Page 16 of A Sinner's Truth

I can’t believe this is happening. It’s not until I get to the foyer of the hotel that I feel the first tear fall down my cheek. Sliding my sunglasses over my eyes, I walk outside and start heading up the street. I don’t want to chance my father or Oliver coming after me. I’ll deal with the fallout of my behaviour later. At this point, my situation really can’t get any worse.

Once I’m two blocks down from the hotel, I pull out my phone and call for an Uber. I just want to go home, run a bath, and drink a bottle of wine. I’m starting to see why so many high-society wives are alcoholics and drug addicts. They need something to numb their reality.

Everything is shiny on the outside of the lives of the one-percenters. But on the inside, it’s nothing but a bloody shitshow of men controlling women and women allowing it. Once I’m done with this next year of my life, I’m never letting a man tell me what to do ever again.

I’m going to be free. I might even move and force Drew to move with me to some place far away. At least if I take my best friend with me, I won’t be missing anyone I leave behind.

I do like my job, though, but I’m not going to wait around for my father to retire and hope that he actually lets me take over the company. Knowing my luck, he’ll sell it off to the highest bidder. Just like he did with me.

Chapter Nine

It’s not an accident that I’m here. I might have followed her this morning. I just wanted to make sure she was okay. When I spotted her coming out of her apartment, she looked stressed. Which is why I wanted to see where she was headed.

And what I witnessed had my blood boiling. I thought she was talking shit last night when she said her father was marrying her off. I know that sort of shit happens in my world all the time,but this woman is not part of my world. She couldn’t be any farther from it.

When she jumps up from her seat and walks out, once again, I follow her. She’s not very aware of her surroundings. I’ve been tailing her for two blocks now, and she hasn’t even noticed. When a car pulls up and she climbs into the back, I grab the door, stopping it from closing. Aria gasps when I slide in next to her.

“What?” she asks.

“Sorry I’m late,” I tell her.

“Uh-huh, okay.” Aria’s eyes are wide. “Is this about last night? I’m really sorry, like so damn sorry. And embarrassed.”

The car pulls into traffic, and I gesture to her lap. “Put on your seat belt.”

She blinks at me. “I’m going to, but not because you told me to. I’m doing it because I’m not an idiot.”

“Good to know.” I chuckle.

The Uber driver stops in front of Aria’s apartment, and I get out first, holding the door open for her as she steps down after me. We stand on the sidewalk, staring at each other as the car drives away.

“Okay, this is weird,” Aria eventually says, breaking our silent stare-off.

“Pretty sure this is the part where you invite me up to your apartment, darling,” I tell her.

“Why?” she blurts out before quickly clarifying, “I mean, why would you want to come up to my apartment?”

“You proposed to me last night, Aria. I think we have a few things to discuss.” I have no idea why I’m actually considering her offer, other than some part of me really wants to help her. After seeing her at lunch with her father and Oliver Densper, I can’t sit by and not stop that bullshit from happening.

I have Marcel digging further into the Swans and Denspers to find out what the two families are getting out of this deal. So far, he hasn’t found a connection besides the upcoming wedding.

“I… I shouldn’t have done that,” Aria says.

“Did you figure out another way to get out of marrying Densper?” I ask, and watch as her shoulders noticeably stiffen at the mention of Oliver’s name. Marcel didn’t find much out about the guy. He’s got a clean record, typical trust-fund asshole. I have no doubt the fucker has skeletons hiding in his closet though, and we’ll find them.

“No, but…”

“Should we go up and discuss this somewhere that’s not in the middle of the sidewalk?” I lift a questioning brow.

Aria looks hesitant as her gaze flicks from the building and then back to me. “Okay, come on.”

I follow her inside, scanning the entry as I go. It’s a nice complex. I’m not surprised. Aria comes from money. She hits the button for the tenth floor. The entire time, she’s chewing on her bottom lip while side-eyeing me. Aria’s hand shakes a little when she slides her key into her door. She’s nervous.

Good. Shows she’s not stupid.

“Nice place,” I say, stepping in behind her.

“Thanks. You want a drink?” Aria walks into the kitchen and throws the pile of papers she’s been clenching between her fingers onto the bench.

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