She would've skipped the dinner and quit on the spot if she'd known. Funny how someone she once loved could become someone she hated so much.

James didn't give her a chance to fight back. He dragged her to the stairwell, slamming the door behind them.

"Ugh!" Aria slammed into the wall hard enough to make her eyes water.

James showed zero mercy.

"Well, well, Emily. Playing dead? That's a new low." His usual cool-guy act was gone, replaced by pure rage as he grabbed her throat.

Still reeling from hitting the wall, now she couldn't breathe. She clawed at his hand, but it was useless - like fighting a brick wall.

"I'm... not... Em-" She tried to say it, but he squeezed harder. His eyes were wild, almost possessed. Aria felt herself getting dizzy. She stopped fighting, giving him a bitter smirk instead.

So this was it? He'd kill her himself since she didn't die five years ago?

A tear rolled down her cheek, hitting his bloody hand. The salt stung his cut, snapping him back to reality.

Just when the world was going black, he let go. Aria crumpled to the floor, an ugly red handprint on her neck.

Blood dripped from James's hand, making little red dots on the floor.

"Start talking, Emily."

Aria - Emily - used the wall to pull herself up. After a rough cough, she looked at him through messy hair. Even disheveled, she was stunning. Her delicate features were set in defiance, eyes full of cold mockery.

"Talk? Why do you care if I'm dead or alive? Or are you just mad I didn't actually die?"

No point denying it anymore - he wouldn't believe her anyway. Might as well get some things off her chest.

Five years ago, she'd given him her heart and he'd crushed it. She wasn't about to play the quiet victim anymore.

"Emily!" James forced himself to breathe deep. Sweet, obedient Emily had fooled everyone - and now she acted like it was nothing.

"Perfect, right James? You can keep pretending I'm dead, live your happy life with whoever you love, while I live in peace."

Emily's voice dripped with sarcasm.

"Not happening!" James exploded, her casual attitude pushing him over the edge. "Now that I know you're alive, I can't just ignore it!"

"That's rich! When I was around before, I might as well have been invisible. Now suddenly I matter? Save it! You didn't care then, don't fake it now!" Her face went white, but every word was a dagger.

James clenched his fists. Once his anger peaked, his ice-king mask slipped back on. He shot her one cold look before turning away, cutting a sharp figure like a marble statue.

"You have no idea how many people you've hurt with this little stunt. Better start thinking about how you're going to fix this."

"Especially with the person you owe the biggest apology to," he added, his voice arctic.

Emily's mind flashed to Grandma Anderson - the woman who'd taken her in like family when she lost everything. Finding out about her "death in childbirth" must have broken her heart.

Guilt hit hard, but it didn't excuse James's attack.

"Who are you to play judge? You're worse than anyone! The only person who needs to make things right is you. My baby would still be here if it wasn't for you!"