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
Kane's pov I stood in the middle of my living room feeling so good. I can't believe things are or d. I steered at my phone again and continued swiping up as I read the hate comments about Aiden.It serves him right. This time around, he is not going to take what belongs to me but it will be vice versa, take what belongs to him…I let out a wicked smile from the side of my mouth.I can't believe the state he would be in if he was going to die for me to get what I wanted; I don't mind taking his life, but making him miserable is enough.I checked the internet over and saw the way the people of the country are ruining and rubbishing Aiden's name. He was their favourite and role model but now he is nothing but a piece of trash.I need to figure out other ways to deal with him. I'm still not feeling satisfied. I wish I could just jay my hands on Artemis and Daymon, Artemis to be Precise.“Hey you” I called one of my men. “What'd the latest update on those men I sent on a mission?” I ask
Artemis POVThe boredom was getting too much. We have not gotten used to the new environment that we are in, and there is nothing to do and no food to eat.The only advantage of the place was the river beside us. Most of the time we go hungry throughout the day.Daymon already went out to get some food to eat, I just pray he gets back safely. He had to go deep into the forest for hunting; he was trying his best for us to survive. I have been indoors all day so I decided to go get some fresh air beside the river while I wait for Daymon to arrive from the hunting he went for.I sat down with my legs folded beside the river and I watched the river flow from one end to the other. The view was so beautiful. The coldness of the water made me feel so calm and at peace.I waited patiently for Daymon's arriver but it was not looking like he was going to arrive anytime soon. I'm beginning to get worried. I'm scared, he is supposed to have arrived, but he hasn't. I kept stretching my neck to c
(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