Chapter 13
The night was wonderful. Every detail of the engagement party had been meticulously planned—a grand ballroom, a sea of influential guests, and a love story the world seemed compelled to believe. Aria stood at its center, a custom silver gown shimmering under the golden lights, a champagne glass in her hand. The diamond ring on her finger caught the light, a symbol of all she had achieved, all she had become. Liam stood behind her, effortlessly charming as he entertained their guests. He was cool, collected—exactly what she needed. Exactly who Adrian Marsden was not.
This should have felt like victory. Then why this burgeoning storm within her? She took a slow sip of champagne, ignoring the murmuring around her. The media was already having a field day, speculating whether this was true love or a power play. Aria didn't care what people thought. This was her story, and tonight, she would end it on her terms. But she should have known Adrian wouldn't let her. Not without a fight.
Adrian had never felt this desperation before. Not when building his empire, not when confronting ruthless rivals, not even when he lost everything, only to reclaim it with calculated precision. But losing her? Losing Isabella? That was a loss he couldn't endure. He stood outside the opulent hotel, the engagement party in full swing, his heart pounding so hard it felt as if it might burst. Security had already turned him away twice, but Adrian wasn't leaving. Not tonight. Not without seeing her one last time.
The guards muttered into their earpieces, awaiting orders, likely from Liam. That bastard has everything now. Adrian gritted his teeth. He had been many things—businessman, king, even a ruthless leader—but never a beggar. Not until today. Ignoring the security guards, he pushed through the doors.
The moment he stepped inside, everything stopped. The music, the laughter, the conversations—all silenced. Then, as if time itself had ceased, his gaze found her. She stood at the far end of the ballroom, radiant, untouchable—everything he had lost. His breath caught. Then she saw him. For a fleeting second, something flickered in her expression: shock, pain. Then, just as quickly, it vanished, replaced by cold apathy. That was what broke him. That sent his knees crumbling.
And then Adrian Marsden did the unthinkable. He sank to his knees. In front of everyone. In front of her. Gasps rippled through the room. People turned, whispering. The invincible Adrian Marsden was broken, desperate. He didn't care. Only she mattered.
His voice was husky, raw with unstifled passion. "I can't live without you, Bella."
Aria froze. He had used that name, a name that no longer belonged to her. She swallowed the lump in her throat, ignoring the sharp pain in her chest. She had prepared for this moment, rehearsed it countless times. And yet… seeing him like this—a man who once commanded the world, now kneeling before her, pleading, broken—it unnerved her.
Liam stepped forward. "I think it's time you left, Marsden."
Adrian didn't look at him. His eyes remained fixed on her, the only thing that had ever truly mattered. "Please," he whispered, "Tell me it's not too late."
Aria exhaled slowly, her fingers tightening around her champagne glass. She had made her decision. Yet, for a single second, her memory betrayed her—memories of their intimacy, the way he used to hold her, the way he used to say her name, the nights she spent in his arms, believing he was hers.
But then, just as swiftly, the betrayal flooded back—the lies, the nights he spent with others, the way he had made her believe she was the only one, when she was merely a convenience. Her heart turned icy once more.
She stepped forward, her shoes clicking on the marble floor. The room was silent, everyone waiting. She looked down at him—the man who once owned everything, now possessing nothing.
Her voice was soft, yet it cut through the silence like a blade.
"I loved you, Adrian," she said.
His breath hitched.
"But love doesn't survive betrayal."
The final blow. The final goodbye. Then, she turned and walked away, leaving him kneeling in his ruin. The whispers in the room intensified. The journalists had documented everything. Adrian Marsden, the untouchable, had been publicly destroyed.
Liam placed a hand on Aria's back, guiding her toward the exit. "You okay?" he murmured.
She inhaled deeply, maintaining her composure. "Yes."
And yet, as she stepped out into the night, leaving behind the ruins of the man she had loved, she couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't over. Not yet. Not entirely.
The headlines followed swiftly: "Adrian Marsden's Public Breakdown at Aria Laurent's Engagement Party—A Billionaire Brought to His Knees." "The Night Adrian Marsden Lost Everything—Public Humiliation or True Heartbreak?" "Aria Laurent Walks Away, Leaving Her Past in Ruins."
The images haunted her—Adrian on his knees, eyes vacant, clutching his suit as if clinging to himself. But he couldn't hold on. Everything had already fallen apart.
Days turned into a week. Adrian vanished from the public eye. No press releases. No sightings. No business dealings. For the first time in his life, Adrian Marsden was nowhere to be found. The world whispered, speculating about his fate. But the truth was far less dramatic than the rumors. His penthouse was silent.