(ARIELLE'S POV) I had arrived in Italy and settled in, although the first week was a maze of orientation and waiting for students who had delays in arrival, to arrive. The academy provided accommodations, but I chose to stay outside campus due to my pregnant state. I got a decent apartment and spent the week touring the city, registering for antenatal in a hospital, and keeping in touch with Mom and Ashley. But none of it filled the emptiness gnawing inside me. Late at night, when the city was quiet and my thoughts drifted back to Jared and the child I had lost, I felt the weight of it all. I tried hard to stay distracted, burying myself in activities so I wouldn’t have to remember those painful memories. Classes finally began, and during a break, I stepped out for some fresh air. As I made my way through the courtyard, my heart skipped a beat.A familiar figure caught my eye—broad shoulders, tall frame, dark hair... My breath hitched. Jared?But when he turned around, I imme
(JARED'S POV)Eight months—it’s been eight months, but it feels like an eternity. My life has spiraled in ways I never anticipated, and not for the better. Sofia and I... we were never meant to be. I see that now.What started as an escape—maybe from my own demons—has become another prison, one I built with my own hands. Regret gnaws at me, but it’s too late. Too late to fix what I’ve broken.The moment Sofia lost the baby, everything changed. I wasn’t ready for it—not for the life she carried, and certainly not for its loss. But as the weight of the grief sank in, I realized it wasn’t just her child I was mourning.It was the child I lost with Arielle.The one I could have had. The one I wasn’t there for.I can still hear Sofia’s voice from that day—shrill, desperate. It rings in my ears even now, haunting me in quiet moments.(Flashback)I was knee-deep in paperwork, trying to escape into the dull routine of the office when my phone buzzed on my desk. Sofia’s name flashed on the scr
(JARED’S POV) I watched in horror as Sofia's grip on the laptop tightened. "Sofia, please," I begged, trying to keep my voice low and not aggravate things. "Don't do this. That laptop has very important files and contacts." "Important files and contacts?" she sneered. "Or just important contacts?" "Sofia, stop this," I warned, my patience wearing off. "I'll stop when you fire that secretary of yours," she spat. My jaws clenched, as I paused to weigh my options. I couldn't afford to lose these files. "Fine, I'll fire her." Sofia's expression changed a little now, a sly smile spreading on her face. "Do it now." I grabbed the intercom, my hands heavy with reluctance. "Brooke, you're fired, effective immediately." Brooke's voice came through the intercom. "Sir, please...what did I do?" But I ended the call, unable to best her pleas. "Satisfied?" I asked Sofia, my eyes hard, and my tone cold. "No," she replied, her eyes glinting mischievously. "Promise you'll come hom
(JARED'S POV) At the close of work, I packed up, ready to leave. I was reluctant to go home at first, but then, I had to if I didn't want Sofia to create another scene. And besides, I couldn't keep running away from my own house. On arriving home, Sofia welcomed me with a hug. I recoiled at her touch, I've been doing that lately. It amazed me how she could act normal after the stunt she pulled at my office earlier. "Hey, how was your day?" She asked, her voice dripping with fake sweetness that I could decipher. "Fantastic, all thanks to you," I responded sarcastically while moving toward the stairs. Her smile faltered, but she said nothing. I got inside my room, our room rather, because Sofia had insisted on moving in since we were engaged and soon to be married. Just then, my phone rang. It was my mother calling. "Hello, Mom," I answered. "My dear, how're you?" Her familiar soothing voice breezed in. "I'm fine, Mom. Just got back from work." "Alright. I have som
(JARED'S POV)Her name, in her handwriting. Keeping a diary? This is too old-shool, just what Arielle would do. How could I never realize she had this habit? My pulse quickened as I skimmed through the next few pages, my eyes searching for anything—anything that would bring me closer to understanding what I had lost.I came upon an entry, and the words on the page seemed to leap out at me."I discovered I was pregnant today. I’ve been having the symptoms, so I went to see a doctor. It’s confirmed, I’m going to be a mother! I can’t wait to tell Jared… he’s going to be so happy."The excitement in her words hit me like a punch to the gut. I could almost hear her voice in my head, the same way she used to look at me with that hopeful smile. My hands tightened around the diary as my chest constricted painfully. Our child.I flipped to the next page, my eyes scanning the next entry."I was going to break the news to Jared tonight at our anniversary dinner, but he left on a work call and ha
(Jared's POV)My hands trembled as I closed the diary, barely processing the words still echoing in my mind. Just then, I heard footsteps outside the door, snapping me out of my daze.The door creaked open, and Sofia strode in, her face already set in its usual frown. She stopped when she saw me, her eyes narrowing with suspicion."Sofia," I rasped, my throat tight, "we need to talk."She paused, eyebrows raised. "What’s this about?"I didn’t answer right away. Instead, I held up the diary. "Do you recognize this?"Her eyes flickered—recognition, maybe fear—but she quickly masked it with indifference. "No. Why would I?""I think you do," I said, my voice low but steady. "Look closer."She hesitated, taking the diary from my hands, her fingers brushing over the worn cover. "It’s just a diary, Jared." She pushed it back to me, dismissively. "Where did you find this?"I ignored her question. "Did you hide it?"Her eyes darted, the discomfort obvious now. "Why would I hide something like
(ARIELLE'S POV)I walked into the house, exhausted from a long day at the academy. All I craved for at that point was a light lunch and a long nap. But as I entered the kitchen, a sudden pain struck me in my abdomen."Ah!" I gasped, clutching my stomach.What was that? I thought, suddenly panicky. Was it labor? I know I was in my ninth month, but I was not due for delivery until the end of the month and today was just day 15.The pain hit again, more intense this time, and I doubled over. Oh God, something's over.I limped to the living room, grabbed my handbag, and fumbled for my phone. My fingers trembled as I dialed Dwayne's number."Please pick up, please pick up," I chanted."Dwayne!" I exclaimed, relief washing over me when he answered."Arielle, what's up?""I... I'm in pain, I don't know, but it hurts so much. My abdomen, waist–""What? Where are you?" He asked, his voice urgent."I'm at home. I–""Damnit! I'm about to board my flight."“Sorry, I forgot..." I paused, the pain
(ARIELLE’S POV)"I didn't know how to tell you," I said softly. "It wasn’t something I hid on purpose. I was afraid of how the academy might react if they found out I was pregnant. I wasn't sure if they would still accept me."Dwayne’s expression grew somber, his eyes filled with a mixture of understanding and disappointment."Even me?" His voice was calm but carried a weight that made me feel small. "Arielle, we are friends. I know I have no right to demand anything from you, but you could’ve at least told me. I’d never rat you out, not if you were afraid of that."I looked down, "I'm sorry. I really did think of telling you, but… I didn’t know how you’d react. And honestly, what could you have done? You’re not a doctor, and you’re not a woman who can relate to pregnancy."He shook his head gently, his voice unwavering. "You don’t give me enough credit. I would’ve done anything to help you. You know I would’ve been there for you. Hell, I wouldn’t have even gone on that trip if I knew.
(ARIELLE'S POV)Before me was a well–decorated hall stretched out, with a reddish carpet leading up to a podium at the far end. The hall was grandly decorated with balloons, steamers, and a stunning chandelier that hung from the ceiling, casting a vibrant glow over the entire space. At the center of the wall, a large poster caught my eye –a picture of myself with the caption "Happy birthday, Culinary Queen" engraved in bold, glossy, silvery letters.On either side of the red carpet, every one of my loved ones stood beaming with smiles. My mom, the Harrisons, Maverick, Meredith, Stephen, Rebecca, Dwayne, and hold on, even Jared–everyone I cared about was there, their faces filled with affection.I was utterly stunned, my body rigid for a moment as I took in the breathtaking scene before me. Then, an overwhelming urge to cry hit me, and I covered my mouth with my hand, muttering "Oh my God," repeatedly. Tears of joy pricked at the corners of my eyes as I struggled to process the sheer m
(ARIELLE'S POV)I relished the meal, savoring each bite and enjoying the feel of each flavor on my plate. As much as I wanted to eat more of the delicacies, I had to settle for lighter meals. My stomach soon got filled, and being the minimalist I was, I had to stop. Eating beyond that point was gluttony, and I wasn't one.I covered the plates and pushed the tray aside, turning to thank Ashley. "Thank you so much, I enjoyed this.""You're welcome, even though you didn't eat as much as I wanted you to," she said, feigning a pout."Overfeeding me is not part of the plan, is it?""You're right, it isn't," she smiled ruefully and put the tray away."Now, you have to rest a little before we get down to business. We've got a lot planned for you today.""You're still not gonna tell me about this plan, aren't you?""You're right, I won't," she said, winking.I nodded, resigning to my fate. As much as I wanted to be privy to what was being planned, I also enjoyed being in the dark. It helped am
ARIELLE'S POV)As I slowly roused from sleep, I was momentarily disoriented, my mind foggy and blank. I tried to recollect where I was, and looking around, it dawned on me that I was in my room in the cabin. I sat up immediately, rubbing my eyes to get rid of the remnants of sleep. While at it, memories came rushing back like an open dam. I had been resting in my room with Ashley and Maverick when Jared came in, and Ashley had excused us. He had apologized about Sofia's antics earlier, and surprisingly, I wasn't mad at him because I was being honest with myself–it wasn't his fault. Sofia made her choices and I can't keep blaming him and letting him bear the brute of them.Even though I had earlier refused everyone's audience, Dwayne especially, citing that I wanted to rest, it was hard to ask Jared to leave. Having him sit beside me on the bed afterward, listening to me and Maverick talk, and the happy glow his presence brought out in Maverick made my hands tied. Maverick and I cha
JARED'S POVAs I walked, Arielle's cabin my destination, the weight of the conversation I had with Mrs Meyers settled heavily on my shoulders. I couldn't imagine how hard it must have been for Mrs. Meyers to bear such a secret all these years if it was this hard for me. Indeed, some secrets were better left unsaid because of the impact they bore.I soon rounded the corner leading to Arielle's cabin, but I was stunned to find Dwayne squatting at the entrance, his eyes fixed intently on the floor. I felt curious immediately and slowed my pace, trying not to startle him."What are you doing here?" I demanded, trying to keep the suspicion in my voice away.He looked up at me, his expression unreadable. "Arielle said she's resting and she asked me not to come in.”I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his response. "So you're just sitting here waiting for her?" He shrugged, seemingly unbothered by my question. "Yep, pretty much," he replied, looking away.I glanced at him, hesitating for a mo
(JARED'S POV)I leaned in further, my ears straining to catch every word, while my eyes were fixed intently on the screen. The dim lighting of the security room seemed to fade into the background as I became completely immersed in the conversation unfolding before me.The man's reply was dismissive and it was accompanied by the wave of his hand. "Don't think so highly of yourself," he sneered. "I was only invited to the ship by its owners. Meeting you was purely coincidental."Mrs Meyers snorted, her voice derisive. "I don't care who invited you. We agreed never to see it bump into each other ever again. And now you're here, breaking that agreement."The man grew offended and it reflected in the coldness of his tone as it sliced through the air like a sharp knife. "Stop bringing up the past," he growled, his voice bearing a warning note. "I'm not interested in you and that girl's life. But let me remind you of something–stay away from my son. I know you've been near his branch of the
(JARED'S POV)As much as I hated Dwayne's guts, I knew thanking him was the right thing to do. But his lips curled into a cold smile that never got to his eyes. "What, are you thanking me as her ex-husband? Or as the guy trying to win her back?" He said the words with a note of mockery that couldn't be missed.My jaw clenched, and I felt my face heat up with anger. What was funny about what I just said? "You're something else, you know that?" I muttered under my breath, trying so hard not to lose my cool. But it was hard to ignore Dwayne, not when he was deliberately being annoying.But he didn't seem to want to back down anytime soon. He let out a mirthless laugh, one that triggered me further. "And you're an idiot, little brother. You're so focused on juggling the mess with all those women around you that you miss what's right in front of you."I felt a surge of anger at his words, but I still forced myself to stay calm. I can't keep letting him get under my skin. Seeing that I wa
(SOFIA'S POV)I stood frozen, my heart hammering in my chest as the sting of Dwayne’s slap lingered on my cheek. The pain itself was nothing compared to the fear that followed crawled up my spine, seizing my chest with an icy grip. It wasn’t the slap that unsettled me. It was the calm that followed. The quiet, dangerous calm in his voice, the chilling intensity in his eyes.I stared at him, unable to look away. His gaze... those eyes… green, like emeralds, sharp and piercing, as if he could see straight through me. There was something about them that felt so hauntingly familiar. A memory buried so deep in my mind that it started clawing its way out, unwilling to be ignored. The more I looked at him, the more something in the back of my mind screamed, This is wrong. This is all wrong.His voice, low and steady, carried a weight to it: calm, but with a thread of something far more dangerous. My breath caught in my throat as my mind raced, sifting through memories, but each time I tried
(JARED'S POV)I stood there, my heart pounding, my mind filled with chaotic thoughts.No, this didn't feel right.My heart sank at Sofia's words, but my instinct told me that her face—the way she was acting, like she had some big revelation—felt off. I’d dealt with her enough to know when she was up to something, and right now, I could feel she was hiding something.But she spoke so confidently about Dwayne entering the room, as if it was crystal clear in her mind. Could there be any truth to what she said?Was it possible that Sofia's statement was not completely groundless? The thought made me pause, a flicker of doubt creeping in.If Sofia is really deliberately making trouble, why did she link Dwayne and Arielle together? Could something really happen between them?The image of Arielle and Dwayne together flashed in my mind, and I had to shake it away. No, I couldn’t let panic cloud my judgment. This was Sofia’s usual play—spinning webs of confusion to manipulate others for her o
(JARED'S POV)As I stepped out of the dining hall, I couldn't help but feel disappointed. Arielle had disappeared, and I had no idea where she had gone. I had been looking forward to talking to her all evening, but it seemed like fate had other plans or she was intentionally avoiding me.So I decided to focus on the utmost task at hand–confronting Matt Harrison. After tricking me and going contradictory to our agreement, it was expedient that he and I had a little chat.After a little looking around, I found him smoking at a corner of the deck, the dim night lightning casting a shadow on his face. I approached him, my footsteps echoing on the wooden floor.My footsteps alerted him, and he turned to face me, a smile spreading across his face. "Ahh, Jared, I have been expecting you. Took you long enough to find me. Sigh, the murderous glances you kept casting at me; I almost swore you'd rip my heart out the instant dinner ended.""Well, it's a good thing that you know that I'm not a man