Behind The masks

Zara's POV

When the man left, the handsome stranger turned his attention back to me, his charming smile fading.

"My nephew told me you had an accident. I'm glad you're doing okay. Have a nice evening." With that, he walked away.

For a moment, I felt like the ground beneath my feet should swallow me whole. Did I really just try to flirt with Cassian's uncle?

Heat rushed to my cheeks at the thought, but despite the embarrassment, I couldn't deny the thrill of it. He was everything I'd ever imagined wanting in a man, refined, enigmatic, and captivating beyond reason.

But shouldn't he have been offended? Instead, he seemed almost intrigued by me. My mind screamed at me to be cautious, especially around a Blackwell, but the pull he exerted was undeniable.

Throughout the remainder of the party, I kept catching fleeting glances of him. I, on the other hand, was doing my best to blend into this masquerade of wealth and privilege, praying I wouldn't slip up and expose myself.

At last, Mr. Everhart approached and murmured that it was time to leave. Relief washed over me. I wasn't sure how much longer I could keep up this charade without unraveling completely.

Mr. Everhart led me to the waiting car, a sleek black luxury sedan with tinted windows and gleaming chrome details that caught the light like liquid metal.

The door was opened for me by a uniformed chauffeur, and as I sank into the plush leather seat, the rich scent of expensive upholstery filled my senses. I'd never sat in a car like this before, it felt more like a rolling throne than a mere vehicle. Despite coming to the party in the car, it still amused me.

I tried to steady my breath, but my hands still trembled slightly. The quiet purr of the engine hummed beneath me, so smooth and silent it felt almost unreal. Mr. Everhart sat beside me, his sharp profile unreadable.

Finally, we turned off the main road and through the gates of an exclusive estate in Central Park South.

The winding path was lined with perfectly manicured hedges and towering trees. At the center stood a grand villa.It was a house that didn't just speak of wealth, it roared it.

From the beautiful gate to the luxurious exterior of the Villa, everything screamed old money. The driveway was breathtaking, with so many luxurious cars.

Once the car stopped, Mr. Everhart turned towards me.

"You looked odd today," Mr. Everhart remarked, his voice clipped and void of warmth.

Before I could form a reply, he cut in again, his tone sharper.

"Never behave like a servant when you are the daughter of a king," he warned, each word landing like ice.

I blinked, unsure whether it was correction, insult, or some strange expectation I could never meet. I exhaled deeply after he left the car.

My door was opened as well and I stepped out, going straight to my room. I couldn't help but think of Mr. Blackwell. Was it really me who was drawn to the stranger, or was it Aria?

But deep down, I knew the answer, it's me, maybe because he was kind to me before. Now that I'd met him, I was certain this wouldn't be the last time our paths would cross.

The next morning, Nana brought breakfast to my room. I ate in silence. When Nana returned to check on me, I decided to ask her about Mr. Everhart.

"Nana... has my father always been this cold towards me?" I asked hesitantly.

She paused, her eyes softening with a touch of sorrow. "Yes, child. But he loves you in his own way. I always tell myself that."

I nodded. I realized something else, there were no pictures of Aria's mother. The only portrait in the house was that of Mr. Everhart himself.

"What... what happened to my mother?" I asked carefully, searching Nana's face for a clue.

Her expression shifted. "She died years ago, Aria. We don't talk about her much... but she was different. She was kind. I know you miss her too."

For some reason at the mention of that, I felt my heart ache, I winced trying to hide the sudden pain.

"Is there any important information in particular I should know?" I asked her, trying to fill in the blanks of this life that didn't truly belong to me.

Nana hesitated, counting on her fingers as if she were trying to piece together a puzzle. "Well, let's see... you'll soon be twenty-nine..." She trailed off, lost in thought.

Twenty-nine? Aria and I were the same age. My real birthday was in two months.

"...you're already the president at your father's company," Nana continued, drawing me back from my own thoughts. "And your father has plans, he's going to make you chairman once you turn thirty. He says he wants more time for himself, but he also wanted you to be married before then."

"I see," I nodded. I decided to use the opportunity and ask of Mr. Blackwell.

"Nana, does Cassian have an uncle?" I asked, trying to keep my tone casual.

"Yes," she said without missing a beat, "Mr. Sterling Blackwell, the chairman of Vanguard Visions."

Vanguard Visions. Of course. Cassian's family's tech empire. I'd always known Cassian wasn't the chairman, it had to be his uncle.

"Is he married?" I added lightly, hoping my curiosity wouldn't raise any alarms.

Nana paused, a thoughtful look crossing her face. "No, dear. He doesn't really... well, it's not that he doesn't like women, but he's hardly ever seen with them. When the idea of a marriage proposal came up, everyone assumed you'd end up with him."

I blinked. "Wait, a marriage proposal? I asked.

Nana gave me a long look, as if deciding how much to share.

"Nana," I said, more firmly, "you know I have no memory of any of this. Can you explain it to me like I'm hearing it for the first time?"

She sighed moving closer. "Alright, dear. Your father, or rather, the Emerald Group, needed cutting-edge technology to keep up with modern demands. The hotels, the luxury lines, they all need AI integration, smart systems... Well, if I remember right, that's what you always said."

I nodded slowly. "Okay... and Vanguard Visions?"

"Vanguard Visions needed elite branding," she continued, "and access to the circles your family already moves in. They wanted to break into the billionaire club, and Emerald Group was their ticket in."

"So," I murmured, the pieces clicking into place, "a merger sealed by marriage." A strategic union dressed up as a love story.

She smiled faintly. "Exactly that. Well, not exactly because you love Cassian," Nana said with a small shrug, her words casual, but her eyes watching me carefully.

If I wanted to bring Cassian down, I first had to know how they saw him, saint, devil... or something far worse.