Chapter 1 The Accident

Aria POV

Aria wasn’t searching but she died to find something extraordinary.

“Nicholas should have been here by now” I shift on the steps leading inside the Deveraux charity gala. My breath clouding the chilly night air, the snow fall against my cheek, staining Selene’s old fur coat wrapped around my body.

I glance around for any sign of my fiancé, behind me the laughter, and clinking glasses fading in the ballroom, where New York’s most polished and elegant faces mingled under the crystal chandeliers.

I press the phone to my ear, trying to reach my fiancé again, “Nick? Where are you? It’s freezing out here.”

Still, it immediately goes to voicemail

I lower the phone, my jaw tight. Somewhere at the entrance, photographers hover around the red carpet waiting for both Devereaux sisters to appear together but Selene had slipped away earlier, dragging Nicholas along with her, with her easy confidence that always seemed to bend everyone to her will.

Including me.

“You’re being paranoid,” I mutter to myself as I waited for a few more minutes. I bit the side of my lip, thinking it through, but before I can think further the sound of soft laughter creeps into my ears.

I turn to the sound, the wind carrying the laughter.

“Selene!! Nico!” I wave at them, my voice loud enough

They both turn to me with shock on their face. like they didn’t expect me to be standing out here in the snow

My heels click on the tarred road and soon my eyes focus on the pair. Selene, with long luscious blonde hair and blue eyes to die for, she looked Innocent, angelic even all the time and she appealed to everyone.

I shift my focus to Nicholas, he’s our butler's son and my current fiancé, dark chocolate brown hair that falls over his shiny blue eyes that are to die for.

I push my dark hair to the side, “I’ve been waiting for the both of you, where have you been? The party is about to end” I lift a brow at them, expecting an answer

“You’ve been waiting outside here the whole time? We already went in and had drinks and food” Nicholas frowns his arms still protectively around Selene but I know it’s completely platonic as Selene gets sick easily so we all try our best to protect her.

I gulp, “What..what do you mean both of you went in already? I’ve been out here for three hours” my lips vibrate in the cold, “The both of you asked me to wait”

“Oh sister, I think you read it wrong, oh I’m so sorry, this is my fault” she starts to pout, her eyes filling with tears as she turns to Nicholas

“What? No of course not, this is not your fault, Aria, you should apologize to Selene” Nicholas turns to me, throwing me a quick glance

I sigh, my breath heavy, I don’t know why I do, maybe because for years I’ve been trying so hard to fit in with my new family, the one my father created after my mother died, maybe that’s why I’m such a people pleaser.

So my mouth opens, “I’m sorry Selene, I didn’t mean to accuse you” I step forward holding her hand.

She nods, her tears drying up immediately, “We should head back home, but first..” she smirks pulling out a bottle of champagne

My smile perks up at that, she actually remembered to get me something then. But my smile drops when she pulls open the bottle and sloshes down half of everything.

“What are you doing!!” I grab the bottle from her before she can get drunk

She rolls her eyes, “Relax goody touches, it’s just alcohol” she giggles with a shrug turning slightly to Nico who stabilizes her in his arms

I shake my head at him, signaling him to make sure she doesn’t take another swing of the drink. “We should head home, the driver is this way” I grab her purse and all three of us walk to the car.

Nicholas pulls out his keys and tries to get in the drivers seat. However Selene is quicker, “I want to drive tonight, this is your new car right Nico?” She turns to him her eyes wide with excitement

My small smile drops, Nico had promised I would be the first to drive the new car after him, just this morning he had promised this to me and I was excited, it was the first time I was a first for anything in his life, but being his fiancé now I guess it came with some perks.

Selene snatches the key from his hands and he easily gives in to her as she settles into the car

I frown turning to Nico before he can enter the passenger seat “She’s drunk she can’t drive, I should drive instead”

“She’s completely fine Aria, don’t make up such a fuss over a car” his eyes turns into slits

I gulp, “It’s not about the car, but more about our safety”

“I’m completely fine, I can drive” Selene starts the car rolling her eyes slightly at me

I huff but I don’t argue anymore and slide into the back seat of the car

The drive is smooth, my arms are crossed over my chest, my eyes on the pair in the front seats, they speak animatedly with each other, their fingers never straying too far from each other.

Sometimes I feel there’s something going on but every single time I bring it up, Nico has an explanation for it, it’s either it’s for Selene’s health or just the fact that she is my step-sister and will probably inherit nothing while I would get my fathers entire wealth.

So I grew not to get jealous of her, he only gave her all this attention because he didn’t want her to feel alone in a strange household even though we grew up together.

I sigh leaning back, “Can we listen to some music-“ I start to say when the car starts to skid across the road.

“Stop!!” I yell out at Selene as she presses the gas, the car speed bumps up and the road in front of us is empty but still dangerous

“Selene that’s not safe!!” I yell out but it’s too late.