Chapter 149
Chapter 149
VENUS
The limo ride felt like the longest of my life.
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Sabine scrolled through her phone with an air of icy detachment, thumbs flying across the screen like she was dueling with invisible enemies. Gianna hummed to the music under her breath, completely unbothered, her head swaying lazily against the leather seat. And me…..I sat wedged between them, my heart racing too fast, clutching my phone like it was the only anchor I had in the storm.
I typed out another quick message to Aaron with trembling fingers:
On our way. I’m fine. Promise.
His reply came instantly, like he’d been sitting there with the phone in his hand, waiting for me to reach out:
I’ll be at the entrance. Don’t make me wait.
A shiver ran down my spine. I pressed the phone to my lap, lips curving despite myself. Even when he wasn’t there, Aaron had this way of filling every space, taking up the air in my lungs until breathing without him felt incomplete.
The venue was chaos.
The moment the limo door cracked open, the world exploded. Flashes of cameras stung like lightning, leaving afterimages in my vision. The roar of voices surged all at once-reporters, paparazzi, fans-all desperate, all hungry.
“Venus p>
“Sabine p>
“Venus, where have you been for months p>
“Sabine, over here! Who are you wearing p>
“Venus, the contract scandal! was it true p>
“Venus, are you still with Aaron Sinclair? Or is the charade over now p>
“Why are you here with Sabine instead of Aaron? Are you divorced? Is he cheating p>
The questions were relentless and cruel, each one sharper than the last. Microphones thrust too close, cameras shoved forward, bodies pressing against one another, the air hot and suffocating with perfume, sweat, and the tang of electronics overheating.
But Aaron’s guards moved like a machine-sharp, disciplined, unyielding. They carved us a path through the
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frenzy, pushing back arms and blocking hands with a wall of black suits and cold glares. Sabine was unbothered, chin high, her smile honed to a blade’s edge as though she were born for this chaos. Gianna gripped my hand tight, her presence grounding, guiding me through the storm until
Finally, the heavy doors closed behind us, sealing off the noise. The sudden hush rang in my ears.
Gianna exhaled loudly, fanning herself with one hand. “God, I’ve never been so grateful I’m not as famous as you two p>
Sabine smirked, already fishing out her compact mirror to check her lipstick. Her voice was cool, careless. “Give it time, darling. Fame is contagious in this family p>
And then
I saw him.
Across the grand staircase, at the very heart of the glittering hall, Aaron stood waiting.
He was impossible to miss, his black suit cut with lethal precision, shoulders broad, posture unyielding, his presence heavier than the golden chandeliers dripping above. He was stillness in the chaos, gravity in human form, and the moment his eyes found me
The world fell away.
He froze. Just for a heartbeat, but I caught it. His lips parted, his gaze burning a path down the length of me, devouring me from head to toe with such raw hunger that heat flared across my skin. The air between us crackled, charged, as though a live wire tethered us together across the room.
And then he moved.
Slow. Deliberate. Each step down the staircase was a claim, silent but undeniable. He didn’t look at anyone else, didn’t acknowledge the whispers or the cameras trained on him. His eyes were only mine.
When he reached me, he extended his hand. His voice was low, reverent, a caress I felt all the way down my spine. “Love p>
My breath hitched, but I placed my hand in his, and he helped me down the last step. His touch was firm, grounding, steadying me even as the floor threatened to dissolve under my feet.
“You’re…” He shook his head, almost laughing under his breath, though his eyes were molten. “You’ve ruined
me p>
My cheeks burned. “You already said that once p>
“And I meant it then. I mean it now.” His thumb brushed over my knuckles, lingering like he couldn’t bear to let me go. His voice dropped, intimate and dangerous. “Lilac has never looked so dangerous p>
Behind me, Sabine and Gianna giggled, delight sparking between them like firecrackers.
Aaron greeted Gianna with surprising warmth, clasping her hand and kissing her cheek. “It’s good to have you back p>
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She smiled at him, eyes twinkling. “It’s good to be back. Though I think I walked into the middle of a Sinclair fairytale p>
Aaron’s lips curved faintly before he turned to Sabine. For a moment, something softer passed between them. A flicker of pride, of respect that spoke of years of history.
“You did this,” he said, nodding toward me, though his words carried a wider meaning-her show, her vision, her empire unfolding tonight.
Sabine lifted her chin, eyes shining. “Of course I did. But it wouldn’t have been possible without you p>
“I did nothing, Sabine. This is all you.” He gestured to the glittering hall, to the crowd already buzzing with her name. His voice was steady, warm. “I’m a proud big brother p>
“And I’m the luckiest baby sister.” Sabine blinked quickly, swiping at the corner of her eyes before pulling him into a fierce hug.
Aaron’s arm wrapped around her tightly, protective even in that moment of celebration. “And you’re making my wife’s dresses from now on p>
“You’re damn right I will,” she shot back, voice muffled against his shoulder.
The crowd swelled as the night unfolded, voices rising in a symphony of champagne and applause. Sabine excused herself soon after, scanning the hall with hawk-like focus. I watched her shoulders stiffen, her smile falter just slightly when her eyes swept the room and found no Connor.
She masked it quickly, no one else would have noticed. But I did.
Gianna disappeared not long after, swept away by Lucien himself who appeared like a shadow, hand steady at her back.
And then-just as the champagne in my glass reached my lips-the air shifted.
Richard. Caroline. And Dorian.
They arrived in a glittering trio, like royalty entering a court, their presence demanding attention without a word. The crowd stirred immediately, whispers rippling outward, eyes tracking them as they cut their path through the hall.
My chest tightened. Instinctively, my hand reached for Aaron’s.
He didn’t look at me. Not yet. His gaze was locked forward, sharp as a blade, fixed on the man striding toward us with a smile that didn’t touch his eyes.
Dorian.
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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.