Chapter One

Tonight had to be perfect.

It was their eighth anniversary, and Aria, ever the perfectionist, had planned everything to the T.

The entire rooftop at Clinique De’loreal was booked. Plus, two tickets to the live Arsenal match in England since he’s a huge fan.

Marcus was going to be over the moon.

“Eiii! I’m so excited for you!” Lena, her best friend and coworker, squeaked. “I can’t believe tonight might be the night… but booking the entire restaurant? Bitch, that’s… bold. That's like a whole year’s salary.”

Aria chuckled as she carefully applied the red lipstick.

“You know how shy I get when the spotlight is on me. Privacy is exactly what I—we need.”

She straightened up and gave one final glance at the mirror.

“Now, I just have to rush home and put on the dress,” she turned to Lena. “So… how do I look?”

Her friend's eyes gleamed. “Like the most perfect fiancée-to-be.”

“Stopp… you’re gonna make me cry and ruin my makeup.”

The friends hugged tight.

Lena pulled back to face her with a serious look. “I need every detail tomorrow. Every. Single. One.”

Aria grabbed her purse, laughing. “I’ll probably facetime you with the ring.”

She hurried out of the café she worked to where her Uber waited.

The image of Marcus getting down on one knee sent a warm, fuzzy feeling through her chest.

They had just gone ring shopping a few weeks ago, and since they’d been together for long , proposing now made sense.

“Mrs. Marcus Clinton,” she giggled as she practiced her new name just as the Uber rolled into their apartment block.

She got down from the car and entered the apartment.

Everywhere was dark and quiet.

Maybe he’s still at the gym dealing with that difficult client that’d just signed up.

She shrugged. That meant enough time for her to freshen up.

But as she took another step, she heard it.

A soft… moan?

She froze.

Another sound followed, louder this time.

Her smile faded instantly.

That voice…

“No…t..that can’t be right.” Her bag slipped from her shoulders as she quietly followed the sounds.

Marcus wouldn’t…

He couldn’t…

But the sight waiting for her on the kitchen counter said otherwise.

Her whole world tilted.

Marcus was on his knees, his face buried between their new neighbour’s legs.

Sasha and her four-year-old son had moved in next door five months ago, and Aria had made it a point to always check on them.

She cooked extra meals for them because she knew how hard it was to be a struggling single mother. She was raised by a single mum herself.

That was what made it worse.

“F-fuckk…yess…Marcus…. right there…yesss.” Sasha moaned, tightening her fist in his hair.

“Mmm-hmmm-mmm, fuck, you taste so good, Sash… so fucking good,” he mumbled as his tongue thrusted in and out of her swollen pussy.

They were too busy to notice her standing there.

She clenched her fists so hard that one acrylic nail broke. “What the fuck, Marcus?!”

They finally turned to her.

But he didn’t look shocked.

There was no shame. No remorse. Just… annoyed, like she had interrupted something important.

Sasha didn’t even bother covering herself.

“Oh,” she said lazily. “You didn’t tell me she’d be home early.”

Aria didn't have the energy for her.

Her focus was on the man who supposedly loved her. Who, just last night, had told her how lucky he was to have her.

"How could you, Marcus? Wh-what...why?"

He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Relax, Aria.”

Relax?

The word echoed in her head like a slap.

“RELAX?” She screamed. “You’re eating out our neighbor on our fucking anniversary and you want me to relax?!?!”

Marcus sighed, running a hand across his hair. “Look… you’re always working. You’re never around. Sasha was there and things just… happened.”

Things just happened?

Eight years together… and this was the explanation he could give her? Not even an apology. Just fucking excuses.

Something inside her cracked.

Her eyes burned.

But she wouldn’t cry. Not now. Not in front of them.

Without another word, she turned and walked out.

Marcus didn’t follow her. Didn’t beg her to come back. Didn’t even try to stop her.

Outside the apartment, her hands trembled so badly she could barely unlock her phone to order an Uber.

The moment the car arrived, the tears finally came, hot, humiliating, and uncontrollably.

The signs were there. Late nights. Hidden calls. Excuses that didn't make sense.

She’d just been so 'in love' to see it.

Ten minutes later, she stood outside Lena’s apartment, sobbing so hard she could barely breathe.

The door flew open.

“Hey, hey,” Lena pulled her into a tight hug. "What happened?"

“Marcus,” she choked. “H–he wa…was cheating o...on me.”

Lena’s expression darkened instantly.

“That fucking asshole. Come on, girl,” She pulled her inside. “You can crash here for as long as you need. The idiot doesn't deserve you.”

- - -

Two months later, Aria was still a mess.

She sank deeper into Lena’s worn-out couch that had become her permanent spot.

Beside her, she kept her phone face down so she wouldn’t be tempted to check his I*******m stories again.

Apparently, Sasha had moved in fully with him.

She was about to cry again when the front door flew open.

“ARIA MARIE JENKINS!” Lena stormed inside, her short curls bouncing. “This has got to stop!”

Mia and Jade followed behind her.

She pulled the blanket over her head. “Go away.”

Mia yanked it down and pulled her to her feet. “You know that’s not happening. You’ve had enough time to grieve.”

“Honestly, Ari, it’s pathetic,” Jade added, “Marcus is probably somewhere having the time of his life while you’re here depressed.”

“There’s a new club downtown,” Lena said excitedly. “It’s the hottest place in Toronto right now.”

Mia nodded. “We're talking shots, dancing, hot men."

Aria groaned. “Guys, my Masters program starts tomorrow. I have an early morning class.”

Lena tossed a tight black dress straight at Aria’s face. “Which means tonight, we party.”

“What?!”

“And maybe,” Jade said sweetly, “a rebound that makes you forget Marcus ever existed.”

Aria stared at them. “No—”

“Yesss,” Mia dragged her to the bathroom. “You’re coming with us whether you like it or not.”

- - -

Two hours later, they were at the club.

Lights flashed through the crowded room. Music pounded through several large speakers.

The air was thick with vodka, weed, and cologne-perfume mix.

Lena slapped the bar counter. “Four tequilas! Salt-lime.”

They cheered and downed the shot.

"Fuck!" Mia shook her head. "This is one strong tequila."

The burn slid down Aria's throat nicely.

She leaned back, scanning the crowd as she licked the lime from her lips, and that's when she saw him.

Most men in the club looked drunk, loud, desperate for attention.

But not him.

He leaned against the wall with a glass of whiskey in his hands... just quietly watching, observing. Like he didn’t belong to the chaos around him.

His inked arms clung tightly around the white V-neck shirt he wore.

Dark hair fell slightly over his piercing blue eyes.

Eyes that were now locked directly on hers.

Her stomach flipped.

Damn!

Lena nudged her. “Go talk to him.”

"What?!" Her cheeks turned bright red. “No, I can't… It's too soon.”

“Slut it up, girl,” Mia teased. “You need to get over that douchebag eventually.”

“Yeah, eventually, but not—”

"I think she needs more shots," Jade announced.

She called the bartender, chanting shots, and the rest followed suit.

Three shots later, the fire pooled low in Aria's belly.

Screw Marcus. I’m doing this!

She pushed off the counter and sauntered over, swaying her hips over the tight dress.

When she stopped in front of him, she lifted an eyebrow. “Staring much?”

He chuckled. “Can you blame me?”

His voice was deep. Smooth. Dangerous.

“Dance?”

“Sure.”

His hands settled on her waist as they moved to the dance floor, and the heat between them ignited instantly.

She turned her back to him, grinding slowly against his body.

His grip tightened slightly as he pressed her ass against him… against the bulge straining in his trousers.

Oh.

Oh wow.

The man leaned down, his lips brushing her ear. “Wanna get out of here?

The vibration of his voice sent a shiver down her spine.

“Umm…” Her eyes darted to her friends, and sure enough, there was her answer in six thumbs up. “Okay.”

They had barely made it inside the hotel room before he pushed her gently against the door and kissed her hard.

Like a starved man.

Aria's pulse raced wildly as he shoved his tongue down her throat.

Her fingers curled around his shirt as she rolled her hips forward to stroke her aching mound against the rigid outline of his cock.

“Fuck…” he growled.

Suddenly, she pulled back, breathing hard. “Wait.”

He stilled. “What?”

"After tonight… we never have to see each other again. Got it?”

He held her gaze in the dark room.

Then, a slow smile spread across his face. “Are you sure about that?”