Chapter 17

Liam's POV I watched as they walked away, Aria's back straight, her father's hand protectively on her shoulder, and Carter—that bastard—following behind them like he had every right to be there. The revolving doors spun, taking them out into the night, leaving me alone in the hotel lobby with nothing but my humiliation for company. My feet felt like lead as I dragged myself back to the private dining room. The image of Aria in Carter's arms kept flashing through my mind—her fingers clutching his lapels, the way she melted against him. That couldn't have been real. Not my Aria. I pushed open the door to find Sophia on her knees, tears streaming down her face while my mother stood over her, words like poison dripping from her lips. "You manipulative little snake," Mom hissed, her perfectly manicured finger pointing at Sophia. "You've destroyed everything. Years of friendship between our families—ruined. All for what? Your pathetic obsession with my son?" Sophia's shoulders shook with sob