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Henry and my dad shook hands after that. “Aria, I heard that your mother would be at this gala. Are you still going?” My dad asked. He was worried that I would go back to being weak and not be able to handle it, but he was wrong.
“I have my fiancée, my dad, and my other mother. I’m fine.” I smiled at Maria.
To be completely honest, I’m using Maria. My mom didn’t take my side; she hurt me, so I will hurt her the same way. The only way I can hurt her without killing her is to use Maria.
Henry and I drove our own car, and Maria and my dad drove theirs. I’ve changed a lot in the last six months, both mentally and physically. I don’t want to see him because I think it will make me sad. Will I regret having this engagement ring on my finger? Henry must have sensed my worries because he gently put his hand on my thigh and smiled softly. I smiled back and put our fingers together.
When the party saw me, my heart raced and my sweaty hands let go of his dry hand.
You are strong, Aria.
I was so busy talking to myself that I didn’t see Henry get down and open the door for me. My dress was tight as hell and came down to my knees. I couldn’t even breathe. I would have worn my favourite sweatpants and a long-sleeve hoodie if I could have. My dad and Maria got there soon after. My dad helps Maria down, and Henry and I hold hands.
I felt sick to my stomach and couldn’t stop myself from throwing up. I was scared to see people from my past because I was so weak then and I’m not like that anymore.
“Henry Benorik, Aria Benorik.” He tells the guy at the door who is taking names and making sure no rivals try to get in.
“Who are the people behind you?” the security guard asked, pointing at Maria and my dad.
Henry says, “My in-laws are Jack Callahan and Maria Callahan.”
The security guard quickly regretted it; everyone knows who my dad is and is afraid of him because he was so ruthless when he was younger. My dad has come a long way and changed, sort of.
“Little boy.” My dad hisses at the poor guy, and I start to laugh.
“Be nice, Daddy.” I laughed even harder.
Henry bends down to my ear level, and I can feel his warm tongue licking my earlobe. Henry whispered, “I thought you only called me daddy.”
If he only knew…
“Back off, horny a*s.” My dad put his arms in front of me and Henry, and I couldn’t help but laugh. I’ve never been happier than I am right now.
So I thought, “F**k.”
We took our tables, which had the words “Benorik Family” on them. My dad didn’t like that very much, but I reminded him that I’ll be a Benorik in less than a month when I marry Henry.
The theme for the gala was white and diamonds, and it was beautiful. A lot of people at this party were in the mafia, so there were a lot of drugs and prostitutes.
Everyone was dancing, and I was watching and wishing. Henry saw this.
“Dance with me.” Henry stood up and held out his hand for me to take. I smiled at my dad, who smiled back.
I put my arms around the back of his neck, and he put his hands around my waist. His eyes were a dark grey colour, and I had grown accustomed to them over the past six months. I smiled softly at him. Ben was a beautiful man. He has a great personality and is very good looking. I felt a spark looking into his eyes, a spark I’ve felt before and one that scares me to have again.
Will he hurt me?
He asked softly, “What’s wrong, honey?”
Henry turned me around and pulled me roughly back to his chest. “Just thinking about how we’re getting married soon.” I gasped because I was afraid I might fall.
“I can’t wait.” His breath smelt like mint and blew across my face.
His love made me feel like I was in a trance, and I slowly leaned in. His soft lips covered mine, and now my hand is on his cheek, making the kiss deeper. His lips took me to a different world, one where I don’t feel pain and he makes me stronger.
He pulled my body even closer to his, and both of my hands were on his cheeks. I kissed him harder because I needed and wanted him more.
“Aria.” A voice I hadn’t heard in a while woke me up from my trance.
“One man, one woman.”
“One woman man.”
When I turned around, I saw Sebastian and my mom.
“Want you all to myself, don’t want anyone else.”
I gulped, and Henry tightened his grip on my waist, pulling me closer to him. He quickly moved to protect me when a stranger came up to us. He didn’t know them.
Sebastian also acted out right away and grabbed my mum, making her get closer to him.
I rolled my eyes when he told her to leave me alone. “This is my mother and her fiancé,” I said, and Henry’s hard stare stayed on my mother.
“Don’t look at her like that,” Sebastian growled.
“Don’t tell my fiancé what to do.” I got in front of Henry before he could do anything. He wouldn’t touch my mum, but Sebastian, I couldn’t say the same thing.
“Fiancé?” Sebastian raised an eyebrow.
“You heard right.” My dad and Maria walked over to stand next to us. My mom’s body tensed up when she saw my dad and his ex-mistress.
“Are you okay, dear?” Maria put her hand on my shoulder. I wanted to push her hand away from mine, but my mom was watching very closely.
“Get your hands off my kid,” my mom said, but Sebastian pulled her back to his side.
I glared at her, then turned to hug Maria. She smirked and kissed my cheek, showing off to my mom.
I said, “I think you guys should leave.” I pulled up the end of my short dress to show off my dragon tattoo on my leg.
I wanted to make her even more angry, just because I could.
My mom gasped and put her hand over her mouth. Sebastian’s face was blank, like always.
“You let her join your group.” My mom is mad at my dad, and he rolls his eyes.
“Just walk away,” my dad said.
Sebastian grabbed my mom’s wrist and pulled her away. I could finally breathe, but a part of me felt bad. Henry quickly grabbed my hand and brought me back to reality.
“You’ll be fine, princess.” My dad kissed my forehead, and I felt better knowing he was there for me.
“I need to go to the toilet,” I stuttered.
“I’ll go with you,” Henry said right away, and I turned around to face him.
“No, I just need to be alone for a while.” I smiled softly, kissed his lips, and then walked away.
I felt like that weak little girl again, the one who loved her stepfather and wanted to be loved.
I ran through the halls, crying, trying to find the bathroom. I was almost to the toilet when someone pulled me into a room.
I was almost in the toilet when someone pulled me into a room.
I was scared because I didn’t know who it was when a hand covered my mouth. I kneed the person in the back, hitting their lower member, and then I started swinging my arms. The person groaned in pain and turned me around.
“Sebastian,” I mumbled.
His dark blue eyes took me to a whole other world. When I realised he wasn’t going to kill me, my face relaxed. I shivered when he put his hands around me. It’s been six months since I felt his touch. He was looking at every part of my face.
“Hi,” I whispered like a complete idiot.
Aria, you really just said hi. What the f**k?