Chapter 2

Aria''s POV

As I walked out, I could still hear them making a fuss over Shane. The chatter and worried voices drifted through the heavy doors while the waitstaff shot me weird looks. I felt completely mortified, so I rushed outside, desperate to get away from all those staring eyes.

The rain was coming down hard, soaking me through within seconds. Shivering, I tried to pull my thin wrap tighter around myself. I probably looked pathetic standing there, drenched and miserable, trying to flag down a cab.

"Please, just let me get out of here," I muttered, frantically scanning the empty street.

"Aria!" Someone called my name. My heart dropped. Perfect. Just what I needed—more drama.

I picked up my pace, pretending I didn''t hear them, hoping they''d get the message and leave me alone.

In my rush, I stepped wrong on a slick spot. Sharp pain shot through my ankle as it twisted under me, and I went tumbling forward, bracing for the brutal impact with the pavement.

But instead of hitting concrete, strong arms caught me.

I looked up and found myself staring into a familiar face. This gorgeous guy with his sharp features and intense blue eyes looked genuinely worried. His messy dark hair gave him this rugged but friendly vibe. "Are you okay, Aria?"

Hearing my name threw me off completely. My mind went blank trying to place him. Who the hell is this guy?

"I''m fine, thanks," I managed, even though my ankle was killing me.

He held an umbrella over us as he helped me toward a nearby awning. That''s when it clicked.

This was Samuel Thorn—Victor''s older brother! Well, half-brother, but I could totally see the family resemblance.

We''d barely met before, but I remembered hearing he worked overseas, running his own company. Victor never mentioned he was back in town, but that wasn''t surprising. My husband barely told me anything. And from what I could tell, the brothers weren''t exactly close.

I stepped back a little, worried about getting Samuel''s nice clothes wet and muddy. "Thanks for the help, but you should probably get back to the party. I don''t want to keep you."

Samuel frowned, looking down at my ankle. "Are you sure you''re okay? That looked like a pretty bad twist."

"It''s nothing, really," I lied, forcing a smile. "I just need to rest it. I should head home anyway."

"Where''s Victor?" he asked.

"Still schmoozing with his business buddies. I don''t want to interrupt him."

I could tell my ankle was already swelling, but I was determined to leave. I didn''t want to be more of a burden to Samuel.

"You know what? Let me drive you home," he said suddenly. "That way you can get off that ankle and rest it properly."

"I don''t want to be a pain," I mumbled.

"Don''t be ridiculous," he said gently. Before I could argue, he draped his coat over my shoulders. The warmth and subtle scent of his cologne wrapped around me like a hug.

"Come on, I''m taking you home," he insisted, and his tone made it clear this wasn''t up for debate.

I hesitated, feeling this weird mix of gratitude and something else I couldn''t name. Finally, I nodded. "Okay. Thanks so much, Samuel."

He smiled and led me to his car. The interior was warm and cozy—such a contrast to the nasty weather outside. I sank into the passenger seat, pulling his coat tighter around me, and for the first time all night, I felt somewhat okay.

Samuel helped me inside the house, his arm supporting my waist as I limped along. As soon as we got through the door, he called to the maid, "Can you help Aria get changed? She needs to rest that ankle."

The maid nodded and guided me to my room. Every step sent pain shooting through my ankle. Once I was alone, I carefully wrapped my swollen ankle. It still hurt like hell, but at least it was supported now. After a quick shower, I changed into something comfortable.

When I came out of the bathroom, I was surprised to find an amazing-looking spread laid out on the dining table.

"Feeling any better?" Samuel asked, walking over.

"A little," I admitted. "Thank you for everything."

He gave me this warm smile. "Come on, let me help you to the table." He offered his arm again, and I gratefully took it, letting him guide me over.

"I was getting hungry, so I had the chef whip something up," he explained, pulling out my chair. "Want to join me?"

I nodded, my stomach practically growling in response. "I''d love to. I didn''t eat anything at that business dinner."

Samuel laughed as he sat across from me. "I figured. Those things are more about playing politics than actually eating."

I felt kind of awkward at first, not sure what to say, so I just stayed quiet. But Samuel naturally got the conversation going. He had this amazing way of making people feel at ease. Gradually, I relaxed and started talking more. For the first time in forever, I felt genuinely comfortable.

"I haven''t had a meal like this in ages," I confessed. "It''s nice to just... enjoy the moment."

Samuel''s expression softened. "I''m glad I could be part of it."

That''s when Victor walked in. Seeing Samuel and me chatting and laughing, his face darkened with rage, like he''d caught someone stealing his stuff. His eyes narrowed as he approached us with this ice-cold tone. "What''s going on here?"

I figured he was still pissed about what happened at the dinner. "Hey, Victor," I said, trying to keep things light. "Samuel found me outside the hotel and offered to drive me home since it was pouring."

He barely glanced at me before turning to Samuel, his expression hard. "Samuel, I didn''t know you were back in the country."

Samuel nodded, staying completely calm. "Got in yesterday."

They just stood there in this uncomfortable silence. It was weird as hell. The way they acted around each other, you''d never guess they were brothers.

Then Alicia breezed in, her face lighting up when she spotted Samuel. She didn''t even acknowledge I existed.

"Samuel! It''s been forever!" Alicia gushed, rushing over to him. Even though she wasn''t Samuel''s biological mother, she''d always treated him well. Probably because he was so successful.

They wandered off to catch up, leaving me alone with Victor.

Victor finally looked at me, his frown deepening. "What happened to you?" he asked curtly, gesturing at my bandaged foot.

His tone caught me off guard. Was he actually showing concern for me? That was definitely a first. I never thought he''d care about my wellbeing, and this rare moment left me feeling confused, especially considering how he usually blamed me for everything and made my life miserable.

"I twisted my ankle pretty badly," I whispered, finding myself hoping for more.

He came over and examined my ankle. I felt this tiny spark of hope in my chest.

Maybe he''s actually starting to care about me. If I told him about the baby, would he learn to love me too?