The venue was breathtaking.
Crystal chandeliers.
Soft golden lights.
Luxury in every corner.
Aria felt completely out of place.
Her dress was beautiful—of course it was. Lucien had chosen it.
Elegant. Fitted. Perfect.
But none of that mattered.
Because the moment she stepped in—
Everyone looked at her.
Not with admiration.
With curiosity.
Judgment.
Comparison.
"That's her…"
"She's the one he married…"
"But what about Vivian?"
Aria heard it.
Every single word.
Her chest tightened, but she kept her expression calm.
She wouldn't break.
Not here.
Not in front of them.
Beside her, Lucien remained unfazed.
Like always.
"Stay close," he said quietly.
She let out a small breath.
"I don't plan on getting lost."
"That's not what I meant."
Her heart skipped slightly.
But before she could respond—
"Lucien."
That voice again.
Aria didn't need to turn.
She already knew.
Vivian.
When she finally looked—
Vivian was walking toward them.
Confident.
Elegant.
Like she owned the entire room.
And somehow…
It felt like she did.
"You came," Vivian said, her lips curving into a small smile.
Her eyes shifted to Aria.
Slowly.
Carefully.
"And you brought her."
Aria stiffened slightly.
But she didn't look away.
"I go where my husband goes," she said calmly.
Vivian's smile widened just a little.
Amused.
"Husband," she repeated softly.
Like the word tasted strange.
Lucien didn't react.
But the tension?
It was building.
"I wasn't sure you'd show up," Vivian continued, her gaze still on Aria. "Events like this can be… overwhelming."
"I'm managing," Aria replied.
Vivian tilted her head slightly.
Studying her.
Then—
She stepped closer to Lucien.
Too close.
"Of course you are," she said softly. "You always did like challenges."
Aria's chest tightened again.
That tone.
That familiarity.
It wasn't just confidence.
It was history.
And suddenly—
Everything made sense.
"You should tell her," Vivian added lightly, glancing at Lucien.
Aria frowned.
"Tell me what?"
Silence.
Lucien's jaw tightened slightly.
"Vivian," he said, his voice low.
A warning.
But she ignored it.
Of course she did.
"We were engaged," she said simply.
The words hit like a slap.
Aria froze.
Her heart dropped.
Engaged.
Her eyes slowly shifted to Lucien.
He didn't deny it.
Didn't say anything at all.
And somehow…
That hurt more.
"I was the one everyone expected him to marry," Vivian continued, her tone calm but sharp. "Before everything changed."
Aria swallowed hard.
Before everything changed…
Before her.
"I see," Aria said quietly.
Even though her chest felt tight.
Vivian smiled.
Soft.
Almost kind.
But not really.
"You replaced me," she added.
The words were gentle.
But they cut deep.
"I didn't ask for this," Aria replied.
Vivian's eyes flickered slightly.
Interesting.
"Neither did I," she said.
Silence fell between them.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Then—
Vivian turned to Lucien.
"Dance with me."
The request was simple.
But the tension behind it?
Not at all.
Aria's heart skipped.
Lucien didn't respond immediately.
And for a second—
It felt like everything paused.
Waiting.
Waiting for his answer.
Vivian's gaze held his.
Confident.
Certain.
Like she already knew what he would say.
Aria looked away.
She didn't want to see it.
Didn't want to feel it.
"Go ahead," she said quietly. "It's not like it matters."
Lie.
Lucien's eyes shifted to her.
Sharp.
Observing.
But before he could respond—
Vivian stepped forward, placing her hand lightly on his arm.
"Come on," she murmured.
And this time—
He didn't pull away.
Aria's chest tightened painfully.
As they walked toward the dance floor together…
She felt it.
Clear.
Unavoidable.
That feeling.
Jealousy.
And the worst part?
She had no right to feel it.
Because this was never supposed to be real.
But her heart—
Her heart didn't seem to understand that.