Eternal Devotion

The party's chaos buzzed behind her like a nightmare she couldn't wake up from. Grace stood still, one hand against the wall, her breathing shallow. The scent of alcohol, smoke, and cheap perfume clung to her skin, threatening to suffocate her. Her eyes burned, not just from the acrid air, but from what she had just seen upstairs. Cassian. The girls. The drugs. The mess.

Her stomach twisted. She wanted to run, to get out of here, but she couldn't move. She felt trapped in the midst of it all. As she stood frozen, her mind raced, memories of her mother flashing through her. The feeling of being used, of being nothing more than an object in this twisted world that had somehow trapped her.

Grace shook her head, trying to snap herself out of the haze. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. What was she even doing here? She was supposed to be a part of this world, but at this moment, she felt like an outsider—a stranger to everything that surrounded her.

She leaned slightly, feeling as if her legs might give out. And then, out of nowhere, a chilled water bottle appeared in front of her.

"You look like you need this," said a calm voice.

Grace looked up, startled.

It wasn't Aries. Her heart sank a little.

Instead, a tall man stood before her, not too old, but with a maturity in his eyes that felt out of place in a venue like this. He had kind eyes, light brown hair that swept effortlessly across his forehead, and a presence that was… oddly grounding.

"I'm Aiden Valois," he said smoothly. "Vivianne's cousin. And you are?"

Her throat clenched at the name 'Vivianne'. It echoed with the sting of memories—of Aries, of betrayal, of humiliation. She hesitated, then murmured, almost inaudibly, "Grace... Grace Vale."

"That's a pretty name," Aiden said with a small smile. "You seem uncomfortable with all the chaos. Just like me. Do you want to leave this place for a bit? Maybe go downstairs, the terrace, or the outside venue? I promise, I have no bad intentions. I just want to help."

Grace's jaw tightened. She looked away, murmuring to herself, "Vivianne's cousin… how good your intentions can be..."

She hadn't meant to say it aloud. But she did.

Aiden's smile didn't falter, but his gaze sharpened just a bit. "Well," he said with a slight chuckle, "I'm not a Lawrent. So I guess I can be spared your resentment?"

Her heart stuttered. "No—no, I didn't mean that. I don't resent anyone, I swear. I just—"

"Relax," Aiden cut in gently. "Don't get so worked up. I was just kidding."

His voice was soft, almost teasing, but there was no malice in it. He leaned casually against the wall beside her, maintaining a respectful distance.

"Can you trust me a little now?" he asked. "And even if you don't trust me… at least let yourself breathe. Go someplace else for a bit. You look like you're going to pass out."

Grace hesitated again. Her fingers nervously twisted the hem of her gown. "If I go… and my father finds out, he'll—"

Aiden raised a brow, cutting her off gently. "Most of the people in there are too drunk or drugged to even remember who they saw or talked to. They won't notice."

That caught her off guard.

He wasn't wrong.

She looked back toward the velvet-lined doors of the party, where behind them lived a world she wanted nothing to do with. Her stomach churned just thinking about it. Her mind flashed back to Cassian's hand, reaching for her waist, the stench of smoke on his breath, the vacant look in his eyes. She had frozen. If not for that girl pulling him away...

The air felt tight again.

Aiden must have noticed the shift in her expression. He didn't say anything this time. He just extended his hand—not too close, not demanding. Just an offer.

And something in his eyes… it felt genuine.

Grace slowly nodded. Her voice barely above a whisper. "Okay. Let's go someplace else."

He smiled, and it wasn't the kind that came with intentions or weight. It was quiet, kind, and a little sad—like he knew what it meant to escape, too.

As they walked away from the chaos, neither of them looked back.