The ballroom glittered with chandeliers, every corner polished to perfection. Aria tugged nervously at her dress as she stepped inside. The tenth anniversary of Voss Global was no small event—every executive, partner, and employee had been invited.

She’d tried to convince herself all week she could blend into the crowd, maybe even enjoy it. Tonight was supposed to be about the company, not her personal chaos.

“Wow,” Sophie breathed beside her, eyes wide as she scanned the crowd. “This is insane. Do you think we’ll actually see him tonight?”

Aria forced a small laugh. “You mean Mr. Voss? He practically owns the place. Of course he’ll be here.”

Sophie elbowed her playfully. “Don’t sound so stiff. Everyone’s dying to see what he’s like outside the office. Imagine if he actually smiles.”

Aria’s stomach twisted. She knew what his smile looked like—what it felt like pressed against her lips. She shook the thought away, focusing on the clinking glasses and the hum of conversation around her.

They moved toward their table, tucked near the back. Aria tried to lose herself in polite small talk with coworkers, but every time someone mentioned Liam’s name, her chest tightened.

The music softened, and a hush spread through the room. Aria turned—and froze.

He was here.

Liam Voss walked to the center stage, the kind of presence that silenced a crowd without effort. His suit was tailored to perfection, his shoulders broad, his expression composed.

He welcomed the guests, his voice smooth, commanding, almost warm. For a moment, she almost forgot he was the same man who had looked at her in the office with nothing but ice.

Then she saw her.

A woman with sleek dark hair and an elegance that turned heads at once. She stood beside him, her hand resting lightly on his arm, her smile poised and radiant. The kind of woman who looked born to be by his side.

Sophie whispered, “Who’s that?”

A colleague leaned in, lowering her voice. “Evelyn Steele. His fiancée.”

The word detonated in Aria’s chest.

Fiancée.

The room blurred for a moment, her breath catching painfully. She forced herself to sit still, nails digging into her palm under the table.

Evelyn waved gracefully to the crowd as Liam introduced her. His voice didn’t falter, not even when she leaned toward him, whispering something in his ear that made him almost smile.

Aria’s chest ached. She looked away, staring hard at her glass of water.

Sophie frowned, touching her arm. “You okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Aria tried to speak, but her voice was brittle. “I’m fine. Just tired.”

“Liar,” Sophie muttered, but let it drop when the applause started.

Aria clapped with everyone else, her hands mechanical, her throat dry. Liam and Evelyn descended from the stage together, the perfect couple in a room full of admirers.

Cameras flashed. Guests swarmed them, offering congratulations, praise, and admiration.

Aria’s gaze flicked to Liam once. Just once. He was smiling now, polished and professional, though his eyes never softened. He didn’t look her way, not even for a second.

Sophie nudged her again. “So, still think he’s just a cold boss? That man’s taken.”

Aria forced a laugh that cracked. “Guess so.”

The rest of the evening dragged like a nightmare. Coworkers gossiped, champagne flowed, music swelled, but all Aria could hear was the echo of that word—fiancée—pounding in her head.

When Sophie was swept away by a group heading for the dance floor, Aria slipped outside. The night air was cool, sharp against her skin. She gripped the railing of the terrace, trying to steady herself.

Evelyn Steele. Beautiful. Untouchable. The woman who had Liam’s arm in public, his name in headlines, his future tied neatly with hers.

Aria’s stomach clenched. The child growing inside her felt heavier now, the secret more impossible than ever.

How could she tell him? How could she even look at him again, knowing he belonged to someone else?

The door creaked behind her. She didn’t turn. She didn’t need to—her pulse already told her who it was.

“Enjoying the party?” His voice was calm, even, but too close.

Aria stiffened. “It’s… nice.” She kept her eyes fixed on the skyline.

Liam stepped beside her, hands in his pockets, gaze sweeping the city lights. “You shouldn’t be out here alone. People will talk.”

She almost laughed at that. “People are too busy watching you and your fiancée.” The word slipped out before she could stop it, laced with more bitterness than she intended.

His head turned sharply toward her. For a second, the mask faltered, his jaw tightening. “That’s none of your concern.”

Her chest burned. “You’re right. It isn’t. Just like nothing else between us is.”

“Exactly.” His voice was firm, but the flicker in his eyes betrayed something else.

Silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating. Aria finally turned, meeting his gaze head-on. “Don’t worry. I won’t ruin your perfect image. Your secret’s safe.”

He held her stare, his own unreadable. Then he stepped back, shoulders rigid. “See that it stays that way.”

Without another word, he left her standing there, trembling, the sound of celebration drifting faintly from inside.

Aria pressed her hand to her stomach, her eyes stinging. Safe. Nothing felt safe anymore. Not with him, not with herself, not with the secret growing inside her.

She turned back toward the ballroom, her reflection catching in the glass door. She didn’t look like the woman who had walked in earlier, nervous but hopeful.

She looked like someone who’d just discovered her life was more complicated than she could ever untangle.

The music swelled as she rejoined the crowd, but she didn’t hear it. All she could hear was her heart pounding, reminding her of everything she could never say aloud.