Aria’s POVI answered the call, hoping against hope. “Hello?”“Mommy!” Jasmine’s cheerful voice filled my ear. She was using Victor’s phone to call me. “Jasmine! Is everything okay?”“Yeah! Daddy’s here, and we’re going to grab some pizza before we go to Velvet Vibe!” she exclaimed with excitement.
Aria’s POVI hurried to my car, the keys slipping from my trembling fingers before I managed to unlock it. Sliding into the driver’s seat, I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart, but the racing fear inside my chest wouldn’t slow down. I could feel that something was wrong—terribly wron
Aria’s POVI burst through the hospital doors, my heart thudding wildly in my chest. I turned down a hallway, following the signs for the emergency room. Please be alright, Jessica, I prayed hard in silence as my feet hurried down the hall, oblivious to the people around me. All the while, my pulse
Victor’s POV“Daddy, let’s go! I want to show you something!” Jasmine squealed, bouncing in her seat, as soon as we parked outside Velvet Vibe. I chuckled at her excitement, wondering what it was she wanted to show me. I let her pull me inside, eager to see Aria too myself. But then, one of the sta
Aria’s POVOh, god. Wake me up from this nightmare. As I stared at Jessica, I couldn’t help tearing up, wondering why and how this happened. One moment, the two of us were eating breakfast together like any normal day. And the next, she’s lying here all bruised up. We were now in a private room. T
Aria’s POV“Jessica!” I cried, rushing to her side. I grasped her hand tightly, squeezing it gently. “It’s okay, Jessica. It’s just a dream. You’re safe. I’m right here.”But Jessica’s eyes remained shut, her body writhing in panic as if trapped in a nightmare she couldn’t escape. I leaned closer, w
Victor’s POVI watched Aria closely, trying to gauge her reaction as she listened to the nanny. A few seconds passed before her body seemed to relax a little, the tension in her shoulders easing. “Oh, she just wanted to hear my voice?” Aria’s voice softened, that nurturing tone she always had for J
Victor’s POVI understood Jessica’s fear. She had been through enough, and the last thing she needed was to face even more danger. But letting this man roam free? It didn’t sit right with me either.“I’ll call Phil,” I said, pulling out my phone. “He can pull the surveillance footage from the hospit
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