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 POVI saw the shift in Victor’s expression as soon as my mother entered the kitchen. His eyes, which had been warm and relaxed, turned cold and stiff, his entire posture going rigid.Before either of us could speak, my mother turned on her heel and left the room without a word. I felt a rush
Aria’s POVVictor's face went pale, and he looked at my dad with wide, apologetic eyes. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Everhart! I didn’t mean to—”My dad held up a hand, cutting Victor off. “It’s okay,” he said, his voice low and controlled. Trying to defuse the situation, I took a deep breath and stepped for
Aria’s POVAs I sat alone on the veranda, Victor's words echoed in my mind: “What if we tried again, Aria? What if we could fix everything?”I cradled my mug of coffee, its warmth contrasting with the cool breeze that rustled through the trees. I hadn’t answered him. How could I? His proposal was li
Aria’s POVLate in the afternoon, I found myself lying in the bedroom that my parents said was just for me, for when I’m visiting them. The room was warmly decorated, with a soft quilt draped over the bed and family photos scattered on the nightstands. Jasmine lay beside me, nestled in a peaceful n
Aria’s POVWhen I went down to the living room, the first thing I noticed was the warm, inviting smell of freshly baked goods. My father seemed unusually exuberant as he introduced a couple of well-dressed young men to my mother. They looked confident and successful, and seemed like professionals ev
Victor’s POVI leaned forward, about to engage Aria in conversation, hoping to shift her attention away from Drew. But before I could say a word, Drew piped up, snapping his fingers like he'd just remembered something.“You look familiar,” he said to Aria, his brows furrowed in concentration. “I can
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