Victor’s POVBack in my office, I was lost in thought, staring out at the city lights twinkling below through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows. I poured myself another glass of wine, savoring the bitter taste that matched my mood.Aria’s voice broke the silence. “Do you want to talk about it?”I s
Aria’s POVAs I dialed Victor’s driver, I couldn’t help but steal glances at him. The vulnerability in his eyes, the way he was looking at me—it stirred something deep inside. My pulse quickened as I thought about how close we were, and an overwhelming urge to kiss him flashed through my mind.But I
Aria’s POVThe room felt smaller, quieter, as if nothing else existed but the two of us. I didn’t move. I couldn’t. My heart pounded in my chest as he leaned in, closer and closer, until our faces were inches apart. His lips hovered near mine, a breath away, and for a moment, I thought he was going
Aria’s POV“Jessica, I’ll be fine,” I assured my best friend, forcing a smile. “I can handle this.”“Are you sure you want to meet with him? All by yourself?” she asked again. “Yes, I’m sure. It’ll be okay.” I gave her shoulder a squeeze before heading back to my office. “Aria, I’ll be right outsi
Victor’s POVAs soon as I saw Pierre standing in Aria’s office, heat flushed through my veins. I could sense the anger rising inside of me. The urge to punch him was almost unbearable. My fists clenched at my sides, knuckles whitening as I imagined breaking his nose.Pierre smiled like he owned the
Aria’s POVAs I listened to his meaningful words, I could feel my cheeks reddening and my heart beating so fast. It seemed like he wasn’t only talking about the smart perfumes. For a while, I was speechless. I cleared my throat, gathering myself. “Thank you, Victor,” I said. “This will do so much f
Victor’s POVArriving at the sprawling suburban house, I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. The place was impressive, as I’d heard it would be. I heard that Aria’s parents had bought it years ago, a retirement home that clearly spoke of their success and financial recovery. I parked be
Aria’s POVEveryone was quiet for a while, including Jasmine who looked confused. My heart was racing as I realized I’d just stood up for my ex-husband in front of my parents. I didn’t even understand why I did it. To my surprise, Mom suddenly forced a smile and said, “Of course, you’re welcome to
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,"