The spring rain brought a damp chill that seeped into everything.
Ariyah Griffin paced beneath the glass atrium of AEI Equity’s Manhattan headquarters, the sharp click of her stilettos echoing off the terrazzo floors. Her phone lit up with alerts from every major financial news outlet: “AEI Equity CEO Returns with Mistress and Secret Child.” The story had already shot to the top of the trending list, setting the entire financial world ablaze with gossip.
“Ariyah, my contact at the airport just confirmed that Mr. Kelly’s car has left the terminal,” her assistant Joan reported as she approached, carrying a dripping umbrella. “And yes—he’s with a woman and a child.”
Ariyah’s fists clenched, humiliation and fury churning inside her. Forcing herself to stay composed, she gave a short nod, slid on her sunglasses, and said, “Let’s go upstairs.”
The revolving door swept in a gust of humid wind, teasing the hem of her beige trench coat. Five years ago, when her father fell gravely ill, terrified she’d have no one in her corner, she’d rushed through a string of blind dates and settled on a promising investment banking intern.
Under her guidance, that intern had climbed to CEO of AEI Equity and become a name the whole industry recognized. With media interviews and partnership offers pouring in, Milo Kelly caught the eye of Solstice Capital, one of New York’s leading investment firms, and was invited to work on international projects. After that, frequent trips abroad became his new normal.
Now Milo had returned in the glow of a Wall Street acquisition—and he’d brought a “gift” that felt like a knife to the chest. Looking back, those overseas trips, the missed anniversaries and birthdays, the thoughtless handbags instead of real effort, all pointed to this exact scandal.
She glanced at the photos Joan had sent her: Milo on a New York street, wearing the expensive suit she’d bought him, one hand intertwined with a slim, short-haired woman, the other balancing a toddler on his hip. The picture practically screamed happy family.
Ding—
The numbers on the glass elevator froze, and Ariyah stepped into the executive lounge, shoulders squared.
“Oh my God, did you hear? Mr. Kelly actually brought a woman back!” A group of interns clustered by the windows, whispering excitedly. “They say he’s been living with her overseas, and the kid already calls him Dad!”
“No way... I thought it was just rumors! Didn’t he and Ariyah already get their marriage license? Their wedding invitations just went out last month!”
“Tsk, tsk. Men never fail to outdo themselves—in the worst way possible.”
Ariyah’s palms were sweating, her nails leaving red crescents in her skin. Her father’s dying words echoed in her mind: “Baby, I’m leaving AEI Equity to you. The senior board members will help, but I’m scared you won’t have anyone to protect you...”
And what had she promised? Through tears, she’d sworn that Milo would be her fortress.
She’d trusted her judgment. Milo had seemed capable, hardworking. With the right direction, success had felt inevitable.
But even with everything she’d handed him, Milo had cast her aside without a second thought. Returning with another woman and a child was a slap in the face—his indifference on full display. Fury clawed at her chest, tears burned behind her eyes, and her breathing turned ragged. She dug through her bag, sending its contents spilling out. Grabbing a pack of cigarettes, she stumbled into the emergency stairwell.
Yesterday, she’d brushed off the rumors circulating in their inner circle. Today, the news wouldn’t let her breathe. Since morning, Joan’s phone had been blowing up—partners and investors calling to confirm if it was true. Ariyah’s head was pounding.
In her daze, the motion-sensor lights in the stairwell suddenly cut out. She missed a step, but the scent of tobacco and cedar wrapped around her before she could fall.
A man’s arm caught her, steadying her. The fine fabric of his tailored suit brushed her wrist. He stopped her tumble down the stairs.
“Be careful,” he said, his deep voice steady in a way that reminded her of her father—something she hadn’t felt in a long time.
She looked up and met his gaze, his eyes dark and deep as a lake. An obsidian tie pin gleamed coldly at his collar, and his cufflinks bore a rare double-S crest—the insignia exclusive to Solstice Capital’s board members.
“Thank you,” Ariyah said, quickly regaining her composure as she stepped back. Joan, alerted by the noise, hurried over and planted herself between them.
“Who are you?” Joan demanded.
“Just a passerby. The lady nearly took a fall, so I lent a hand,” the man replied, lowering his arm and nodding politely.
Joan glanced at Ariyah for confirmation; she hesitated, then gave a small nod.
“Let’s head back inside.”
They started to walk away, but Ariyah suddenly stopped and turned. In the emergency lighting, the man’s face lingered in shadow—but she recognized it from the financial headlines. The new head of Solstice Capital.
“Wait... is he Pablo?”
The man, already heading down the stairs, let out a soft chuckle. “Milo has had his share of luck. But luck doesn’t last forever.”
Downstairs, a roar of noise erupted. Financial journalists trained their lenses on the figures emerging from a car. Milo opened a black umbrella, shielding the woman holding the child. Flashbulbs turned the falling rain into silver threads. Ariyah stood at the glass curtain wall, twisting the engagement ring on her finger—the three-carat diamond biting into her knuckle.
In the parking garage, Pablo ran into Matthew Robertson, who had been waiting for him. He walked over with a smile.
“What took you so long?” Matthew asked, waving his phone. “Come on, the car’s in Section B.”
Pablo nodded, hands buried in his coat pockets, his mood visibly lighter.
“What’s got you in such a good mood today?”
“I’ve decided to settle down and get married,” Pablo said.
Matthew froze, jaw dropping. “To who?”
His mind raced—there hadn’t been a single whisper about Pablo having a girlfriend. This was Pablo. The city’s most eligible bachelor, a top investment banker, and six feet of drop-dead gorgeous!
Suitors practically camped outside his office, yet he’d never given any of them a second glance.
Pablo took a few strides, then stopped and turned back to face Matthew. “Ariyah Griffin.”
“Oh, so her name’s Ariyah... Wait!” Matthew’s voice jumped. “That name is way too familiar!”
“No way... Ariyah Griffin from AEI Equity?”
Pablo nodded. “Who else?”
“Dude, have you lost your mind? Her family is all over the news today. Why the hell would you jump into that right now?”
Matthew broke into a sweat.
“Wait... have you been dating her this whole time? This is even messier! How are you going to handle the PR fallout? I need to call the PR team, like, now...”
Pablo rolled his eyes, ignoring Matthew’s wave of panic as he climbed into the car.
