Victor’s POVThe stacks of documents and glowing monitors around my office felt like walls closing in. I rubbed the bridge of my nose, exhaustion creeping in as we have been doing this for several days already, almost nonstop. But I couldn’t afford to stop. Not when we were so close—yet maddeningly
Aria’s POVAs Victor took the bag from my hands, his smile deepened, and for a moment, I felt my heart skip.“I hope you’re hungry,” I said, placing my purse on the nearby chair. “I prepared this earlier this morning. Figured you could use a homemade meal.”Victor’s eyes lit up. “You made this yours
Aria’s POVFor a moment, the world seemed to pause. My heart thundered in my chest, my breaths shallow as the tension wrapped around us like a cocoon.I let out a nervous laugh, trying to ease the atmosphere. “This wasn’t exactly part of the plan for lunch.”Victor blinked, a soft chuckle escaping h
Aria’s POVMy heart was thumping like it was out of control. As the doors slid open, both of us immediately faced back to the front and walked out of the elevator. I could still feel the heat between us, seemingly magnetizing us to each other. Shut up, Aria. Stop thinking about it. Just take deep b
“We’ve also been working on a prototype that pairs with a mood-tracking app,” he told me. “Users can log their emotions, and the perfume adjusts over time to complement their needs.”“That’s brilliant,” I said, my mind already racing with ideas. “We could tie this in with the art exhibit. The painti
Aria’s POVJasmine’s laughter echoed through the brightly lit therapy room, her face glowing with excitement as she completed her last set of exercises. The sight made my heart swell with pride and relief. Her progress over the past few months had been remarkable. She had grown stronger, more confid
Aria’s POVI glanced over at Jasmine, who was sitting on the floor nearby, carefully arranging her markers in neat rows. The soft sounds of her quiet focus created a sense of calm, offering a small reprieve from the weight of Mar’s words.I turned back to him, my curiosity getting the better of me.
Aria’s POVThe brushes moved gracefully between my fingers as I studied the final touches on the canvas before me. The painting had evolved into something I hadn’t initially envisioned—a lighthouse standing tall and steadfast, surrounded by a mesmerizing swirl of colors that seemed to represent the
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