Aria's POV
I never expected him to go this far. To defend me to such an extent. My heart was already in chaos. Tears pooled in my eyes, threatening to spill over.
His brow furrowed slightly, his expression impossibly serious. Those deep gray eyes—vast and unfathomable as a starlit ocean—were fixed entirely on my face.
His gaze made something inside me melt. Like ice thawing after a long winter, like the first warmth after an endless night. It burned through me.
"Of course I will, Damian."
My voice came out soft, trembling. The tears I'd been holding back finally slipped free, trailing down my cheeks.
A faint flush crossed Damian's cheekbones. Without hesitation, he rose and pulled me into his arms again.
The moment we embraced, the entire pavilion erupted into applau
