Free Web NovelChapter 56: Chapter 56
Aria’s POV
Standing in front of me was Nathan. My blood ran cold. How was he here?
He didn’t say anything at first, just stared at me with that icy gaze of his, like a blade cutting through my skin. His presence was very overwhelming.
"Even though you’ve been in prison, you haven’t learned your lesson," he said, his voice low and commanding.
His shadow stretched across the room, enveloping Sophia and me. He towered over me, and in that moment, I felt small and insignificant. My wolf snarled within me, wanting to fight Nathan. But I knew better. Nathan wasn’t someone I could face in a battle.
I felt the chill of his breath hover just above my head, laced with the same frost that surrounded him. So this is what it feels like to face him again.
The memory of that day hit me like a punch to the gut, that day in the garden when heavy hands of the enforcers had dragged me away. I could still hear Nathan’s voice, cold and detached, as if I were just another problem to deal with."Push for the harshest sentence." That was what he had told them, without even sparing me a glance.
My hands clenched into fists, the fabric of my sleeves tight against my skin as my nails dug into my palms. My wolf stirred within me, angry and restless. I could feel the heat rise in my chest, like the simmering burn of a wildfire ready to erupt.
That day... that day broke me. And now, here I was again, face-to-face with him.
Nathan, the man who had once been my everything. Now, he stood there, his presence an icy wall between us. I hate him, I thought. I hate him for what he’s done, for what he didn’t do. This was the first time since my release that I’d faced him head-on, and everything inside me screamed to lash out, to make him feel the same pain I did.
"What, a year in prison and you’ve gone mute?" Nathan’s voice cut through the air, icy and disdainful.
I heard the shift in his tone. He was irritated. But before he could say another word, a sharp, resounding slap rang out through the room, and my head snapped to the side. The force of it left me stunned, my mind struggling to catch up. What just happened?
I barely registered the sting on my cheek before my thoughts shattered into a thousand pieces. Nathan had stopped me from hitting Sophia. But now he let her strike me?
The red mark from Margaret’s slap still burned on my skin, now joined by a fresh one. My face felt raw, but the anger was hotter than the pain. I can’t believe this. I can’t believe I’m standing here, being treated like this, by both of them.
I dimly registered Nathan’s shock as he turned toward Sophia, his expression betraying something close to surprise. free𝑤ebnovel.com
Sophia slipped behind Nathan, using him as a shield as if she were the innocent party in all of this.
I could feel the wolf stir inside me, the hunger for retribution growing stronger.
And then, like a punch to the stomach, a cold realization settled in my bones. That man, Nathan, protecting my enemy... was my husband.
A bitter laugh bubbled up in my throat, but I swallowed it down. This was how far I’d fallen. Just like my mother, even he never took my side.
It was in their nature to gang up on me and beat me down until I knew my place, until I stopped fighting back.
My head buzzed, my body was rigid. The chill of Nathan’s grip was seeping into my bones.
Sophia, ever the actress, feigned a delayed reaction, her voice sweet but full of venom."Oh, Aria!" she gasped, her hand fluttering to her chest in mock concern."I—I was scared. You were about to hit me, and I just tried to block. I didn’t mean to... Nathan showed up, and I panicked. Does your face hurt?"
Her eyes flicked up to Nathan’s, glinting with hidden amusement. I could practically see her savoring every word, every moment of the game she was playing. She’s so pathetic.
"Nathan, please," she cooed, turning her gaze back to him with an exaggerated pleading look."Tell her I didn’t mean it. I don’t even know why she wanted to hit me, I’d have let her if that’s what she wanted! I didn’t mean to hit back."
Her flustered explanation dripped with false innocence, but I could see the taunting gleam in her eyes. She wasn’t sorry. She was enjoying every second of this.
The metallic taste in my throat was like iron. I swallowed it down, letting the anger and frustration settle in my chest, my body trembling just slightly. I let my disheveled hair fall over my face, concealing the mockery that burned in my eyes.
I closed my eyes, but no tears came. I lifted my head slowly, my gaze locking onto Nathan, and in that moment, I could feel my wolf growling, wanting to take control and fight him.
His brow furrowed as they landed on the red marks on my cheek, his throat tightening. I saw something flicker in his eyes, maybe regret? Guilt?. I didn’t care. It was too late for that.
His sharp gaze flicked to Sophia and then to me. I glared at him with cold eyes full of mockery, making him swallow whatever words were on the tip of his tongue.
He frowned, stepping closer."What’s that look for?"
I didn’t answer. My stare remained icy, unwavering, as it shifted to Sophia and in that instant, I wrenched free from Nathan’s grip, every muscle in my body screaming as I lunged at her. ƒгeewebnovёl.com
"Aria, what are you doing? Nathan, help me!" Sophia shrieked, but her voice only made the rage inside me burn brighter.
