Chapter 6

I turned to her, frowning slightly. "What is it, Martha?" She gave a polite nod. "Miss Jones, Mr. White is here to see you. He's brought Miss Clarke with him." My body tensed immediately. "Tell him I'm not available." Lillian sat up straight, suddenly alert. "Sophia's here too? Oh, this I've got to see." She turned to Martha. "Show them in." "Lillian—" I protested, but she was already smoothing down her dress. "Trust me, Aria. I want to see what those two have to say for themselves." Minutes later, Liam and Sophia entered the living room. Liam looked uncomfortable, while Sophia maintained her usual fragile appearance, clutching Liam's arm as though she might collapse without his support. "Aria," Liam began, his voice strained. "I came to apologize again for what happened. I know I've hurt you—" Lillian cut him off with a humorless laugh. "That's the understatement of the century." Sophia's eyes widened in manufactured innocence. "We truly didn't mean for things to happen this way. I've been feeling terrible about everything." "I understand you're upset on Aria's behalf," Sophia said softly, tears welling in her eyes. "But you don't know how complicated things were. I was in such a dark place with my depression—" "Save the performance for someone who's buying it," Lillian snapped. "Using mental illness as a cover for your manipulations is disgusting." Liam's face hardened. "That's enough. Sophia's condition is real, and you have no right to speak to her that way." "And you had no right to humiliate Aria the way you did," Lillian fired back. "First you shield this woman instead of your fiancée during the shooting, then you abandon Aria on what should have been the happiest day of her life!" "I made mistakes," Liam admitted, "but Sophia was vulnerable—" "And Aria wasn't?" Lillian was practically shouting now. "She was shot, Liam! While you were busy playing hero for your mistress!" Sophia's tears were flowing freely now. "Please stop," she whimpered. "This is exactly why I didn't want to come. I knew everyone would blame me." Liam pulled her closer. "This isn't Sophia's fault. If anyone's to blame, it's me." He looked at me, his expression hardening, "Besides, your attitude toward Sophia is terrible. You don't know that Sophia genuinely suffers from—" "From what, Liam?" I interrupted, finding my voice at last. "From an inability to find a man of her own? From a desperate need to take what belongs to others?" Sophia's eyes filled with tears. "Aria, please. I understand you're hurt, but I'm not faking my illness. That's... that's cruel." "What's cruel is showing up at my house after what you two did!" I shot back. "Aria," Liam said firmly, his arm now around Sophia protectively, "I know I hurt you, but you need to stop attacking Sophia. She's not well, and this stress isn't good for her condition." "Attacking?" I let out a cold laugh. "You think this is attacking?" I shot Liam a glance, then without hesitation turned and slapped Sophia hard across the face. "Get out. Both of you. You pathetic, cheating pair." Liam's expression darkened instantly. "Why did you hit Sophia? She's having an episode! It's not something she can control!Aria, you're really disappointing me." Sophia tugged at his sleeve, playing the perfect victim. "Don't blame Aria, Liam. I deserve this. It's all my fault your wedding didn't happen. It's my fault!" Lillian spat in disgust at the pathetic display before us. "Oh, you've done nothing wrong, have you? You have depression, so the whole world should bow down to you!" I didn't bother watching Sophia's performance any longer. I turned to the security guard. "Get them out of my house." --- Sophia's POV I couldn't stop the tears as Liam led me away from Aria's house. My cheek still stung from her slap, and I made sure Liam noticed my trembling. "Are you okay?" His voice was tender as he helped me into his car. "I can't believe she did that to you." I leaned into his concern, letting a small sob escape. "I just wanted to make things right. I never meant to hurt anyone." Liam's jaw tightened with anger. "You did nothing wrong. Come on, let's go somewhere to cheer you up." He took me to the most exclusive shopping center in town, buying me jewelry and designer clothes to soothe my "fragile nerves." Once I returned home that evening, I decided I wasn't finished with Aria just yet. I called her, knowing exactly how to get under her skin. "Aria?" I feigned surprise when she answered. "I just wanted to remind you that tomorrow is your and Liam's 4th Love Anniversary. Or it would have been." "You're planning to get your marriage license with him tomorrow, aren't you?" I added sweetly. "I'm planning something special." I expected tears, pleas, or anger. Instead, Aria laughed. "Is that supposed to hurt me, Sophia?" Her voice was different—stronger, colder. "Celebrate all you want. You've saved me from a lifetime with a man who couldn't even protect me when it mattered most." Her response caught me off guard. "You're just saying that. I know you still love him." "You know nothing about me," she replied calmly. "Enjoy your life with a man who couldn't even be honest with the woman he was supposed to marry. I wonder when he'll do the same to you." The line went dead before I could respond.It wasn't the reaction I'd hoped for, and frustration bubbled up in my chest. The cheek she'd slapped burned again, as if her words had reignited the sting. "Aaah!" I shrieked, hurling my phone onto the bed before snatching it up again to call Liam. I was going to find out just how long Aria could keep up that façade. Because sooner or later, she'd shatter.