Artemis POV It's a beautiful morning, the chirping sound of the birds woke me up. I looked to the side and saw Daymon still sleeping like a baby. He is looking so peaceful and handsome as ever. I moved closer to her for me to enjoy the beautiful view before me, Daymon. I was almost tempted to touch him when he woke up from his sleep. I quickly withdrew my hand and behaved like I wanted to take something from beside him. “Good morning” Daymon greeted with a gentle and calm morning voice. “Good morning,” I greeted back. “Hope you slept well?” I asked. “Yes, I did,” he replied. “Why are you up so early?” He asked. “The loud sound of the chirping birds woke me up” I answered. “Oh, I see.” He nodded in satisfaction. “The last time I checked, I'm the early morning riser here”. “Are you trying to make jest of me now or indirectly calling me a lazy woman?” I said jokingly. We both laughed and Daymon stood up to go get some water from the stream for the day. I was already getting t
Artemis POV As I lay down, I felt so weak and concerned. I hate that I have to stress Daymon and make him do all sorts of things just for me to survive. Before long, Daymon came back to the cabin with hands full of herbs and began preparing it immediately. His move was so swift and precise. He looked so stressed and tired too. I hate myself for stressing this handsome before me; he still looks handsome anyway. “But really, Daymon you don't need to do it all…”I started to say. “I want to, Artemis, I want to,” he cut me short. “If not because of anything, but because of my boss,” Daymon added. I watched him prepare the herbs in silence and in no time, I slept off. “Artemis, can you sit up for a few minutes?” I heard a voice say from my sleep. I felt so weak and reluctant, but I just had to get up from my sleep. “Yes,” I rubbed my sleepy eyes. “The herb is ready, and I brought you something to eat too,” Daymon said. “You need to eat something before taking the herbs”. “Thank y
Daymon's pov Experience is the best teacher, they say; I have learned a lot just by staying in this hidden forest, doing things I never imagined I would ever do even if I'm the wretched person in the world. I Look at Artemis sitting beside me and waiting patiently for the meat to be ready like she has no other worries other than the meal she was waiting for. My eyes drifted away from the roasting meat to her long pretty legs. They looked so good even though she had had her bath for some time now. I felt the urge to touch them, feel them, and run my hands through that smooth, milky skin of hers. I began to imagine a series of nasty things I wished I could do to her, but I couldn't. “Get yourself together, dude, she is your boss's woman.” My brain brought me back to my right Sense. I went ahead to check the roasting to help me take my mind off the crazy things I was thinking. “I can't wait to devour this thing because I'm so famished; the herb took away the one I ate earlier,” Art
Daymon's POV I was seated on a small hill beside the cabin, thinking of what happened between me and Artemis; I still couldn't find a way around it. I don't want to ever find myself in a situation where I will betray the Almighty Aiden if I don't want to get punished for it. Still lost in my thoughts, I heard the sound of someone's footsteps approaching me; I was more than sure it was Artemis. “Why can't you love?” I heard her say from behind me. I couldn't even bring myself to look back at her. Did I just hear her ask why I can't leave her? It might be a slip of the tongue, or I probably didn't hear her well. “Why are you finding it difficult to love me back?” She asked again. “Is it a crime to love you?” Then I heard her well the first time and clearer the second time. I stood up and faced her, trying to understand her facial expression to know if she was serious or joking., She was looking damn serious. “I don't understand Artemis?” I asked her, my hands in my pockets. “Ar
Daymon's Pov I finally got myself to sleep after minutes of struggling with sleep because Artemis was my greatest temptation. Artemis, on the other hand, slept like a baby, not waking up for even a minute during her sleep. I was the first to wake up from sleep because I wasn't feeling as comfortable as I used to feel. I woke up to see Artemis's body exposed. The cloth which she used to cover herself was no longer on her body. Just the sight of her body alone without touching has made him wet and gave him an erection. I stood still, admiring the Wonder beautiful creature before me when I heard her make a soft sound from her sleep. I quickly looked away to the other side of the room, thinking she was awake, but she wasn't. I looked at her again; this time around, her body was more exposed due to the way she stretched, and I could get a clearer view of her body. I took my eyes off her body and left the cabin to tidy outside of the cabin since it was looking so unkempt and I nee
Artemis POV As they walked back home, Artemis walked faster than Daymon, trying her best not to talk to Daymon. Daymon was the one who brought her to the stream, but she avoided him through the journey even though she wasn't familiar with the road. Daymon, on the other hand, was also trying to keep track of her because she was so fast. In no time, he lost her track and began to look for her. “Where is she?” I was beginning to get scared. Artemis looked around the place she found herself, it looked so unfamiliar. “Am I still going the right way?” Artemis began to panic, not knowing if she could go back or if there was still a way forward. She was confused because she did not see anything that looked like the cabin or the cabin way ahead, and she didn't know how she got to the place she was. “Artemis! Artemis!, Artemis!” I called out her name but nobody answered me. “Where could she have been?”. Different thoughts came to Daymon's mind not knowing which one he was going to choose
Artemis POV As we walked to the cabin, I couldn't help but feel guilty for all I'd done to Demon. He has been through a lot just because you want to save me. Just today, I have gotten him into another problem. I wish I could talk to him. I wish I could apologize, but I was so sure he did not want to speak to me or have anything to do with me at that moment. We got to the cabin, and Demon went straight to get some water to drink because he was looking dry and weak. Finally, I summoned the courage to say something to him. “ I'm so sorry for everything I've cost you. I'm so sorry for the pain, for the stress, for everything. I know it's my fault, and I wish I hadn't put you through all this right from the beginning”. Demon looked at me angrily like he was going to deal with me with whatever he had. “What's always your problem, young lady? You always think you can help yourself when you know you are in no position to help yourself!” He said out loud” I hate myself for making him
Artemis POV Daymon pushed me to the wall, kissing me like his life depended on it. He is so perfect at what he does. He kissed me so well that I can boldly say no one had ever kissed me so well as he was doing. He raised me to the wall allowing me to wrap my legs around him. “How did we get there?!” I love where this was heading anyway. Daymon Carried me and placed me on the bed, still kissing me and caressing my body with his soft palm. He began to unbutton the shirt I was putting on which caused him to see my full amazing breasts. I found myself taking off the singlet he was putting on as we kissed each other aggressively as our last life depended on it. He took off the shirt I was putting on finally and I was naked before him. “You look so hot! Artemis, I can't wait to have enough of you!” Daymon said, running his hands through my naked body, kissing every angle of my neck. I looked into his deep blue eyes, which were burning with affection; his rough gold hair made him look
(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