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.
Aria’s POV Back at Cathy’s house, I changed into my Dr. A disguise. Cathy watched worriedly from the doorway to my bedroom as I looked in the mirror, adjusting my mask. “I think it’s too soon,” she said. “I can’t keep dragging my feet about Caleb,” I replied. After seeing him for myself and sp
I didn’t want to lie to Matt. “Not good.” Matt was already wearing a neutral expression, but now it hardened further. I imagined his ability to restrain his emotions was part of what made him a good soldier on the battlefield. I felt sorry for it now, though, for this restraint seemed to hold him
Aria’s POV After the mob dispersed, I decided to call Cathy and return home to rest, at least for a while. I needed to think, somewhere it was safe, and I wouldn’t be able to relax in the hospital. With all the tests I ran on Caleb, there was nothing more I could do for him either. I needed to f
Aria’s POV “You don’t need to apologize for Lucian,” Matt said quickly. I shook my head. “I do. His behavior was out of line, and instead of trying to clear up the misunderstanding, I went along with him and left you there.” “It’s fine, Aria.” “It isn’t,” I insisted. “I should have corrected
“I only ever wanted you to find happiness,” Matt said. “I know,” I replied. “Maybe now you will,” he added. “Maybe.” I felt too vulnerable and exposed, having brought this up with him. Looking down, I tapped my fingers against the edge of the book in front of me. “I should get back to read
Lucian’s POV“Of course not,” I said at once, a bitterness rising up within me.Trusting Sheila had been the worst decision of my life. Not only had I been complicit in ruining Travis’s life, but I’d also allowed Sheila to come between Aria and I, enough to help destroy our marriage. I couldn’t blam
Looking past her, I motioned toward Ben, my Beta. “Take her away, Beta. I want her in lockup until the time for a trial can be arrange.”“A trial?” Sheila gasped.“Yes,” I said, looking at her. “You will face punishment for your crimes. I will personally see to that.”“But, Lucian –”“Do not say any
Lucian’s POV“I want the truth, Sheila,” I demanded.The longer Sheila looked at me, the more her wide-eyed nervous gaze shifted into one of fury. “You trust him over me?”“Give me a reason not to.”In the past, I had let my guilt over having introduced Sheila to Travis to fully critique her story.
Lucian’s POVWithout another word, Sheila pushed past Dr. A and her assistant and burst into the hallway.“Sheila!” I called after her, both annoyed and confused by her outburst. Must she act so erratically?I followed her into the hallway, with Dr. A and her assistant in tow.Sheila was halfway to
Lucian’s POVWhile I didn’t agree with Sheila that Aria should be totally forgotten, I could acknowledge, at least to myself, that my clinging onto the past wasn’t healthy. So, after installing a lock on Aria’s old bedroom door, I resolved to keep it locked and not visit it again.Every time I had s
She slammed the door to her room loud enough to echo through the hallways.Sighing, I wondered if I had any hope of detangling myself from Sheila and this guilt without marrying her.At this point, I just didn’t know.Aria’s POVPiper was on break and Cathy was in a different section of the hospital
Lucian’s POVAs I watched, Sheila’s entire demeanor shifted, from happy and curious to increasingly upset and alarmed.“That’s Aria’s room,” she said.“Yes,” I replied, seeing no need to hide it.“Why were you in Aria’s room?”It wasn’t any of her business, but I knew I couldn’t just say that to She
Weak with heartsickness, I peeled back the cover of the diary and began to read a later chapter, from nearer the end of our marriage.Dear Diary,Tomorrow is Lucian’s birthday. While he’s never been much for celebrating, I still want to do something special for him. With hope, maybe this will start
Aria’s POVAt work, Cathy, Piper, and I gather in the office that morning over coffee. At my insistence, Cathy didn’t bring the newspaper with my photo on it, but to my dismay, Piper already had one. I believed she was fully ready to frame it and hang it behind her desk.“You know that my identity i