Aiden’s POVI woke up before sunrise, my body tense with the unfamiliarity of sharing my space with someone again. Artemis was still asleep, curled up on her side, her breathing soft and steady. The golden glow of dawn cast delicate shadows across her face, and for a moment, I just watched her.She looked peaceful like this—like she hadn’t spent months pushing me away, like she wasn’t still doubting whether she’d made the right choice in marrying me.I wasn’t going to let her regret it.Slipping out of bed quietly, I moved to the balcony, lighting a cigarette out of habit before remembering she hated the smell. I put it out almost immediately.A new life. A new version of me.I wasn’t naive. A wedding ring didn’t magically fix the fractures between us. But I had promised to prove myself to her, and I meant it.I was going to be the husband she deserved.---Over the next few days, I made small but deliberate efforts.I was there when she needed me but never too overbearing. I pulled o
Kane’s POVAiden was slipping.I saw it in the way he carried himself—his shoulders tense, his mind elsewhere. He was too preoccupied with his new wife, too absorbed in playing the devoted husband.And Don Carlo? He had forced Aiden into this marriage, believing it would make him stronger, more stable. But now, he wasn’t so sure.Our father valued power above all else. He had spent years molding Aiden into the perfect successor, but lately, doubt had crept into his gaze. I had seen it firsthand.That was where I came in.For years, I had been cast aside, treated as a lesser son. Aiden was the chosen one. But now, I could sense the shift.And I was ready to take my place.---The Bianchi family had been watching closely. When I met with them, their concerns mirrored my own."Aiden is distracted," one of them said, sipping his whiskey. "He hesitated when he should have struck. That’s not the leader we need."I smirked. "That’s exactly what I’ve been saying."Another voice chimed in. "Bu
Artemis’ POVI never thought I’d find myself here again with him. Yet, as I sat curled up on the couch, watching Aiden pour us both a drink, I felt something I hadn’t allowed myself to in a long time.Peace.It scared me.He handed me a glass of wine without a word, then settled beside me, close but not too close. He had been careful with me lately, not pushing, just waiting.“You always make sure my glass isn’t too full,” I murmured, staring down at the deep red liquid.Aiden let out a quiet chuckle. “You always forget to pace yourself.”I did. And maybe that was the problem with us. I had dived headfirst into loving him once, and I drowned. I wasn’t sure I could survive it a second time.He turned his body slightly to face me, his expression softer than I was used to. “Artemis,” he said, my name almost a whisper. “I fought this for so long. Loving you. Wanting you. I thought it would make me weak.”I swallowed, my fingers tightening around the glass.Aiden reached out, brushing his
Artemis' POVA careless conversation between two workers who hadn’t noticed me enter the room.“…Don Carlo wasn’t pleased,” one of them muttered, stirring his coffee absently. “Said Kane shouldn’t have done it.”The other scoffed. “What else was he supposed to do? Let Enzo keep feeding the Bianchis information?”I froze.The words sank in before I could fully process them.I already knew Enzo was a traitor. Aiden had known, too, but things had spiraled too quickly after the wedding for him to handle it himself. Then Kane had found out—and used it to his advantage.But hearing it like this, from the workers, confirmed something I hadn’t considered before.Kane hadn’t just acted on his own. He had exposed Enzo to everyone. Aiden losing control wasn’t just bad for him—it was bad for me, too. Kane had made a move without consulting him, of course he didn't, which meant he thought he could. And if he thought that once… he’d think it again. I wasn’t just standing beside a man in power—I was
ARTEMIS POV I eyed the golden watch on the table, pretending to be interested in something else while inching closer to the table. I knew it was wrong to steal but I couldn’t help it. I was hungry and I didn’t want to die.I imagined the funeral poster would read thus, ‘Artemis Vincent, died of hunger because she didn’t want to take a watch that some rich dude left behind.’I shook my head. Gosh, I needed therapy. Why would I even think that? I eyed the watch again while cunningly looking around. When I got right to the table, I snatched the watch and shoved it into my pocket.'You did it Artemis. You can buy burgers from Starbucks... you can....'“THIEF!!” Someone shrieked and I turned to see a huge oaf of a man charging right at me. He was dressed in a black suit and wore dark sunglasses. My survival instincts kicked in and I beelined for the open window.‘If they catch you, you are dead. Fucking run, legs.’I pumped my legs faster and easily slipped into the window and outside th
Aidan Creek?ARTEMIS POV Now where had I heard that name? I must have seen it in a newspaper somewhere. I couldn’t remember, but from what I gathered he was one the richest men in Florida. Why would he want a thief to be his mistress?“It sure seems like you must be over in your head. I ain’t marrying you, I’ll marry a pig first,” I said, huffing angrily.But Aidan stared at me for a full minute, creeping me out, then he finally nodded.“You’ll go to jail then, I’ll make sure you get it hard there. Trust me you don’t want to see what they’ll do to you there,” he said and I shot him a fierce glare. He was right. He had influence, I was a nobody. I would be molested there and forgotten.“Why won't you let me go?” I asked and he raised his brow. That elegant brow.“You stole my watch woman” he growled. I gave him a stubborn look. It took all my willpower not to poke out my tongue.“That watch is not one percent of your net worth sir. So just let me go” I said and he nodded.“Take her aw
ARTEMIS POV It took me almost a while to find where Aidan was. Daymon didn’t even tell me where to find him. Eventually, I wandered to the gardens and met him there waiting... probably. “Hi,” I said and he turned. How could someone look so hot and cruel at the same time? The afternoon breeze blew his dark hair, making him look more... handsome. “So here’s what I wanted to tell you before we meet my parents,” he started, going straight to the point and I shot him a glare. “Can’t you reply with ‘Hello’?” I retorted and his eyes darkened. I watched the light go out of them replaced by cold dangerous anger. “Watch how you talk to me,” he sneered. But I didn’t care. I wasn’t scared of anyone or anything, not even the icy chills of his voice. “And you don’t treat me like a piece of shit too,” I replied sharply. Aidan growled, he grabbed me and shoved me to a barn wall. “You don’t understand. You have to get this or I’ll lose all I have worked for to my brother,” he seethed and I sh
ARTEMIS POVThe rest of the weeks were just a blur of activities. Me, trying to keep up with the lies and Aidan being grumpy as ever. We even had to pretend for the camera. It wasn’t what I bargained for and being in front of stubborn paparazzi was beginning to tell on me. Every click of the camera gave me paranoia.Aidan had told me not to worry that it would still stop but I was getting wary. I was a small-town girl and wasn’t used to all this glamor and paparazzi. It wasn’t funny at all. The other part of this deal that made me uncomfortable was having to sleep on the same bed with Aidan. It wasn’t so before, I had my room but his father had insisted on it.I peeled my eyes open now watching Aidan sleeping. Even with my resentment I couldn’t help but admire how perfect he looked. In his sleep, I couldn’t find the cynical circles around his eyes. He looked young and at peace, and his hair. I had always wondered how they were so black, like midnight. They cascaded his face and I rea
Artemis' POVA careless conversation between two workers who hadn’t noticed me enter the room.“…Don Carlo wasn’t pleased,” one of them muttered, stirring his coffee absently. “Said Kane shouldn’t have done it.”The other scoffed. “What else was he supposed to do? Let Enzo keep feeding the Bianchis information?”I froze.The words sank in before I could fully process them.I already knew Enzo was a traitor. Aiden had known, too, but things had spiraled too quickly after the wedding for him to handle it himself. Then Kane had found out—and used it to his advantage.But hearing it like this, from the workers, confirmed something I hadn’t considered before.Kane hadn’t just acted on his own. He had exposed Enzo to everyone. Aiden losing control wasn’t just bad for him—it was bad for me, too. Kane had made a move without consulting him, of course he didn't, which meant he thought he could. And if he thought that once… he’d think it again. I wasn’t just standing beside a man in power—I was
Artemis’ POVI never thought I’d find myself here again with him. Yet, as I sat curled up on the couch, watching Aiden pour us both a drink, I felt something I hadn’t allowed myself to in a long time.Peace.It scared me.He handed me a glass of wine without a word, then settled beside me, close but not too close. He had been careful with me lately, not pushing, just waiting.“You always make sure my glass isn’t too full,” I murmured, staring down at the deep red liquid.Aiden let out a quiet chuckle. “You always forget to pace yourself.”I did. And maybe that was the problem with us. I had dived headfirst into loving him once, and I drowned. I wasn’t sure I could survive it a second time.He turned his body slightly to face me, his expression softer than I was used to. “Artemis,” he said, my name almost a whisper. “I fought this for so long. Loving you. Wanting you. I thought it would make me weak.”I swallowed, my fingers tightening around the glass.Aiden reached out, brushing his
Kane’s POVAiden was slipping.I saw it in the way he carried himself—his shoulders tense, his mind elsewhere. He was too preoccupied with his new wife, too absorbed in playing the devoted husband.And Don Carlo? He had forced Aiden into this marriage, believing it would make him stronger, more stable. But now, he wasn’t so sure.Our father valued power above all else. He had spent years molding Aiden into the perfect successor, but lately, doubt had crept into his gaze. I had seen it firsthand.That was where I came in.For years, I had been cast aside, treated as a lesser son. Aiden was the chosen one. But now, I could sense the shift.And I was ready to take my place.---The Bianchi family had been watching closely. When I met with them, their concerns mirrored my own."Aiden is distracted," one of them said, sipping his whiskey. "He hesitated when he should have struck. That’s not the leader we need."I smirked. "That’s exactly what I’ve been saying."Another voice chimed in. "Bu
Aiden’s POVI woke up before sunrise, my body tense with the unfamiliarity of sharing my space with someone again. Artemis was still asleep, curled up on her side, her breathing soft and steady. The golden glow of dawn cast delicate shadows across her face, and for a moment, I just watched her.She looked peaceful like this—like she hadn’t spent months pushing me away, like she wasn’t still doubting whether she’d made the right choice in marrying me.I wasn’t going to let her regret it.Slipping out of bed quietly, I moved to the balcony, lighting a cigarette out of habit before remembering she hated the smell. I put it out almost immediately.A new life. A new version of me.I wasn’t naive. A wedding ring didn’t magically fix the fractures between us. But I had promised to prove myself to her, and I meant it.I was going to be the husband she deserved.---Over the next few days, I made small but deliberate efforts.I was there when she needed me but never too overbearing. I pulled o
(Artemis’ POV)The weight of this veil felt suffocating. Every step down the aisle felt like a mistake I couldn’t undo. He still looked at me like I was the only woman in the world.I swallowed hard. Could I really do this? Could I stand before him, before everyone, and vow myself to him, knowing the wounds between us hadn't fully healed?The whispers in the crowd weren’t subtle."This is a power move.""Does she even love him?”I kept my eyes ahead, locked on Aiden, trying to ignore the whispers rippling through the crowd. People saw this as a power move, a political strategy orchestrated by Don Carlo. None of them knew the truth.None of them knew that my heart was a battlefield, torn between anger and something far more dangerous—hope.Aiden stood at the altar, his suit pristine, his expression unreadable. But his eyes… his eyes held something I wasn’t ready to face.I had dreamed of love, of marriage, of finding a partner who would stand by my side without secrets or betrayal. But
Aiden’s POVI had always known that love and power were two sides of the same coin. In our world, emotions were liabilities, and marriage was nothing more than a strategic move—a way to consolidate strength, form alliances, and maintain control.For years, I had known how to command power, how to instill fear. But with her, I was just a man—bare, exposed, uncertain. And I hated that I was scared of losing her more than I had ever feared anything else.But with Artemis, it had never been just about power.Don Carlo had summoned me early that morning, his expression unreadable as he motioned for me to sit across from him in his study. The heavy air in the room told me that whatever he had to say would change everything."You need to marry her," he said, his voice firm and absolute.I stared at him, unblinking. "Excuse me?""Artemis," he repeated. "The family needs stability, Aiden. After Daymon’s death, after Kane’s betrayal, there are too many loose ends. People are watching, waiting f
(Artemis' POV)I curled up in the corner of the bed, hugging my knees to my chest. The room was silent, but my mind was anything but. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw it—Daymon stepping in front of me, his body jerking as the bullet tore through him. I heard the sound of it, felt the warmth of his blood on my skin. I was tired. Not just physically, but mentally, emotionally—down to my very soul. Every breath felt heavy, every step a burden. The weight of Daymon’s death sat on my chest like a stone, suffocating me.I gasped, shoving my face into my hands. This is my fault.If I had trusted Aiden, if I hadn’t followed Kane like a fool, Daymon would still be alive. I let my guard down, and now I was paying the price.A knock on the door made me tense.“Artemis.” Aiden’s voice was soft, careful.I stared at the door, heart pounding. I didn’t answer.A sigh. Then, “I know you’re awake.”I swallowed, forcing the lump in my throat down. “What do you want?”“To talk.”“I don’t want to talk
Aiden’s POVMy fists clenched at my sides. I was seeing red. Daymon was gone. Killed. And the man responsible was still breathing. Kane murdered him, and I was supposed to just let it go? I wanted nothing more than to make him pay, to make him suffer for what he did.But then my father called me into his office that afternoon, ruining my trail of thoughts.I had spent hours thinking of how to deal with Kane, of how to make him regret ever trying to hard to destroy my life. I walked into the room, barely masking the storm raging inside me.“Good day, Dad,” I greeted, though the words felt empty.“Good day, son.” His expression was unreadable, but I could see the weight of everything pressing on him too.“I called you in to tell you not to do what you're thinking.”I stiffened. “No, Dad. I will kill Kane. I promise you. He must die, he has to pay for what he did to Daymon.”“You will not touch Kane, Aiden.”“I must.” My voice came out harsher than I intended. “He took a brother from me.
Artemis’ POVI drove like a madwoman.The wind cried out against the car, but it wasn’t loud enough to drown out the ringing in my ears. The gunshot replayed over and over, splitting my mind in two.Daymon was gone. I couldn't believe it. The only man after Aiden to show me love in ways I didn't expect—died right in front of me and I couldn't do anything to help. I only watched it happen and sped off like the coward I was. I didn't deserve the love he showed me and I wish he hadn't come to my rescue then he'd still be alive right now.I gripped the steering wheel, my fingers aching from how hard I squeezed. My vision blurred, but I kept going, pushing the car past its limit. I didn't know where I was heading, but I knew one thing—I couldn’t stop. If I did, I’d have to face the truth.Daymon was dead because of me.My chest tightened, a choked sob ripping through my throat.I should have stayed. I should have fought with him. But I ran.I was an idiot, a fool.The car skidded as I turn