Aria’s POVVictor’s words hovered in the silence. I stared at him, my breath catching in my chest. His eyes were searching mine, filled with hope. I wanted to speak, to respond to his words, but my voice was trapped, tangled in the flood of emotions rising within me. I really hadn’t expected this,
I didn’t know how to respond. Part of me wanted to tell him no, to slam the door shut and protect myself from the risk of getting hurt again. But another part of me still loved him dearly and was still hoping that we could have another chance and that we could be a family together with Jasmine somed
Victor’s POVOnce Samuel finally left, the tension in the room seemed to ease a little, but only for a moment. Aria was already lying back on the bed, her eyes closed. Whether she was truly asleep or pretending to avoid us, I couldn’t tell. Maybe she was pissed off, and honestly, I couldn’t blame he
Victor’s POVNo, I did not hit Samuel. But damn, it was hard not to. Luckily, my phone rang in time. I glanced at the screen and saw the number of the private investigator I’d hired. I answered quickly, trying to push down the irritation inside me. In my peripheral vision, I saw Samuel going back i
Aria’s POVI watched Victor’s face as he read the message on his phone. His expression shifted from casual to one of intense focus, his eyes narrowing as he absorbed the information. I could tell it was something important, maybe even alarming.“Who’s that from?” I asked curiously.He hesitated, gla
Victor’s POVI watched, my heart pounding in my chest, as the scene outside the clinic unfolded in real-time. The man sprinting away from the clinic had a look of sheer panic on his face, while Arthur, determined and focused, was closing in on him.I turned to Aria, my voice sharp with concern. “Sta
Aria’s POVI sank into the plush comfort of my couch, the exhaustion of the evening finally catching up with me. Victor had finally gone home upon my insistence. He has to rest too, after all, or he’ll be the one to get sick next. Suddenly, the doorbell rang. I rose, the faintest trace of a smile t
Aria’s POVA few days later, I was back at Velvet Vibe, immersing myself in what I was passionate about — creating new scents. The studio was a sanctuary of creativity, filled with the rich aromas of various fragrances. I was especially excited about a new project: a perfume for men.As I mixed and
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