Aria’s POVI hesitated, my thoughts racing as I instinctively reached for the vase again, clutching it as if it were the only thing that could protect me. My gaze shifted between Pierre and the hallway stretching out behind him. My heart was pounding fast again, uncertain whether to trust him, even
Aria’s POVMy breath caught in my throat as I looked up at the man blocking my way. “Excuse me,” I managed to say, trying not to sound afraid. But the man didn’t budge. Instead, his gaze remained fixed on me, as if sizing me up, deciding what to do next. My pulse quickened, and I glanced around, ho
Victor’s POVThe gala was winding down, the ballroom slowly emptying as guests made their way to the exits. I could see my mother still chattering away animatedly. I’d long since tuned her out, though. Her incessant talk about Shane had become a relentless drone in my ears, and I was growing increas
Victor’s POV“We need to find her,” I said, half-running toward the direction that Jessica was pointing to. My mind was racing with various worst-case scenarios, and it was making me more fearful as time passed by. What if she’s hurt? What if someone had taken advantage of the chaos to harm her? Je
Victor’s POV"Stay with us, Aria. You hear me?" I urged in a trembling voice. My grip on her hand tightened, and I could feel the coolness of her skin. But she still remained unresponsive. The paramedic beside me was moving quickly, checking Aria’s vitals with a practiced efficiency that only heigh
Jessica finally caught up with me, her face pale and drawn. “Victor, what did they say? How is she?”I shook my head, unable to find the words. “They haven’t told me anything yet,” I managed to whisper. Just then, a doctor emerged from the ER, his expression grave. My heart dropped as he approached
Victor’s POV“Clear!” the doctor shouted, and I watched as Aria’s body jerked from the shock of the defibrillator. I felt as if my heart was about to explode as I leaned against a nearby wall, watching helplessly as the medical team surrounded her. The heart monitor continued its unforgiving flatli
“Victor…” Aria began, her face filled with anxiety. “It was Shane who had introduced him to me before. They used to be classmates.”I felt my heart race and my anger seemed to jump several notches higher. Now that’s really troubling news. I’ll have to have it investigated. Aria closed her eyes, loo
Aria’s POVThe fireworks boomed across the sky, lighting up the darkness in bursts of vibrant red, gold, and silver. Jasmine’s gasp of excitement broke through the lingering tension in my chest, and I let out a shaky laugh.“It’s just fireworks,” I said aloud, more to reassure myself than anyone els
Victor’s POVThe laughter started the moment we arrived at the theme park and never seemed to stop. Jasmine darted ahead, pulling us toward the entrance with uncontainable energy, her small hand gripping mine tightly. The park was a kaleidoscope of colors and sounds—twinkling lights, cheerful music
Aria’s POVThe ride home was quiet, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. Victor’s hand rested on the gearshift, his fingers brushing mine occasionally. Each accidental touch sent a warm ripple through me, leaving me feeling both nervous and giddy. My heart was still dancing from the events of the night befo
The next morning, The sunlight streaming through the curtains was the first thing I noticed as I stirred awake. As I blinked against the light, memories of the previous night surged back like a wave, crashing over me with startling clarity. My breath hitched, and I sat up quickly, clutching the blan
Aria’s POV"Victor," I murmured breathlessly, barely recognizing my own voice. "Aria," he whispered back, his tone filled with a hunger that matched my own. His lips found mine again, urgent and unrelenting.We stumbled together through the hallway, his hands sliding beneath my blouse, fingertips s
Aria’s POVI jumped from the table, my heart still pounding in my chest, and headed toward the studio door. “Stay here,” I said softly, though my voice wavered with some nervousness and the remaining heat. The air between us still sizzled, making it almost impossible to think clearly.Carefully, I o
When we finally pulled apart, both of us were breathless. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips slightly swollen, and her eyes—God, those eyes—shone with an emotion I didn’t dare put a name to just yet.I rested my forehead against hers, trying to catch my breath as I spoke. “Aria… you’re everything to
Victor’s POVThe entire evening had been a cascade of emotions—love, happiness, nostalgia—and now, standing here, my heart felt like it might burst. I looked at Aria, her expression a mix of hope and nerves as she waited for my reaction. The painting, the bottles, the thought behind it all—it was ov
Aria’s POV“Still thinking of work at this hour?” he teased, his tone light and playful. “Should I be worried you’re pulling me into a midnight brainstorming session?”I glanced back at him, rolling my eyes with a laugh. “Trust me, it’s not that. Just wait. You’ll see.”We reached the entrance of my