DAVE'S POV"What do I have left on my schedule today?" I asked my secretary as I made my way toward my office."You have a meeting with the branch managers in Pittsburgh this evening," he read from his Ipad. "I've arranged a car for you." I stopped in my tracks as memories of what happened the last time flashed through my mind. "I won't be going. Tell the managing director to send someone in my place.""Okay, sir." Pushing the door to my office open, I was greeted by a familiar figure sitting on my chair. I sighed as I walked closer to her. "You didn't tell me you were coming.""I thought I give you a surprise." Jenny stood from my chair and walked to me. She stopped in front of me with a seductive smile on her face.Just by looking at her, I could tell why she was here but I knew one thing for sure that she wouldn't get it from me. "What do you want?" She placed her hands on my chest, sliding them up to lock behind my neck. Bringing her lips closer to mine, she whispered, "You kno
ARIA'S POVThe days ran by so fast and it was already two days to my wedding. Everything starting from the hall to the wedding dress down to the cake was ready. All I needed was for my family to be there so that the day could be a joyous one for me.One problem I had was Dave, he had been off lately. He was closer to me these past few days but yet so distant. I could tell that a lot was going through his head and it was disturbing him but every time I asked, he said it was nothing. Out of concern, I went to Nixon to ask if he knew what was going on but he claimed it was the stress of the company and all the wedding plans that was affecting him. I wanted to believe that too but I couldn't. Dave was hiding something from me and I couldn't guess what it was.Feeling frustrated about the whole thing, I sighed and stepped out of the shower before wrapping a towel around my body and head. I walked into the room just in time for my phone to light up with a notification. I checked it and a sm
ARIA'S POVThe ringing tune was all I could hear as I tried to call Xavier. I had been calling him since that morning but he didn't answer nor did he see the need to call me back. That night I tossed around the bed because the next day was my wedding day and I couldn't reach my brother. One part of me was pissed that he might miss my wedding and the other part was scared something might have happened to him, and there was no way of finding out because I couldn't reach him. I had already lost my parents to the cold hands of death, I wouldn't be able to survive it if anything happens to my brother too.I gave up on calling him and threw the phone on the bed. Climbing down from the bed, I made my way out of the room toward the kitchen. When I got there, I went straight to the fridge and opened it to take a bottle of water. I rested my back on the counter as I opened the bottle and downed the entire content in one go.A sigh escaped my lips as I trashed the bottle. I was about to walk ou
ARIA'S POV"Do you want to do this?" Savannah asked as the car moved closer to the cathedral where the ceremony would be taking place."It's the only way." I sighed and leaned into the car seat with my eyes closed. Dave and his family deserved what I was planning to do to them. They took me and my family for fools and thought they could pay off their wrongdoings with money. I knew I couldn't do much harm to them but I would do what I can do maybe that way I could get a little sense of satisfaction.The car stopped at the cathedral and guards opened the door for me to climb down as Savannah helped me with my gown. My heart thudded in my chest as I stared at the entrance of the cathedral. "It's time." The wedding planner said to me as she led me to the entrance of the cathedral with my bridesmaids which consisted of Lena, Summer and Michelle standing in front of me. When the doors were pushed open, they walked in one after the other as their entry song began to play. The door was clo
DAVE'S POV"Aria!!!" I yelled as I watched the car drive away from the cathedral. I stood there dumbfounded as my brain tried to register what happened.She left.Aria rejected me.Why? We were doing perfectly fine, what could I have done wrong? Or Does she knows the truth? The rate of my heartbeat increased tenfold at the thought of Aria finding out about what I did. She would never forgive me and I might end up losing her forever. No, there was no way I would let that happen. It might seem selfish of me that I was still keen on keeping her by my side after what I had done but I couldn't help that I'm in love with her and I can't imagine her being with someone else. I hope against all hope that there was a different reason that Aria left. It would be possible and easy to sort it out better than her finding out the truth about what I did."Dave, what going on? Why did Aria leave?" He asked and I remained quiet. "Will you say something?" He yelled at me."What do you expect him to s
ARIA'S POVXavier stopped the car in front of Lena's house and I wasted no time in getting out of the car, packing my flowing gown in my hands. "Aria, wait up," Savannah called from behind me but I ignored her as I took the key under the flower vase and unlock the door. I ran into my room before anyone could catch up with me. The moment I locked the door behind me, I fell to my knees and I cried my eyes out. All the memories of Dave and I flashed through my mind like a movie, making my heart ache more. Never in the world would I have imagined that Dave would hurt me like that. It all finally made sense why his parent accepted and why they were rushing the wedding preparation. It was because of what he did. To think that Dave and his family were planning to trap me in marriage and blind me from the truth that was right in front of my eyes fuelled my heart with hatred towards the Mendez family."Aria, are you okay?" Xavier's voice interrupted my thoughts. "Please just open the door,"
DAVE'S POV TWO MONTHS AGOI glanced at my wristwatch from time to time, tuning out of the discussion at the meeting that was being held at our company's branch in Pittsburgh. Left to me, I would've sent someone else to the meeting because the next day was my one-month anniversary with Aria. I had prepared a lot of things to celebrate the day and I didn't want anything to delay and ruin the day, but thanks to the branch manager, who insisted that it was important that I was here, I might end up stuck here for the night. "Mr. Mendez," a voice pulled me out of my thoughts and I glanced around the room to see everyone giving me a confused look."I'm sorry, you were saying?" I leaned off my seat, placing my elbows on the table in front of me."It seems you are in a hurry, why don't we reschedule the meeting to another convenient day?" The branch manager that was sitting on my right said."That would be so much appreciated." My lips stretched in a smile. "In that case, I'll take my leave.
LENA'S POVI stood at the entrance of my apartment with my hands shoved into my black fur jacket as I watched Aria bid farewell to Xavier and Savannah with a forced smile on her face. The vibration of my phone in my pocket made me tear my eyes away from them as I checked the caller to be Nixon.It had been two days after the wedding, and I hadn't talked to Nixon since then. I had a lot of questions in my head but I didn't know how to bring up the conversation which was why I refrained from calling him or picking up his calls.A sigh escaped my lips as I pressed the green button. "Hello.""Lena," he called and I could sense the shock in his voice. "How are you doing? Why have you been ignoring my calls?" "Nothing. I just needed some space." "Why? Did I do something wrong?" He asked with confusion laced in his tone."I'm not sure about that yet." I didn't want to jump to conclusions and act wrongly toward him when I still hadn't confirmed his involvement in the case. Dave was his bes