael gave a small nod.
"And I want them comfortable," he continued. "Careless. Thinking I'm exactly where they want me to be."
"Which is?"
Rafael's lips curved faintly but there was no humor in it.
"A man tied down by an engagement… with no time to look elsewhere."
The implication was clear.
Elena needed to believe she had control. That he wasn't suspicious or watching.
"Use the outer network," Rafael instructed. "People they won't recognize. No direct links to us."
"Yes, boss."
"And dig into that night again," Rafael's voice lowered. "I want everything...routes, calls, transactions… even the smallest inconsistency."
"We'll find it."
"You will," Rafael corrected coldly. "Because if they were involved…"
He didn't finish.
The man nodded and left without another word.
The door shut softly behind him.
Rafael exhaled slowly, his gaze drifting once again toward the hallway.
Toward where Aria had stood. His chest tightened just slightly.
"This is why," he muttered under his breath.
Why he couldn't tell her because the moment her name got tied to him in the wrong way— She would become a target.
And right now?
She was still invisible to them. Just a girl in his house.A deal, nothing more. That's what he needed them to believe.
Even if it meant tnreating her like she meant nothing.
His fingers curled into a fist.
"…I'm sorry, Aria."
Later That Night the grand hall was lit, soft golden light reflecting off marble and glass. Elena stood near the center, a glass of wine in her hand, looking completely at ease like she owned the place.
Rafael walked in.
Her lips curved the moment she saw him. "There you are. I was starting to think you were avoiding me."
"I'm busy," he replied simply.
"With work?" she asked lightly.
"Always."
Her eyes studied him carefully but Rafael gave her nothing. No cracks or hesitation. Exactly what she expected.
"Good," she said with a small smile. "I'd hate to think you were distracted."
His gaze met hers briefly.
"By what?"
Elena tilted her head slightly. "People have a way of becoming… distractions."
Rafael didn't react.
"If they interfere with business," he said coolly, "they're removed."
Her smile deepened just a fraction. Satisfied.
She took a sip of her drink. "I knew you'd understand."
But as she turned away Rafael's expression darkened because every word he just said was a lie.
He was already too involved and distracted. Too far gone when it came to Aria.
Somewhere Upstairs…
Aria sat on the edge of her bed, unmoving. The silence in her room felt heavier than before.
It all replayed again and again in her mind. Her fingers tightened slightly in the fabric of her dress.
"If she really is your fiancée… then I don't belong here." The words echoed and this time it just felt… final. A quiet tear slipped down her cheek.
She wiped it away quickly.
"No more," she whispered to herself.
Downstairs Rafael was pretending she didn't matter and upstairs Aria was trying to believe it.