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 After applying the herbs, I placed his head in my lap; all hopes were lost. I don't know what to do again.I have cried and I could no longer cry again. I just watch him breathe heavily with his eyes closed.I was a little bit relieved that the bleeding had reduced; all I just did was watch him and pray to God to keep him alive for me.As I sat there, gently stroking Daymon's hair, I felt a mix of emotions: desperation, fear, and helplessness. His usually strong and resilient body now lay fragile and still. I whispered prayers, pleading for his recovery.Suddenly, Daymon's eyes flickered open, and he gazed up at me with a faint smile. “Artemis…” he whispered, I could barely hear his voice. My heart skipped a beat. “Daymon! Oh, thank God!” I exclaimed, tears of joy welling up.I thought he was going to die; I had already given up on him; I was just waiting for him to give up the ghost, and I would go look for a way to get caught by Kane's Men, but he made it through.Wit
Aiden's POV I finally resumed office after a few days of taking a break from work. My assistant finally found a way to break the scandal up with the help of the media team.I entered the company with my bag and my face full of embarrassment. I looked around as I entered, checking if people were watching me as I entered or even gossiping about me. As expected, they were doing both, which made me more embarrassed.I tried my best to ignore them and focus on where I was going. The secretary I sacked was supposed to resume work back today after apologizing publicly and privately for all I've done to her and I also promised her some increase in her salary and bonuses, that alone made her come back to work even after a lot of people were saying she shouldn't come back to work for me but the offer was far better than the one she was getting outside. I settled down in my office and she brought in my early morning coffee as she always does. I sipped the coffee as I went through the files and
Author's POV “I Know you're angry at me, Aiden,” Gera said to Aiden, who was watching her talk like a mad woman. “ I have realized that I'm so stupid and foolish to dump you back then”“I don't care if you're stupid or foolish or crazy or not, just get out of my office; I don't care whatever you think you're,” Aiden blasted Hera, not interested in listening to her bullshit. “Just get out of my office and I don't want to see you again”“No, I'm not going anywhere, Aiden.” She sat down and crossed her legs comfortably.“Are you out of your mind? who even gave you the right to my office?” Aiden asked, knowing fully well that he was the one who asked his secretary to let her in, though he didn't know she was the one.Hera didn't move an inch from where she was sitting. Instead, she adjusted well and made sure she was more comfortable.“It's high time I called security; that's what suits you since you don't want to respect yourself,” Auden threatened and picked up his phone to put a call
Author's POV “ I can't change you when I'm not even interested in a piece of trash like you in the first place” Aiden spilled out. “ You decline the arrangements, so there is no point coming back here, so just get out of my office at this moment”.“You think I don't know you chose a random person to be your wife?” Hera asked rhetorically. “I know everything you did; as expected, I made my findings.”“I don't want to hear anything from you again; I will ruin you if you do anything stupid,” Aiden said.“Don't you dare call me those names again? Are you stupid? Do you even know who you're talking to?” Hera loosed it. “I can ruin you Aiden, just because I'm seeking your love does not mean I don't know what I can do to you fool, I made you Aiden, you became what you are now because of me” Aiden was not moved by what she said because her words sounded useless to him. “If you don't leave now, I will make them drag you out, and you will be humiliated,” Aiden said to her.“Expect me soon” He
Author's POVClosing the door, she sat on her bed thinking. “What if he doesn't agree to what I told him within the days I gave him?” Hera thought to herself.“I need to do something, I need a plan in case he doesn't agree with me. He must have an enemy that I can gang up with to make him agree to marry me. I need to work with someone to bring him down to agree to my wish.” Hera kept battling with her thoughts.Later that day, she got up and went to the bathroom to have her bath; she turned on the shower and stayed under the shower for some minutes, and she came outside in a towel dripping wet; she dried her body, moving sexily after she was done. She sat in front of her dressing mirror, applying cream and makeup. After she was done she went to her wardrobe to pick her outfit. She picked a short mini hemline lilac strapless gown with silver heels.She got into her car and drove to the clubhouse where she wanted to clear her and think of what to do next.She got out of her car and wa
Author's POV “Yes?” Hera asked Kane who was dumbfounded and couldn't believe his eyes. The striking resemblance between the lady standing before him caught him thinking if Artemis had escaped or she is a twin. “What do you want from me young man?” Hera asked Kane who was still trying so hard to check if it was really Artemis or another person. Still staring at Hera, he noticed as he had a tattoo on her right arm and one on her leg but the last time he saw Artemis age doesn't have a tattoo and she does look like someone who will get one on her body“My name is Kane” he introduced himself, trying to compose himself since the lady doesn't recognize him then there is high probability that she was not Artemis or she might be the one and it is possible she lost her memory that she won't recognize him.She nodded her head, “how may I help you Mr Kane?” She asked, wondering why I approached her. “ And do I know you?” Kane looked more surprised but not really surprised because she doesn't
(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