THIRD PERSON POV
The rain outside tapped gently against the windowpane, soft and rhythmic. Noah's apartment smelled faintly of cinnamon and lavender, the kind of scent that always made Amara feel safe. Pillows and blankets were scattered across the floor, and Lily was halfway through painting Noah's nails while Amara sat curled up at the edge of the couch, lost in thought.
"So," Noah said, snapping his fingers dramatically, "someone better start talking before I start spilling all our secrets on live."
Lily rolled her eyes. "Noah, you don't even go live."
"I will if she doesn't talk," he replied, pointing at Amara. "You've been brooding for hours, babe. I know that face. Spill it."
Amara sighed, running a hand through her messy hair. "You both remember the guy from the bar that night?"
Lily glanced up, brow arched. "The hot mysterious one you disappeared with?"
Amara nodded slowly. "Hm..hm..Yeah… him."
"What about him" Lily asked curiously
Noah gasped dramatically. "Oh no, don't tell me—"
Amara's voice trembled as she spoke. "It's him. Alexander Voss. The man I'm supposed to marry."
Silence. Then—
Lily dropped the nail polish. "You're kidding."
Noah's mouth fell open. "Wait—wait—wait. The Alexander Voss? The asshat, arrogant, egoistic,brooding ,billionaire you told us about?"
"The same," Amara whispered. "The one my father signed me off to like I'm some business transaction."
Lily blinked, speechless. "Amara, that's… that's insane."
Noah stood up, pacing dramatically across the room. "So let me get this straight—you hooked up with your future husband before you knew he was your future husband?"
Amara buried her face in a pillow. "Please stop saying it like that."
Lily exchanged a look with Noah, then sat beside Amara. "Did he recognize you?"
Amara hesitated. "I think he did. He looked at me like he already knew,he spoke to me like he knew . Like he'd been waiting for me to realize it too.But since When?"
Noah flopped beside them with a groan. "Oh my God. This is straight out of a Netflix series."
Lily nudged him. "It's not funny, Noah."
"I'm not laughing!" he said, then paused. "Okay, maybe a little. But like—wow. Of all men in this city, you had to fall into bed with your fiancé?"
Amara muttered, "I didn't fall. I was drunk. And heartbroken. And he was…" She trailed off, eyes softening at the memory. "Different. That night didn't feel like a mistake. Until now."
Lily frowned. "What's he like? The real him, I mean."
Amara hugged her knees. "Cold. Calculated. He doesn't smile much. Everything about him screams control. And yet…" she swallowed, "there's something about him that pulls you in."
Noah smirked knowingly. "Ah. So he's the dangerous type that makes your stomach do backflips and butterflies."
"Shut up," Amara said, throwing a pillow at him, but even she laughed a little.
Lily leaned closer. "So what now? Are you still going through with the marriage?"
Amara looked down at her hand and sighed "Do I even have a choice? My father's made it clear — backing out isn't an option."
Noah's voice softened. "Then you survive it, babe. You play his game smarter than he expects. Make him fall before he even realizes it."
Lily nodded. "And we'll be right here, every step of the way."
For the first time that night, Amara smiled small but real. The storm outside had grown heavier, but inside Noah's cozy apartment, warmth bloomed quietly among them.
Even if her world was falling apart, she wasn't alone.