Chapter 42
Chapter 42
VENUS
“Venus. My ever-loving God, Venus, you better have a good explanation for everything, everything!” Gianna grumbled, her voice rising into something between panic and exasperation. “Aunt Martha doesn’t know anything. I visited her last night p>
I sighed and closed my eyes, leaning against the cool marble countertop in the kitchen of the condo.
“Thank God,” I muttered, relieved. “Keep her away from the tabloids, please p>
Gianna wasn’t letting up. “So you’re not joking? You’re really married p>
“Want to see a certificate?” I teased cheekily, trying to deflect the weight of her concern with a thin veil of humor.
“Venus.” She said my name like a warning, like she could see right through me even through the phone. Her voice softened, threaded with genuine worry.
I couldn’t lie to her. Not entirely. She’d know. Her intuition was dangerously accurate, and no matter what story I spun, she’ d pick it apart until she found the truth hiding underneath. That’s how deeply she knew me.
“I got married of my free will, babes. I swear I’m fine p>
She went quiet for a beat. Then finally, a sigh. “Okay p>
“Alright, babes. Bye p>
“Bye. Get me something from Rome! I still can’t believe you’re in freaking Rome!” she squealed.
“Me too,” I laughed, though the sound twisted in my chest. The bittersweet thought that we’d be leaving tomorrow hung heavy over me.
Our Roman honeymoon-if you could call it that-had been surreal. Despite Aaron’s ever-present stoicism, I had managed to chip away at the cold marble of him with just enough persistence to coax out a smile or two. And once, a single, glorious chuckle that I’d been replaying in my mind like a stolen treasure.
Rome had been magic. It made me forget the weight of our arrangement, the performative pressure, and the sharp edges still standing between us. But everything ends, right?
Aaron was probably holed up in the condo, fingers flying over his laptop, analyzing contracts or-more likely-crushing souls through a screen. I didn’t want to interrupt him. I needed air.
So I slipped out quietly, trusting that the quiet, bougie neighborhood was safe enough for a solo stroll.
The evening was soft and warm. I walked without a real destination, just following the cobblestone streets as they twisted like veins through the heart of the city. I didn’t realize how far I’d wandered until I noticed the narrow alleys bright with street lamps and music humming from open doorways.
Rome was alive in a slow, luxurious way that made time blur.
I checked my phone, it was just past 10 p.m. I turned to head back when I heard my name.
“Venus p>
I turned, startled. “Gerald p>
He approached with a surprised grin. Gerald, the guy from the charity event back in New York. Aaron’s social circle, which by extension, made it mine now. Apparently.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, just as baffled.
“My God, what a coincidence!” he said, laughing. “You look great p>
“Thanks.” I hesitated. What was I supposed to tell him? “We… eloped p>
His eyes dropped to my hand, spotting the ring. “Wow. That’s-congratulations p>
“Thank you,” I said with a polite, tight smile. “I should get back, though. Aaron doesn’t know I went out p>
“Come on,” he said, charm dialed all the way up. “Keep me company for a little while. I know a great spot p>
I glanced at my phone. No calls. No texts. Maybe Aaron hadn’t noticed I was gone yet.
“Just a few minutes,” Gerald added, his smile easy.
I gave in. “Alright. I guess a few minutes wouldn’t hurt.
“Cool. How do you feel about gelato p>
Successfully unlocked!
I shrugged. “Had one every day since I got here,” I said, grinning at the memory of Aaron holding my bag like it was a crime
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Chapter 42
against humanity while I made a sticky mess of my dessert. “But you never really get tired of gelato p>
He led me to a small shop nestled off the main street. We grabbed our scoops-mine pistachio, his something obnoxiously colorful-and found a table under an ivy-wrapped trellis.
Gerald was funny. Surprisingly so. He talked a lot, mostly harmless chatter. I let myself relax. Just a little. Just enough to forget, for a moment, who I was pretending to be.
“What brought you to Rome?” I asked somewhere between bites.
He smiled. “Business p>
That was all he said.
Later, I reached for my phone. The screen stayed black.
Dead.
Shit.
“What time is it?” I asked.
He checked his watch. “Oh shoot. It’s 1 a.m. We really lost track of time p>
I blinked. The streets were quieter now, the nightlife thinning like smoke.
“I have to go. Aaron must be looking for me p>
“I’ll walk you back,” he said quickly.
There weren’t any cabs around, and honestly, I didn’t want to walk alone. Not now.
“Thanks p>
We approached the condo. That’s when I saw him.
Aaron.
Pacing in front of the building like a caged lion, hair disheveled like he’d run his hands through it one too many times. He turned, eyes locking on me with terrifying intensity.
He stormed over.
“Where the hell were you?” His voice was low and deadly, like a fuse seconds from detonating. “Do you have no sense of time, Venus? It’s 2 a.m.! Where is your fucking phone, and why the hell is it turned off p>
Aaron never swore. Ever. That was how I knew.
He was furious.
“I’m sorry. My phone died and p>
“It wasn’t her fault,” Gerald cut in. “I take full responsibility p>
Wrong move.
Aaron’s expression turned glacial. “Fuck off, Gerald. And stay the fuck away from my wife p>
He yanked me toward him like I was stolen property he was reclaiming.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, shaken. And then something in me cracked-I hugged him. Tightly.
His arms hesitated.
Then wrapped around me like steel.
“I was worried sick,” he said, voice hoarse. “I couldn’t reach you. I thought p>
“I know. I’m sorry p>
He didn’t speak again. He just held me like he wanted to weld us together.
I turned to Gerald. “Thank you
Walking me back. I’m fine now p>
He nodded and left without a word.
Inside the condo, the silence was sharp. Aaron walked to the window, his back rigid.
“I shouldn’t have gone out without telling you,” I said quietly.
Nothing.
“And I shouldn’t have stayed that long. I know p>
He turned slowly. His face was unreadable.
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Chapter 42
“Do you even understand what it felt like?” he asked. “I am tasked with your safety, Venus. I brought you here. Do you know what would happen to me if something happened to you p>
Of course. Of course, it wasn’t about me.
Just his image. His control.
“I didn’t mean to p>
“It’s not about meaning to, Venus. It’s about responsibility. You can’t just wander off like that p>
“I didn’t think. I’m sorry p>
He inhaled, chest rising with restraint. “Get whatever rest you can. We leave by seven p>
I thought he’d ask about Gerald. Demand explanations. Dig, accuse. Maybe even throw something, just to hear it shatter. But he didn’t. He turned and disappeared into the other room, leaving me stranded in the stillness of the Roman night-like my guilt had more volume than his silence.
Back in my room, I plugged in my phone. The screen lit up: 76 p>
Seventy. Six. Percent.
Then how the hell did it die on me?
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Ruby Walker
Ruby Walker is a rising voice in the world of romance and spicy fiction. With a gift for weaving deep emotions, sizzling chemistry, and unexpected twists, her stories are a blend of passion and drama that captivate readers from start to finish. Ruby’s writing style is bold and irresistible—perfect for those who crave intense, addictive love stories.