Aria’s POVThe scene unfolded in a blur of chaos as the driver of the SUV stumbled out, clutching his arm, but my eyes were already fixed on the passenger side. The door flung open, and there she was—Shane, her sharp gaze darting through the chaos before she bolted down the street. Her heels clicked
Victor’s POVThe muted whine of the fluorescent lights in the police station seemed to amplify the tension hanging over us. I sat on the hard bench, my elbows resting on my knees, watching Aria as she stared at the floor, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. She looked dejected, her usual spark
Aria’s POV"Well, there they are," my mother said warmly, opening the door with a knowing smile. "And Victor, too. What a pleasant surprise."I smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, Mom, I didn’t tell you Victor was coming with me."She raised an eyebrow, the corner of her mouth tugging up in a smirk. "Oh, ple
“We had so much fun, Mommy!” Jasmine chirped, bouncing on her toes. “Grandpa taught me how to play chess! And Grandma made cookies—like, a hundred of them!”“Not quite a hundred,” my father chuckled, ruffling her hair. “But close enough.”As Jasmine launched into an enthusiastic rundown of her adven
Aria’s POVThe low murmur of soothing music played in the background as Jessica and I lounged on the living room sofa, our legs propped up on padded stools. Two masseuses quietly worked on our feet, their expert hands kneading away the tension we’d been carrying for what felt like forever.Jasmine s
Aria’s POVJessica’s brows furrowed as she pressed the phone to her ear. “Hello? Hello?” Her voice grew quieter, more uncertain with each repetition. I could see the unease building in her expression, her grip on the phone tightening.I leaned forward, my heart picking up pace. “Jessica? What is it?
Aria’s POVI was caught off guard, trying to rack my brain for a good way to explain about dating. “Well, uh, dating is when two people… um… spend time together and… uh, get to know each other better.”Jessica burst out laughing behind her hand, clearly enjoying my struggle. “Oh, come on, Aria. You’
The doorbell rang, cutting through Jessica’s lingering laughter.I sighed, pulling the towel off my feet. “I’ll get it.”Jessica leaned back, still giggling. “Better hope it’s not Jasmine’s future sibling showing up early.”“Ha ha,” I said dryly as I padded to the door. When I opened it, my stomach
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