MADDEST OBSESSION - Chapter 39: Chapter 39
You are reading MADDEST OBSESSION, Chapter 39: Chapter 39. Read more chapters of MADDEST OBSESSION.
Aria didn’t speak to Dominic for the rest of the day.
Not out of fear.
But because silence was the only weapon she had left.
She bathed in stillness, dressed herself without help, and walked the halls of the penthouse like a woman who had not just been taken, but awakened. The bruises on her hips throbbed with every step, but she wore them like armor.
Dominic noticed.
He watched her from the corner of his eye.
He said nothing.
And that, to Aria, was a win.
Later that evening, the car came for them.
She wore the green dress—because fighting over it now felt small. But she did not wear it for Dominic. She wore it like a dare.
He offered her his arm as they walked into the gallery. She took it without flinching. The world saw a perfect couple—rich, elegant, beautifully distant.
Inside, however, Aria’s mind was a storm.
She smiled at strangers. She let his hand rest at the small of her back. But when he leaned in to whisper something against her cheek, she turned her face away.
Slight. Subtle. But intentional.
Dominic’s fingers tensed against her spine.
“Careful,” he murmured darkly. “You’re playing with things you don’t understand.”
Aria met his eyes.
“No, Dominic. I’m finally starting to.”
The gallery was full of masks—men in tailored suits, women in silk and diamonds. She was used to this world. It had once made her feel small.
Now she looked around and realized they were all caged in performance.
Just like her.
Dominic excused himself to take a call, leaving her by the champagne table. That’s when Luca approached.
“Still breathing, I see,” he teased, offering a glass. “I was starting to think you weren’t allowed to blink without permission.”
Aria smirked. “Who says I am?”
Luca studied her.
“You’re dangerous when you smile like that.”
“No,” she said softly. “I’m dangerous when I stop smiling.”
Dominic returned a moment later. He didn’t look at Luca. He didn’t have to.
The air shifted. Possessive tension radiated from him like heat.
Aria didn’t move. She didn’t flinch. She turned to Dominic and calmly handed him her untouched champagne flute.
“I’m ready to leave,” she said coolly.
He studied her for a moment.
Then he smiled.
Not because he won.
Because he saw her game now—and it excited him.
“You’re learning,” he said, brushing his lips against her knuckles. “But you’re still mine.”
She held his gaze. “For now.”
Back at the penthouse, he said nothing. Neither did she.
But when she walked past him in the hallway, she deliberately let the silk strap of her dress slip off her shoulder.
She felt his stare. She did
n’t look back.
She was no longer begging to be seen.
She was forcing him to chase.
Not out of fear.
But because silence was the only weapon she had left.
She bathed in stillness, dressed herself without help, and walked the halls of the penthouse like a woman who had not just been taken, but awakened. The bruises on her hips throbbed with every step, but she wore them like armor.
Dominic noticed.
He watched her from the corner of his eye.
He said nothing.
And that, to Aria, was a win.
Later that evening, the car came for them.
She wore the green dress—because fighting over it now felt small. But she did not wear it for Dominic. She wore it like a dare.
He offered her his arm as they walked into the gallery. She took it without flinching. The world saw a perfect couple—rich, elegant, beautifully distant.
Inside, however, Aria’s mind was a storm.
She smiled at strangers. She let his hand rest at the small of her back. But when he leaned in to whisper something against her cheek, she turned her face away.
Slight. Subtle. But intentional.
Dominic’s fingers tensed against her spine.
“Careful,” he murmured darkly. “You’re playing with things you don’t understand.”
Aria met his eyes.
“No, Dominic. I’m finally starting to.”
The gallery was full of masks—men in tailored suits, women in silk and diamonds. She was used to this world. It had once made her feel small.
Now she looked around and realized they were all caged in performance.
Just like her.
Dominic excused himself to take a call, leaving her by the champagne table. That’s when Luca approached.
“Still breathing, I see,” he teased, offering a glass. “I was starting to think you weren’t allowed to blink without permission.”
Aria smirked. “Who says I am?”
Luca studied her.
“You’re dangerous when you smile like that.”
“No,” she said softly. “I’m dangerous when I stop smiling.”
Dominic returned a moment later. He didn’t look at Luca. He didn’t have to.
The air shifted. Possessive tension radiated from him like heat.
Aria didn’t move. She didn’t flinch. She turned to Dominic and calmly handed him her untouched champagne flute.
“I’m ready to leave,” she said coolly.
He studied her for a moment.
Then he smiled.
Not because he won.
Because he saw her game now—and it excited him.
“You’re learning,” he said, brushing his lips against her knuckles. “But you’re still mine.”
She held his gaze. “For now.”
Back at the penthouse, he said nothing. Neither did she.
But when she walked past him in the hallway, she deliberately let the silk strap of her dress slip off her shoulder.
She felt his stare. She did
n’t look back.
She was no longer begging to be seen.
She was forcing him to chase.
End of MADDEST OBSESSION Chapter 39. Continue reading Chapter 40 or return to MADDEST OBSESSION book page.