Chapter 86

Aiden's POV

"I like you" Those three words rang in my ears, but instead of Ria, I saw my mate Rose to stand in front of me, pouring her heart out. She had uttered those exact words in her drunken state, lips glistening and cheeks flushed. Guilt swarmed my belly as I recalled the way it scared the living daylights out of me.

Those words were all it took for me to flip and start treating her like a stranger. Maybe even worse. A lump wedged in my throat at that, hands awkwardly patting at Ria's back. With my clueless behaviour, I have managed to hurt not one but two people. The weight of it fell on my shoulders, body going stiff.

My friend placed a hand on my chest, taking a step back, still not meeting my eyes. I thought that I was treating Ria the same way I treated Liam because we have been friends for so long. Along the way, the boundaries faded between us, and I managed to confide most of the things to her. It was vice versa. Then again