The Heiress' Revenge

Ariana’s POV

We bumped into Melissa and Dante on our way out, and I couldn’t help but curse under my breath. Was fate playing games with me or what?

Melissa’s voice snaps me out of my train of thought as she walks towards us.

"Mr. Watson," she said, her voice was sweet. Fake. The kind of sweet that made you want to brush your teeth. "I wanted to let you know that we’re having a party tomorrow night. To celebrate our new partnership. Nothing too formal. Just a small gathering at the house. I hope you wouldn’t mind joining us."

Ares looked at me like his eyes were dancing. He was enjoying this.

The game.

The performance.

The chance to make Melissa squirm.

"A party?" he said. He put his hand on my waist. He pulled me close. "What do you think, darling? Do we have any plans for tomorrow night?"

Of course, I had to play along, so I smiled up at him. I let my hand rest on his chest. "No plans," I said. "And we should definitely celebrate. This partnership is going to be very... profitable."

I let my voice be a little daring, a little bold. I could feel Dante’s eyes on me, and I hated that he kept staring. What’s his problem? It’s not like he remembers me, so why is he staring?

I didn’t look at him, making sure to keep my eyes on Ares, my pretend husband.

Melissa’s smile was tight; she didn’t like me. She didn’t like that I was here; she didn’t even expect me to be here, but she couldn’t say anything.

Not here.

Not in front of everyone.

"Wonderful," she said. "Then we’ll see you tomorrow. Around seven?"

Ares nodded. "We’ll be there."

Then Dante wheeled himself over and moved his chair slowly and carefully, like he was still getting used to it or maybe like he was stalling.

I didn’t know.

I didn’t want to think about it.

Melissa’s face changed when he came close.

She looked almost... embarrassed, like she didn’t want to introduce him, and she wished he weren’t there.

"This is my husband," she said, her voice was flat and dismissive as though he was an inconvenience. Like he was something to be tolerated, not celebrated. "Dante."

Ares extended his hand. "Mr. Russo. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you."

Dante shook his hand.

Then Dante turned to me.

His eyes met mine, and my heart stopped. My breath caught, and I couldn’t move or speak. I just stood there, frozen, as he reached out his hand.

"A pleasure to meet you as well," he said with a soft, low, and familiar tone. "Mrs. Watson."

Mrs. Watson.

Not Ariana.

Not my love.

Not my wife.

Mrs. Watson liked us as if we had never met, or we hadn’t shared a life together.

I looked at his hand. It was right there. Inches from mine. I was skeptical. I didn’t know if I could touch him.

I didn’t know if I could feel his skin against mine without falling apart.

But I had to, I was playing a part. I was Mrs. Watson.

The wife of a wealthy businessman.

The partner in this deal.

I took his hand.

And the world exploded.

Sparks actual sparks. His skin was warm and familiar. His fingers wrapped around mine, gentle and careful like he was holding something precious.

Something fragile.

I looked at him so did he, with our eyes locked. For a second, just a second, I saw something in his gaze.

Something that made my heart race.

Something that made me forget where I was.

Something that made me forget that I was supposed to hate him.

That he didn’t hide my son away from me for all these years.

Then it was gone; his face went blank. He let go of my hand.

He looked at Ares.

"Your wife is beautiful," he said. "You’re a lucky man."

Ares smiled as he put his arm around me. He pulled me close. "I know," he said. "I thank God every day that she chose me."

Dante’s jaw tightened just a little. Just enough for me to notice. Then he looked away. He looked at Melissa. "We should go. I’m tired."

Melissa nodded, pushing his chair toward the door.

Dante didn’t look back.

Ares squeezed my shoulder. "You okay?"

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. " I will be."

He nodded. "Let’s go home."

We walked to the elevator.

The doors closed.

"You felt it too," Ares said. It wasn’t a question.

I looked at him. "Felt what?"

"When he touched you, I saw your face. You looked like you’d seen a ghost."

I shook my head. "I don’t know what I felt.... I don’t know what you’re talking about."

Ares was quiet for a moment. Then he said, "He remembers you."

I stared at him. "What? No. He doesn’t. The doctors said—"

"The doctors said a lot of things, but I saw his face when he looked at you. He knows you, Ariana. He might not remember everything. But he knows you."

I didn’t know what to believe. I didn’t know what to think. All I knew was that when Dante touched me, I felt something I hadn’t felt in months.

Alive.

And that scared me more than anything.