I’m apprehensive as I park in front of the Du Pont mansion.

I should be looking forward to celebrating Hannah’s birthday tonight, but things haven’t felt the same between us for a while now, and it’s becoming harder and harder to ignore.

With only a few weeks left until our wedding, every issue we’ve ever had suddenly feels amplified.

Maybe I’ve just got cold feet, but it feels like more than that.

Part of me wonders if the only reason Hannah and I even started dating was because we both knew we’d eventually end up together through our arranged marriage.

Except… would we have?

The woman my parents originally wanted me to marry was Raven.

If I hadn’t… if that night had never happened, would I be the one marrying Raven now?

I run a hand through my hair and draw in a shaky breath.

It doesn’t matter anymore.

There’s no going back in time, and cold feet or not, I’ll still have to marry Hannah if I want to keep my position and inheritance.

I steel myself as I step out of the car, feeling strangely disconnected from everything lately.

I haven’t felt like myself in weeks, and I’m not entirely sure why.

It isn’t only about the wedding.

It’s more than that.

“Ares!”

I look up to find Hannah’s father standing by the door, a broad grin on his face.

It’s been a while since I last saw him, and I have no doubt he’s got a good bottle of scotch waiting for me.

When it comes to my future father-in-law, I really hit the jackpot.

He’s genuinely a good man, and he quickly became a second father figure to me.

He makes the absence of my own father a little easier to bear.

The pain of suddenly losing your parents never truly disappears, but it dulls with time.

“Arthur.”

I shake his hand before he ushers me inside, laughter greeting us as we head toward the patio out back.

“How’s work been, son? I’ve barely seen you around lately. You staying over tonight?”

I nod.

“Work’s been busy, but I managed to clear my schedule for the weekend.”

Hannah looks up when I walk toward her, her birthday gift in hand.

Thankfully, tonight is small and intimate — just her closest friends and immediate family.

Larger gatherings have become stressful for both of us lately, and it’s added even more strain to our relationship.

Tonight is exactly what we needed.

I wrap an arm around her waist and lean down to press a quick kiss against her cheek.

“Hey, Han,” I murmur before holding up her birthday present.

“Ares,” she says with a smirk. “I can’t wait to see what it is.”

Her friends crowd around her as she opens the box, all of them just as excited.

All of Hannah’s friends are actresses too, so I can never tell whether their reactions are genuine or just another performance.

“It’s beautiful,” Hannah breathes. “Can you help me put it on?”

I nod and take the necklace from her, fastening the clasp behind her neck.

“Looks stunning on you,” I murmur, even as my thoughts flash back to Raven holding it against her skin.

Hannah smiles up at me.

“I was wondering why paparazzi photos of you and Raven were floating around online. The two of you being spotted at a jewelry store sparked some pretty weird rumors. Turns out it was because of this.”

I nod.

Ever since Raven became famous, she barely goes out anymore, and honestly, I understand why.

The media loses its mind whenever they catch a glimpse of her outside.

These days, I mostly see her either at the Windsor Estate or when she’s with Hannah.

Fame didn’t change her the way it changed Hannah.

If anything, it made her even more withdrawn.

Hannah’s friends crowd around her as she admires the necklace, and I sigh softly as I step back.

It’s rare for her to get a night off with the people closest to her, so I’m more than happy to give her space.

I’ve got the whole night with her anyway.

I grab myself a drink and walk toward the swing tucked away in the corner, unsurprised to find Raven sitting there with her eyes glued to her tablet.

She’s probably sketching new designs for her fashion line.

I smile to myself.

I sit down beside her and push the swing gently into motion.

She looks up, her eyes immediately finding mine.

“Ares.”

There’s something about the way she says my name.

It always feels different somehow.

Like a strange kind of addiction.

“Why are you sitting here all alone, Cupcake?”

She laughs softly, the sound refreshing amongst the fake laughter surrounding us.

“Are you seriously going to call me that for the rest of our lives?”

I nod.

“I still vividly remember your cupcake keychain, your cupcake T-shirt, the cupcake pin on your bag. You were obsessed with cupcakes.”

She glares at me, though there’s no real malice behind it.

“I was fourteen and going through a phase, okay? Honestly, you should just be grateful we didn’t meet during my emo phase. That would’ve been an absolute disaster.”

I grin and glance at the evening gown she’s sketching.

It’s always amazed me just how talented she is.

“You didn’t answer my question,” I remind her. “Why are you sitting here by yourself? Shouldn’t you be celebrating with your sister?”

She locks her tablet and turns toward me.

“I tried.”

Her voice cracks slightly before she forces a smile onto her face.

Yeah.

She probably did try.

Raven always tries.

It’s never made much sense to me, but her parents have always favored Hannah, making her the center of everything.

The first time Raven and I met was because she went on vacation with Sierra’s family after her own parents canceled their holiday plans to accompany Hannah to an audition.

Hannah does it too.

She takes Raven for granted, and I think she knows it.

Raven has practically organized every detail of our wedding, and even tonight, she’s here because she knows Hannah would be upset if she didn’t show up at all.

Yet Hannah isn’t making any effort to include her.

“I’m sorry, Cupcake. Looks like we’re in the same boat tonight.”

She shakes her head.

“She gets to see us whenever she wants, but it’s harder for her to see her friends, so I get it.”

Raven always does this.

She always makes excuses for Hannah.

Does she even realize she does that?

“Show me what you’re drawing.”

She nods and settles closer beside me, her arm brushing against mine as a soft breeze dances across our skin.

“I’m thinking about trying different shades of nude with heavy beading. Form-fitting but still classy.”

She flips through her designs, and a strange sense of pride rises inside me.

“You’re amazing, you know that?”

She looks up at me, startled.

I love the way her cheeks flush every time I compliment her.

She’s a supermodel adored by millions, yet she still blushes like that.

Raven really is something special, and I’m proud to call her my friend.

“Hey, I’ve got something for you. I know it’s a little early and your birthday isn’t for another month, but I figured you’d want this now.”

I hold up the small paper bag I brought with me, and she takes it with wide eyes.

I watch her closely as she pulls out the box inside, my heart beating in a strangely nervous rhythm.

When was the last time I got nervous over something as simple as giving someone a gift?

Raven gasps, and I breathe a quiet sigh of relief.

“Ares! This tablet hasn’t even been released yet! I already pre-ordered one, and it isn’t supposed to come out for another six months. How did you—”

She turns it over and grins when she spots the enamel cupcake embedded into the back of the tablet.

“Wow. You… how?! This isn’t just custom-made. They don’t even offer customization!”

Yeah.

This was absolutely worth all the shit Lexington gave me when I begged him to ask Aria Callahan for a favor.

If I’d known Aria personally, I wouldn’t have bothered going through him in the first place, but I don’t.

All I know is that she’s Amara Grant’s sister-in-law, and because Amara and Leia are close friends with Lex, I knew he could make this happen for me no matter how much crap he gave me about it.

The Callahans are involved in almost every major tech company out there, and if they aren’t directly involved, they’ve still got connections I don’t.

“I know someone who knows someone who knows someone,” I say cryptically.

There’s no fucking way I’m letting Lex take credit for this one.

He didn’t earn that smile.

I did.

“I love it!” she squeals.

When was the last time I saw that kind of genuine happiness in her eyes?

“I can’t believe you did this for me. You hate shopping for gifts!”

I shake my head.

“No, I don’t. I’ve always picked out yours. Every single year.”

She frowns.

“That wasn’t Dom?”

“Dom?” I repeat, offended. “Has that fucker been taking credit for the gifts I picked out for you all these years?”

She laughs and squeezes my arm gently.

“No. I guess I was just making assumptions. I love this, Ares. I truly, truly love this. This is officially my favorite gift ever. I can’t wait to start drawing my next designs on it.”

I smile as she powers it on and begins exploring the settings.

“Do you ever relax, though? You’re always working, Raven. I don’t know many people who work harder than I do, but you’re definitely one of them. It isn’t healthy.”

She shrugs lightly.

“It’s fine. Working keeps my mind occupied. I prefer it that way.”

I study her for a moment.

“What exactly are you running from?”

Raven tenses before flashing me a bright smile, though her eyes still carry a haunted look.

“Hey, she seems to love the necklace. I told you she would.”

I chuckle and push the swing forward slightly with my foot.

Her habit of changing the subject whenever she’s asked something she doesn’t want to answer will never stop amusing me.

“Yeah, you chose well. Thank you.”

I glance at her with a smile.

She’s ridiculously beautiful.

I can absolutely understand why she’s so famous.

Hannah is pretty too, but in a softer, girl-next-door kind of way.

She’s perfect for a wide range of acting roles, and she’s an incredible actress.

But objectively speaking?

Raven is on an entirely different level when it comes to beauty.

“You seriously need to take a break once in a while, Raven. Come to the beach with me tomorrow morning,” I tell her. “Do you still like watching the sunrise?”

She looks down at her lap.

“You’re staying over tonight?”

I nod.

“I figured it’d be easier if I’m drinking.”

Raven looks away, her profile every bit as beautiful as the rest of her.

It honestly makes no sense that she’s stayed single for so long.

“I think I’ll head back to my apartment tonight. That way, one of Hannah’s friends can take my room.”

I nod, oddly disappointed.

Just as I’m about to ask her to hang out another day instead, Hannah calls my name.

I look up, and Raven immediately shoos me away.

“Ares!” Hannah calls again, holding out her hand toward me.

I sigh as I rise to my feet, glancing back at Raven one last time, but she’s already buried herself in her new tablet.

The closer we get to the wedding, the more it feels like Raven is avoiding me.

I still can’t figure out why she’s been distancing herself from me lately.

All I know is that I absolutely hate it.