Chapter 24: A Battle of Pride

Ariana stood frozen.

The weight of what just happened pressed against her chest.

Leila had walked away.

She had let her.

The air still tingled where Leila's fingers had brushed her wrist, but the warmth was gone—replaced by something hollow.

She clenched her fists.

This wasn't over.

Not yet.

Ariana took a deep breath, smoothing her expression as she stepped back into the party. The music pounded, the crowd laughed, and Ryan was still exactly where she left him—waiting.

He raised a brow as she approached. "That was fast."

Ariana smirked, masking everything swirling inside her. "Were you hoping I'd be gone longer?"

Ryan chuckled. "I don't mind sharing."

Ariana's smirk faltered.

He meant Leila.

He had noticed.

Everyone probably had.

Ariana ignored the sinking feeling in her stomach.

She wasn't going to give Leila the satisfaction of knowing she had gotten under her skin.

So, she did the one thing she knew would sting.

She grabbed Ryan's hand.

He blinked, surprised.

Ariana smiled up at him. "Dance with me."

Ryan hesitated for a second, then grinned. "Now that I can do."

He pulled her onto the dance floor, the music vibrating through her bones.

Ariana let herself move, let herself drown in the beat, let herself pretend she wasn't waiting for someone to look.

And then—she felt it.

A shiver down her spine.

A presence in the crowd.

Her pulse spiked.

Slowly, carefully, she turned her head.

And there—in the shadows—was Leila.

Watching.

Expression unreadable.

Eyes dark.

And for the first time—Ariana wasn't sure who was winning anymore.