Lately, the bed had felt colder—something I never thought I’d notice, let alone care about. But I did.I woke up to silence. No soft rustling of sheets beside me. No warmth lingering where she used to be. Just emptiness. The space next to me remained untouched, as if she had never been there at all.I’d been going to bed late lately, and waking up randomly in the middle of the night. Most times, like tonight, I woke up restless. I reached for my phone to check the time, it was 4:18 AM on Saturday.I turned my head slightly, already knowing what I’d find.She was curled up on the couch again.Aria lay on her side, her arms wrapped tightly around herself, her body tucked into the corner like she was trying to disappear. A thin blanket barely covered her legs, and I couldn’t help but notice how vulnerable she looked.In the beginning, I’d caught her shivering on those first few nights. I almost reached for a thicker blanket more than once, but every time, I stopped myself. Instead, I’d j
Aria’s POVThe first thing I felt when I woke up was warmth. Softness. Comfort. For a moment, I let myself sink into it, my body instinctively relaxing against the mattress. But as consciousness fully set in, confusion followed. My eyes fluttered open, and the familiar sight of the bedroom came into focus. The realization hit me like a jolt. I was in Gabriel’s bed.My heart lurched.I hadn’t slept here in months. Not since that night. Not since everything between Gabriel and me had gone from unbearable to something even worse, something unfixable.I had kept my distance since then, choosing the couch over sharing this space with him. It wasn’t just about avoiding him; it was about me. About respecting myself. I refused to let myself be reduced to some fragile woman who clung to a man who didn’t even want her there. A sluggish heaviness weighed down on my limbs, like I had been wrung out and left to dry. Even as I sat up, a strange fatigue clung to me, making every movement feel slow
Aria's POVI pushed the thought aside, forcing my mind to focus on something other than the unsettling weight of last night.I wasn’t about to sit here and analyze why Gabriel had helped me. That wasn’t something I needed to think about. What I needed was space, air and a distraction.I turned away from him, heading toward the bathroom for a shower. Not just because I had just woken up, but because I needed to wash off the remnants of last night. The heaviness in my chest. The way Gabriel's voice had been the one pulling me out of my panic. The thought of him carrying me here.I couldn’t think about any of that.So, without another word, I grabbed my towel and headed straight to the bathroom, locking the door behind me before Gabriel could say anything else.I let the water run hot, standing under the stream for longer than necessary. My muscles ached, my body still felt heavy, but by the time I stepped out, I was at least more awake. I wrapped the towel around me, wiped the steam off
Aria’s PovThe restaurant buzzed with the usual weekend crowd—brunch-goers sipping on mimosas, forks clinking against porcelain plates, and soft laughter weaving through the background noise. But my attention was locked on the entrance.Minutes passes and then, I saw them.Nicole. Jenna. Liv. My girls.Three hurricanes walking into a room—effortless, loud, and completely unapologetic.Before I could react, I was engulfed in a hug—Nicole’s arms tight around me, her silky black bob brushing against my cheek. She smelled like expensive perfume, the kind that lingered even after she left the room. “Do you know how much we missed you?” she huffed, pulling back just enough to scan me from head to toe. Her sharp brown eyes sparkled with mischief. “Look at you. Hair done. Nails done. Dripping in money. You look rich.”I scoffed. “I look the same.”“Oh my God, I can’t believe you’re actually married now,” Liv gasped, holding me at arm’s length. Her sun-kissed blonde waves were lighter from the
Gabriel’s POVSaturdays used to be mine.No meetings, no endless calls, no forced conversations. Just quiet.Some mornings, I’d work out in the private gym, the rhythmic sound of weights grounding me. Other days, I’d spend hours in my study, reading reports or reviewing investments, uninterrupted. If I felt like it, I’d take the car out for a long drive with no destination—just me, the road, and silence.But that silence had been harder to find ever since I got married.I told myself nothing had changed. That I still did what I wanted, when I wanted.And yet, here I was, sitting in my private lounge, drink in hand, watching her.The live feed played on my screen, and my eyes were locked onto it. Locked onto her.Aria sat in the corner of the restaurant, completely unaware that I could see her. She was smiling—really smiling. Not the forced, polite one she gave me. Not the blank look she used when she wanted to ignore me. This was different. Effortless. Real.I let out a slow breath, s
Gabriel’s POVThe moment I ended the call with Edward, I grabbed my keys and strode toward the garage, my mind a storm of calculations and frustration.She had insisted on leaving.I had been on my way. I had told Edward to not leave the restaurant before I got there. But Aria, being stubborn and impossible, had decided otherwise.I yanked open the driver’s side door and slid in, the engine roaring to life beneath my grip. As I pulled out of the driveway, I was already dialing Jonathan.He picked up immediately.“I need you tracking a vehicle. Grey sedan, following my wife’s car. Edward just confirmed it.”I couldn’t stop myself before I said it. My wife.There was no hesitation. “I’m on it.”“Get me everything. Were they waiting before she left? Did they tail her from the restaurant?”A few clicks on Jonathan’s end. Then: “They were parked a block away before she even stepped outside.”My jaw tightened. That confirmed it. This wasn’t a coincidence.“They’re taking the alternate route
Gabriel’s POVI exhaled, rolling my shoulders back before turning to her.I pulled open the passenger door, and the first thing that hit me was the sharp, acidic scent of vomit. Aria sat stiffly, her hands clenched into tight fists on her lap, her body tense. Her face was turned away from me, her breath shallow, and even in the dim light, I could see the way her shoulders shook ever so slightly.She was embarrassed.“Edward, take the car home,” I ordered, already reaching for her. “She’s coming with me.”Edward nodded.I didn’t give her the chance to speak. Instead, I reached for her—gently, but firmly. “Come here.”She hesitated, her pride forcing her to resist, but I didn’t let her. I slid one arm beneath her legs and the other around her back, and lifted her out of the car, cradling her against my chest. She weighed nothing. Her breath hitched.“I—”“Quiet.”Her body went rigid, but she didn’t fight me as I carried her toward my car. The scent of vomit lingered between us, but I di
Gabriel’s POV The ride home was silent. Aria had fallen asleep somewhere along the way, curled up in the passenger seat with my jacket wrapped around her. She looked exhausted. Frail, even. But at least she wasn’t shivering anymore. I kept one hand on the wheel and the other adjusting the jacket over her every now and then, making sure she was warm. My driving was slower than usual—not just because I didn’t want to wake her, but because I didn’t want her panicking again. I’d seen it happen before. I wasn’t about to let it happen again tonight. As I pulled into the mansion’s driveway, my phone buzzed in the cupholder. Grandma. I exhaled sharply before answering. “You’re home?” she asked, skipping the pleasantries. “Yes.” I cut the engine. She sighed. “How is she?” “Sleeping.” I glanced at Aria, who was still motionless in the seat beside me. “She had a panic attack.” There was a pause. “I heard,” she said, voice quieter. “Jonathan called me.” Of course, he did.
ARIA’S POVI needed air. Space. Sanity. Something.The second I stormed out of that office, I didn’t stop walking. I just kept going. Past the hallway, past the fake smiles and curious stares, until I hit the rooftop door and shoved it open.Cold wind rushed against my skin like it knew I was seconds from losing it. I walked to the edge, gripped the metal railing, and let out a breath that trembled against the fury in my chest.What the hell was he doing here?Of all the damn places on earth. Colorado. My job. My world.And now he was standing there like a ghost that refused to stay buried.I heard footsteps behind me, and my stomach sank.“Ari…”Of course.I didn’t turn. “Don’t come near me.”“I just want to talk.”I turned then, slow, sharp. “You’ve done enough talking, Gabriel. You did all your talking with that divorce paper.”He flinched, just slightly, but I didn’t stop.“You made me leave, without a word. No explanation. Nothing. And now what? You show up here, what? You buy th
Aria’s POVSofia leaned in, her voice just above a whisper. “I mean… I can’t speak on that. But apparently, the new CEO is holding private meetings with all the department heads today before he meets everyone officially. There’s no official memo or calendar update, but people are talking.”I blinked, a sudden unease crawling up my spine. “Talking how?”She tapped her phone. “From what I heard, he’s already met with Marketing and Sales. PR is in there now. Editorial is next.”“What?” I froze.Editorial. That’s my department.How am I just hearing about this now? Why didn’t I get any sort of information?I forced a smile, mumbled a quick thank-you, and nodded before heading to my desk. My chest was heavy with nerves. I really hoped I wouldn’t have to start from scratch again. I’d just begun to find my rhythm here. It finally felt like I was getting a foothold—finally stepping into the future I’d envisioned for myself. Event planning wasn’t just a job to me; it was my second chance. A wa
Aria's POVWe’d been sitting here for a while now, settled into our booth, chatting like it was just any other evening. Dylan was easy to talk to, surprisingly so. Maybe I’d been wrong about him. He wasn’t exactly my type, but he wasn’t a bad guy. Actually, he had a way of making me laugh without trying too hard. Maybe that was a nice change.I couldn’t help but smile as he raised an eyebrow at the wine list. “How do you choose between something like this and something more... adventurous?” He gave me a teasing look, like he knew what I was thinking.“Well, you have to be in the mood for it,” I replied, leaning back in the booth, still looking at my menu. “But sometimes, it’s about taking a risk. You know?”He chuckled, the sound warm and easy. “Taking risks, huh? Yeah, I can get behind that. I’ve had my share of those.” He shrugged casually, almost nonchalantly. “Started my own company with almost no money. Almost lost it all, but it worked out. Sometimes you just have to take the le
Gabriel’s POV“Make sure they have the revised proposal by tomorrow morning,” I said, my voice firm as I scanned the papers in front of me, focusing on the numbers that would determine the next phase.Jonathan didn’t need reminding. He was already typing on his laptop, his eyes fixed on the screen, furiously going through the details. “Already on it. They’ll have it. Anything else before we call it a day?”I leaned back, dragging a hand through my hair, and checked my pocket watch. Her pretty face stared back at me through the glass, and it took me a moment to remember why I’d pulled it out in the first place, but my gaze quickly shifted to the time: past 8 p.m. I’d been at this for hours, but the job wasn’t done yet. There was no ‘normal’ workday when you were closing deals that would change the face of a city.I hadn’t wanted to be in DC. To be honest, I hadn’t wanted to be anywhere but in the comfort of familiar things, and by familiar things, I mean being in Colorado right now. Bu
Aria’s POV"Ugh, I swear," Jenna groaned, tugging her hair into a messy bun on screen. "If one more designer tries to sell me a ‘reinvention of classic minimalism’ that’s just a white shirt with a pocket, I’m quitting.""You’ve said that three times this year," Liv teased, propped up against a stack of pillows in what looked like a dreamy Airbnb. “Also, that white shirt is probably $700.”"Don’t remind me," Jenna rolled her eyes. “God forbid minimalism be affordable.”Nicole gave a small laugh as she scrolled through something on her iPad. “Meanwhile, I had to convince a luxury skincare brand today that launching a ‘gritty street-style’ campaign with models in couture was not... the vibe.”Liv made a face. "What does that even mean?"“Exactly,” Nicole said. “I think they just throw buzzwords into a blender and hope for the best.”I smiled quietly, watching them talk. I didn’t say much at first; I just listened. It had been a while since we were all on a call like this together, and so
Gabriel’s POV “You’ve got some nerve, Gabriel, coming all the way to Mexico to call for a truce. Do you really think you can reason with a man like me?” Diego’s voice dripped with venom, each word hanging in the air like a challenge. His eyes were cold, unblinking as they locked onto mine. I met his gaze with the same intensity, my voice calm and controlled. “I’m not here to fight, Diego. I’m here to talk. Nothing more, nothing less.” Diego’s sneer deepened, but I held my ground, my mind already retracing the events of the past two weeks. The eye-opening conversation I’d had with my father. The family dynamics. Diego’s past. My father had spoken of the years of bitterness Diego carried, the resentment born from how my grandfather had abandoned him and the death of his mother, a death he believed we were responsible for. But that conversation had been only the beginning. A week later, Andrew had dropped the real bombshell: documents that could bring Diego down. These weren’t
Gabriel's POVI didn’t say a word as the jet took off. The conversation with my father sat heavily in my mind, but I forced it aside. For now.I leaned back in my seat, exhaling slowly. The cabin lights were dim, casting a muted glow over the polished wood and leather. The hum of the engines was steady, almost soothing.Then, almost instinctively, I reached into my pocket.The familiar weight of the pocket watch pressed against my palm, cool and solid. I flicked it open with my thumb. The soft click echoed louder than it should have in the silence.And there she was, her pretty face staring back at me. My Ari, my angel. The picture was taken in our bedroom, a moment I’d stolen when she had no idea. She was in her natural state, completely unaware of the camera in my hand. Her hair was a little wild from sleep, and her eyes had that soft, distant look that made her so damn beautiful. It was a simple shot, but I loved it, because it was her, in the most authentic and unguarded way. I ha
Gabriel's POVThe silence stretched between us, thick and suffocating. The air in my father's living room felt heavier than before, like the walls had closed in around us.I forced myself to breathe. To stay still. To absorb what I had just heard.Diego was family.I sat down, my body moving before my mind could fully catch up. “Explain,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm inside me.Andrew didn’t speak immediately. He reached for the bottle of whiskey on the table, poured himself another glass, and stared into the amber liquid like it held the past itself. “You think you know the Deveraux family,” he said. “But you don’t. Not really.”I said nothing.He let out a slow breath. “This goes back to Richard,” he began. “My father. Your grandfather.”I knew that name well. The man who built the Deveraux empire. The man everyone claimed was ruthless, brilliant, untouchable.Andrew continued, “Richard had an affair while on a business trip to Mexico. A woman, who wasn’t just some mist
Gabriel's POVTCA wasn’t new to me. I had trained here for years, stepping into the ring whenever I needed an outlet. Back then, it was about control, about reminding myself that power wasn’t just about wealth or influence, it was about knowing I could end a fight before it even started.But now, it wasn’t about control.It was about survival.I adjusted my stance, muscles coiled with tension as Cole, my personal trainer, circled me. His gaze was sharp, unreadable, assessing, calculating. There was no sympathy in his eyes, no wasted words. Just the demand for perfection."You’re too slow," he said flatly. "Again."TCA wasn’t a regular gym. It was where professionals trained; fighters, bodyguards, men who understood that losing wasn’t an option.There were no influencers shadowboxing in front of mirrors, no weekend warriors pretending to be something they weren’t. This was a place for men who needed to be ready for war.I wasn’t new to combat, but this wasn’t about street fights or bru