Aiden’s PovI looked Artemis in the eyes. she was anxious—anxious to leave the hall and have her peace in a secluded room that is void of the sea of eyes settled on us. I could tell she’s most irritated by Kane’s presence, but the big bad thing is we can’t decline my father’s order.I took my hand off her waist, and with a reassuring smile, I took her hand and led her into the center of the hall. The hall formed a circle around us and watched us as we danced. I did my best to guide Artemis’ steps in the dance.She’s not fond of such classic dance as we ought to do, to entertain father and his old friends who wished to have us entertain the hall the way they did in their own days.I didn’t loot for the smile on their faces while we danced, I was focused on Artemis’ face. She seemed not to believe she’s the one in the center of the hall, our bodies stretched out in a dance that looked easy but required energy.“Come on, call in the ladies!” father ordered and the internal exit door popp
Author’s PovThe day broke gracefully with the two lovers cuddled over each other in the massive bed of the chamber. Aiden’s eyes slowly popped open. He took a long breath and yawned with his left hand placed over his lips. Artemis on the other hand clung tightly to his chest, but Aiden slowly freed himself of her arms and rolled out of bed. the curtains in the room were big and thick enough to keep the son out for good and the grandfather clock in the room was at a distant corner.Aiden made to the window and pulled at the curtain but it was heavier than the regular ones he’s had to pull in other places he’d visited so far.He returned to the bedside and picked the remote on the bed drawer.“Good morning, darling.” Artemis greeted sleepily, her voice almost stuck withing her throat. She wriggled over and smiled a week smile at Aiden who answered her greetings with a grin and a nod. “Come back to bed—”Aiden chuckled and pressed the remote. The curtains shrugged to the other end of t
Aiden’s PovI could tell she wanted to have a word with me, maybe to threaten me of what stunt she would pull up next, but to me, it was a close chance to pin her to the wall and snare into her face.I felt Kane’s eyes follow me as I left, but I was crafty enough to choose the south door, so no one would suspect I had gone to meet with Kane’s masked lady when I had mine.The south door was the one that led to the restroom, but he had a link to the north, a quick link at that. I charged through the link.Maybe finally, I’ll get my hands on that sickly whore. I was sure she was the one that dared dance with me last night in the mad party.Yes, she wasn’t the one I saw when we arrived at the mansion and saw Kane by his car. She might have switched with the second lady, or she was probably hidden in the car by the devil that brought her as one of his demons.Her footsteps echoed through the hall way, not just hers, though. That of the servants who used the same walkway did the same, but i
Artemis’ PovI could have asked Aiden where he was off to, but I chose to play nice and let him have his way. Besides, wherever he ought to have gone wouldn’t take much time, but I was wary of someone, the woman in mask.It’s been a game since we arrived at the table. It’s been a game from yesterday during the dance. Kane had his eyes on me like I had something of his he wished to reclaim, and the lady had her eyes on Aiden like he owed her, so, I couldn’t help my curiosity as it piqued.I looked up from my plate and saw Kane. First, he was a little too crafty. He’s shoved a word at Aiden at will, though he knew Aiden would say nothing to him. And when their father showed up, he accused Aiden of saying shit about the old man.Thanks for the Don’s personality. Well, that’s by the way. The problem now is Kane still has his eyes on my skin. It felt it sting like a scorpion’s sting. I needed Aiden so bad at this moment, but he wasn’t anywhere to be found.It was then that a broad hand gl
Author’s PovAiden returned to the hall and met the noise and the fella nestled at his seat with his face riddled with disgust. His eyes met that of Kane who seemed eager to see either him or his masked lady returned.He made to his seat and tugged at Benny’s suit. Benny turned with his eyes red with tears that refused to spill through his eyelids.“You asked me to recite my poems to her,” Benny’s voice met Aiden’s ears in the midst of the laughter. Don Carlos was now seated, but his friends now resorted to one thing; mock and mimic the fella they thought mad and nothing else.“Sorry—” Aiden urged him to leave the seat with his eyes. Benny left the seat and Aiden sat. “You can go grab another seat over there.” Benny followed Aiden’s gesture. It was the tail of the table. Someone had just rose from there, and the person would surely return. That would be a second batch of trouble for Benny.“Okay,” Benny said and walked off from the hall.Artemis on the other hand was done with her m
Author’s Pov“You don’t mean it,” the man said with a toothy smile. Kane raised his brows and gestured at the limo down the aisle. Some of his girls were there already, waiting for him. This time, Aiden picked interest in looking though he hadn’t wished to do such earlier. The scene was nothing far from what he had seen and done in the past. It was nothing tempting, so, he felt the fella might as well turn down the offer. “Nice girls you got there, but I’m not up for some pussy,” the man said with a shrug, “I’m out here hunting for something deeper and bigger than a ride with girls and a big guy.” Aiden chuckled. The men who check in often in the Creeks crib will never fall for such fantasies. It’s that common among them. Kane smiled. He seemed to understand just why the fella had to turn down his offer—Aiden was there and no one would like to hurt Aiden to favor Kane. “What if I introduce you to my new business plan and make you part of—”The man slung his ball bag across his
Aiden’s PovI nearly pushed my finger’s to Rusev’s lips, but I didn’t because Artemis could be watching from the room. He’s not to be blamed anyways. No responsible man can skip such question, and if anyone should, it can never be Rusev.“She’s no more,” I masked the shock that braced my face with a sudden smile.Rusev raised his brows. I thought of blinking my eyes in quick signs but he seemed not ready to yield. Maybe because he must have ready of me in the dark web where I was portrayed as ruthless.Being ruthless might mean I might be so rash I could talk of my past even in the presence of my wife to be—that is if he understood Artemis’ place.“What happened to her?” he asked curiously, “is she dead?”I waited thoughtfully before I answered him. “Maybe, just not sure.”He nodded and turned once more to my mother’s picture. I knew why he’s so obsessed with my mom. She hid him and his siblings away during the dark days of the scandal that tossed his father’s life in the hands of the
Artemis’ PovFirst, Aiden didn’t see me when he stepped into the bathroom thinking he had the privacy he probably wanted from the prying eyes of his friend in the open chamber, and probably mine, but he didn’t know he walked in on me.I was done cleaning the restroom when he entered, and I didn’t bother to disturb him, not until I heard him chant the name Hera twice in the phone with tensed voice, and now, his friend asked if I’m Hera.Who the heck is this Hera of a person that got almighty Aiden so pissed he couldn’t even check well before snarling at the name.“Hera?” I raised my brows, “I am—”“Artemis,” Aiden didn’t let me finish, “my wife to be.”The fella blinked twice. He seemed to realize he’d said the wrong thing at the wrong time, and he should have knocked before badging into someone else’s toilet.“And why are you donning such apparel?” the fella pointed out.Aiden called him Rusev earlier, so, I thought I should call him the same and ask him to let me be. I can’t stand ge
(Artemis’ POV) I knew something was wrong the moment I tried to stand. Pain. Sharp, deep, and all-consuming. For weeks, I had ignored the discomfort, brushing off Aiden’s concerns, assuring everyone that I was fine. I had always been strong—had survived things that should’ve killed me. But this? This was different. I braced myself against the vanity, sucking in a sharp breath. Aiden was already watching me from across the room, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable—but I could see the tension in his jaw, the way his hands flexed, ready to catch me if I fell. "You should rest today," he said, stepping toward me. I rolled my eyes. "I’ve rested enough." "Artemis." His voice was firm, a warning. I turned, meeting his gaze, ready to argue—when the pain struck again. It was like my bod
(Artemis’ POV)Pregnancy wasn’t supposed to feel like this.I had expected discomfort, sure. I had expected my body to change. But this… this was something else entirely.The exhaustion was unbearable.At first, I thought it was just the lingering effects of our honeymoon—late nights in Paris, stolen kisses in hidden alleyways, and mornings wrapped in silk sheets with Aiden refusing to let me leave the bed. But then the nausea started, and I knew something was wrong.I tried to push through it, keeping up with my work, but even Naomi noticed."Boss, you look like you’re about to pass out," she said, frowning as she set down a stack of files. "You should rest.""I'm fine," I muttered, waving her off, but the moment I stood, the room spun.I barely heard Naomi calling my name before strong arms caught me."Artemis."Aiden.His voice was tight, controlled—but his grip was anything but. He held me as if I’d shatter, his eyes scanning me for injuries."You’re not fine," he said. "We’re goi
I woke up sore.A deep, aching soreness that was both a reminder and a warning. Last night had been… intense. More than I expected. More than I could have imagined. My body felt like it had been claimed, worshipped, and thoroughly ruined, all at once.Aiden wasn’t in bed, but the warmth on his side hadn’t faded yet. I blinked up at the ceiling, barely able to move, and then I smelled it—coffee. The scent curled into the room, rich and inviting, followed by the quiet creak of the bedroom door."You're awake."I turned my head and found Aiden standing in the doorway, carrying a tray.My stomach flipped. He was shirtless, his sweatpants hanging dangerously low, his hair slightly tousled from sleep. But it was the look in his eyes—the satisfaction, the possessiveness—that made my breath catch.He set the tray down beside me. A glass of water. Coffee. Toast. Painkillers."I figured you'd need this."I huffed out a laugh. "You think?"Aiden smirked but didn’t argue. Instead, he sat on the e
Artemis' POVParis.The city of love, of whispered promises, of things that felt like forever. It wasn’t the first time we had been here. The last time had been chaos—high-stakes deals, power plays, and the weight of a contract binding us together. But this time? This time was different.The garden where we stood was secluded, hidden away from the noise of the world. White roses lined the aisle, their scent mixing with the crisp autumn air. The Eiffel Tower loomed in the distance, its lights just beginning to flicker against the darkening sky.Aiden stood at the altar, watching me.No guards. No enemies. No ulterior motives.Just him. Just me. Just us.My dress was simpler than the first one I had worn. No heavy jewels, no extravagant embellishments—just clean, elegant lines that moved with me as I walked. But Aiden? Aiden still wore black, sharp and commanding, his presence impossible to ignore.As I reached him, he took my hands in his, his grip steady, grounding.“We’ve done this b
Aiden’s POVI wasn’t used to an empty house.The penthouse was quiet, the kind of silence that made me restless. Artemis had left early, slipping out before dawn, her scent lingering in the sheets beside me. She had a fitting today—something about finalizing designs before her next trip. I hadn’t asked for details, but I knew she was busy.I ran a hand down my face, exhaling.She was everywhere, even when she wasn’t here.The coffee machine was still warm, the cup she’d set aside for me untouched. A plate covered with foil sat on the kitchen counter—breakfast she’d made before she left, knowing I probably wouldn’t eat if she didn’t.In the closet, one of my suits was laid out, ironed, with a note tucked into the sleeve: Wear this one. You look good in navy.She did things like that. Little things. Thoughtful things.For someone who had grown up fighting for every scrap of control, she gave so freely—to me, to the people she cared about.And I—I hadn’t given her nearly enough.I leane
Aiden’s POVFor the first time in my life, there were no contracts. No lies. Just her.But peace was an unfamiliar thing.I still woke up before dawn, instinctively reaching for the gun that wasn’t under my pillow anymore. My body was trained to react before my mind even processed that there was no longer a war to fight. My enemies were either dead, exiled, or too afraid to make a move.Yet, I found myself restless.The empire was still mine. The city still ran on quiet threats and well-placed alliances. But Artemis had planted a dangerous thought in my head—what if I ruled differently? What if I built something that wasn’t always on the verge of burning to the ground?She was asleep beside me, her breathing steady, her body curled toward me like she belonged there. And she did.I ran a hand down my face and exhaled.I couldn’t just sit still. That had never been my nature.So, I got up.---The sun had barely risen when I walked into the warehouse where my men were gathered. Conversa
Artemis' POVThe battle was over, but the aftermath lingered. Scars—some fresh, some old—marked more than just skin. The weight of the past did not simply lift because the fighting had stopped.I sat on the edge of the bed, watching Aiden pace near the window. His reflection in the glass was sharp, rigid, like a man still expecting a knife in the dark. The empire was his now, but peace was foreign to him. Stillness felt unnatural."You don’t have to stay," he said, his tone measured, unreadable. "You’ve done enough."It wasn’t a command. It wasn’t even a suggestion. It was a defense mechanism. Aiden didn’t push people away forcefully—he gave them an exit and waited for them to take it.I tilted my head, pretending to consider. "And if I don’t want to leave?"His gaze flickered toward me, just for a moment, then away again. "Then you’re a fool."I rolled my eyes, standing. "That makes two of us."I closed the distance between us and pressed my palm against his chest, feeling the steady
Aiden’s POVThe study smelled of aged whiskey, leather, and cigar smoke—just as I remembered it from my childhood. Nothing had changed. The same books lined the shelves, the same decanter of bourbon sat untouched on the desk, and the same man occupied the chair at its head.I stood in front of Don Carlo, the weight of everything that had led to this moment pressing down on my chest. Kane was gone. Hera was locked away where she belonged. The war was over. And yet, the victory tasted bitter. It felt like exhaustion.My father—Don Carlo—sat behind his massive desk, his expression unreadable. The same man who had doubted me. The same man who had once called me weak."You’ve proven yourself," he finally said, voice heavy with reluctant acceptance. "The empire is yours."I didn’t respond immediately. Instead, I studied him. The man who had shaped me, tested me, pushed me to the edge time and time again. And for what? To prove I was worthy of something I never truly wanted?"You thought I’d
Aiden’s POVHera screamed as the guards dragged her away, her shrieks cutting through the air like the wail of a banshee. She kicked and thrashed, her dark hair wild, her emerald-green eyes blazing with madness."You can’t do this to me!" she screeched, her voice raw. "Aiden, you think you’ve won?! You think locking me away will change the truth?! You’ll regret this—I swear it!"I stood motionless, watching as the woman I once knew was forced back into the nightmare she had clawed her way out of. My hands were clenched at my sides, my pulse steady, my face unreadable.The weight pressing against my chest wasn’t fear or anger. It was relief. A slow, settling kind of relief that came when a battle was finally over.There was no regret. No hesitation.She belonged there.The black van’s doors slammed shut, muffling the last of her wails. The driver exchanged a brief nod with the men guarding the facility before stepping into the driver’s seat. With a low, mechanical hum, the vehicle roll