Chapter 81

Aria’s POV

In response to Julia’s question, I gave her a sad, small smile. That seemed to be enough for her, as her brow immediately pulled together.

“Oh, Aria. No.”

“I’m sorry,” I told her. Glancing at Harold, I added, “Truly. But I am serious about this. I imagine things will be properly resolved before too long.”

Julia’s face crumpled further. “But what will you do, child? Where will you go? How will you live?”

“I’ll manage,” I promised her.

She was unconvinced, shaking her head. “You know the fondness I have for you, Aria, so please do not take these words as an insult. They are only spoken with concern for you and your future.”

“I understand.” I knew she wouldn’t mean to hurt me, but I still braced myself for what harsh words I was certain were about to be said to me.

“You are an orphan, Aria. You have no family of your own to support you. Our fondness for you is what makes us want to support the continuation of your marriage. But we are also worried for you. Without us… Without Lucian… Without that support… How will you survive?”

“I have my ways,” I said mysteriously, not wanting to reveal the truth, not even to them. I hated to worry them, but soon they would have nothing to worry about anyway. Once I left the pack, I was certain no one would think of me any longer, not even Julia and Harold.

Besides, likely in that time they would have their hands full tending to Sheila, and walking eggshells around her.

Julia seemed stricken by my words. “Aria, please. Do not sacrifice your honor for the sake of money.”

Obviously, she had the very wrong idea! I’d meant to keep my identity as Dr. A a secret, but not by implying that I was living a double life as a lady of the evening!

“I’m not doing anything that would tarnish my honor or my reputation,” I assured her.

Julia seemed uncertain, but Harold relaxed marginally at my words.

Watching him, I focused on the steady fall of his breathing, watching for any distortion or discomfort. In the moment, he seemed okay.

“Aria? Did you hear me?” Julia asked.

“Oh, sorry,” I said. “What did you say?”

“If your reputation isn’t being sacrificed, then how in the world are you making a living?” Julia asked.

“I have some skills from college that I’m falling back on,” I told her. “I have a job. It’s been paying my bills.”

“An honest job?”

“Yes,” I said. “Though please don’t ask anymore. I’m trying to keep my presence relatively a secret so as not to cause problems for them.” Or for me, though I don’t say that part.

Julia seemed no less troubled, though she did not like she was at least pretending to understand.

Harold closed his eyes a moment. He was still breathing okay. I wanted to check his blood pressure, but I wasn’t sure I’d be able to without making it obvious. Maybe if I tried to take his hand?

No, that would be too odd.

“You know, Lucian really is a good man,” Julia said. “Hardheaded sometimes, certainly. But he does a great job at taking care of this kingdom and this family. He needs a good woman by his side, to help center him.”

Bitterly, I heard myself say, “I’m sure Sheila will be happy to help him.”

Julia pressed her lips hard together like she was sucking on a lemon.

Harold tensed slightly, turning pale. Immediately, seeing his reaction to Sheila’s name, I regretting bringing her up.

While I might have still felt upset about the entire situation, I should have kept my bitter words to myself rather than risk stressing Harold into another episode.

“Sheila is a distraction,” Julia told me, her voice soft yet tight. “She will flitter in and out of his life just as she has done in the past.”

“I’m sorry,” I said, wanting to end this conversation. “But Lucian’s decisions, and his choice of partners, no longer directly affects me. Thank you both for your love and support over the years. You know I value and respect you, but you cannot sway my decision here. Lucian and I are going to divorce.”

I would not play second to Sheila any longer. No matter how much my heart ached for Lucian, and for things to be different. I couldn’t go back to how they were. Maybe if it was me alone… But I wouldn’t place my child in that situation, forcing them to grow up in a situation where their mother was miserable and their father openly loved someone else.

A divorce was the only answer, and had been for some time. Our mutual rejection solidified that, and set the cogs in motion.

“I’m sorry,” I said again, meaning it. I would miss them both so terribly.

“Oh, dear,” Julia said. “I’m sorry, too.”

She pulled me forward again and as we sat on the couch, we hugged.

This one felt like it would be the last time for real.

Lucian’s POV

I couldn’t take my eyes off of Aria. Even as she sat in the other room with my parents, I still kept her in my line of sight. It wasn’t just because of how gorgeous she looked tonight; it was also because she was here, in our house once more.

However temporary, she was here, where she belonged, and I was comforted by the sight.

My nerves had been prickled every moment of every day since our mutual rejection. This was one of the first times in a very long time that I felt somewhat calm.

It lasted right up until the moment Jasper came to stand beside me.

“Enjoying the view, Lucian?” Jasper asked, a smirk on his lips and a laugh in his voice.

“I’m only looking,” I said. He had no reason to be jealous. I was not going to act against Aria’s wishes. Yet, glancing at him more fully, I didn’t feel like he was threatened by my looking. More, he was utterly amused by the whole thing.

“I can see that,” Jasper said.

When I didn’t reply, he let the matter drop, though he stayed by my side, which annoyed me. In the quiet, I dared to make an observation.

“You and Aria didn’t arrive together.” I was playing with fire bringing this up, and even the answer I wanted wouldn’t give me the comfort I needed.

Even if Jasper and Aria were having some tough times, that didn’t mean that she would come rushing back to me. Our bond was broken. She was free to go wherever else she wished. To Matthew, or to anyone else.

“Aria, as you know, is fiercely independent,” Jasper said. “She wanted to make an entrance. Who was I to say no?”

That didn’t sound like the Aria I knew, but… perhaps I never knew her as well as I thought I did. At the start of our relationship, she had been intriguing to me, but then, after we’d married, she had so easily fallen into the demure housewife role that I had considered any mystery about her entirely solved.

Could I have been so wrong?

“So you…?” I didn’t know how to ask what I wanted to ask.

“Separate cars don’t mean anything,” Jasper said. “Nothing has changed between Aria and I since the last time you saw us together.”