“I’m evil? Hell, woman, please don’t take away the limelight away from stepmother or yourself. She’s the epitome of Satan clothed in fire, and as her consort, you’d know that first hand.” Aria quickly reminded Neeta of her coercion.
“I’ve never seen this side of you,” Tiny whispered, her hand on her heart.
“Of course you haven’t, Aunt Tiny. There’s so much you don’t know about this woman.” Aria pointed at her stepmother.
Meena shook with evident anger. “You’re a tarnished woman, Aria. Who’d want you or marry you now—”
“I would,” the steely soft statement cut through the air. Startled, the other ladies whipped around and faced the door. Aria turned as well.
Her gaze locked with Reece’s cold ones. His rage was apparent. Aria hadn’t seen him this angry before. Prisha stood next to him, clutching his hand tightly. Her green eyes darted across the room with cautious interest.
“You okay, babe?” He neared her. She nodded. “What makes any of you think Aria is a tarnished woman. You’re the last person who should be calling her tainted since you clearly don’t understand the meanin’ of the word.” His cold gaze raked Meena with obvious disdain.
“How dare you—” Her stepmother began.
“Lady, if I were you, I’d shut up right now. You and these old coots—”
“Who the hell are you calling old coots?” Neeta asked and fanned her flustered face with her hand.
“Doeschudailsuit you better?” Reece was on a role. Aria chuckled, and he responded with a mischief smile.
“What?” This time Rosie leveled him with a malicious glare.
Aria grinned. Another man might shrivel beneath the woman’s gaze. Not Reece. He towered above the women. Judging by his hard features, he wasn’t prepared to take anyone’s shit.
“Don’t you ladies recognize me?”
Puzzled, the women glanced at each other then back at Reece. Prisha moved away and looked out at the pool, obviously bored with the older people’s rants.
“Samantha Harman’s wedding? When the four of you dragged me away and stole three years of my life with this woman. The one, you women calledchudail.” He slipped his arm around Aria’s waist. “Yes, she was a witch all right. A beautiful one who captured my heart.”
“But who are you?” Tiny asked.
“Samantha’s brother-in-law?”
“What?” Meena’s disbelief was crystal clear. The other women merely gaped at him in shock.
“Yup. Mr. Harman’s son-in-law and my brother, Cody.” He chuckled, obviously pleased with his little disclosure. “Next time you stupid women decide to meddle in someone’s life—don’t. You sure as hell don’t know what to do with your own damn lives.”
“Are you willing to marry her knowing she had a child with another man?” Neeta muttered.
Reece merely cocked a brow. Her stepmother’s complexion turned pale. She knew what was coming.
“Why did you come back, Aria,” Meena asked.
“Are you seriously changing the topic right now?” Reece ground out before Aria responded. “Why don’t you tell the clan about Prisha before I do...?” He trailed off when Aria snagged his gaze and shook her head.
She looked over at Prisha, who’d turned at the mention of her name. Aria hoped Reece picked up on her hint not to say anything in front of the child. The other women glanced over at the little girl as though noticing her for the first time.
On cue, Betsy magically appeared. With a smile to Aria, she walked up to the child. “Would you like a drink, Missy?”
The familiarity of Betsy’s pet name for Aria caused tears to prick at her lids. God, she’d missed the old housekeeper. She blinked hard and forced back the tears.
“Yes, please,” Prisha responded quickly, a clear indication of her boredom. Then as if thinking she’d done something wrong, looked up at Aria. “Could I please have a drink, Mommy?”
“Yes, Sweetpea.” At her nod, Betsy took Prisha’s hand and left the room.
“What did you mean by changing the topic?” Tiny pounced on Reece the minute the maid walked out.
