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 POVI felt drained, both physically and emotionally. The medication was making me groggy, and despite my attempts to stay alert, my body was demanding rest. As I stared at the image of the garden on Jessica’s phone, the reality of the situation began to settle heavily on me. Shane's involvem
Aria’s POVVictor stood up, his lips pressed into a tight line. He gave Samuel a curt nod, acknowledging his presence but offering no warmth. “Samuel,” he greeted with clipped formality.Samuel didn’t spare Victor another glance. His focus was solely on me as he hurried to my bedside. “Aria, how are
Victor’s POVI stood outside my mother’s door, holding Jasmine’s hand as I knocked twice. She shifted beside me, her fingers fidgeting with her sweater.The door opened, and Alicia stood there, surprise flickering in her sharp blue eyes as she took in the sight of us.“Victor,” she said, then her ga
Aria’s POVI swirled the glass vial in my hand, watching as the pale amber liquid coated the sides before settling again. The scent profile still wasn’t quite right, but I was close—so close I could almost taste it.The Velvet Vibe lab was quiet except for the soft hum of the air filtration system a
Aria’s POVI watched Victor, his face an impenetrable mask, his hand still holding mine. My heart ached for him, but to my own surprise, I felt something else too—pity for Alicia. For years, I had harbored resentment toward her, believing she had always looked down on me, dismissed me as unworthy o
Victor’s POVConfusion, anger, and apprehension swirled inside me, an unyielding force I couldn’t contain. I had no idea what I was walking into, but I knew one thing—I needed answers.As we pulled up in front of my mother’s house, I saw the glow of light through the living room window. She was stil
Aria’s POVThe revelation settled over us like a looming storm cloud, dense and unrelenting. Antonio Greco wasn’t just some powerful mafia boss—he had been the one controlling Shane. That alone was unsettling enough. My mind spun as I connected the dots. Shane had spent years trying to tear down Th
Victor’s POVThe moment we stepped into The Mirage, the air seemed to constrict around us. It felt as if we were being watched every step of the way.Overhead chandeliers sputtered in their golden glow, illuminating the velvet walls in fractured patterns, as if the very light was hesitant to linger
Victor’s POVWhen I arrived home, I found Aria in the garden, staring off into space, her arms wrapped around herself as a cool evening breeze swept through. The soft rustling of leaves was the only sound, the usual laughter of Jasmine absent. I knew she was in the playroom with the nanny, giving Ar
Victor’s POVI wasn’t going to let Aria face this alone.The moment I left our last conversation, I knew I had to take action. If there was a leak in my company, I needed to root it out myself. I refused to let this drive a wedge between us. She had to see that I was on her side, that there was no r
Aria’s POVI paced the length of the lab, arms crossed tightly over my chest, while Jessica sat on the stool near the counter, watching me with concern. The vials of stolen work still sat between us, a silent testament to the treachery lurking in our midst, waiting to be exposed.“We need a plan,” J