“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 POVMy husband Victor was chatting animatedly with his ‘Miss Idea’, Shane, again. Their faces were close as her drooping hair rested on my husband's shoulder.Miss Idea. That was how my husband called Shane, his best partner in business. Whenever he mentioned her, the pride and praise on his
Aria’s POVAs I walked out, I could still hear them fussing over Shane. The chatter and concerned murmurs filtered through the heavy doors while the waiters gave me strange looks. I felt extremely embarrassed and humiliated, so I hurried outside, desperate to escape their prying eyes.The rain pelte
Aria’s POVJust as I was about to speak, Victor straightened up and waved his hand to interrupt me. “Aria, I think you should apologize to Shane and to my mother,” he said firmly.What the hell for? So that’s it? When I thought he was starting to care about me, all he wanted was for me to apologize
Victor’s POVI can’t believe this woman’s being so irrational! What a way to throw a tantrum!The events of last night replayed in my head like a broken record. Aria's request for a divorce felt like a dagger through my heart. And yet, the more I thought about it, the more annoyed I got. I sat at m
Victor’s POVI wondered what my mother’s agenda was this time. With her, it was never just plain dinner. Something was always up. I opened the door and was greeted by the warm, familiar smell of home-cooked meals.“Victor, you're here!” Shane's voice rang out as she came into the hallway, her face
Aria’s POVI’ve had enough. Five years… Five years of enduring such humiliation and belittling by Victor and his family, of being treated like a nobody. And even after five years, he still believed that I was the one who’d taken those stupid naked photos of us to blackmail him into marrying me! God
Aria’s POVShane was still chattering away, showing me off. Her voice grated on my nerves. "You see, Aria, I've been working with Victor's company for years while managing my own. I know everyone and everything here," she said condescendingly. "Victor's lucky to have me as a good friend and business
“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 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
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 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
Aria’s POVDiscreetly, I let out a deep breath, not realizing that I’ve been holding it in for some time. I looked around with relief, happy to finally be out of the casino and in the real world. Alive, with Victor. “You two… I still can’t believe you didn’t inform me and went through with it…” Det
Victor’s POV“We’ll be more than ready,” I said firmly, watching the casino boss closely. “This time, we’ll be one step ahead. But to make that happen, we need your help. Provide us with all the evidence you have against Shane and Troy.”Lucciano regarded me with amusement, as if he could already se
Aria’s POVLucciano’s casual toast felt like a cruel twist, as though he’d dangled just enough of the truth to keep us chasing but withheld the most crucial details. “Can’t you tell us more?” I couldn’t help asking, feeling bolder and quite annoyed. Lucciano leaned forward, still looking gravely s
Aria’s POVLucciano’s words sank in, making me feel sick. Shane wasn’t just dangerous—she was ruthless, cutting down anyone who got in her way. My mind spiraled, flashing back to Pierre.The first time I’d met him, it was in Amsterdam and he had been with Shane. Pierre had been charming, suave, the
Aria’s POVLucciano’s smile widened as he noticed the subtle shift in my expression. “Yes, you’ve found yourself an ally in me—for now. But remember, Aria, alliances are built on trust and value. I have no time for people who squander opportunities.”Victor, seated beside me, leaned forward slightly