Chapter 5

BLAKE

I sat in my office, staring at the Hudson Riverside project spreadsheets. The numbers blurred together. My mind kept drifting back to three nights ago at JFK.

Emma's plane had landed at eleven. She'd texted me specifically, asking if I could pick her up. Not her parents. Not her driver. Me.

That meant something.

When she walked through the arrival gate, everything else faded. Her hair fell in soft waves over her shoulders. She wore a simple cream dress despite the late hour.

"Blake!" She'd run to me, her face bright with joy.

I caught her in my arms. She felt warm and real. "Welcome home."

"I missed you so much." Her voice was soft against my shoulder.

I'd held her longer than necessary. Breathing in her familiar scent of jasmine. "How was Paris?"

"Exhausting. But worth it." She pulled back, her eyes searching mine. "Thank you for coming. I know it's late."

"I wanted to." The words came easily with her. "Your parents wouldn't mind?"

"I wanted to see you first." She smiled. That smile that made everything feel right.

I'd driven her home myself. We talked about her performances, her life in Europe. I hung on every word. With Emma, conversation felt natural. Easy. Right.

She'd chosen me. Over everyone else.

That was three nights ago.

Now I was stuck in my office, thinking about her smile. My phone buzzed. Matthew.

[Still on for dinner?] he texted.

[Yeah. I'll pick you up at the medical center. Six sharp.]

I grabbed my keys and headed out. Jack looked up from his desk.

"Heading to Redwood Medical," I said.

The drive took twenty minutes. I pulled up to the main entrance and texted Matthew. He replied he'd be down in five.

I waited in the car, scrolling through emails. Then I glanced up.

Aria stood under the awning. Rain poured down around her. Her clothes were soaked through. But that wasn't what made my blood boil.

Dr. Jonathan Mayer stood close to her. Too close. His hand rested on her arm. She was laughing at something he said. Her whole face lit up in a way I'd never seen at home.

What the hell?

I got out of the car. Slammed the door hard enough to make them both turn.

"Aria." My voice cut through the rain.

She froze. Her face went pale.

Jonathan stepped back but kept his hand on her arm. "Mr. Morgan. I was just—"

"Get in the car. Now." I didn't look at him. Only at her.

"Blake, I can explain—" Aria started.

"I said get in the car."

She hesitated. Then pulled away from Jonathan and walked toward me. Water dripped from her hair down her face. She looked small. Vulnerable.

I didn't care.

She got in the passenger seat. I got in the driver's side and locked the doors. Through the window, I saw Matthew emerge from the building. He spotted my car and walked over.

I rolled down the window. "Rain check on dinner. Something came up."

Matthew glanced at Aria. Then back at me. "Sure thing. Call me later."

I drove out of the lot without another word. The car filled with the sound of rain and her shallow breathing.

"What were you doing there?" I asked. My voice was calm. Controlled.

"Visiting my father." She stared at her hands.

"That's not what I saw."

"Jonathan is my father's doctor. He was just—"

"Just what? Holding your arm? Making you laugh?" I took a sharp turn. She grabbed the door handle. "You think I'm stupid?"

"No, I—"

"You're my wife. Under contract. Do you understand what that means?"

She said nothing.

I pulled over on a quiet street. Turned to face her. "Look at me."

She did. Her eyes were red. From rain or tears, I couldn't tell.

"From now on, you're forbidden from visiting your father at Redwood Medical Center."

Her eyes went wide. "What? But he's—"

"I don't care. You want to play around with other men? Fine. But not while you're wearing my name."

"I wasn't playing around!" Her voice rose. "Jonathan is just a friend. He's helping my father—"

"I pay for your father's treatment. Not him. Not you. Me." I leaned closer. "And I can stop paying anytime I want."

The color drained from her face. "You wouldn't."

"Try me."

She sat back. Her whole body trembled. "Please. My father is all I have left."

"Then act accordingly."

We sat in silence. Rain drummed on the roof. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

I thought about Emma again. How different she was. Emma never made me feel this way. Never made me angry or frustrated. Everything with Emma was simple. Clear. Right.

With Aria, everything was complicated.

"Why?" Her voice was barely audible.

"Why what?"

"Why did you marry me?" She turned to look at me. "You clearly hate me. You can't stand being around me. So why sign a five-year contract?"

The question caught me off guard. I'd expected tears. Begging. Not this.

"Because I needed a wife," I said flatly. "The scandal three years ago required damage control. You were there. You agreed to the terms."

"That's it?" Something flickered in her eyes. "Just damage control?"

"What else would it be?"

"I thought..." She stopped. Shook her head. "Never mind."

"You thought what?"

She met my gaze. "Did you ever feel anything for me? Even once?"

The question floated between us. Heavy. Loaded.

I thought about that night three years ago. The party. The drinks. Waking up next to her. The way she'd looked at me then. As if I was someone worth looking at.

But that was before. Before the contract. Before Emma came back. Before everything got so tangled up.

"No," I said. My voice was steady. Final. "Never."

I saw something break in her expression. Her shoulders sagged. She turned away from me.

"I see."

Two words. That was all she said.

I started the car again. Drove toward the Hampton estate. The rain had slowed to a drizzle. Neither of us spoke.

When we arrived, she didn't wait for me to say anything. Just opened the door and got out. Walked toward the house without looking back.

I watched her go. Her wet clothes clung to her frame. She moved slowly. Deliberately. Each step measured.

For a moment, something twisted in my chest.

I shoved the feeling down and drove away.