Chapter 35: The Taste of Regret

Ariana kissed Ryan, her lips pressing against his with practiced ease.

His hands tightened around her waist, pulling her closer.

This should feel good. This should feel right.

But it didn't.

Not even for a second.

Because the moment their lips touched—she felt nothing.

No spark. No rush.

Only the cold, sinking realization that she wasn't kissing Ryan to feel something.

She was kissing him to prove something.

And worse—she was losing.

Ariana pulled back first.

Ryan's eyes flickered with surprise. "That's it?"

Ariana forced a smirk, tracing a finger along his jaw. "Wouldn't want to give everything away too soon, would I?"

Ryan chuckled, but there was something wary in his gaze.

She could feel it—the shift.

He wasn't blind. He wasn't stupid.

Ryan had kissed enough women to know when someone's mind was elsewhere.

Ariana stepped back, smoothing down her dress. "I need air."

Ryan didn't stop her.

She moved through the crowd, ignoring the buzz of conversations, the curious glances.

And then—she felt it.

That presence. That gaze.

Leila.

Ariana exhaled sharply before turning.

Sure enough, Leila was still near the bar, arms crossed, head tilted slightly.

She hadn't moved. Hadn't even pretended to look away.

Ariana's nails dug into her palm.

What do you want from me?

Leila smirked. As if she'd heard the unspoken question.

Then, slowly, she raised her glass.

A silent toast.

Ariana's chest tightened.

Because it wasn't just a toast.

It was acknowledgment.

I saw what you did. I saw why you did it. And you still lost.

Ariana turned on her heel, storming toward the exit.

She needed to breathe. She needed to think. She needed to—

"Ari."

She barely had a second to react before a hand grabbed her wrist.

She whirled around—only to freeze.

It wasn't Ryan.

It wasn't Leila.

It was someone she never expected to see again.

And just like that—

Everything shattered.