The rain hammered relentlessly against the pavement, washing away everything but the sharp image Vivianne Lawrent held in her mind. From behind the sleek glass of the office window, she stood motionless, watching Aries Cain crouch down to pick up Grace Vale's discarded handkerchief. The delicate fabric soaked in the rain as Aries handled it carefully, folding it with an almost reverent touch.
Vivianne's manicured fingers twitched against the edge of her table, her eyes narrowing at the sight. Aries wasn't just her bodyguard—he was her instrument, a reflection of her authority. And yet, here he was, showing open sympathy for Grace, the same girl who had dared to challenge Vivianne's dominance.
As Vivianne's fury simmered, Aries tucked something into his back pocket—a neatly folded bandage. It wasn't much, but the gesture was unmissable. Then, he slipped the handkerchief into his suit's breast pocket, letting its corner peek out near his heart. The act was quiet but deliberate, speaking volumes about the loyalty Vivianne thought she controlled.
Vivianne's lips curled into a slow, venomous smile as her gaze remained fixed on Aries. Behind the polished veneer of charm she carried, her chest burned with rage. Grace Vale's defiance was one thing—but Aries Cain's betrayal was another entirely.
The sharp click of Vivianne's heels echoed as she turned from the window, her mind spinning with plans. Lessons would be taught—to both Grace and Aries. The rain continued to fall outside, but Vivianne's storm was only beginning.
The following day, Grace entered Vivianne's private lounge with hesitant steps. The room radiated luxury, its plush couches and crystal decorations a silent reminder of the stark difference between her world and Vivianne's. Grace shifted in her seat, acutely aware of the careful gazes of Vivianne's entourage—the girls who hung on her every word as if they were lines in a script.
Vivianne was already seated at the center of the room, her posture regal and unyielding. She looked up slowly, her smile sharp enough to cut. "Grace," she said, her voice sweet but sickly, "I've prepared something fun for us today."
Grace straightened, forcing herself to meet Vivianne's gaze. "What kind of fun?" she asked cautiously.
Vivianne tilted her head, the glint in her eyes sending shivers down Grace's spine. "Oh, a rollercoaster ride, darling. But before we begin, tell me—no matter what happens, you'll always stand by me, won't you? After all, you're my friend."
Grace swallowed the lump forming in her throat. "Of course," she replied, though her voice wavered ever so slightly.
Vivianne's smile widened into something sinister, her teeth glinting in the sunlight streaming through the windows. "Wonderful. Trust is so important between friends."
She clapped her hands twice, the sound sharp and commanding. "Aries!"
The door opened, and Aries Cain stepped inside, his movements calm and composed. Grace felt her breath hitch, her gaze flickering nervously between him and Vivianne. Aries's expression was unreadable, though his dark eyes briefly softened as they landed on Grace.
"Ladies," Vivianne addressed her entourage with theatrical grandeur, "let's give a warm welcome to the man of the hour."
The girls exchanged puzzled glances, their giggles filled with anticipation. Grace's stomach churned with unease.
Without warning, Vivianne picked up a glass of champagne and approached Aries. With deliberate precision, she tilted the glass and poured its contents onto his head. The golden liquid streamed through his dark hair and soaked into the shoulders of his suit, pooling at his feet.
Grace froze. The indignation and fury swelling in her chest burned hotter than she expected, but her body refused to move.
Aries stood silently, his posture firm despite the insult. His unwavering composure filled the air with tension, silencing the giggles that had punctuated the room.
Vivianne leaned in, close enough for her whisper to reach Aries's ears. "Sympathy, Aries?" she murmured mockingly. "Too much of it can be bad for your health."
She pulled back with a satisfied smirk, her gaze sweeping over the girls. "He dared to show kindness to someone who humiliated me," she declared, her voice sharp and cutting. "So, what does that make him?"
"A traitor," the girls replied, their voices eerily unified.
Grace's jaw tightened at the word, her nails digging into her palms as she fought to contain her emotions. She knew Vivianne's declaration wasn't just aimed at Aries—it was a warning to her as well.
Vivianne wasn't finished. She turned her attention back to Aries, her expression cold. "Even traitors deserve redemption. So, you can redeem yourself by wiping the dirt off my heels."
The air grew colder as Aries lowered himself to his knees, his hands steady as he reached for a tissue. Grace's breathing quickened as she watched, helpless anger bubbling in her chest. Aries raised the tissue to Vivianne's heel, but her sharp voice cut through the silence.
"Don't you have a handkerchief?" she asked mockingly, the smile on her lips twisting into something darker.
Aries froze, his movements stilled, his hand clutching the tissue tightly. His head dipped slightly, but he made no move to respond. The air grew heavier as Vivianne turned her attention to Grace, her tone dripping with condescension. "Oh, Grace," she said sweetly. "Why don't you help him out?"
Grace felt every muscle in her body tense. The room seemed to close in on her as all eyes turned in her direction. Her chest burned with a mix of fury and helplessness, but she knew there was no escape.
Slowly, Grace placed her glass on the table. The sound was deafening in the silence. She pushed her chair back and began to rise, her movements trembling but determined.
The room held its breath. The girls exchanged furtive glances, their confidence in Vivianne wavering ever so slightly. And then, for a fraction of a second, Grace's eyes met Aries's.
His gaze, steady and intense, revealed what his expression would not: the quiet panic in his chest, the unspoken plea for her not to lower herself to Vivianne's game.
The sound of the chair scraping against the floor seemed to echo forever. Grace stood, her heart pounding so loudly she thought it might drown out the tension in the room. Vivianne's smirk deepened, and Aries's hands clenched at his sides as his breath caught in his throat.
But then---