Aria slowly opened her eyes, taking in her surroundings. The glaring white ceiling was the first thing she noticed, followed by the steady beeping of the monitor beside her. The sterile smell of disinfectant lingered in the air, a sharp reminder of where she was. Her vision blurred momentarily as she tried to adjust to the bright lights, blinking several times before her eyes finally began to focus.The effort to open her eyes fully left her feeling drained, her body still weak. She tried to sit up, but her muscles refused to cooperate, and she collapsed back onto the bed with a thud. A sharp pain pierced her head, forcing her to raise her hand instinctively to her forehead, only to find it wrapped in bandages. And then it hit her—the memory of Ethan, his threatening words, the struggle, and the fall. Her heart raced at the recollection.Turning her head slowly, she noticed a figure slouched against the couch near her bed. His head was tilted slightly, eyes closed, his features soften
"Alexander, I didn't mean to hurt Grandma," Aria said softly, her hand still holding his. Her voice was shaky, the guilt and fear clear in her eyes as she gazed up at him. Alexander's eyes flickered to where her fingers were wrapped around his hand, and for a moment, there was something unreadable in his expression. Clearing his throat, he looked back at her, causing Aria to realize what she was doing. She quickly pulled her hand away, her face flushing with embarrassment."Please, can you give me another chance?" she asked, her voice wavering. Her fingers fidgeted nervously in her lap as she awaited his response. "Let me continue to take care of Grandma."Alexander regarded her for a moment before speaking, his tone steady but distant. "Just rest and focus on your recovery. Someone else is taking care of Grandma for now." He paused, his gaze softening slightly. "Let the chefs handle her meals. You don't have to do everything yourself."Aria's heart lifted with hope. ‘Does that mean I
What am I going to do? Aria’s thoughts spiraled as she hurriedly texted Ethan the location for their meeting. Anxiety gnawed at her, but she felt she had no choice. Her pulse quickened with each step as she sneaked out of the hospital. She knew it was dangerous to confront Ethan alone, but the fear of those compromising photos being leaked was even greater.Meanwhile, Alexander was in the car, heading back to the hospital with his assistant, Lucas. The atmosphere was calm until Lucas suddenly pointed out of the window."Look, isn’t that young madam?" Lucas said, squinting to see through the dimly lit street.Alexander, who had been scrolling through his phone, glanced up. His face darkened when he spotted Aria, heading towards a figure he recognized all too well."Pull over," Alexander commanded coldly.Lucas quickly obeyed, stopping the car and rushing to open the door for his boss. They both stepped out, moving cautiously toward the shadows."Mr. Alexander... that guy looks like Eth
Aria walked briskly towards Ethan, clutching a package tightly in her hands. She knew she couldn’t give him the $5 million he had demanded, but she had to offer something to keep him from releasing those incriminating photos. Her heart raced as she neared him, her mind calculating the risks of this encounter. She had no other choice.Ethan, standing in the shadows, glared at her as she approached. His expression darkened further when he snatched the package from her hands and quickly opened it.“What is this?” he barked, his face contorted with anger. “I asked for $5 million, and you’re bringing this?” His voice was full of disdain.Aria remained calm, determined not to show weakness. “These were given to me by my grandmother,” she retorted. “Every piece in that package is priceless and costs several millions on the market.”Ethan sneered. “Several millions? I don’t need artifacts, Aria. How do you expect me to spend these?” His anger boiled over, but there was also a hint of greed in
"Mr. Sinclair, we've tracked down Ethan's location," Lucas reported after ending a call with one of Alexander's operatives. "He's with a woman. Hopefully, it's young madam." From the rearview mirror, Lucas could see Alexander's cold, unblinking gaze. The intensity sent a chill down Lucas's spine, and he swallowed hard, knowing the urgency of the situation. "What are you waiting for? Go after them," Alexander commanded, his voice like ice. "Yes, sir." Lucas immediately navigated the car toward the coordinates, heading to a secluded hotel on the outskirts of town. He pushed the car to its limits, the speedometer climbing as Alexander’s eyes remained fixed on the road ahead, his brow furrowed in concentration and worry. Soon, they pulled up to the hotel. Alexander stepped out of the car and strode toward the room number they’d been given. Lucas followed closely, ready to back him up. Without hesitatio
Lucas drove Alexander straight to the hospital, urgently calling out for Dr. Hensley as he supported Alexander into the doctor’s office. Dr. Hensley stood up abruptly, his face tensing at Alexander's condition. He quickly approached them. “How could it be this serious?”“I don’t know,” Lucas replied, worry etched across his face. “He’s not responding to any medication. We’ve tried everything, but nothing is working.”Dr. Hensley grabbed an assortment of medicines and injections from his counter, swiftly administering them. After several minutes, though, Alexander’s condition remained unchanged. The doctor’s expression darkened as he assessed him. “This isn’t right… he should have shown some response by now.”Lucas looked at Alexander with growing anxiety. “How could this happen? Mr. Alexander, please hang on,” he urged desperation creeping into his voice. He turned to Dr. Hensley, pleading, “Doc, do something—anything.”“Give me a moment,” Dr
Alexander’s piercing gaze locked onto Aria as he crossed his arms, his tone demanding, “Won't you explain it to me? Why are you here?” His eyes narrowed, searching her face for a hint of truth.Aria shifted uneasily on the hospital bed, casting her eyes downward as her fingers fidgeted with the blanket. “Alexander…” She hesitated, her voice wavering as though each word was weighed down with hidden guilt. “A friend of mine… He came to visit me at the hospital. We had an argument, and he… drugged me with a handkerchief.” She swallowed, taking a shaky breath before continuing. “I woke up in a moving vehicle, and when he wasn’t watching, I managed to jump out and run. After that, I don’t remember anything. The next thing I knew, I woke up here.”Alexander’s expression darkened, disappointment and anger blending into his features. His jaw tightened as he let her words settle. She’s still protecting that bastard. His anger simmered just below the surface, frustration filling his chest. How
At the hospital reception, a group of nurses huddled together, their voices low as they exchanged shocked glances over the trending photos online. The images on their screens were unmistakably scandalous, and a mixture of disbelief and judgment colored their expressions.“I heard she married Mr. Sinclair for his money,” one nurse whispered, her eyes glued to the images. “I didn’t believe it at first, but it’s true, isn’t it? She even sleeps around with older men!”The second nurse shook her head, disgust painting her features. “I thought she was actually from a wealthy family, but it turns out she just married him to get a respectable, fake identity. Honestly, I feel bad for Mr. Sinclair—having a shameless wife like that.”As their hushed gossip filled the reception area, Jessica lingered nearby, a sly smile playing on her lips. This was the exact reaction she had hoped for when she leaked those photos. Perfect, she thought, savoring every whispered insult directed at Aria. Her plan w
Alexander suddenly broke the silence. “Let’s go down for breakfast. Grandma should be expecting us by now,” he said, his voice steady and calm.“Yes,” Aria responded quickly, nodding as she pushed back the blanket.Getting out of bed, she froze as she realized this wasn’t her room. Her gaze darted around the unfamiliar space, and her cheeks flushed when she recalled how she ended up there. They needed to freshen up before stepping out, but the thought of sharing the room and perhaps the bathroom with Alexander made her fidget nervously.“Uhm... are you using the bathroom first, or should I?” she asked, flustered, her fingers nervously brushing her hair behind her ear.“You can go first,” Alexander replied, his tone calm as he cleared his throat, his gaze briefly flicking to her flustered expression.Aria nodded, grabbed her toiletries, and practically dashed into the bathroom as though her life depended on it. Alexander watched her retreating form, a smirk tugging at the corners of hi
Alexander stirred awake, the gentle morning light slipping through the thick curtains and casting a golden glow across the room. His body felt unusually warm and relaxed, a stark contrast to the rigid nights he usually spent alone. As his eyes fluttered open, the source of that comfort became apparent—Aria was curled against him, her body nestled snugly in his arms.For a moment, he remained still, watching her sleep. Her face, so peaceful and unguarded, was bathed in the soft morning light. The faint curve of her lips, the delicate flutter of her eyelashes against her cheeks, and the subtle rise and fall of her chest were all hypnotic. She looked fragile, as though the slightest movement might wake her and break the spell of serenity surrounding them.A strand of hair had fallen across her cheek, obscuring her face. Unable to resist, Alexander gently brushed it back, his fingers grazing her soft skin. Her scent drifted to him again, stirring something deep within. It wasn’t just her
Jessica wasted no time setting her plan into motion. She quickly called the housekeeper, offering a hefty bribe to go through Aria’s belongings, locate the contract, and leave it somewhere Grandma would easily find it. The housekeeper did as instructed, carefully placing the contract between the pages of Grandma’s favorite book.Later, as Grandma settled down to read, the document slipped out, catching her attention. She scanned the pages, and her face paled. Heart pounding, she called out, her voice ringing through the house just as Aria and Alexander returned from the hospital.“Aria! Alexander! Come here, now!” Grandma’s tone was sharp and urgent.Aria rushed to her side, her face creased with worry. “What’s wrong, Grandma? Are you feeling alright?”Grandma’s gaze was icy as she held up the document, her hand trembling. “Aria, why have you conspired with Alexander to deceive me?”Aria froze, completely bewildered. “Grandma, what are you talking about?”Alexander entered the room at
'When you're dead, let me see how you will stop me and Alexander,' Jessica thought, glancing at her phone with a wicked grin.Just then, the sound of footsteps made her snap out of her dark thoughts. She quickly stashed her phone away as Alexander walked into the room."Alexander," she greeted, her voice instantly shifting to a gentle, vulnerable tone.Alexander’s expression was cold. "Didn't I ask you not to come here anymore?"Jessica forced a slight pout, feigning hurt. "I came in for a physical examination and happened to hear the rumors going around in the hospital. I was only worried about Grandma and came to check up on her. But since Grandma doesn't like me, I won’t come here anymore." She looked down, playing the victim to perfection.Alexander’s eyes narrowed, clearly not buying her act. "I've warned you before—don’t agitate Grandma again," he said sharply, issuing what felt like a final warning as he walked out of the room without another glance.Jessica clenched her fists,
"Aria, what's going on with these photos?" Alexander questioned.Oh no, despite everything, those photos are out, Aria thought sadly, fidgeting with her fingers.This foolish woman, Alexander's thoughts darkened as he watched her reaction. She clearly knows what I'm talking about without even needing to look at the pictures. This might be exactly what that bastard was threatening her with. You were clearly in trouble, yet you couldn’t tell me. You still dare to try and solve it alone? Fine, let’s see how you handle this.He hardened his gaze. "I ask again, are these photos real?”Aria’s heart raced as Alexander continued to look at her, his eyes unyielding, as though waiting for her to either confirm or deny what the photos implied. She felt trapped, every word she thought of swallowed by fear. But she knew she had to speak, to tell the truth, to explain. But faced with his demanding eyes, she fumbled for words. “Alexander… they’re not real,” she managed to say, shaking her head.“She
At the hospital reception, a group of nurses huddled together, their voices low as they exchanged shocked glances over the trending photos online. The images on their screens were unmistakably scandalous, and a mixture of disbelief and judgment colored their expressions.“I heard she married Mr. Sinclair for his money,” one nurse whispered, her eyes glued to the images. “I didn’t believe it at first, but it’s true, isn’t it? She even sleeps around with older men!”The second nurse shook her head, disgust painting her features. “I thought she was actually from a wealthy family, but it turns out she just married him to get a respectable, fake identity. Honestly, I feel bad for Mr. Sinclair—having a shameless wife like that.”As their hushed gossip filled the reception area, Jessica lingered nearby, a sly smile playing on her lips. This was the exact reaction she had hoped for when she leaked those photos. Perfect, she thought, savoring every whispered insult directed at Aria. Her plan w
Alexander’s piercing gaze locked onto Aria as he crossed his arms, his tone demanding, “Won't you explain it to me? Why are you here?” His eyes narrowed, searching her face for a hint of truth.Aria shifted uneasily on the hospital bed, casting her eyes downward as her fingers fidgeted with the blanket. “Alexander…” She hesitated, her voice wavering as though each word was weighed down with hidden guilt. “A friend of mine… He came to visit me at the hospital. We had an argument, and he… drugged me with a handkerchief.” She swallowed, taking a shaky breath before continuing. “I woke up in a moving vehicle, and when he wasn’t watching, I managed to jump out and run. After that, I don’t remember anything. The next thing I knew, I woke up here.”Alexander’s expression darkened, disappointment and anger blending into his features. His jaw tightened as he let her words settle. She’s still protecting that bastard. His anger simmered just below the surface, frustration filling his chest. How
Lucas drove Alexander straight to the hospital, urgently calling out for Dr. Hensley as he supported Alexander into the doctor’s office. Dr. Hensley stood up abruptly, his face tensing at Alexander's condition. He quickly approached them. “How could it be this serious?”“I don’t know,” Lucas replied, worry etched across his face. “He’s not responding to any medication. We’ve tried everything, but nothing is working.”Dr. Hensley grabbed an assortment of medicines and injections from his counter, swiftly administering them. After several minutes, though, Alexander’s condition remained unchanged. The doctor’s expression darkened as he assessed him. “This isn’t right… he should have shown some response by now.”Lucas looked at Alexander with growing anxiety. “How could this happen? Mr. Alexander, please hang on,” he urged desperation creeping into his voice. He turned to Dr. Hensley, pleading, “Doc, do something—anything.”“Give me a moment,” Dr
"Mr. Sinclair, we've tracked down Ethan's location," Lucas reported after ending a call with one of Alexander's operatives. "He's with a woman. Hopefully, it's young madam." From the rearview mirror, Lucas could see Alexander's cold, unblinking gaze. The intensity sent a chill down Lucas's spine, and he swallowed hard, knowing the urgency of the situation. "What are you waiting for? Go after them," Alexander commanded, his voice like ice. "Yes, sir." Lucas immediately navigated the car toward the coordinates, heading to a secluded hotel on the outskirts of town. He pushed the car to its limits, the speedometer climbing as Alexander’s eyes remained fixed on the road ahead, his brow furrowed in concentration and worry. Soon, they pulled up to the hotel. Alexander stepped out of the car and strode toward the room number they’d been given. Lucas followed closely, ready to back him up. Without hesitatio