In the highest floor of Silver crown entertainment, now seated in his office was Caspian Graves who stared into space wondering what next to do.
Aria had bitten more than she could chew and he wouldn’t let it slide.
He had no idea when she changed so much.
Just last week she had been all over him, planning their wedding and in the blink of an eye, everything had gone south.
Caspian moved his hands through his hair frustratedly as he sighed.
At first, he had been overly confident that she wouldn’t leave.
He thought he could break her through the cheating scandal.
He thought she would be at his mercy and cry everyday for her tape not to be released.
“John.” His assistant walked in.
“Yes sir.”
“Get Aria and tell her to meet me in my office by tomorrow, I have something very urgent to discuss with her.” John returned after a few minutes.
“Sir, she said she’s too busy with the songs you asked her to release and cannot make it today.” Caspian frowned.
“Is that so?” He smiled.
Aria’s phone has not stopped buzzing since the response from Sebastian Vaughn.
Every notable brand has tried to reach out for a collaboration.
Sebastian Vaughn was the gold of the country, anything he touches immediately turns to gold.
To them, she was a treasure they all wanted to work with amidst the scandal.
If a man like Sebastian would want to be associated with Aria, who were they?
Aria has forwarded their messages to Martin but for some reason, he said they were too good for her.
He instead introduced Leah to them, but the brand insisted they wanted Aria.
Martin was furious about them, and told them his artist, was unavailable.
Their only option was to use Leah, and that they’d force Aria into the commercial since she’s who they want.
Aria smiled as she read the text messages forwarded by Evelyn and smiled.
The sabotage was really alarming.
In three days was the competition and Leah’s new ep, Aria couldn’t wait to see the songs that she will use.
She leaned back in her chair, headphones snug around her ears, listening to her recordings once more.
Every note, every beat was perfect.
In just three days, she had created eight powerful songs, enough to form her debut EP.
Her manager had demanded results, and she had delivered.
Now, only one step remained.
With her pulse racing, Aria hit send.
The songs were finally out of her hands.
She hadn’t even taken a full breath when Evelyn burst into the studio, her arms loaded with yet another massive bouquet of flowers.
A small velvet box dangled from her fingers.
“You’ve got mail… again,” Evelyn teased, dropping the flowers onto the desk.
Aria’s eyes flicked to the card.
Same handwriting.
Same message.
“From your biggest fan.”
Her brows drew together.
Who was this mystery admirer?
The gifts had been arriving nonstop, roses, chocolates, jewelry, all anonymous, all signed the same way.
At this point, she was tired of even collecting them.
Maybe it was because most people now knew about her and Caspian’s divorce.
Maybe other men thought she was finally available.
She wasn’t used to being wooed, she had spent her entire adult life loving Caspian Graves.
And in the end, that love had destroyed her.
She knew she couldn’t dwell on the past forever.
Someday she would find someone.
Somewhere out there, maybe there was a man who wouldn’t care about her tarnished image or the tabloids calling her a whore.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Evelyn said, smiling softly.
“He even bought you a gift.
How romantic.”
“We don’t have time for this, Beck.
Martin’s going to call any minute about the songs I sent.
I’m nervous.” Aria’s voice was clipped.
She wasn’t worried about the quality, she knew the songs were good.
What terrified her was Leah stealing them again.
She had sent out a decoy version, just in case.
“This is a Black Baccara, Miss Aria,” Evelyn whispered in awe.
“One of the rarest roses in the world.
At this rate, we could start a flower shop.
Whoever keeps sending these must be completely obsessed with you.”
She set the bouquet beside the growing pile of flowers on the table, then carefully opened the velvet box.
Her gasp filled the room.
“Miss Aria…” Her hand flew to her mouth.
“This is the Rule Paola limited-edition pearl necklace.
Your name is engraved on it.
Do you have any idea what this is worth?
A couple million, at least.”
Aria gave the necklace a quick glance, the soft shimmer catching the studio lights, before rolling her eyes.
“Your secret admirer is loaded,” Evelyn teased.
“If this isn’t love, I don’t know what is.”
“I don’t have time for love, Evelyn.
I just got out of a divorce.”
Evelyn’s smile faltered.
She caught herself before saying his name.
“Messy or not, you’re free now.
Everything’s going to be fine.”
“Fine,” Aria echoed quietly, though her chest felt tight.
Evelyn quickly changed the topic.
“The competition is in a few days.
And… it seems your plagiarist is joining.”
Aria froze.
“What?”
“She’s debuting at the competition.
Rumor has it Mr.
Graves built the entire lineup around her.
She’s also to release an ep that day.”
Aria’s pulse pounded in her ears.
In her past life, this was ground zero, the day Leah destroyed her.
Back then, Leah hadn’t even competed.
She’d simply accused Aria of stealing her music.
That was the day the headlines turned, and Aria’s career went up in flames.
“She doesn’t even have a face yet,” Aria muttered.
“She will soon,” Evelyn said bitterly.
“Caspian will make sure of it.”
Of course he would.
Caspian wasn’t just angry she had left him, he wanted to bury her alive.
But Aria had lived through this nightmare once before.
This time, she knew where every trap was hidden.
Her phone rang immediately, Martin’s name flashed across the screen.
She picked up immediately.
“Aria,” his voice was clipped, his tone unreadable.
“I’ve listened to the music.”
Relief flickered in her chest.
“Good.
Can it be released now?”
There was a long pause.
When he spoke again, his voice was cold.
“No.
Mr.
Graves says it’s useless.
Not worthy of his label.
He wants new songs.
Eight of them.
By the end of the day.”
Aria’s mouth fell open.
“Eight songs?
In hours?
That’s impossible!”
She had poured herself into that EP.
Every lyric, every note was perfection, and Caspian dared to call it useless?
“This isn’t about the music,” Martin said quietly.
“This is about you.
You left him humiliated, and now he’s bleeding you dry in return.
You’re not his wife anymore, Aria.
You’re his enemy.”
Heat crawled up her spine, fury boiling beneath her skin.
“I don’t care how good the songs are,” Martin continued.
“He doesn’t want your voice out there.
You’re not a fan favorite anymore.
You’re hated.
Every post and headline is against you.
Maybe it’s best if you step back.
Leave music for a while, or better yet, sell your songs to the new rising star.”
Aria’s knuckles turned white around her phone.
Her jaw clenched.
“What the fuck…” she whispered, the words trembling with rage.