Victor’s POVI froze, my heart hammering in my chest. I felt like the walls of the room were closing in on me, the guilt and shame pressing down, making it hard to breathe. He was asking me to explain the one thing I didn’t even have a good answer for myself.I swallowed hard, forcing myself to loo
Aria’s POVI woke up with a start, sunlight already streaming through the curtains. I blinked groggily, realizing how late it was. I must have overslept. Throwing the covers off, I quickly got dressed, my heart racing as the events of last night came rushing back.What had Victor and Dad talked abou
Aria’s POVIt was the last night of the photography exhibition, and the celebratory party buzzed with life. Laughter rippled through the crowd, punctuated by the occasional pop of a champagne cork, as people shared stories about their favorite moments from the past month. I should have felt proud a
Aria’s POVI stepped out onto the patio, breathing in the crisp night air as it swept through the open space. The party behind me faded into the background, and for a moment, I simply stood there just enjoying the quiet. The cool breeze felt refreshing against my skin, a welcome contrast to the chao
Aria’s POV“Jasmine!” Victor said with a warm smile, stepping forward as our daughter wriggled in my arms, eager to jump into his. I let her go, and she rushed into his embrace, wrapping her arms around his neck.“I didn’t know you were coming!” Jasmine said excitedly, squeezing him tight.Victor lo
Aria’s POV“Uh,I think I’ll just stay with Jasmine,” I finally managed, trying to push the sudden rush of emotion aside.With a quick smile, I leaned down and playfully tickled Jasmine, eliciting a cascade of giggles from her. “Don’t you want to dance with Mommy?” I teased, and she squealed, bouncin
“Just admiring the art,” I replied, forcing a smile, though I felt anything but at that moment. “Which you’ve seen… what? A hundred times?” He was teasing me, but he also looked concerned. I could tell that he knew I wasn’t being completely honest. “Uh, yes,” I answered quickly. “Since they’re tak
Victor’s POVAs I rushed toward the source of the noise, adrenaline coursed through my center. I couldn’t shake the sense of foreboding in my gut, especially after Aria had confided in me about her unease. She shouldn’t feel vulnerable, not in a place like this—especially not with me here.There wa
Aria’s POVDinner had been nothing short of exquisite, with every dish crafted to perfection by Victor’s chef. “This is the best food I’ve ever eaten in my entire life!” Jasmine exclaimed. “Thanks, Daddy. For this, and for helping with the science project.”Then she turned to hug me. “You’re the be
Victor’s POV“Daddy, look!” Jasmine exclaimed, holding up a rough sketch of her project. “The scent adventure machine is going to have buttons for each smell! Like this one is for the beach, and this one’s for the forest.”I crouched beside her, nodding appreciatively. “That’s brilliant, Jasmine. Yo
Aria’s POVThe meeting finally wrapped up, and I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. It had been a success, no doubt about that. The energy in the room had been electric as everyone threw out ideas and finalized plans for the grand launch of Serenity. Anticipation swelled within me as
Victor’s POVIt had only been a week since Aria and I had finally crossed the line we’d been dancing around for so long. A week since we admitted the depth of feelings we had for one another. Well, okay, I’m not really sure if her feelings are that deep yet… a voice suddenly whispered in my head, ma
Aria’s POVI looked at the woman closely. Now, dressed in jeans and a light sweater, she seemed younger, more approachable. But the moment her eyes met mine, her body language shifted. Her posture straightened, her laugh faded, and she glanced quickly at Victor before returning her attention to me.
Aria’s POVThe fireworks boomed across the sky, lighting up the darkness in bursts of vibrant red, gold, and silver. Jasmine’s gasp of excitement broke through the lingering tension in my chest, and I let out a shaky laugh.“It’s just fireworks,” I said aloud, more to reassure myself than anyone els
Victor’s POVThe laughter started the moment we arrived at the theme park and never seemed to stop. Jasmine darted ahead, pulling us toward the entrance with uncontainable energy, her small hand gripping mine tightly. The park was a kaleidoscope of colors and sounds—twinkling lights, cheerful music
Aria’s POVThe ride home was quiet, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. Victor’s hand rested on the gearshift, his fingers brushing mine occasionally. Each accidental touch sent a warm ripple through me, leaving me feeling both nervous and giddy. My heart was still dancing from the events of the night befo
The next morning, The sunlight streaming through the curtains was the first thing I noticed as I stirred awake. As I blinked against the light, memories of the previous night surged back like a wave, crashing over me with startling clarity. My breath hitched, and I sat up quickly, clutching the blan