Aria’s POV“Why did I let myself fall behind like this?” I muttered to myself, tapping away at the keyboard. The deadlines loomed like storm clouds, and I could feel them about to crash down on me.“Looks like you’re not the only one burning the midnight oil,” Jessica said, her voice soft and slight
I walked over and pulled her into a hug, feeling the need to protect her even though I knew I couldn’t control everything. “Take care, okay? And tell Fabian to drive carefully. Stay alert, both of you.”Jessica pulled back slightly, giving me a reassuring smile. “I will, don’t worry. Fabian’s always
Victor’s POVI slowly withdrew my hand, clearing my throat, trying to break the tension before it could turn into something more. “I, uh... figured chocolate might help you power through,” I said, my voice coming out rougher than I intended.She glanced at the sandwich in her hand, a flicker of amus
Aria’s POVI rubbed my tired eyes and stretched my arms above my head, feeling a satisfying pull in my shoulders. Finally, I thought, finally caught up. It was past midnight, and the exhaustion clinging to me was almost pleasant, knowing I’d cleared a mountain of paperwork and perfected the new sc
Aria’s POVVictor’s hand slipped beneath my blouse, his fingers exploring the curve of my waist. I felt his lips trail along my neck, and a soft moan escaped my lips, surprised by the need that flooded over me. I clung to him as we stumbled down the darkened hallway, his body pressed firmly against
Victor’s POVI noticed Aria staring past the cars, her gaze locked onto something, or someone, in the shadows. I followed her line of sight and saw him—a tall, broad-shouldered figure standing completely still, just watching us. An icy wave of protectiveness surged through me as I heard Aria’s voice
Victor’s POVAs we sat in the dark alley, waiting for the all-clear from the bodyguard, my mind raced. I glanced over at Aria—her shoulders were tense, and she was staring out into the darkness, her lips pressed into a thin line. Just then, my phone buzzed again. The bodyguard.“Troy’s car is close,
Aria’s POVAs we pulled up to the house, my mind was still reeling. Troy. I could barely believe it—he’d once been a close friend, someone I’d trusted. Now he was stalking me, threatening me in ways that sent a cold shiver down my spine. And Jessica… I glanced at the windows, thinking of her and Jas
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
Aria’s POV"Victor," I murmured breathlessly, barely recognizing my own voice. "Aria," he whispered back, his tone filled with a hunger that matched my own. His lips found mine again, urgent and unrelenting.We stumbled together through the hallway, his hands sliding beneath my blouse, fingertips s
Aria’s POVI jumped from the table, my heart still pounding in my chest, and headed toward the studio door. “Stay here,” I said softly, though my voice wavered with some nervousness and the remaining heat. The air between us still sizzled, making it almost impossible to think clearly.Carefully, I o
When we finally pulled apart, both of us were breathless. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips slightly swollen, and her eyes—God, those eyes—shone with an emotion I didn’t dare put a name to just yet.I rested my forehead against hers, trying to catch my breath as I spoke. “Aria… you’re everything to
Victor’s POVThe entire evening had been a cascade of emotions—love, happiness, nostalgia—and now, standing here, my heart felt like it might burst. I looked at Aria, her expression a mix of hope and nerves as she waited for my reaction. The painting, the bottles, the thought behind it all—it was ov
Aria’s POV“Still thinking of work at this hour?” he teased, his tone light and playful. “Should I be worried you’re pulling me into a midnight brainstorming session?”I glanced back at him, rolling my eyes with a laugh. “Trust me, it’s not that. Just wait. You’ll see.”We reached the entrance of my