Chapter 2
Aria couldn't help but feel lighter after Madison left. The brief moments of normalcy — of laughter and shared cupcakes — had given her a sense of respite from the endless isolation of the mansion. She wandered back to her studio, trying to hold onto the fleeting warmth of her friend's presence.
The soft brush of her paintbrush against the canvas felt almost therapeutic. As her fingers moved with practiced ease, creating soft strokes and gentle shadows, her mind wandered to thoughts of escape. The city, so close yet so far, called to her like a distant memory.
She sighed, pulling the paintbrush away from the canvas, letting her head rest against her hand. But as she was lost in thought, her phone buzzed from across the room. The sound startled her out of her reverie. She blinked, her fingers brushing her lips before reaching for the phone on her desk.
It was a message from her parents.
"We'll be hosting a gathering this weekend. Get ready to make an appearance. We'll have some important guests. Don't forget your responsibilities."
Aria's heart sank. A gathering. It was always the same.
__________
Cassian Cole's world was one of power and control, an empire forged from hardship and a relentless desire for vengeance. In his office, high above the city's hustle, he was a kingpin — ruthless, strategic, and untouchable. But beneath the cold exterior, there was a simmering anger, a fury that had been building for years. The Devereux family had destroyed everything, and Cassian was determined to make them pay.
It was a world he and Jaxon had fought their way into together, side by side, since their childhood on the streets. But Jaxon, ever the free spirit, had never shared Cassian's singular focus. Jaxon's loyalties were more fluid, his heart lighter, and his attention often strayed from business to more… personal pursuits. But Cassian? He only had one goal: revenge.
Devereux had never known him as anything more than a business partner. To them, he was just another player in the game — an anonymous face in a sea of deals and negotiations. They had never known that he was the son of the man they had betrayed, that every step Cassian took in the business world was part of a plan to destroy them.
The thought of it stirred something dark in him as he sat in his high-rise office, reviewing his latest financials. Cassian had no intention of letting them off the hook, and the Devereux family's upcoming masked ball was a perfect opportunity to further cement his place among them. But he wasn't going there to socialize — he was going to destroy them from the inside out.
"Did you see the invitation?" Jaxon's voice broke through his thoughts, and Cassian looked up to see his best friend lounging casually on the couch, a sly grin on his face. He was holding a thick, velvet envelope in his hand.
Cassian raised an eyebrow. "What's that?"
Jaxon tossed the envelope onto the desk. "It's from the Devereux family. The masked ball this weekend. You've been invited."
Cassian's lips curled into a small, amused smile. "Ah. So they've finally acknowledged my existence."
Jaxon leaned back in the chair, chuckling. "They don't know who you really are, though. Not yet, at least. They probably think you're just some high-level business partner they can throw into the mix."
Cassian's fingers tightened around the envelope. He could already feel the pieces of his plan falling into place. The Devereux family had no idea who they were dealing with. But soon, they would. And he would make them regret ever crossing his path.
Jaxon tossed the invitation aside. "Anyway, I think we should go. You know, just to… have some fun. Get in close, see how the Devereux family reacts to having us in their midst. Maybe even see if their precious little princess is worth the trouble."
Cassian's eyes narrowed at the mention of "princess." He still didn't know much about Aria Devereux. She had been kept hidden away, out of sight, like some delicate treasure locked away in a gilded cage. But the more Cassian thought about her, the more he realized how deeply she was tied to his plan. If he could get close to her, if he could make her a part of the game — well, the Devereux family would be forced to play by his rules.
"Sounds like a good opportunity," Cassian said coolly, standing up from his desk. "I'll attend. But not for the fun. This is a means to an end."
Jaxon smirked. "Right, right. You're all business. But don't worry, I'll be there to make sure you don't get too serious. Besides, what's a little fun with the enemy? Who knows? Maybe we'll stir up some chaos while we're at it."
Cassian shot Jaxon a look, but there was a glint of something almost mischievous in his eyes. "We're not there to have fun, Jaxon. We're there to make them pay."
Jaxon shrugged, unfazed by Cassian's grim determination. "Sure, sure. Payback's a bitch, we get it. But hey, I'll take a little chaos along the way. It'll be interesting to see what kind of chaos the Devereuxs can handle."
Cassian smirked slightly but didn't say anything else. He had no interest in the Devereux family's games. The ball, however, was another matter entirely. It was a place for the powerful to mingle, to hide behind masks and play their part in the grand theater of life. And for Cassian, it was the perfect stage for his plan.
As Jaxon gathered his things and left the office with a playful wink, Cassian sat back in his chair. His thoughts turned once more to the Devereux family, to the ball, to Aria. She had no idea who he was, no idea that she was about to be dragged into a world of pain and revenge.
The invitation had been received, and now, Cassian had a date with destiny.