Chapter 4 ARIAS POV

Morning sunlight broke through the blinds in long, golden slats, slicing across the tiny bedroom I shared with my younger brother. Dust motes danced in the air, but nothing about our life felt light.

I hadn't slept.

Not really.

Every time I closed my eyes, his voice echoed.

"I want you to marry me."

Who the hell said something like that?

I sat up slowly, the sheets clinging to my legs as I glanced at the tiny alarm clock beside the bed. 6:14 a.m.

Mikey was still curled up on the other mattress in the corner, his backpack halfway open beside him. He had school today. I had a full shift at the coffee shop and then a second job cleaning an office uptown.

And yet... All I could think about was him.

Julian Styles.

He'd stood in our living room like he owned the oxygen in the air towering, sculpted, expensive. From the silk of his suit to the way he said my name, like it was something rare.

Like it belonged to him.

I slipped out of bed, careful not to wake Mikey, and padded barefoot to the kitchen.

The apartment was old, the fridge hummed too loudly, and the light above the stove flickered when I turned it on. I poured myself a glass of tap water, my hands still trembling slightly from the night before.

The card sat on the kitchen table.

Black and gold. Heavy. Embossed. It looked more like armor than paper.

You have 24 hours.

What kind of billionaire dropped a marriage offer into your lap, then walked away like he hadn't just set fire to your reality?

I didn't owe him anything. And I wasn't naive enough to believe there wouldn't be strings.

Even if he'd said it was just for show.

Even if he promised no expectations unless I wanted them.

The memory of his closeness sent a flicker of heat down my spine. He'd stood just inches from me, voice low, commanding, tempting.

"And trust me, Aria. If you do... you'll beg for more."

I swallowed hard, remembering how that made me feel.

I shook it off and opened the fridge.

Half a carton of eggs. One slice of bread. No milk. No juice. A near-empty bottle of ketchup.

This was my reality.

I worked constantly and still barely had enough to keep the lights on.

Rent was due in four days.

Mikey's school fees were unpaid.

The house agent had already called twice this week.

I closed the fridge with a soft thud and sat across from the card.

Two billion dollars.

It could save everything.

"Aria?"

Mikey's sleepy voice pulled me out of my thoughts. He rubbed his eyes as he walked into the kitchen, his hoodie zipped crookedly and his curls sticking up in every direction.

"Hey, bug," I said softly. "You're up early."

"I had a dream about chocolate pancakes."

I smiled faintly. "Dream big, huh?"

He climbed into the chair beside me and leaned his chin on the table. "Are we still doing Friday night movies?"

My throat tightened.

Friday night movies meant popcorn, free streaming, and pretending things weren't falling apart.

"Of course," I said.

Even if I had to work two extra shifts, I'd make it happen

Because Mikey was all I had.

Later that afternoon, I stood behind the café counter, forcing a tired smile while making lattes. My feet ached in my cheap sneakers, and the espresso machine hissed like it had a personal grudge against me.

Every time the door opened, my heart skipped.

But it wasn't him.

Of course it wasn't.

Julian Styles didn't come to coffee shops like this.

He belonged in skyscrapers and sleek boardrooms not here.

"Earth to Aria," Lily said, snapping her fingers near my face. "You've been zoning out since I walked in."

"Sorry. Just tired."

She narrowed her eyes. "Tired like... normal tired? Or tired like a hot billionaire walking into my apartment and offering me marriage?"

I flinched.

Lily gasped. "Wait what?"

"Keep your voice down."

"Oh my God, tell me everything. Now.!!"

We slipped into the alley behind the café during break. The bricks were damp, and the air smelled like old coffee grounds and car exhaust.

I spilled it all - the café incident, the tea spill, the visit last night.

Lily's mouth dropped open. "This is literally a Netflix-level drama."

"I know," I groaned. "It sounds insane."

"It sounds hot. Wild. And completely sketchy."

I looked down. "He offered me two billion dollars, Lil."

Her face went seriously fast.

"That's not nothing. But are you sure this isn't some sugar daddy trap?"

"I don't think so. He said no sex. Not unless I wanted to."

Her brows shot up. "And do you?"

I didn't answer.

She whistled. "Wow. That's a yes."

"It's not a yes. It's a... hell, I don't know."

Lily leaned against the wall. "Listen, I'm not gonna pretend I wouldn't consider it. You've been fighting to survive for years. You deserve a damn break."

"I just don't want to sell my soul."

She looked me straight in the eye. "Then don't. But maybe... just borrow a little security for once."

That evening, I scrubbed floors at the office building in Park Slope, my hands sore and my knees burning. Every minute felt like a reminder of how hard I worked just to stay broke.

And every quiet second brought Julian's face back into my head.

That voice. That smirk. That presence.

I hated how much he affected me.

He wasn't just attractive he was dangerous. Magnetic. A man used to being obeyed. Everything about him said don't play games you can't win.

But I wasn't playing.

I was just... stuck.

And the worst part?

I wanted to know what it felt like to be desired by a man like him.

Back home, Mikey was asleep, his soft breathing steady in the dark. I stood in the doorway for

moment, watching his small frame curled under a worn blanket.

I couldn't let him suffer because I was scared.

I tiptoed to the kitchen and sat on the couch. The card waited for me, its golden letters gleaming faintly under the dim light.

Julian Styles.

This wasn't just about a rich man's game.

This was my chance to change everything.

I picked up the card.

The number was burned into my brain, but I typed it in slowly, hand shaking.

I pressed the call.

One ring.

Two.

"Julian Styles."

Even just his voice made me shiver.

"It's me," I said. "Aria."

Pause.

"I know," he replied. "I was beginning to think you'd forgotten me."

"I haven't decided yet," I said quickly.

"You just did. You wouldn't call if you weren't already halfway in."

I hesitated. "I have questions."

"I'll answer them. Over dinner."

"I can't..."

"Aria."

The way he said my name.

Like it was silk dragging down my spine.

"You've already stepped into the fire," he said. "You might as well see how it burns."

And just like that... I knew I was going to say yes.