Daymon's Pov “Whatever!” She said coldly. “I just can't wait to get out of here; there is nothing for us to eat here again. I miss home, the good food, the good big bed, the bathroom, my wardrobe and all” I just watched her leak, and I began to think of what I missed, too. “Even when I was not rich and was begging from street to street, it wasn't as bad as this. I could still afford a bugger to eat, and even if I didn't have money for a burger that day, I could still see people around me, which gave me hope of survival and a reason to live,” she continued. “But here, the only thing I see around is bushes, big trees, and wild animals. The first human I saw was the one you wanted to kill” “I totally understand what you're talking about, but I want you to calm down, and I just need you to be strong and have the positive belief that we are going to get out of here soon,” I said to her. Artemis nodded, seeming to consider my words. “I hope you're right about getting out of here j
Daymon's Pov I watched her sleep peacefully, just like a child who had no problem she was facing. I wish I could help her; it looks like she is going through a lot emotionally, and she needs help.I carried her and placed her well to sleep well as I watched her sleep peacefully. As I gazed at Artemis's serene face, I felt a sense of concern and compassion. She had been through so much, and it was clear that the emotional weight of our situation was bearing down on her even to the extent she thought Aiden did not love her or think of her again.I gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, making sure not to disturb her peaceful slumber. As I watched her sleep, I couldn't help but think about our conversation earlier, her loud laughter and all. It had been a while since I saw her laugh out loud like the way she did today.She had been so worried about Aiden all these while, but she had kept it to herself, which I Know because most of the time she mistakenly mentioned Aiden instea
Artemis POV After explaining my dream to Daymon, I felt relieved and my burden felt light. His reassuring and calming words made me feel better. I watch him sit down with his head in his hands, thinking so hard, I know he was thinking of how we would escape and where we are going from there. I hate myself for making him think so hard and for putting me on a hot seat. I was still trying to figure out what to do to help, too, not until he got up and walked up to me. “Let's pack the rest of our things now, I have got an idea” “What is on your mind and what did you figure out?” I asked him, looking at him, feeling so pathetic and gentle. “I don't have a particular location in mind, but I know we will find a way by the time we wander around the forest; we will get a place to hide,” Daymon replied, still looking confused. We went to pack our things and make sure none of our belongings were left there. I was beginning to get scared; going deep into the forest was giving me go
Artemis POV “ You have got this, Artemis,” Daymon tried to motivate me when he realized I was tired and about to give up. “I don't want you to stop at almost, we are almost there”“ I'm going to pass out if I take any more steps,” I replied to Daymon, almost losing my breath.“I know how tired you are; I can see you're trying your best as the strong woman that you are, but please don't give up yet because strong people don't give up easily,” Daymon's words penetrated my heart, and it felt like an energy booster to me.I stood up to move with the little strength that was remaining in me. Daymon collected the bag I was holding and added it to his own; we then continued the journey slowly, hoping to get there soon. After walking a few minutes more, I saw the river from afar, and I jumped for joy. Daymon did notice it because of the load he was carrying.“Daymon!!!, I can see the river from here!” “ Really!” Daymon said and dropped the bag he was holding and looked around for it.I poi
Aiden's povI was down, I went silent and didn't know what to say to my father; I have lied and lied that I don't know what lie or excuse to give again. “Are you there?” My father said out loud over the phone. “It is better you answer me now”“I'm with you, Father,” I said to my Dad, even though my mind had traveled far from where it was.“Where is the answer to my question?” He asked me. “Have you postage date for the wedding I said I want you to come visit me with your wife” What does he want me to say to that, and what answer does he want me to give? I'm going crazy, I'm confused. All my efforts are beginning to go in vain without any results to show forth.“I will talk to you later Father,” I said to him over the phone and was about to end the call when he said “If you end the call, you're done because I will not take things lightly with you.” The anger in his voice was so obvious that even a random person could tell he was angry. “For the past few weeks now, you have kept beh
Aiden's POV I sat on my swivel chair and placed my head on the fancy glass table that had different awards that carried my name, but I'm screwed. I began to Think of suicide, but was suicide ever the option? What would happen to Daymon and Artemis if I'm gone? I have to stay strong for them but I don't have the strength to stay Strong.Different thoughts came to my mind but I don't know which one to go with.I was still lost in my thoughts when my phone line began to buzz. Different calls were coming in from my two phones, but I had no intention of answering any because I knew I had caused a whole lot of trouble.My phone kept ringing and different messages kept coming in. Tears dropped from my eyes. If I can remember well, the last time I cried was when I was nine because right from when I was small, l was known to be cold-hearted because of how I was trained. I couldn't believe I let my emotions get the best of me.I have to be strong for the sake of my friend and wife. I don't kn
Aiden's POV I took off my suit jacket and untied my tie because I was feeling so uneasy in it. I switched off one of my phones and put the other one in silent mode, placed my head on the table, and began to sob; in no time, I slept off.I was still snoring in my sleep when the door opened; it was my assistant.“Boss!, Sir!” He called out loud and I woke up feeling so tired and weak . “why are you still here, boss? I thought you left immediately. We found a way to send the pressmen away.“ No, I didn't,” I replied grumblingly.“I was working late with the media to see if we can take down the videos not until I saw your car downstairs when I was about to leave the office premises”. He said. “Are you sure everything is okay with you sir?”“Yeah, I'm okay. I never knew it was already late. I just decided to take a few minute's nap, and here we are,” I replied, stretching out.“Can we go now?” He asked.“Are you sure none of the pressmen are outside waiting for me or trying to spy on me?”
Aiden's POV I was not feeling the vibes of the movie I was watching so I grabbed a bottle of another alcoholic drink and went upstairs to my room.I went into the bathroom and unleashed the cold shower, allowing it to penetrate my banging head.I stayed in the shower for what looked like almost an hour. After I was done, I grabbed my towel and threw it around my waist as I walked back to my room. I was about to go pick some clothes to wear In my closet when I remembered the weight of what I had done. The cold shower made it look like everything was okay.I sat down on the floor beside my bed and took the bottle of alcoholic wine that I brought with me. I opened it and began to gulp, thinking it was going to make me feel better, but I wasn't feeling any better, so I continued.In a few minutes, I began to feel tipsy after drinking almost all the contents of the bottle. I tilted my head to the back and made sure I was resting it on the edge of the bed, lost in my thoughts when I heard
Aidan POVThe next few days after Kane's threat began to unroll in a whirlpool of events -- within each minute the quiet strain between Artemis and I. We had decided on attending the charity gala, together, for the display of unity and defiance against the haunting shadows of Hera and Kane. I stood in front of the mirror, while adjusting my tie, pondering upon what I may have done, or not done of late, to have the weight of expectation hanging upon me. The gala would be where the most influential people would congregate. If ever there was a time for Hera to strike, it would be here."Are you ready?" Artemis called from the other room. She sounded almost haughty with a mixture of excitement and nerves. "Almost," I replied, forcing a smile. I had to be his strength. It was his entry into, a very new and dangerous world-and I had to make sure that it felt like a support.I was silent for a moment when she came out. She was wearing this lacey red gown that molded her body all the right
Artemis POVThe hallway, awash in chaos, found a frozen representation of me. Uncertainty had reduced the strength of my insides. Even as the adrenaline rush of Aidan's protection fueled my very being, my very fear of what would follow stopped my feet in their tracks. There were louder voices now: anger and indignation intermingled. I found myself rushing Aidan, heart pounding away. As I took the turn, he stood toe to-toe with various men, their faces illustrating how morally intense and confrontational the situation was. "Get lost," Aidan growled, barely above a whisper. "Aidan, you can’t just turn your back on this," replied one of the men, sharp-edged. He was the tallest, wearing a dark suit that announced authority. "Hera has powerful connections, and you have to be careful." "Careful?" Aidan scoffed, his temper flaring. "You think I’m afraid of some empty threats? I’ll handle this my way." I edged closer and heard snippets of their dialogue, which made my spine crawl at the
Artemis POVThe hallway, awash in chaos, found a frozen representation of me. Uncertainty had reduced the strength of my insides. Even as the adrenaline rush of Aidan's protection fueled my very being, my very fear of what would follow stopped my feet in their tracks. There were louder voices now: anger and indignation intermingled. I found myself rushing Aidan, heart pounding away. As I took the turn, he stood toe to-toe with various men, their faces illustrating how morally intense and confrontational the situation was. "Get lost," Aidan growled, barely above a whisper. "Aidan, you can’t just turn your back on this," replied one of the men, sharp-edged. He was the tallest, wearing a dark suit that announced authority. "Hera has powerful connections, and you have to be careful." "Careful?" Aidan scoffed, his temper flaring. "You think I’m afraid of some empty threats? I’ll handle this my way." I edged closer and heard snippets of their dialogue, which made my spine crawl at the
Artemis POVThe night air was cool under my feet as I stepped outside the garden, and everything was cast under a silvery glow by the moon. I could not shake the unnerving feeling pressing at my heart since dinner. Aidan's father and his expectations were hovering like a dark cloud above us, and I felt like a puppet in their great play. There was some magnetism in Aidan that drew me toward him, something I could not quite put a finger on. I found Aidan leaning back against a marble pillar, the phone still clutching in his hand. The air was thick with tension as my heart fluttered at the thought of going up to him. Did he feel it too? "Aidan?" I softly called, stepping closer. His head rose, and those piercing green eyes locked with mine. For a moment, everything ceased to exist outside this sphere that encapsulated both of us in limbo and yearning."Artemis," he said, his voice low and sultry, making me shiver. "What are you doing out here?""I needed some air," I swallowed, hoping
Aidan POVThe night hung heavily as we drove back to my family's estate, enshrouded in tension. The showdown with Kane had jolted us, and I could feel the pall of uncertainty over Artemis. I glanced at her: her jaw was set in a determined line, though fear, I knew, lurked beneath the surface. "You okay?" I asked after I parked the car, breaking the silence. "Just trying to process everything," she answered, her voice steady, but her eyes were full of worry. "What do you think Kane meant? That we were in over our heads?""Don't know," I said, raking my fingers through my hair. "But we cannot allow him to scare us. We are stronger together, and we need to focus on Hera."As we stepped inside, it was like suffocation; the grand foyer resounded with the silence of empty echoes. I felt my father's wishes bearing down on me as his wildest expectations presented themselves. I had gone against him, and I was wise enough to know that my father would not bear it lightly.''Let's go talk to hi
Artemis POVI felt each whisper of conversation thrum through the room. Every eye seemed to be trained on me in anticipation of what would unfold next. I noticed that Aidan's jaw clenched, trying to gain control over his anxiety. Hera walked further forward into the party and her smile lit up the room like a bolt of electric tension.“Aidan, darling,” Hera said sweetly, slicing every air with her voice. “I didn’t expect to find you with someone who looks so… so… different from me.” Her eyes shot over to me, and as they did, the rush of anger and insecurity combined in me."Aidan, is this the woman you have chosen to be with? I only hope she understands what she is getting into," she continued mockingly.Aidan spoke with a low but firm voice, "Enough, Hera. You have no rights to be here.""Oh but I do," She moved closer. "See, I came here to remind everyone of that little agreement." She pulled out a document from her purse and waved it like a trophy. "This says you owe me, Aidan. And
Artemis POVI felt each whisper of conversation thrum through the room. Every eye seemed to be trained on me in anticipation of what would unfold next. I noticed that Aidan's jaw clenched, trying to gain control over his anxiety. Hera walked further forward into the party and her smile lit up the room like a bolt of electric tension.“Aidan, darling,” Hera said sweetly, slicing every air with her voice. “I didn’t expect to find you with someone who looks so… so… different from me.” Her eyes shot over to me, and as they did, the rush of anger and insecurity combined in me."Aidan, is this the woman you have chosen to be with? I only hope she understands what she is getting into," she continued mockingly.Aidan spoke with a low but firm voice, "Enough, Hera. You have no rights to be here.""Oh but I do," She moved closer. "See, I came here to remind everyone of that little agreement." She pulled out a document from her purse and waved it like a trophy. "This says you owe me, Aidan. And
Artemis POVThe next few days rolled into a blur of work calls, meetings, and strategizing: Aidan and I finally reached out to our closest friends, determined to spend anxiety-ridden hours seeking out enough people to build a network of support able to help us resist Hera's power. With every discussion, one more layer of the web unfolded before us, and, with the feeling of growing tension as we neared the time of confrontation, I could feel the strands beginning to coil tighter.One evening we had gathered in my apartment. The air buzzed with anticipation, and Aidan, Emily, and Ryan comprising the rest sat serious in the living room discussing what would be the next move with me."I know it's a risky affair," Aidan said in a very firm tone. "But we've got to confront Hera directly. If we let her decide the narrative, we'll never free ourselves from her dictation."Emily nodded with her brow knitted in thoughts. "But what if she tries to retaliate? She has connections in places that ca
Artemis POVNights like these trail, having turmoil and kept whispers that swung clouds around Aidan and me. Hera's oculus, I could feel her weight, and every time I spotted her, a shiver disturbed my bones."Are you alright?" Aidan asked, coming closer and lowering his voice."I am fine," I said while forcing a smile, "just trying to grapple with all of this."With his expression raining, he answered. "I know it's quite some taking in, but remember, we have each other."As the gala went on, I tried focusing on the talks we were having, but my mind would attach itself to the topic of threat on us, as Kane's echoed himself in me. Somehow, it all felt like we were walking on a tightrope, one misstep away from disaster."Let's get some air," Aidan said, finding my hand with his.I nodded, relieved to get a moment away from the crowd. Together we stepped out onto the balcony where the coolness of the night air felt revitalizing against my skin. The sounds coming from the gala disappeared