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
He smiled, and I noticed the way his eyes never left mine, a look of genuine interest and care shining through. “You always have a way of making things feel… personal. That’s what I love about your work.”His words made me pause. The sincerity in his voice struck me, and I felt my heart skip a beat.
Aria’s POVThe sun filtered gently through the sheer curtains, casting golden stripes across the kitchen floor. Outside, the wind rustled the trees in soft waves, the kind of quiet that used to feel like a luxury—but now, it felt like a miracle.I stood barefoot by the open window, sipping tea, watc
Aria’s POV"There they are! By the dock!"The shout tore through the air like a whipcrack. My heart jumped."Get down, Jasmine!" I hissed, pulling her low into the hull of the boat.More frenzied shouts followed, echoing from behind the locked boathouse door. Then came the unmistakable sound of spli
Aria’s POVThe tunnel walls closed in the farther we ran, the air thick with dust and something ancient, something forgotten. The flickering light from my phone barely illuminated the path ahead as Jasmine and I rushed forward, our footsteps echoing off the stone.We had no idea where we were going—
Victor’s POVThe moment Greco grabbed my mother’s arm, I saw red.Alicia struggled against Greco’s grasp, her body twisting as she tried to wrench herself free. But his grip was unyielding—ironclad. His smirk darkened, turning into something twisted, dangerous."You always were stubborn," Greco murm
Aria’s POVI grabbed Jasmine’s hand and pulled her close, my pulse hammering as I ran toward the secret door. My fingers fumbled with the hidden latch, my breath short and uneven. Come on, come on—Click.I shoved the door open just enough for us to slip inside before sealing it shut behind us. The
Victor’s POVThe moment the man at the far table shifted, my entire body went rigid. One second, he was still, the next, his hand dipped into his jacket.A gun? A knife?I was ready to move. One wrong twitch from him, and I’d take him down before he could even stand. My pulse pounded in my ears as I
Aria’s POV"Are Jasmine and I the real targets?" I whispered to myself, the thought chilling me to my core.No. That was silly. I was being paranoid.I shook my head, trying to dismiss the fear that had settled like ice in my veins. The bodyguards said they needed to secure the cabin, and logically,
Aria’s POVI stared at my phone, my fingers gripping it so tightly that my knuckles ached. Still nothing. No calls. No messages. The meeting had to be happening now, but I had no idea what was going on.I tried dialing Victor again. Straight to voicemail. Samuel? No response either.A pit of dread s
Victor’s POVThe new location was a damn ghost town. An old diner stood alone at the edge of the road, its flickering neon sign barely casting enough light to illuminate the cracked pavement in front.Samuel and I sat in the car, staring at the building through the windshield. "This place is dead,"