Victor’s POVAs I watched Jasmine giggle and pet the bunnies, a smile tugged at my lips. This was what I wanted—a peaceful moment with my daughter, without the stress of work, without the tension of the past. She was happy, and Aria and I were… well, we were here together, and that was something.I
Aria’s POVI sat by the window, cradling a cup of coffee in my hands, the warmth seeping through my fingers. Dinner was done, and I had the place to myself—a rare moment of peace. Yet, as I stared into my coffee, my mind wandered back to that day at the zoo.It had been weeks since Victor, Jasmine,
Aria’s POVWhen I opened the door, the world seemed to tilt for a second. Standing on the porch was Troy—but not the Troy I remembered.He looked nothing like the clean-cut, confident guy who used to make Jessica laugh until she cried. This Troy was disheveled, worn out, and desperate. His once neat
Aria’s POV“I’m not leaving until I talk to Jessica,” Troy growled, stepping forward. His voice was cold, hard—so unlike the easygoing man I once knew. He was practically seething now, the tension rolling off him in waves. I planted my hand on the door, gripping it so tightly my fingers began to hu
Aria’s POVI managed to wriggle free, my heart beating like crazy. But Troy’s body was now wedged in the doorway, and he was too strong for me to just push him out. “Please, Troy,” I pleaded, forcing my voice to remain steady. “Let’s talk about this another time.”He ignored my request, his voice r
Aria’s POVI leaned against the door, my heart still racing, trying to make sense of everything that had just happened. Troy’s desperate, rage-filled threats echoed in my mind, but it was the mystery of those men who’d intervened that kept me on edge. Who were they, and why had they come to my rescu
Aria’s POV“Uh, Jess…” I hesitated before continuing. “There’s something you should know… Troy was here a while ago, asking to see you and ranting about some deal gone wrong.” I sort of held my breath, waiting for her reaction. “Wait, he came here?” Jessica whispered in a barely audible voice, her
Aria’s POVAs Jessica’s sobs finally quieted, her breathing became more steady. It was well past midnight now, and the room felt heavy with everything she had just shared. I felt a pang of guilt—she had come home so happy, so full of excitement from her date with Fabian, and now here she was, dealin
Aria’s POVLunch arrived with an unexpected surprise. I was finishing up some notes when a knock at my office door made me glance up. A delivery man stood there, holding a large bouquet of delicate white lilies and blush-colored roses. Behind him, two catering staff wheeled in covered trays filled w
Aria’s POVI clicked through the surveillance videos again, my fingers tightening around the mouse as the footage rolled on the screen. Jessica sat beside me, her arms crossed, watching intently. Across from us, Carter, the head of security, stood with his hands resting on the table, his expression
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