"She hit the prince?"

"I can't believe she slapped the prince. How dare she? Who does she think she is?"

"I blame the Queen for letting this happen, if only she had chosen someone from any other family during the selection test, the Vutrons are just so vulgar and annoying."

"She has spent so much time with the circle and now she feels she's a goddess? She thinks she's someone important enough to hit the prince? She really is something, prince Aiden should never let this slide."

"She thinks she's something cause she's a Vutron? Aubrey Bolton is way prettier than she is. Damn that Paris, always thinking she's better than everyone,"

"She should have died in that shooting."

"Paris slapped the prince? Why?"

"I heard she caught Prince Aiden staring at her boobs?"

"Staring at her boobs? Kikiki, there's nothing much to even stare at."

"Staring at her boobs? Prince Aiden would never do that. He's such a gentleman."

"I bet she's just making things up for attention as always."

"Guys, didn't you see the video? The prince really did stare at her boobs. He deserved it."

"He didn't stare at her boobs. Paris is just lying, this is just one of her many annoying ways to gain public attention."

"Remember how she pretended to have the flu back in seventh grade just so she could be admitted into the royal infirmary?"

"Or how she set her lunch box on fire so she could have the crown's circle share their lunch with her?"

"I wish the Westrovs bring an end to the Vutrons once and for all, I really can't stand them, Paris Vutron is the worse. I just want to hit her so badly."

"Well, don't let the prime minister hear you, he could ask the king to set your family ablaze just like the people of Niyagra. Kikiki."

Anne-Marie's hand trembled as she lowered her phone from her gaze, her finger hovering over the screen where she had been anxiously biting it. The angry and scornful voices that filled her social media feed buzzed in her ears, making her head spin. She had almost bitten her finger raw, the flesh tender and sore. Oliver was right—hitting Aiden had been a colossal mistake. The internet was on fire, and her social media was exploding with venomous comments. It was like she had suddenly become the most hated person in the country, perhaps even the world. Except it wasn't really her they hated—it was Paris.

She exhaled sharply, trying to release the tension coiled tightly in her chest. How had things spiraled out of control so quickly? She had thought she could handle this charade, but she hadn't anticipated just how fiercely people adored the prince. She had underestimated the public's attachment to him, their willingness to defend his honor at all costs, and now, she was paying the price.

You shouldn't have hit him, Anne-Marie,

she silently berated herself. She let out another shaky breath, trying to steady her nerves, when she suddenly collided with something solid.

Ouch.

Her breath caught in her throat as she pulled back to see what—or who—she had bumped into. Her heart skipped a beat when she realized it was a chest, not just any chest—the chest. She knew that shirt, had seen it only moments ago, and the scent that clung to it was unmistakable. She didn't need to look up to know exactly who stood before her.

Anne-Marie bit down on her lower lip hard, cursing her clumsiness. Of all the people to bump into, why did it have to be him? Why did it have to be Aiden? She had come to the pavilion by the palace lake to find some peace, to collect her thoughts, but now here he was, invading her space, disrupting her fragile calm.

A nervous chuckle escaped her lips as she placed a hand on his chest, pushing herself back gently. Her smile wavered as she slowly raised her gaze to meet his. Aiden was already looking down at her, his expression unreadable, but she could feel the intensity of his presence, the way it filled the space between them.

Anne-Marie pushed herself away from him immediately and cleared her throat, tucking her hair behind her ears as she turned around to catch her breath.
Aiden watched her carefully, his eyes narrowing as she fumbled with something on her skirt. It was a Cupid angel shaped key chain. Anne-Marie took a few deep breaths and turned to him immediately. She stretched the chain towards him, not even bothering to look at him. Aiden glanced down at it, unimpressed, and raised an eyebrow as he waited for her to explain what she was giving it to him for

"It's... it's an apology gift," Anne-Marie stammered, avoiding his gaze. "I didn't really have time to get a better present."

Aiden hesitated, his gaze fixed on the keychain she was offering him. Why was she holding out her hand for so long? Was she expecting him to be impressed? He didn't reach for it, making her arm ache from holding it out. Finally, with a sigh of resignation, she took his hand from his pocket and placed the keychain in his palm.

As Aiden looked down at the keychain in his hand, he couldn't help but scoff. It was so... ordinary, so insignificant.

"Is this a bribe?" he asked, still not looking at her, his voice dripping with disdain. "A cheap bribe, at that? Since when did Paris Vutron offer such... meaningless trinkets? If you were trying to earn my forgiveness, you could have at least gone for something with a bit of diamonds or gold. What is this... thing?"

Anne-Marie's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Thing?" she repeated, her voice rising with anger. The keychain wasn't just a thing—it was a precious gift from Abel, something he had saved up for all Christmas. And now this jerk was dismissing it as worthless? She was furious, her initial attempt at reconciliation now feeling utterly pointless.

"Give it back," she demanded, reaching for the keychain. But Aiden, with a smirk, raised his hand high above her, holding the keychain out of reach.

"Give it back!" Anne-Marie jumped, trying to grab it, but Aiden was too tall. He dangled it just out of reach, a cruel glint in his eyes as he watched her struggle.

"Give it back, Aiden!" she yelled, stretching as high as she could, but her fingers barely grazed it. She slapped him on the arm in frustration.

"Ouch!"
Aiden recoiled, rubbing his arm where she had hit him. His expression shifted from amusement to genuine surprise.

"Would you still not give it back?"

The guards behind him took a few steps to intervene but he stretched a hand behind him to stop them, rubbing his arm hurriedly in an attempt to curb the pain.

"Do you lift weights or something?" he muttered, genuinely taken aback by her strength.

Anne-Marie didn't care about his shock; she was beyond caring. All she wanted was her keychain back, and she would keep hitting him if she had to. But then Aiden's expression changed, a sly smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

"Wait a minute," he said, his tone almost teasing. "Did you just call me Aiden?"

Anne-Marie scoffed, not understanding what he was getting at. "Isn't that your name?"

"That's the first time," Aiden continued, taking a step closer to her.

"First time of what?" she snapped, taking a step back.

"You've called me by my name," Aiden said, his smirk growing wider. He took another step forward, and Anne-Marie instinctively took two steps back, only to bump into a pillar. She winced in pain as the hard surface met her back.

Ouch.

She hadn't noticed the pillar behind her, too focused on keeping distance between them. She glared at him, frustration boiling over, but then her face brushed against his, and she froze. He was so close, too close, and the warmth of his breath on her skin sent a shiver down her spine.

"You're the first," Aiden murmured, his voice low and intimate, as if they were sharing a secret. His breath was warm, his scent intoxicating, and Anne-Marie felt herself weakening, her legs growing unsteady beneath her. She stared into his eyes, captivated by their depth, by the way they seemed to hold her in place.

"No one has ever called me by my name before, except my parents. Not even my friends," Aiden continued, his voice like a hypnotic spell. "No one has ever hurt me, physically or otherwise, not even my parents. But you..."

Anne-Marie's breath hitched as she watched his lips move, the way his tongue flicked across them to wet them. She couldn't look away, couldn't think, couldn't breathe.

"You did both of those things that no one else has ever dared to do. Not once, but twice," he whispered, his lips almost brushing hers. "What am I supposed to do with you, Paris Vutron?"

His voice was mesmerizing, a blend of authority and warmth that sent her heart racing. Anne-Marie swallowed hard, trying to find her voice, but she was so overwhelmed by his presence, so captivated by the way he looked at her. She felt like she was burning up from the inside, her palms sweaty, her pulse pounding in her ears. She needed to move, needed to break free from whatever hold he had on her.

Anne-Marie turned her head to the side, trying to escape, but Aiden's hand shot out, blocking her path. He placed his palm on the pillar, trapping her between the cold stone and his warm body. Her heart pounded in her chest as she slowly turned back to face him, her eyes wide with fear and confusion.

Aiden's gaze softened as he studied her features, as if seeing her for the first time. There was something about her that intrigued him, something that stirred a feeling deep within him. He watched a bead of sweat trickle down her neck, and he felt an inexplicable urge to reach out and touch her, to trace the path of that single drop of moisture.

What am I doing? he thought, suddenly aware of the intensity of his thoughts. Why am I stopping her? Why am I so drawn to her?

Realizing how close he had come to losing control, Aiden quickly dropped his hand and stepped back, giving them both some much-needed space. Anne-Marie immediately placed a hand over her chest, trying to calm her racing heart. She needed to get out of there, needed to escape before she lost herself completely.

She turned to leave, but as she took her first step, Aiden stuck out his foot, deliberately tripping her. Anne-Marie stumbled, her foot catching on his, and she lost her balance. She gasped as she teetered on the edge of the pavilion, her body leaning dangerously toward the cold, dark lake below.

Aiden's hand shot out, catching her by the waist and wrist just in time. He held her tightly, preventing her from falling into the water. Anne-Marie's breath came in short, panicked gasps as she looked down at the lake, her heart pounding with fear. She could have fallen in. She could have—

She turned her head slowly to look at Aiden, who was still holding her, his grip firm and unyielding. His face was calm, almost bored, as if he hadn't just saved her from plunging into the freezing water. But there was something else there, too—something she couldn't quite read.

Aiden raised an eyebrow at her, his expression almost mocking. Anne-Marie furrowed her brow, trying to understand what he was thinking, what he was planning. And then he smirked, that same infuriating, mischievous smirk that sent a chill down her spine. He was toying with her—enjoying the control he had over her in this vulnerable moment.

"No," Anne-Marie whispered, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and anger. "Don't you dare."

Aiden's smirk only widened. He didn't need to say a word; his intentions were clear in the glint of his eyes, in the way he held her just on the brink of safety and danger.

"Aiden, no," she repeated, her grip on his arm tightening as she tried to pull herself back from the edge. "Please, don't do this."

But Aiden remained silent, his smirk never faltering as he suddenly let go of her. Anne-Marie's world tilted as she lost her balance, her body plunging into the icy lake below. The cold water enveloped her instantly, shocking her system as she gasped and sputtered, struggling to keep her head above the surface.

Aiden took a few steps back, his hands casually slipping into his pockets as he watched her flounder in the water. He didn't bother to hide his satisfaction, a smirk playing on his lips as the palace guards rushed to the edge of the lake. One of them jumped in immediately, swimming towards her as she desperately tried to stay afloat.

Anne-Marie felt the guard's strong arms pull her towards the shore, her body trembling from the cold and the shock. She coughed and gasped as she was helped out of the water, her clothes clinging to her, heavy and drenched. Her hair was plastered to her face, and she could barely catch her breath as she collapsed onto the ground, shivering uncontrollably.

But as she looked up, her teeth chattering from the cold, she saw Aiden walking away, not even bothering to glance back at her. He walked with that same infuriatingly calm demeanor, as if he hadn't just pushed her into the freezing lake, as if it were all just a game to him.

Her anger flared up again, burning hotter than the cold that bit at her skin. How could he be so cruel? So heartless? She clenched her fists, glaring at his retreating figure.

"Aiden-cree Ellington!" she shouted, her voice hoarse from the cold and the fury.

But he didn't stop, didn't even pause. He simply raised a hand in a lazy wave, his back to her as he continued to walk away, leaving her there, wet, cold, and furious.

Anne-Marie's chest heaved with the force of her emotions, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she struggled to control herself. She was humiliated, furious, and more determined than ever to make him pay for this.

She might be playing the role of Paris Vutron, but in that moment, she promised herself she would find a way to turn the tables on him, no matter what it took.