A Misunderstanding

With my heart pounding in my ears, I sprinted down the corridor. Anger clouded my vision, and betrayal twisted like a dagger inside of me. Every step felt more difficult, but until I had answers, I couldn't and wouldn't stop.

Cole had walked steadily after me as I left the study, but I didn't look back. Not quite yet. Not until I was strong enough to confront him.

I whirled on my heel as soon as I arrived at the opulent living room, my chest rising and falling with ragged gasps. "You were going to lie to me for how long?" Emotion shattered my voice, but I was not going to back down.

Cole's piercing blue eyes were fixed on mine, and his expression was impenetrable. "Aria—"

I interrupted him, my hands shaking at my sides, saying, "Don't." "Don't use your calculating, icy words to attempt to diffuse this. Cole, I saw the documents. My father was destroyed by your family and your business.

His mouth tightened. "That's not what you believe."

I laughed resentfully. Not what I believe? You only have that to say? I have read those contracts. I looked at the figures. You were aware that your business had set him up for failure.

Cole, hardly able to control his rage, ran a hand through his dark hair. "The whole story is unknown to you."

"Then tell me!" My voice reverberated through the tall ceilings as I yelled. Explain to me how this isn't what it appears to be. Explain to me why I shouldn't despise you.

His eyes clouded, but he remained motionless and delayed speaking. I briefly believed that he might finally come clean and remove the mask he usually wore. However, his features instantly regained their coldness.

His voice was firm as he stated, "I had nothing to do with your father's downfall." "My family didn't either."

I blinked, gasping for air. "You're telling lies."

"No," he firmly responded, taking a step forward. "I'm not."

I stepped back, needing air, seeking space. "You want me to think this was merely a coincidence?" With my fingernails pressing into my hands, I shook my head. "That the darkest period of my father's life coincided with Montgomery Industries?"

Cole clenched his hands at his sides and let out a deep exhale. "Yes."

I tightened my chest as I gazed at him. "That is insufficient."

Something, almost like regret, flared in his eyes but vanished before I could catch it. With a softer tone, he said, "Listen to me, Aria." "Your father was not destroyed by me. I would have put an end to his business if I had been aware of what was going on with it at the time.

His remarks caused me to experience yet another emotional upheaval.

He sounded earnest.

However, how could I believe that?

"So why did you not?" I muttered. "You were in control. The power remains with you. Why didn't you fix it if you didn't do this?

He paused.

Cole Montgomery appeared, for the first time since I'd known him, unsure.

He eventually said, "I didn't know." "Then no."

My throat constricted. "And now?"

We were silent for a long time, the air heavy with unspoken words.

His eyes remained fixed. "It's complicated now."

I gave a halting laugh. "It is, of course."

This was useless.

I wasn't sure if Cole was sheltering someone else or if he genuinely thought he wasn't guilty, but he refused to acknowledge the reality.

What's the worst?

I wanted to believe him in a very little way.

I hoped that the man who had held me when I was crying and kissed me as if he were drowning wasn't the same man who had ruined my father's life.

But I had lost my sense of reality.

I turned aside and mumbled, "I can't do this."

Before I could get away, Cole grabbed my wrist. He touched, but not violently. "Aria."

I gulped hard and kept my eyes off of him.

He said, "Please," in a rougher, lower voice that I couldn't quite put my finger on. "Don't leave me in this manner."

I blinked away the tears that stung the back of my eyelids. "Then make me want to stay."

For a split second, he tightened his hold, then relaxed it.

I felt a weird pain when I lost contact, but I chose to ignore it.

With a pounding heart, I turned and headed for the door.

I required room. I had to breathe.

I had to leave him before I broke entirely.

I was about to grab the doorknob when my phone buzzed in my pocket.

With trembling fingers, I took it out while looking at the screen.

A message.

From an unidentified number.

As I read the lines, my breath caught.

• "The entire story is unknown to you. However, I do. Tomorrow night, come see me at the old vineyard. Come by yourself."*

My ears throbbed with my heartbeat.

My thoughts were racing as I turned back to Cole.

This was not all there was to it.

More than he told me.

And I would discover the truth.

Whatever it took.