Ariana's POV

The contract arrived the next morning via courier.

I read through it twice, checking every clause, every word. Asher had kept his promise. My father's construction bids would be approved within thirty days of the dinner, regardless of how the evening went. The payment of one hundred thousand dollars would be deposited into my account within forty-eight hours.

Everything was there in black and white.

I signed it and sent it back.

The money hit my account that afternoon. I stared at the number on my screen, feeling sick. This was what my dignity was worth. One hundred thousand dollars and a few hours of pretending my heart hadn't been shattered six years ago.

"Mommy, you're making that face again."

I looked up to find my daughter Elena standing in the doorway of my home office, her green eyes worried. She clutched her favorite stuffed rabbit against her chest.

"What face, sweetheart?"

"The sad face. The one you make when you think we're not looking."

My throat tightened. She was too perceptive for a five-year-old. "I'm just thinking about work stuff. Nothing for you to worry about."

"Is it about the mean people?"

I froze. "What mean people?"

"The ones Eldric says we have to hide from."

Ice flooded my veins. "When did Eldric say that?"

Elena shrugged. "He tells me sometimes. Says there are bad people who might try to take us away from you."

I was going to kill my son. Or hug him. I hadn't decided which.

"Elena, baby, come here." I pulled her onto my lap. "Eldric is just being protective. There are no bad people coming for us."

"Promise?"

The lie tasted bitter. "I promise."

She hugged me tight, her small arms strong around my neck. Over her shoulder, I saw Eldric standing in the hallway, his dark eyes watching us. He looked so much older than five, so much more aware than he should be.

After I tucked Elena back into bed, I found Eldric in his room, building something complicated with blocks.

"We need to talk," I said.

He didn't look up. "About what?"

"About what you've been telling your sister. About bad people."

His hands stilled. "I'm not wrong."

"Eldric—"

"I can feel it, Mom. Something's coming. Something bad." He finally looked at me, and his eyes were Asher's eyes, intense and knowing. "You feel it too. That's why you've been scared."

How did he know? He was five years old. He shouldn't be able to read me this well.

"I'm handling it," I said quietly. "That's my job."

"But what if you can't?" His voice cracked. "What if they're too strong?"

I knelt beside him and took his hands. "Baby, I will always protect you and your sister. Do not scare Elena with talks about bad people. She's too young."

"She should know the truth."

"She should be a kid. Let me carry the scary stuff, okay?"

Eldric studied me for a long moment, then nodded. "Okay. But Mom? When the bad people come, I'm going to fight them."

"There won't be any fighting."

"There will be. I can feel it."

I hugged him close, breathing in his little-boy scent, feeling his heartbeat against my chest. He was too young for this awareness, too young for the instincts already waking inside him.

But he was right. Something was coming.

~~~

Friday arrived too quickly.

I had spent the week preparing, choosing my outfit carefully. A midnight blue dress that was elegant but not showy, expensive but not flashy. Heels that gave me height without making me look like I was trying too hard. Jewelry from my own collection: understated pieces that screamed quality.

I needed to look successful. Unthreatening. Completely over Asher Westwood.

Maya came over to help me get ready, which really meant she sat on my bed drinking wine while I had a minor breakdown.

"What if she sees through it?" I asked, applying lipstick with shaking hands. "What if she knows I'm lying?"

"Then you smile and lie harder." Maya took another sip. "You're an award-winning designer, Ari. You've pitched to billionaires. You've negotiated with people who make Isabella Crane look like a kindergartner. You can handle one dinner."

"Those people didn't sleep with the father of my children."

The words slipped out before I could stop them.

Maya's eyes widened. "Did you just—did you finally admit—"

"Forget I said that."

"Oh hell no. We're talking about this."

"We're not." I checked my reflection one last time. "I need to go."

"Ariana Vale Kingsley, you cannot drop that bomb and just leave."

"Watch me."

I grabbed my clutch and headed for the door. Maya followed, still protesting.

"Six years! Six years you've been dodging this conversation!"

"And I'll dodge it for six more if I have to." I kissed her cheek. "Thank you for watching them tonight; I should be back by eleven."

"We're talking about this later."

"Sure we are."

I left before she could argue more.

The drive to Westwood Manor took forty minutes. I had forgotten how beautiful the estate was—rolling grounds, ancient oak trees, and a mansion that looked like it belonged in a period drama. Cars lined the circular driveway, expensive vehicles that probably cost more than my entire year's salary.

I parked at the far end and sat for a moment, gathering my courage.

One dinner, a few hours. Then I could leave and never come back.

My phone buzzed. Text from an unknown number: “Don't come inside. Meet me at the garden entrance. East side. Urgent. -V”

Vincent.

My stomach dropped. What now?

I got out of the car and followed the stone path around the manor to the east garden. Vincent was waiting in the shadows, pacing.

"Thank god," he said when he saw me. "I wasn't sure you'd get the message in time."

"What's wrong?"

"Everything. This dinner—it's not what Asher told you."

Ice spread through my chest. "Explain."

"Isabella knows about the kids."

My world tilted. "That's impossible."

"She hired an investigator. Started looking into your life the moment Asher mentioned bringing you here. The investigator found birth records, school enrollment, everything." Vincent grabbed my arm. "Ari, she knows they're Asher's. And she's planning to expose it tonight in front of the entire board."

My legs nearly gave out. "No. No, that can't… How did she…"

"Does it matter? She knows. And she's going to use it to destroy you, destroy your father's contracts, and probably demand custody of the twins."

"She can't have them." The words came out feral. "I don't care what rights she thinks she has; those are my children."

"Then don't go in there. Leave. Now. Take the kids and run."

"Run where? If she knows, she'll find us."

"Then fight. But don't walk into that dinner. It's a trap."

Behind us, the garden door opened. Light spilled out, and a figure appeared in silhouette.

"Ariana?" Asher's voice. "Is that you?"

Vincent swore under his breath.

I stepped forward into the light, my heart hammering. "We need to talk. Right now."

Asher's expression shifted when he saw Vincent beside me. "What's going on?"

"Your mate," I said coldly. "What exactly does she know about me?