A Love Left in Ashes

Aurora's POV

"I don't have a wife."

As though the weight of our vows and the presence of our marriage were nothing more than a gossip to be brushed aside, Cassian's remarks flow naturally from his lips in a smooth, unconcerned tone.

I don't wince. I stay put. I've learnt to remain motionless and invisible. Deep down, though, something breaks—not outwardly or noisily, just a silent, shattering crack in a heart that has been fracturing for two years.

Sharp-eyed and wearing a sleek black dress, the journalist tilts her head slightly. She presses, adjusting the microphone, "Mr. Viero." "Your marriage has been the subject of rumors—"

Cassian's lips form a contemptuous grin that causes rivals to falter and investors to perspire. As he adjusts the sleeves of his fitted suit, he remarks, "Rumors carry as much weight as fiction." "I'm not married to some imaginary wife; I'm married to my work."

The crowd erupts in laughter.

Phantom.

Ghost.

Curling my fingers around the stem of my unopened champagne flute, I take a deep breath. My mask remains in place—a meticulous, honed display of elegant detachment. I ought to be accustomed to this.

This, however, is a new low.

Julian West, the one man in this room who sees too much, laughs quietly next to me. "Brutal," he whispers, pointing to Cassian with his whiskey glass. Despite his humorous tone, there is a severe undertone.

I keep my eyes off of him. "It is merely business." The deception comes easily to me.

Julian spends too much time studying me. With a slightly too-soft voice, he observes, "You're either the most patient woman in the world or the most foolish."

I grin politely at him. "Perhaps both."

The audience parted to make place for Cassian as he strode toward the middle of the ballroom, stepping down from the platform like a king stepping down from his throne. He looks around the room, through me, beyond me, and not a trace of recognition.

The sting shouldn't still be there.

I should give up hope.

However, I do.

And my biggest error was that.

---

Cassian's POV

I sense it as soon as I leave the stage—the change in the atmosphere, the whispers beneath the surface. I don't care, though.

With his trademark smirk, my CFO, Archer Whitmore, murmurs, "Strong statement," as he settles into step next to me.

I hardly give him a look. "That was the reality."

He gives a snort. "Was it?"

I disregard him. I belong to no one in my universe, and perception is power. Even if my father coerced me into marriage, I never had to admit it.

Then someone moves in front of me.

Julian West.

Smug. It's annoying. And overly preoccupied with matters that don't affect him.

Swirling the amber liquid in his glass, he says, "Viero," with ease. "What a statement that was." For a split second, his gaze darts past me.

I stay put.

I don't play games that I don't want to win.

I take a sip of my bourbon and say, "West." "Are you having fun at my event?"

"Very much." Julian's grin widens as he tilts his head. However, I must ask... Who is the woman observing you as if she were debating whether to burn down the entire place if your wife doesn't exist?

Before I can stifle it, a sharp object flickers in my chest. I don't like the way he says it, but I don't make my face readable. As if he perceives something that I do not.

As if he is aware of something I'd rather not acknowledge.

I take a sip of my beverage. "You must be wrong."

Julian shakes his head and laughs. "Maybe." But before he leaves, his eyes stay on the scene a little longer than is required.

And I find that annoying.

---

Aurora's POV

I must breathe.

I leave the ballroom as soon as Cassian's eyes pass me by, as if I were merely a shadow on the edge of his vision. As I enter the balcony, the crisp night air welcomes me, and I clutch the chilly railing, my knuckles whitened.

I removed the mask. Only for a second.

Aurora, take a breath.

It doesn't matter, I tell myself. that when I married him, I was aware of what I was getting into. That long ago, I agreed to the norms of this invisible, quiet life.

However, something feels different tonight.

Something breaks a little more inside of me.

"Aurora."

The voice is silky and deep. Additionally, Cassian does not own it.

I turn to see Julian standing a few steps away, his face impassive as he watches me. Even though his drink is half-empty and his tie is a little loose, the way he looks at me is not casual.

"Julan, what do you want?" With a firm voice, I ask.

He looks at me, then gives me a little, regretful smile and shakes his head. "I could pose the same question to you."

I don't respond. Because, in all honesty, I no longer know.

Julian looks down at the city lights as he rests against the railing. With a calmer tone, he states, "You have two options." "Remind him of your true identity or remain in the background and allow him to erase you entirely."

My heartbeat quickens. "And why are you concerned?"

He pushes a hand through his dark hair and lets out a long laugh. "Because, Aurora." His voice falters a little. "A ghost is helpless. A woman scorned, though? That is an extremely powerful force.

Something else, not dread, sends a chill down my spine.

Something that is perilously near temptation.

I start to reply, but before I can do so, I tense up at the sound of footsteps.

Cassian.

Before I even turn, I am aware of it.

His face is unreadable as he enters the balcony, but his presence is commanding as usual. His gaze darts from Julian to me. "Am I disturbing someone?"

Julian remains still. doesn't turn away. "Not at all. All I was doing was talking to Aurora.

Although Cassian's tone remains neutral, his eyes become more intense. That's intriguing. I had no idea my wife and my rival were talking about anything.

My wife.

The words ought to have some meaning. However, they are completely meaningless in light of what he said tonight.

Julian just grinned. "Verio, there are a lot of things you don't know." Pulling his cuffs straight, he pushes off the railing. "But I guess that's the result of ignoring what's directly in front of you."

Cassian clenches his jaw.

I'm left alone with the one man I shouldn't still want when Julian gives me one more glance before leaving.

We both remain silent for a long time.

Cassian then looks at me, his eyes unreadable. "Avoid getting close to him."

I laughed softly and without humor. "Cassian, are you finally admitting that I exist?"

His jaw tightens, but he remains silent.

He doesn't, of course.

Because only when it suits him does Cassian Viero speak.

And I've finally realized tonight that I need to stop waiting for him to notice me if I want to be seen.

I'll need to get him to see me.

In one way or another.