After all this time, my heart should have been numb. Nothing had changed from then to now. It was always the same pain, again and again. Lucian loved Sheila. He didn’t love me. It still hurt. My foolish little heart still longed for a day when Lucian would want me instead. Distance was going t
Lucian’s POV Knowing that if we tried to have this conversation in our home, Sheila would just storm off to her room and slam her door in my face, I called Sheila to my office in the Alpha headquarters building to have a discussion on her recent press appearances and interviews. When she arrived
I’d been too lenient with her, and in doing so, created a monster. I had no one to blame for her behavior but myself. “This is not a matter that is up for debate,” I said firmly and definitively. Anyone else would have heard the warning in my voice and accepted what I had to say. But not Sheila.
Aria’s POV After being released from the hospital, I decided that Cathy was right. My stress levels were dangerous to both me and the baby. For both our sakes, I needed to take some time to balance myself out before something worse happened. So I returned to Cathy’s house, put away my doctor cos
Looking toward the door, he saw me and immediately stood. “Aria.” I knew Matt well. In the past, he’d asked me on a few dates, and I even went on a couple. But at the same time, Lucian and I had begun to become entangled. My growing love of Lucian kept me from developing feelings for Matt. In the
Lucian’s POV To avoid Sheila at home, I’d taken to spending long hours at the Alpha headquarters building. At first, much of the staff had seemed unnerved by my presence, as if they always needed to be formal, but now, they were coming to be more comfortable with me. No more saluting in the hallwa
Aria’s POV “Aria,” Lucian said, his voice low, nearly growling. I stood on the sidewalk beside Matt, watching as Lucian’s car came to a screeching halt and then as Lucian himself emerged, storming toward us. My heart sunk down with dread. Lucian’s face was twisted with rage. Had he discovered
“What were you doing with him?” Lucian asked. “I was visiting Caleb in the hospital,” I explained, eager to clear up this misunderstanding so that we could get to the better part of what might happen here. “Matt was there too. He seemed upset about everything, so I agreed to have coffee with him.
Finding Jasper in this room had been a blessing. He was one of the few friendly faces who I knew would support me around here.Most of Lucian’s family didn’t think much of me at all, believing I never deserved him. Did they still think that, I wondered? Some of the glances sent my way were more pity
Lucian’s POVAria’s presence stunned not just me, but seemingly all of the family. Everyone in the room was looking at her.In the past, Aria had never cared much for being in the limelight. She’d shied away from my side at public events, preferring to always enter slightly behind me.Yet here she w
I nodded my head at him in thanks. He forced a smile for a moment, though it fell quickly.“Oh, there’s Jasper,” someone nearby said.My entire body tensed at once. Turning, I expected to see Aria on his arm. Instead, Jasper sauntered into the house all on his own with his usual excessive swagger.“
Lucian’s POVAs the family gather was at my place, I had to make sure that Sheila was previously occupied and unaware of the event occurring. Giving her my credit card and no budget, I believed myself free from her for the evening.I even had Ben organize a few loyal guards here and there to ensure
Aria’s POVI barely started searching through my dresses when the doorbell rang. Nervous it might be Lucian again, I slowly walked to the door and called through it this time.“Who is it?”“It’s Jasper. Were you expecting someone else?”“I’m here, too, Aria. I’ll let him in,” Cathy said. “If you wan
Aria’s POVOf all the things he might have come here to talk about, I had not been expecting this.“Your family gathering? At Harold and Julia’s?” I asked.“Typically yes,” Lucian said. “But this time, I will be hosting. Would you be able to go?”I frowned somewhat, confused by this request. Lucian
Lucian’s POVAs soon as I asked the words, I realized it was over the line. While Dr. A and I were cordial, we did not have the kind of relationship that would allow for these kinds of questions. She had just saved my father; I needed to be more respectful.I was just tired, under so much stress wit
Aria’s POVRushing down to emergency, I joined the team who was working on Lucian’s father, Harold. I was surprised when I came through the door to hear him yelling.“I told all of you, I’m fine! I don’t need this special treatment! Find someone who is actually sick and help them!”“Sir, we need you
Lucian’s POVAs I sat in my work office at home, I was surprised when the head housekeeper walked in unannounced. Even more so when she slapped her resignation down on the desk.“What is this?” I asked, though I could see clearly from the first sentence of the letter that she was resigning.“For yea