Chapter 25: Chapter 25 I am the heir
Aria’s POV
Keira’s smile turned vicious. "You just can’t accept the truth, can you?"
"Fine." I leaned forward, meeting her eyes directly. "Let’s make this interesting. A bet."
The table went silent.
"If you really are best friends with the V&A Group heir," I said slowly, "I’ll get down on my knees right here and apologize to you."
Gasps echoed around the table.
"But if you’re lying," I continued, "you don’t just apologize to me. You post a public apology on Instagram and keep it pinned for a full week."
Keira’s eyes gleamed with malicious triumph. "Deal."
She pulled out her phone with exaggerated confidence, making sure everyone could see. Her fingers flew across the screen.
"Calling her right now," she announced smugly.
The phone rang. Once. Twice.
Then a female voice answered. "Hello?"
Keira put it on speaker, her smile widening. "Hey babe! So sorry to bother you, but I’m at this reunion and someone’s questioning our friendship. Can you believe it?"
"Oh." There was a pause. "Who is it?"
"Her name’s Aria Smith."
Another pause. Longer this time.
"Aria... Smith?" The voice sounded uncertain.
My pulse quickened. That hesitation told me everything.
"Yeah, you know her?" Keira pressed.
"Um, I... I might have heard the name?"
I spoke up, keeping my voice casual. "Quick question. Are you at the inheritance gala right now?"
"What?" The girl’s voice pitched higher. "Oh! Yes, yes I am. It’s amazing here."
"Really?" I let the word hang in the air. "That’s fascinating."
Keira beamed. "See? She’s literally at the gala right now. The V&A Group inheritance gala."
"Keira," I said softly. "The inheritance gala was last week."
Dead silence.
Keira’s face went white.
"What?" she whispered.
"The V&A Group inheritance gala." I spoke clearly, making sure everyone heard. "It happened last Tuesday. Seven days ago. I should know—I was there."
The color drained from Keira’s face completely.
Someone at the table pulled up their phone. "Oh my God, she’s right. Look—there’s articles about it. It was definitely last week."
"You lying bitch!" Keira shrieked into the phone before the line went dead.
The table erupted.
"Did she just—"
"She hired someone to pretend—"
"That’s insane!"
Keira’s hands shook. "No, no, that’s not—she must have gotten confused—"
"Confused about which week she’s in?" Rachel’s voice dripped with satisfaction. "That’s a pretty big confusion."
"You’re lying!" Keira pointed at me, her voice shrill. "You’re making this up! You weren’t at any gala!"
"Weren’t you just listening?" I tilted my head. "I said I was there. At the actual inheritance gala. Last Tuesday."
"Bullshit! You expect us to believe you’re—what, friends with the heir? You?"
"Not friends." I pulled out my phone calmly. "I am the heir."
"That can’t be true.You’re full of it," Keira spat. "Just trying to save face."
I scrolled through my contacts, found Victor’s name, and hit the video call button.
The table watched in stunned silence as the phone rang.
Victor answered on the second ring. His weathered face filled the screen, and I could see the elegant backdrop of his study behind him.
"Aria. Everything alright?"
"Hi Victor." I kept my voice light. "Sorry to bother you, but I’m at a reunion and some of my classmates are having trouble believing who I am. Mind confirming?"
His eyebrows rose slightly. "I see." He leaned closer to the camera. "To whom am I speaking?"
I turned the phone toward the table.
Michael’s jaw dropped. "Holy shit, that’s Victor Smith."
"The Victor Smith?" Jessica whispered. "From Crescent Moon Pack?"
"Aria is indeed Vincent Smith’s daughter and the legitimate heir to V&A Group," Victor said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"The inheritance was finalized last Tuesday at the gala. Is there anything else you need confirmed?"
"No," I said sweetly. "That’s perfect. Thanks, Victor."
"Anytime." He nodded and the call ended.
The silence that followed was deafening.
Keira’s face had gone from white to blotchy red. "That doesn’t prove anything! You could have—"
"Could have what?" My patience was wearing thin. "Hired one of the most powerful Alphas in the region to lie for me?"
"I—"
But I wasn’t done yet. Keira needed to understand exactly who she’d tried to humiliate tonight.
I pulled out my phone again and texted Emily, my assistant at V&A Group.
Schedule meeting with Rachel Torres tomorrow. Design consultation for the spring campaign. Send official confirmation.
I hit send and slipped my phone back into my purse, taking a slow sip of my wine.
Thirty seconds later, Rachel’s phone buzzed.
She glanced at the screen, and her eyes went wide. "Aria—"
"Answer it," I said quietly.
Rachel’s hands trembled slightly as she accepted the call and put it on speaker.
"Hello, Ms. Torres. This is Emily calling from V&A Group’s Secretariat."
The crisp, professional voice filled the booth. "We’re reaching out to schedule a consultation meeting for tomorrow at two PM. Ms. Smith has personally requested your portfolio for review regarding our spring campaign. Would this time work for you?"
Rachel’s mouth opened and closed. No sound came out.
"Ms. Torres?" Emily prompted.
"I—yes. Yes, that works." Rachel’s voice was barely a whisper.
"Excellent. We’ll send the official confirmation to your email within the hour. We look forward to seeing your work."
The call ended.
The table was so quiet I could hear someone’s watch ticking.
Then all hell broke loose.
"Oh my God—"
"She’s actually—"
"Keira, you called Aria Smith a liar when she’s literally—"
"I can’t believe—"
Michael pushed back his chair, nearly knocking over his drink. "Aria, I am so sorry, I had no idea—"
"We were just joking around—" Jessica started, her voice high and panicked.
I didn’t acknowledge any of them. My eyes stayed locked on Keira, whose face had gone from red to a mottled purple.
"Oh my god, Aria, you’re actually—"
"Yes, I am. Let’s go." I stood slowly, smoothing down my dress. Rachel immediately rose with me.
"Don’t forget," I said, looking directly at Keira, "Instagram needs a good apology post. Pin it high. Make it memorable."
Keira made a strangled sound.
"Come on, Rachel." I linked my arm through hers. "This party’s dead anyway."
We walked out of that private room with our heads high, leaving behind a chorus of frantic apologies and shocked whispers.
The second we hit the main floor of The Melody Lounge, Rachel burst out laughing.
"Oh my God, Aria! Did you see her face?"
"Which time?" I grinned. "When the fake friend got caught or when Victor appeared on screen?"
"Both! All of it!" Rachel clutched my arm, nearly crying with laughter. "That was the most satisfying thing I’ve ever witnessed."
"You’re welcome."
"I’m serious!" She wiped her eyes. "The way you just calmly destroyed her—I’m getting that framed. And that phone call from V&A? Aria, you didn’t have to—"
"Yes, I did." I squeezed her arm. "You’re talented, Rachel. You deserve that meeting. Keira was just a convenient excuse to make it happen tonight."
Rachel’s eyes filled with tears. "I don’t know what to say."
"Say you’ll show them your best work tomorrow."
"I will. God, I will." She laughed again, shaky this time. "I can’t believe any of this is real."
"Believe it." I steered us toward the bar.
"And now we’re celebrating properly. None of that bougie private room crap. Just you, me, and enough drinks to forget those assholes exist."
"I like that plan."
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