The party

Ariana was sitting in front of her vanity, trying to gather herself for the evening ahead. Every time her eyes drifted to the bed, a wave of regret washed over her. The idea of leaving its comfort to attend yet another party felt almost unbearable. She needed rest after a long, exhausting day at work.

"How much longer can I keep doing this?" she wondered, feeling the weight of the routine pressing down on her. Parties had become nothing more than an obligation—loud, meaningless, and devoid of joy.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock at the door. Before she could respond, the door opened, and Leonardo stepped inside.

The first thing she noticed was how impeccably dressed he was. His tailored black suit exuded power and confidence. Ariana realized that for him, these parties weren't just social gatherings—they were a way to assert his authority and expand his influence.

As she stared, lost in thought, Leonardo's deep voice pulled her back to the moment. "You look beautiful," he said, his tone unusually devoid of sarcasm.

Caught off guard, she hesitated before responding with a faint smile. "Thanks to all the gifts you keep giving me."

He didn't reply, his expression as cold as ever, but he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box. Opening it, he revealed a dazzling diamond necklace. For a moment, memories of a previous party flooded her mind—the necklace he'd given her then, the humiliation she'd felt because of it.

"It's lovely. Thank you," she said, trying to mask her emotions.

"You don't seem to like it," he observed coolly.

"No, it's beautiful. But it won't match my dress," she explained.

Without a word, he tossed the box onto the bed, shrugged indifferently

As she stood, ready to prepare for the evening, she caught his gaze. In that fleeting moment, thoughts she could never say aloud swirled in her mind. "Leonardo is complicated. We've been through so much together, and yet… he needs someone like Hana. Someone delicate, someone who craves protection. That's not me. I'm too guarded, too independent. We'll never truly fit together."….She took his hand ready to go

The car was quiet as they made their way to the party. Ariana sat by the window, her thoughts drifting. The city lights blurred into streaks as they passed by, and she found herself replaying their earlier interaction in her mind.

"How many more of these parties do I have to endure?" she thought.

Her gaze shifted to Leonardo, who was focused on his phone. For all his charm and power, there was a distance between them that felt insurmountable.

Her thoughts drifted further, comparing the man beside her to her father. Her father had been a calm, kind presence, someone who made her feel safe. Leonardo, on the other hand, was a storm—unpredictable, intense, and utterly overwhelming.

As they approached the venue, she took a deep breath, forcing a composed expression onto her face. Tonight would be like every other night—a performance.

Leonardo finally looked up from his phone, his sharp eyes meeting hers. "Ready?" he asked, his tone brisk.

"Always," she replied, a small, unreadable smile on her lips.

...

The party was calm, almost subdued, with nothing out of the ordinary happening—except for Serene. She had chosen to wear a provocative dress that clung to her every curve, leaving little to the imagination. Ariana couldn't help but notice the stares Serene was drawing, not just from younger men, but even from the older ones.

Her eyes shifted toward Leonardo, curious to see his reaction. To her surprise, he wasn't paying Serene the slightest attention, even though she was clearly hovering around him, making every effort to catch his eye. Instead, he was deeply engrossed in a discussion with a group of businessmen.

Ariana's thoughts turned dark. "This is exactly his way. The moment he gets bored of someone, he discards them like they never mattered. Serene knows this. That's why she's trying so hard to win back his attention."

Her thoughts were interrupted by Lily, her close friend, who leaned in and whispered, "You're just going to let Serene do this? She's practically throwing herself at your husband."

Ariana shrugged nonchalantly. "Leonardo can handle himself. He won't fall for her games."

Lily smirked, unconvinced, but changed the subject. "Did you hear about Hana's father passing away?"

Ariana nodded, her expression neutral. "Yes, I heard."

But Lily's next words caught her off guard. "Do you know what Leonardo did for her family?"

Ariana's brow furrowed. "What do you mean? What did he do?"

Lily explained, her voice low. "Hana's family's company was on the brink of bankruptcy a few years ago. Leonardo stepped in and saved them. He kept them from losing everything."

The words hit Ariana like a blow. Her stomach churned as an unfamiliar emotion swirled inside her—something between jealousy and despair. She struggled to respond, finally managing to say, "Excuse me, I need to use the restroom."

Ariana walked briskly out of the main hall, her heels clicking against the marble floor. Her chest felt tight, her breaths shallow. She couldn't stop thinking about what Lily had told her.

"Even after everything Hana's family did to him, after all the insults her father threw at him, he still saved them. Why? Because he loves Hana? Because he'll do anything for her?"

The thought made her feel like she was suffocating. She leaned against a wall, trying to catch her breath, but the weight in her chest didn't ease.

Unable to bear the party any longer, Ariana pulled out her phone and called the driver. "I'm leaving. Get the car ready."

Minutes later, she slipped out of the venue unnoticed, stepping into the cool night air. The weight of the evening pressed down on her as the car drove away from the glittering lights of the party, leaving her alone with her thoughts.

As the car sped through the quiet streets, Ariana stared out the window, her mind racing. The driver, noticing her silence, glanced at her through the rearview mirror. "Ma'am, should I inform your husband that you've left the party early?"

Her voice was low but firm. "No. He's busy right now. There's no need to disturb him."

The driver hesitated but eventually nodded. After a moment, he asked, "Are you alright? You don't seem like yourself tonight."

Ariana turned her gaze to him, her lips curling into a faint, melancholic smile. "You remind me of my father," she said softly. "He used to work as a driver too. He was… so kind, always looking out for me."

Her voice broke on the last word, and suddenly, tears began to stream down her face. She tried to hold them back, but it was no use.

The driver, caught off guard, pulled the car to the side of the road. "Take your time, ma'am," he said gently. "I'll wait."

For the next ten minutes, Ariana sobbed uncontrollably in the backseat, her emotions spilling over. Memories of her father, of Leonardo, and of her own loneliness weighed heavily on her.

When she finally calmed down, she took a deep breath and spoke again. "I don't want to go home. Not yet. Can you take me somewhere quiet? Maybe the beach?"

The driver hesitated but eventually agreed, steering the car toward the shoreline.