Chapter 146
Chapter 146
VENUS
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A few days later, Aaron finally caved. After my relentless needling-okay, outright begging-he dropped me off at Sabine’s penthouse to help plan her brand launch party. He wasn’t thrilled about it, of course. His scowl looked practically carved into his face as the car pulled up. Two guards stepped out before me, scanning the street as if assassins lurked behind every bush.
I won’t lie, it made me feel safe.
I rolled my eyes. “You’re acting like I’m walking into a battlefield, Aaron. It’s Sabine’s apartment, not a war zone p>
His hand caught my chin, tilting my face up until his eyes pinned me, molten and unrelenting. “Every place you go is a battlefield, princess. The only difference is whether I’m there to control the chaos or not p>
I swallowed, heat rushing to my cheeks. He always did that took an ordinary moment and branded it into my skin.
“Don’t scowl so much,” I whispered, brushing my fingers along his jaw. “You’ll give yourself wrinkles p>
That earned me the ghost of a smile. “You’ll regret leaving me behind p>
“Or,” I teased, pushing the door open, “I’ll miss you just enough to want you more when I come back p>
His low growl followed me out, curling into my stomach like fire. The guards trailed me all the way to Sabine’s penthouse door.
When she opened it, her hair was piled high in a silk scarf, oversized glasses perched on her nose, a pencil tucked behind her ear like some eccentric fashion genius. She yanked me inside before the guards could even finish their perimeter sweep.
“Finally!” she cried. “Do you know how hard it is to plan your own launch party without someone to rein me in? I almost rented swans. Actual swans, Venus p>
I burst out laughing. “Why does that sound exactly like something you’d do p>
We spent the next few days buried in fabric swatches, mood boards, and seating charts. Gianna was away visiting her grandparents, so it was just the two of us and honestly, it felt good. Like slipping back into a rhythm I hadn’t realized I’d missed.
Sabine worked like a storm: brilliant, chaotic and tossing out ideas like sparks. I was the grounding wire, pulling threads together, reminding her that maybe fifty-foot crystal chandeliers weren’t exactly necessary. She argued, I argued back, and then we compromised over coffee and croissants.
By the third day, we had everything lined up-venue, catering, playlist, décor. Today was invite day. Sabine sat cross-legged on the floor, laptop balanced on her knees, muttering to herself as she finalized the guest list.
We were still debating whether or not to invite her family-Richard, Caroline, and Dorian.
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Chapter 146
“They’re your family. Why not p>
A
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“I haven’t really spoken to them since they couped Aaron. I don’t want any bad energy. I mean, Aaron was the only person who believed in me and agreed to sponsor me. Well, Connor too.” She blushed.
“Honestly? I don’t think Aaron would mind,” I shrugged.
“I’m telling you, they won’t come. But I’ll send the invites anyway p>
I nodded. God, how I longed to finally confront Dorian Sinclair.
When we hit send on the digital invitations, a thrill rose in my chest I hadn’t expected. Like we weren’t just inviting people to a party, but ushering in something new. A beginning.
I sat back against the couch, exhaling. “She’s really doing it,” I murmured. “You’re really doing it, Sabine. You’re building something beautiful p>
Her eyes softened as she looked at me. “And you’re helping me hold it steady. You always have, Venus. Even when you didn’t know it p>
A lump caught in my throat. For so long, I’d felt like dead weight, dragging everyone down into But here she was, saying I’d been her anchor.
my
shadows.
Maybe healing wasn’t just about fixing myself. Maybe it was realizing I was still useful, still capable of holding others up even when I was broken.
Sabine grinned suddenly, breaking the weight of the moment. “So, tell me, are you going to show up to my party in something demure and respectable, or will you finally let Aaron’s jaw hit the floor p>
Heat bloomed in my cheeks. “Sabine p>
“What? I’ve seen the way my brother looks at you. You could show up in a trash bag and he’d still want to rip
it off p>
“Sabine,” I groaned, covering my face.
She only laughed, wicked and delighted, before snapping her laptop shut. “Come on, darling. If we’re sending invites, we’re also shopping for the dress of the season. My launch party is your debut back into the world, and I’ll be damned if you don’t look like the goddess you are p>
I bit my lip, nervous but secretly… thrilled. Maybe she was right. Maybe this wasn’t just her night. Maybe it was mine too.
The thought made my pulse race.
20:34 Wed, Jan 14
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.