unexpected encounter

They both turned to face him, their smiles fading instantly.

"Well, isn't this cozy?" Leonardo said, his voice dripping with cold sarcasm as his piercing gaze darted to the man still holding Ariana's hand. "Care to explain what's going on here?"

Ariana's expression shifted from surprise to defiance. She pulled her hand away from Liam's grasp, but her tone was firm. "There's nothing to explain, Leonardo. You weren't there, so I called someone who was."

Liam, sensing the tension, took a step forward. "I think you're misunderstanding—"

Leonardo's eyes narrowed dangerously, cutting him off. "I don't recall asking you to speak."

Ariana placed herself between the two men, her voice rising slightly. "Stop it, both of you. Liam was just helping me. That's it."

Leonardo's gaze never wavered from Liam. "Helping you? By holding your hand? By laughing and joking with you like you're old friends?" He scoffed bitterly. "I must have missed the part where my wife decided to replace me."

"Don't twist this leonardo!!"

Leonardo crossed his arms, his piercing gaze fixed on Ariana and the man standing next to her. His voice was sharp and accusing. "Clearly, Lily exaggerated when she said you weren't feeling well. who this man is?"

Ariana opened her mouth to respond, but Liam stepped forward, cutting her off with a calm smile. "Liam Harper. Ariana's friend."

Leonardo's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Nobody gave you permission to speak."

Liam, unfazed, shot back with a smirk. "And you're exactly like she described."

Leonardo's jaw tightened. "What exactly did she say about me?"

Liam glanced at Ariana, who was trying her best to suppress a laugh. She failed miserably, letting out a small chuckle. That only fueled Leonardo's anger further.

Before Leonardo could retort, Liam surprised him with a direct question. "When are you planning to divorce her?"

Leonardo's eyes widened in disbelief. "And what business is that of yours?"

Liam shrugged nonchalantly. "It's my business because it concerns her. I care about her."

Leonardo's expression darkened, his fists clenching at his sides. "Oh, so you're the one who'll comfort her once I divorce her? Go ahead, take her. I don't want her anyway."

Liam smirked, his calm demeanor unshaken. "That's exactly what someone who's losing would say."

Leonardo took a step forward, his voice like a growl. "Losing? What could I possibly be losing?"

Liam's expression softened slightly as he glanced at Ariana. "Ariana, of course. She'll be the biggest loss of your life."

That was the final straw. Leonardo's temper flared, and he moved toward Liam with clear intent. Sensing the situation escalating, Ariana quickly stepped between them, raising her hands.

"Enough! That's enough from both of you." Her voice was firm, though her eyes betrayed her exhaustion.

She turned to Liam with a grateful smile. "Thank you for everything tonight, Liam, but you should go now."

Liam hesitated, his protective instincts kicking in, but he nodded. "Alright. Just… take care of yourself." He shot a final glare at Leonardo before heading toward his car.

Ariana waited until she heard the engine of Liam's car fade into the distance before stepping inside. She could feel Leonardo's gaze burning into her back, but she ignored him, heading straight upstairs to her room.

Once inside, she let out a deep sigh and walked to the window. Peering outside, she saw Liam drive off without looking back. Her heart sank with a mix of guilt and relief.

Her eyes drifted to the hallway outside her room. She could still sense Leonardo's fury simmering, waiting for a chance to explode. She sat down on her bed, running a hand through her hair. "What a mess," she whispered to herself.

After the tense events of the evening, Ariana decided she needed to calm her nerves. "A hot shower should help," she muttered to herself as she grabbed a fresh towel and headed to the bathroom.

The warm water cascaded down her body, washing away the tension of the day. She took her time, letting the soothing steam envelop her, trying to push thoughts of Leonardo and Liam out of her mind. For a brief moment, she felt at peace.

About thirty minutes later, she stepped out of the shower feeling refreshed. She wrapped the towel securely around herself and walked back into her room, intending to find something comfortable to wear.

As she stood by the wardrobe, rummaging through her clothes, she was so lost in thought that she didn't hear the faint creak of the door opening behind her.