Aria couldn't sleep.
The image of Ethan sitting in the dark living room replayed in her mind again and again.
The television screen.
The replayed footage.
The disappointment in his eyes.
The silence.
It was worse than shouting.
Much worse.
The next morning, Aria woke up to hundreds of notifications.
#LOVEUNDERFIRE
was trending worldwide.
Her followers had increased overnight.
Millions of people were discussing her.
Millions.
Yet she felt emptier than ever.
Her phone buzzed.
Julian.
She answered immediately.
"Congratulations," her manager said.
Aria frowned.
"For what?"
"The show just broke records."
"What?"
"The episode reached over fifty million views in less than twelve hours."
Aria's stomach twisted.
Julian laughed.
"The audience is obsessed with you and Liam."
"Stop."
"I'm serious."
He continued.
"They want more."
Meanwhile...
Inside a luxury penthouse.
Liam sat alone.
His phone was filled with messages.
Producers.
Directors.
Sponsors.
Everyone wanted a piece of him.
Yet his eyes remained fixed on one photo.
A photo taken years ago.
A younger Aria.
Smiling.
Happy.
His thumb brushed across the screen.
Three years.
Three years since she disappeared.
Three years without answers.
Three years wondering why.
A knock interrupted his thoughts.
"Come in."
The producer entered.
"We're filming tonight."
Liam nodded.
Then the producer smirked.
"The network wants more chemistry."
Liam's jaw tightened.
"What does that mean?"
"It means people are addicted to watching you two."
Hours later...
The cast gathered for filming.
The atmosphere felt different.
Everyone was staring.
Whispering.
Watching.
Aria entered the room.
Conversations stopped.
A few contestants exchanged knowing looks.
Others looked jealous.
The internet had already crowned Aria and Liam as the show's main attraction.
And everyone knew it.
As Aria walked toward the refreshment table, someone grabbed her wrist.
She turned.
Liam.
Again.
Her heart skipped.
"What do you want?"
His gaze remained fixed on her.
"We need to talk."
"No."
"Aria."
"No."
His expression darkened.
For a moment neither moved.
Neither looked away.
The tension between them felt suffocating.
Dangerous.
Then Liam spoke quietly.
"Why did you leave?"
Her breath caught.
Not this question.
Not now.
Three years ago.
The question she had avoided.
The answer she never gave.
The truth she buried.
She looked away.
"You don't need to know."
"I do."
"No."
His voice became sharper.
"You vanished."
Her chest tightened.
"You blocked me."
"Stop."
"You disappeared."
"Stop!"
The room fell silent.
Everyone was watching now.
Cameras included.
But neither noticed.
Liam stepped closer.
His eyes burned with years of hurt.
"Tell me one thing."
Aria swallowed.
His voice dropped.
"Did you ever love me?"
The question struck harder than any slap.
Harder than any scandal.
Harder than any headline.
Because the answer was yes.
She had loved him.
More than anyone.
More than herself.
But she couldn't say it.
Not now.
Not here.
Not with everything hanging over her head.
Before she could answer...
A loud voice interrupted them.
"Cut!"
The director jumped up.
Excited.
Ecstatic.
"That was perfect!"
The cast blinked.
The crew started applauding.
The producers looked thrilled.
They thought it was acting.
Every word.
Every emotion.
Every painful look.
They thought it was part of the show.
Aria wanted to laugh.
Or cry.
Maybe both.
Because none of it had been scripted.
Later that night...
The episode aired.
Viewers went crazy.
💬 "THE TENSION IS INSANE!"
💬 "THERE'S DEFINITELY HISTORY BETWEEN THEM!"
💬 "THIS CAN'T BE ACTING!"
💬 "I NEED THE NEXT EPISODE RIGHT NOW!"
💬 "WHAT DID SHE DO THREE YEARS AGO?!"
At midnight...
Aria finally returned home.
The house was quiet.
Too quiet.
She stepped inside.
Then froze.
Ethan was sitting in the darkness.
Waiting.
A tablet rested on the table.
The newest episode was paused on the screen.
Right on Liam's face.
Right after he asked:
"Did you ever love me?"
Ethan slowly looked up.
His eyes were unreadable.
Cold.
Dangerously calm.
Then he asked a single question.
"Who is Liam Hunter to you, Aria?"
End of Chapter 6 🔥