Hi everyone, I’ve made some edits starting from the last chapter, and I’m excited to share that this is the 100th chapter of my book! It’s a special milestone, and it also marks the official return of our female lead, Arielle. This moment means a lot to me, and I hope it resonates with you too. I’ve noticed some discussions and critiques about the characters, and I’m incredibly grateful for all your feedback. Jared and Arielle, like the other characters in this story, are meant to grow and evolve. They’re not perfect, just like real people, and I hope you’ll enjoy watching their journey unfold. Your thoughts are truly valuable to me, and I’ll keep them in mind as I continue to develop the story. Please don’t hesitate to share what kind of storylines or plot twists you’d like to see as Arielle makes her return. I’ll do my best to bring your ideas to life! I promise the upcoming chapters will dive deeper into the characters and deliver some exciting surprises. Lastly, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all my readers for your patience and support. A special shout-out to Susan—thank you so much!
(Jared's POV)As I made my way through the airport, weaving through the crowds of travelers rushing to embrace their loved ones, something caught my eye. A woman, moving just ahead, her figure strikingly familiar.My heart faltered, as if time itself had paused.Arielle?No, it couldn’t be. My logical side kicked in, urging me to shake off the absurd thought. But something in the way she carried herself... it was too familiar. My gaze locked onto her, desperate for a clearer view, but just as quickly as I had noticed her, she turned her head, blending into the sea of strangers.I strained to catch another glimpse, my pulse pounding in my ears. Her hair—shoulder-length, not the cascading blonde I remembered. And she had a child with her. A boy, clinging to her hand. My Arielle didn’t have a son.Still, my chest tightened, and I stood rooted to the spot for a moment, the rest of the world rushing past me. Could it really be her? My mind raced through the possibilities. But that was im
(JARED'S POV) As I struggled to stay awake and fight off Sofia, my mind began to drift into a dreamlike state.And then, as if a door in my mind opened, I found myself in a different place—a warm, inviting room bathed in soft light. It felt familiar, safe, like something I had lost long ago but never stopped searching for.Arielle was there, standing beside me, her eyes shining, her lips curled into the softest of smiles. My heart soared at the sight of her. She was real. Here. With me.“Love,” I whispered, my voice trembling with an overwhelming mix of joy and disbelief. "Yes, Jared," she replied, her voice as warm and soothing as a lullaby I had forgotten. The sound wrapped around me, and for a moment, the ache in my chest disappeared.I could feel my heart pounding in my ears, emotions swirling—happiness so immense it nearly crushed me. She was here. She still loved me. And everything I had ruined, everything that had torn us apart, no longer mattered. I reached for her, my fing
(SOFIA’S POV) I arrived at "Elegance," a popular unisex fashion clothing shop patronized only by the rich. Being a regular caller, I was treated well as I walked to the female section to shop for new arrivals. "Welcome back, Sofia, "Jenna, the sales manager said, approaching me with a smile. "Hi, Jenna. Just browsing new arrivals," I replied, scanning the racks. "We have some lovely pieces from the latest collections," she said, leading me to the designer section. After selecting a few dresses and trying them on, I made my final choices. At the checkout counter, Jenna summed up my purchases. "Total comes to $10,000," she announced. I handed over my black card, and she withdrew the amount. Afterward, I pulled out wads of bills from my purse and handed them to her. "Here, for being a nice girl." "Thank you. Bye," she called out. I nodded and walked out, bearing the shopping bags. Getting into the Bentley, I felt a thrill, and I suddenly craved speed. It gave me a surge
(JARED'S POV)I was buried in work when Sofia’s call cut through the silence, pulling me from my focus.Ok what happened this time? When could she stop causing trouble? I sighed and suppressed my anger as I listened to her crying on the other end of the phone. She lived under my roof; her safety was something I couldn’t ignore. Now I knew that was my karma. I shut my laptop, grabbed my keys, and left.As I drove, I silently prayed that the accident was not as bad as she had explained over the phone. Halfway there, I hit a red light. Frustration gnawed at me as I tapped the steering wheel, waiting for it to change. That’s when my gaze drifted, scanning the surrounding cars. It was then I noticed a grey Audi beside me.This wasn't a rare model, but it looked particularly familiar somehow.Something stirred in me—Ashley’s car? But why would she be in this part of town? My eyes narrowed, curiosity taking hold. I leaned forward, trying to peer through the tinted window.There, in the pa
(JARED'S POV) I blinked and went over the headline again, ensuring I was not reading wrong. But the words did not go away. They were there, as bold as ever. Then I swallowed hard, forcing my gaze down to the picture below, and my breath hitched. It was her. Arielle. The same lady at the airport. The same lady in Ashley's car. Little wonder I was drawn to her earlier in the traffic.How could I be so blind?Twice, in just a few days. At the airport, where I had felt that strange pull but brushed it off. In the car, where I tried to catch a glimpse, but she vanished before I could truly see her. Both times, I had let her slip away. The realization hit me like a ton of hot breaks, shattering my heart. How could tease fate trade me like this? I had thought I'd never see her again. But here she was.I stared at her picture, my heart pounding. Arielle. Back in town. Successful. Famous, even. Her name was splashed across the article, announcing her as the new ambassador chef for Ita
(ARIELLE'S POV)It was my first day back since returning home, and a sense of excitement and nervousness buzzed under my skin. Today, I’d be visiting my restaurant site and attending a pivotal meeting with delegates from the prestigious Paradiso Culinary Academy—my alma mater—for the ambassador endorsement I’d worked so hard to secure.This was a chance to shape the culinary world in ways I’d dreamed about during those long, challenging years in Italy.Excitement flowed through my veins as I thought about the benefits that came with the position –an expensive company car, fully funded insurance, and a hefty payroll that would get me rolling in a lot of dollar bills. The perks were nice.But what I craved was to leave a lasting mark on Paradiso’s menu, its identity, and its patrons. This was my stage, and I was ready to own it.I slipped into my tailored black dress, the fabric hugging my figure in all the right places. Simple, elegant. With nude makeup to highlight my features and a q
(Arielle's POV) I returned home finally, exhausted but fulfilled. My Mom and son were already waiting in the sitting room, and they sprung on me, yelling their felicitations as I walked in. "We saw the news!" Maverick exclaimed, jumping on me. "You're famous now, Mama." "Congratulations, my darling. I'm so proud of you," Mom said. I smiled, sharing in their happiness. "Thanks, guys." I walked to the couch and we all settled in it and I filled their eager ears with how my day went. But of course, I ensured to keep the accident and the encounter with Sofia's part out, so they don't freak out. After my narration, I excused myself as I was dying to shed the dress and accessories I had on my body. "Excuse me, you two," I said, rising to my feet. "I need to shower and rest a little." "Dinner will be ready soon," my Mom reminded me. I nodded, grateful for the brief reprieve. Once inside my bedroom, I peeled off my dress, craving comfort. The hot water in the shower felt like a
(ARIELLE'S POV)After driving for a while, I finally brought the car to halt at a spot I considered safe and tried to catch my breath. My hands shook uncontrollably on the steering wheel, while my heart thudded fast like it would jump out of my chest.I tried to calm down, else I might not be able to drive myself home in that state. Taking slow, deep breaths, I tried to get a grip on myself. Panic tried to press in on me, but I pushed aside the feeling. I can't have a panic attack, no, not here.After a few minutes, my heart rate slowed down to normal, and my hands steadied. Satisfied that I was okay to drive again, I turned the car back on, and resumed driving home, my senses now on high alert.As I drove, I grew increasingly anxious, as I tried to figure why someone would follow me. It didn't add up, and intermittently, I looked at the rearview mirror to ensure the person was not behind me.Each glance revealed nothing suspicious, but I still had to be extra careful. I couldn't ris
(ARIELLE’S POV.)I sat in my office for the first time since the hospital incident, and I had to keep a hard fight to keep my mental energy flying high. I couldn’t help but feel a bit overwhelmed by the mountain of work that welcomed me on my first day. Jared and Dwayne had insisted that I let things at the restaurant handle themselves under Stephen and Rebecca’s care. And even though they’d done their jobs very thoroughly, I still had a mountain of paperwork to sign through. Turns out the administrative expectations of the restaurant didn’t take a break like I did.I heard a knock on the door and raised my head from the document before me. Stephen walked in, his lips stretched out in a goofy smile as always. Rebecca pushed past him almost immediately.“Get out of the way, Ste…,” she began saying but paused to observe him. He’d frozen still with the smile still intact, like a mascot. “Hey. Earth to Stephen,” she snapped her fingers in his face and caused him to jump back in fright.“T
(ARIELLE’S POV.)The other parents were taking forever to get ready. The sun was going down and the skies were stained a bright orange. Jared looked at his watch multiple times and I could tell he was growing restless and would’ve disappeared if Maverick’s emotions weren’t involved.The public address system crackled to life and the principal took the stage. All eyes filed in the direction of his booming voice. “In a matter of moments, the race will begin… hold on. I’d like to acknowledge the presence of our biggest sponsors…,” he said. But we didn’t need to hear him finish his sentence.Out of the blues, Mr. Langley appeared in sight, Tiana perched on his arm. They had the facetious look of hypocrites putting on a good show for all who cared to see.“What are they doing here?” my mother asked, her face set in a skeptical frown. I looked at Jared too who was having a hard time concealing the contempt on his face. We exchanged a knowing look and I shook my head in the negative to keep
(DENZEL'S POV)The gears clicked into place in my head. I’d been missing a key detail this whole time. Of course. “Your nephew. The kid is your nephew!” I pointed out in a moment of eureka. “Of course. Jared Smith is your brother. Now you’ve made me look stupid,” I said with an animated pout."You’ve been stupid from the start," Dwayne said, amusement laced with dry contempt. "That’s your problem, not mine. Stay away from Jared and his family." My brain was racing. My lips stretched out in a smile. “You see, sir, actually I think we’ll make a good team.” He raised an eyebrow."I know how it goes with you rich brothers—fighting tooth and nail over family assets. Even if you are a Mafia godfather, so what? There's still more wealth to go around in the wealthy Smith, right? You’re using a fake identity to compete with him, which means there’s a reason. Whatever it is, I can help you." I was on a roll now, the more excitement buzzing in my veins as the more I realized. “Jared owes
(DENZEL’S POV.)I licked my lips in self-absorbed satisfaction as I watched the gears in the man’s head move. He’s a dangerous man.That’s the first thought that struck me.There’s a vast difference between how men and women look at other men. A woman might first notice the tailored black suit sculpting his broad shoulders and tapering waist, the sharp cheekbones and chiseled jaw that gave him a sculpted air.But I? I saw the quiet promise of violence beneath his composed demeanor.He stood tall, his frame lean but deceptively powerful—built for precision rather than bulk. Those weren’t gym-trained muscles but the product of relentless, high-intensity exertion. A body honed for efficiency. For lethality.A man like Jared was a lion or a tiger—the noble king of the jungle. But this man was a leopard. Not the biggest beast in the wild, but the deadliest.I made a mental note: If I could deliver someone this menacing into my grandfather’s service as a foot soldier, the old man might jus
(DWAYNE’S POV.)My legs carried me in the direction I’d been looking earlier, my eyes involuntarily scanning the place for any signs of the face I’d seen. He was supposed to be away— at least for a long time. So it didn’t make any sense that I was seeing him out here in the open. Maybe I was just paranoid. Or maybe it was just my mind giving me a reason to keep away from Jared while he attained hero status before his son.I stepped around a family of three, the parents laughing as they tied their legs together with their little daughter’s. It was a simple, beautiful moment—one I had no right to interrupt. The little girl giggled, catching my gaze, and I gave her a quick wink before moving on. Then I saw him again. This time, he was in motion, moving through the crowds. My pulse slowed in calculated awareness. I didn’t know if he was the mastermind or just another pawn, but I wasn’t about to take any chances. I murmured “excuse me” and “sorry” as I cut through the moving bodie
(DWAYNE’S POV.)“Fist bump?” I held out my hand for Maverick and he brushed his knuckles gently against mine and pulled it backwards with a soft “whoosh” to mimic an explosion. Jared was in the corner. He’d finally let the paramedics tend to his injuries which thankfully didn’t need any serious medical intervention. Half a bottle of spirit and swabs of cotton later, he was all fixed up and ready for the race.The public address system crackled to life and all heads lifted up to the now cleared stage where the principal was standing, his face devoid of its usual sternness. The smile on his face seemed so out of place — and must have been an uncomfortable expression for him to make— because it looked more like a grimace than anything else.I pulled Maverick in closer and stroked his hair tenderly. Jared’s eyes trailed to us and he looked away.“I want to sincerely apologize again for the accident earlier on. You must believe me when I say the school will never do anything to put our st
(DWAYNE'S POV)I couldn't remember ever being scared as I was when I saw the chandelier falling. Without thinking, I bolted off my seat with one mission in mind; save Maverick. Fortunately, Jared was faster. And for the first time, I didn't think about who saved the little boy first, no thought of competition whatsoever. All that mattered at that point was that Maverick was safe.I just couldn't imagine what would have happened if anything had happened to either Maverick or Jared. As much as I hated to admit it, Jared was still my blood and that was not changing. I would rather have him alive as my sworn rival, than dead.As we stood there, trying to process what had just happened, parents approached us to offer consolation and thank the stars for not letting harm come to either Maverick or Jared. A group of school staff approached us, too, looking worried and apologetic."I'm so sorry, everyone," Maverick's class teacher said, her voice shaking. "It was an accident, a totally unexpec
(ARIELLE'S POV)After that round of activity was over, there were subsequent ones, and soon it was time for the talent show. In the talent show, parents anxiously watched as their kids and wards who were participating came on the stage. I was anxious as well, as Maverick was also participating.Minutes ticked by, and pupils trooped in and out of the stage for their performance, but there was no sign of Maverick. I shifted impatiently in my seat, wondering when his turn would be. His class teacher had earlier come to pick him up, citing that he had to get dressed in his costume in preparation for his performance, but there was still no sign of him.I was just about to turn to the others to voice my concern when Maverick emerged. He was the last to appear as others were already done with their performance. I sat up properly in my seat, curious about what Maverick would show. I turned to others to see if they were as anxious as I was, and that was when I found that Jared was no longer i
(ARIELLE’S POV)I was stunned by the question to say the least, but I braced myself. If I told him the truth, it would be hurtful. In the first three years of Maverick's life, his biological father was not present; who would he have thought to be more important back then when the only male figure he knew was Dwayne? No, I didn't think that this was a multiple-choice question because I never asked Maverick. I never saw the need to,and I don't see it now either .I didn't want to give my child such a difficult problem. But if he really had to choose, I didn't think Jared had a chance of winning either. It was just a tough path to take.As I stood there, silence hanging in the air like a cloud, I could feel Jared's eyes on me, waiting for an answer. I knew I had to say something, but the words got stuck in my throat. I didn't want to hurt him, but I also didn't want to lie to him or give him false hope about anything. Certainly not on this topic. He seemed to have realized my stance e