Tempted By My Ex's Brother-in-Law (Aria and Grayson) novel Chapter 190

**Chapter 190**

**Aria’s POV**

I never saw this coming.

As I stood there, my heart raced with confusion and fear. I had genuinely believed I was aiding Lance and Sherry in some small way. It seemed so clear to me that Sherry’s presence must have fueled a deep-seated loathing in Lance for Tasmin.

But I never envisioned that I would become his target.

In a split second, I found myself dodging his attack with frantic urgency. The blade of his dagger sliced through the fabric of my coat, the sound of tearing cloth resonating in my ears like a thunderclap, yet miraculously, it spared my skin.

He stumbled forward, momentarily off balance, only to pivot and charge at me once more, dagger poised to strike.

This time, however, I was trapped, my back pressed against the cold wall with no escape route in sight. Gritting my teeth, I seized his wrists with both hands, desperately trying to halt the dagger’s deadly descent.

Though Lance was slender, he was still a man, and I could feel the raw strength in his lean frame. My hands trembled as the sharp blade inched closer, the cold steel glinting ominously in the dim light.

But just then, the hours of training I had endured began to bear fruit. Drawing on every ounce of my strength, I roared with fury and shoved Lance aside. He collided violently with a cabinet brimming with wine bottles and glasses, the sound of shattering glass erupting like a cacophony of chaos.

The crash must have sent shockwaves through the castle, for in the next instant, the door swung open with a force that startled me, and Grayson strode in like a tempest.

“Seize him!” he barked, his voice low and menacing.

His soldiers sprang into action, overwhelming Lance with their sheer size and strength. It was almost laughable how easily they restrained him; he was no match for their collective might.

Grayson approached me, his expression dark and stormy. He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close as if to shield me from the chaos. I squirmed, trying to break free, but he tightened his grip.

“Don’t move!” he snapped, his tone brooking no argument.

His gaze flickered to the torn fabric of my jacket at the shoulder, and as he confirmed I was unharmed, the tension in his face softened ever so slightly.

“Alpha, what should we do with this man?” one of his soldiers questioned, glancing at the restrained Lance, whose face contorted in pain, eyes burning with hatred directed at me. It was bewildering—why would he harbor such animosity towards me?

Grayson regarded Lance with disdain, as if he were nothing more than refuse.

“Kill him,” he uttered, his voice devoid of hesitation.

“What?!” I exclaimed, breaking free from Grayson’s hold and stepping in front of Lance, my heart racing. “Are you out of your mind? No!”

“He tried to kill you. I should skin him alive,” Grayson replied, his tone grim and unyielding.

“This isn’t your call to make!” I shot back, my voice rising in indignation. I could never acclimate to his readiness to resort to violence at the slightest provocation. “This is between him and me. Stay out of it!”

Just then, the lights in the room blazed to life, the castle’s power restored!

Almost simultaneously, footsteps echoed down the hallway, accompanied by a voice that made my stomach drop.

“Lance! Lance! Are you ready to go back on stage?”

If anyone stumbled upon this scene, they would undoubtedly inform Tasmin, and I was desperate to keep my investigation under wraps. Tugging on Grayson’s sleeve, I whispered urgently, “Let’s go.”

His expression was icy, clearly unaccustomed to the idea of sneaking away. Yet, seeing the urgency in my eyes, he signaled to his soldiers to release Lance and took my hand, striding out of the room with purpose.

We exited the castle and climbed into the waiting car.

“That damn Omega,” he muttered, his voice cold and dangerous as the engine roared to life. “Aria, you shouldn’t trust scum like him. There are better ways to investigate Tasmin and her daughters…”

A surge of cold anger coursed through me. “Scum? Do you even hear yourself? Before Lady Quentina took me in, I was just as much ‘scum’ as he is. Is that how you viewed me?”

He turned to me, his eyes blazing with anger. “You know that’s not what I meant! You are not a commoner; you were born with royal Alpha blood! You have nothing in common with people like Lance…”

“No, you’re mistaken. I was born and raised in the poorest part of the city. Did you know they called me ‘slum girl’ behind your back?” I shot back, my voice icy. “It’s the people at the bottom who resonate with me, who remind me of who I used to be.”

He frowned, disapproval etched across his face. “You can’t ignore how dangerous he is simply because he’s a commoner. Damn it, I shouldn’t have let you enter that room alone. If you insist on chasing this lead, you should bring him in for interrogation. You’re a lady now. Act like one.”

“If I torture him for answers, how am I any different from Tasmin?” I clenched my fists, my voice cold and resolute. “Oh, right. I forgot. You were born a noble Alpha. You’re accustomed to suppressing, threatening, and torturing those of us who are ‘normal.’ You’ll never understand.”

He glared at me, his aura growing more aggressive, a clear sign of his fraying temper. And honestly, I was equally furious.

God, why are we at each other’s throats every single moment since our reunion?

I had thought we would never cross paths again. He chose to return to Isla, and I was determined to carve out a new life for myself. We probably wouldn’t even exchange words if our paths crossed again.

But this was nothing like I had envisioned.

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