Beyond Love

ARIANA POV

I felt it again. That strange, unsettling awareness that someone was watching me.

Slowly, almost hesitantly, I lifted my head and looked toward the neighboring house, the one beside ours. Grandpa Ronan’s house. I had always known it was occupied, but I had never really paid attention to who lived there.

Until now.

A man stood on the balcony. He was tall, broad-shouldered, dressed simply, yet there was nothing ordinary about him. He stood with a quiet authority, his posture straight and commanding, as though the space itself bent slightly to his presence.

His face was sharp, handsome in a way that didn’t feel gentle but powerful. His eyes, dark and unreadable, even from this distance, seemed to pierce straight through me.

He was looking directly at me. My breath caught in my throat. Who is he? Why is he there? My mind raced. Could he be Grandpa Ronan’s grandson? A visitor? Someone important? I had heard rumors that influential people often stayed around Crest Town, but this, this felt different.

The moment stretched uncomfortably. Then, suddenly, he looked away. As if my shout earlier had disturbed him. Heat rushed to my face, embarrassment flooding me. Oh God. That was so embarrassing. I didn’t even know someone was nearby when I shouted like that.

Without thinking, I turned and ran back inside, closing the balcony door behind me and throwing myself onto the bed. My heart raced wildly, my chest rising and falling as if I had just run miles.

Wow. That man… he was handsome.

Not just handsome, he looked powerful. Dangerous, even. The kind of man who didn’t need to raise his voice to command respect. The kind people listened to.

If only I had met him earlier, before I met that scumbag Cole.

The thought slipped in uninvited, and I found myself giggling softly, covering my mouth immediately as guilt followed. When did I turn into someone who imagined herself with a stranger?

“Stop it, Ariana,” I muttered, knocking lightly on my forehead. “You’re someone whose heart was just broken, remember?”

I exhaled deeply, trying to steady myself. Attraction didn’t mean healing. It didn’t mean forgetting. It was just a passing thought, nothing more. Still… handsome men truly were a cure for many things.

Shaking my head, I stood up and went into the bathroom. The sound of running water filled the space as I stepped under the shower, letting the warm water cascade down my body. It washed away the lingering tension, the embarrassment, and some of the heaviness in my chest.

After my bath, I dressed in a simple gown, nothing fancy, just comfortable, and headed downstairs.

“Grandma! Is the table set? I’m hungry,” I shouted as soon as I reached the living room.

“Yes, dear. Come to the dining table,” she replied.

“Coming!” I said, jogging toward the dining area.

“Come, sit here, my dear,” Grandma said, patting the seat beside her.

I paused.

That seat was usually Lyra’s. I preferred sitting beside Grandpa, while Lyra sat with Grandma. The change made something tighten in my chest.

Maybe it was because they knew I was hurt.

“Alright,” I said softly, taking the seat.

I served myself quickly and began eating. In our family, meals were quiet, no talking, no distractions. Just the soft clinking of cutlery and the occasional glance exchanged.

Soon, we were done and moved into the sitting room.

“Ariana, my dear,” my grandmother said gently, folding her hands on her lap. “We would like to talk to you.”

My heart skipped.

“Alright,” I replied, forcing a small smile. “I’m all ears. I’m listening.”

“As you know, you are the first child,” she began. “Lyra is the second.”

I nodded slowly, confusion flickering through me. I knew this already, why was she saying it now?

“She is already engaged and will soon be married to the man introduced by us,” Grandma continued. “We can say it was an arranged marriage meant for you originally. But you didn’t like him because you were with Cole.”

My stomach tightened.

“So we introduced him to Lyra instead, and they liked each other.”

I swallowed hard. What is all this? I already know this, so what is she insinuating?

“We have always let you do what you wanted,” she went on. “We supported you. Trust your decisions.” Her eyes softened. “But this time, we have also arranged your marriage with someone.”

The words hit me like a slow, creeping wave.

“But the decision lies with you,” she added quickly. “We will not force you into anything.”

I sat frozen, my hands clenched tightly in my lap.

“You will meet him tomorrow night,” Grandma said. “At the party we are all attending.”

A party. A man. An arranged marriage, again. My mind spun as a thousand emotions crashed into me at once: shock, confusion, fear, resistance. Cole’s face flashed briefly in my mind, followed by the image of the man on the balcony, silent, commanding, watching.

I didn’t know what scared me more.