(JARED’S POV) When morning finally arrived, I couldn't shake off the feeling of relief I felt. I had never wished for morning to arrive like I did last night. Sharing a space alone with Arielle had been a terrible idea. Last night had been pure torture. Her scent had driven me wild. But I was glad
(SOFIA’S POV) Everyone was against me. It was maddening, but I couldn’t sit around brooding any longer. I needed to act, and I needed to act now. My mother’s words rang in my head on repeat: Let Jared know and believe. I had to let him know I was pregnant! But just reaching Jared was a Hercule
He took out his phone and punched on it, dialing Jared's number. He placed it on speaker afterward, and let it ring. As the phone rang, my heart jumped into my mouth as I thought of Jared's reaction. Would he be happy I was bearing his child and finally come back to me? Would he finally realize ho
(ARIELLE’S POV) "No way! You actually spent the night with him? Just because of his grandmother?" Ashley's voice rang with disbelief. "Shh! We didn’t sleep together, Ash!" I felt the heat rise to my cheeks at the memory of last night. "We just… stayed in the same room, that’s all." “Oh, sure," sh
The restaurant was a beehive of activities, as it was noon, it was bustling with lunchtime crowd and orders. We approached the bar, and that's when I saw her. Sofia. Of course. Not a surprise for me anymore. Standing by the bar, her eyes locked into mine with a mix of malice and fierness. Her
(ARIELLE'S POV) "If I go down, you’re coming with me!" A chill shot down my spine as I saw the wild glint in Sofia’s eyes. Her grip on my wrist tightened painfully, her intentions darker than I’d ever imagined. Stephan’s face went pale, his expression shifting from shock to alarm. He lunged forwa
(JARED'S POV) “Why did you save me first this time?” Her question hit me like a jolt, slicing through the silence. She asked it so directly, as if it were a simple thing to answer. But I had no words for her. Not for this. What could I even say? Should I confess how my heart nearly stopped w
(ARIELLE'S POV) I think it was exhaustion, but I dozed off a little, while still talking to Jared, but it didn't stop me from realizing when he left the room, being a light sleeper. Curiously, I decided to go after him and see where he was headed. Barely a second after he left the room, I got of
(ARIELLE'S POV) “Surprise!” She exclaimed, her face beaming with smiles as she stepped fully into the room, pulling a small suitcase behind her. My jaw dropped, and my eyes widened. She looked tired from her trip, but her radiant smile masked it well. “Ashley, what are you doing here?” I asked, st
(ARIELLE'S POV) Back in my room at the hotel, I sat in front of my phone that was placed on the bed’s dashboard, waiting for my mom to answer the phone. Excitement coursed through my system like an unending river, and I couldn't wait to share the good news with my loved ones, my mom topping the cha
“I won’t be long in the shower,” he promised as he dashed into the bathroom. I picked up my phone and found a couple of missed calls from Michael Langley. A little frown crossed my face until I realized he might’ve worried after checking on me at my suite. I didn’t owe him any explanations of cours
(ARIELLE’S POV) I was awake—eyes closed, but very much aware of my surroundings. I could feel the gentle early morning breeze dance over my skin as it traveled across the room. The warmth of Jared’s skin against mine, his spring arms wrapped around me like a second blanket, brought back very vivid
(MICHAEL’S POV) I was on a zoom conference call with my strategy team back home when my phone rang. Normally, I’d just ignore it and let it ring out until whoever it was on the other end got the message. But when I looked at the caller ID, I thought better. “Jared. Is everything okay?” I asked my
“That bounce in his step? You’ll only ever find it in a man who’s in love. And you.. your skin has a different glow this morning. Plus you arrived an hour late for our appointment,” Ellen finished with a shrug. “Morning, Dr. Keystone,” Jared nodded as he walked into the room. “Good morning, Mr. Sm
(ARIELLE’S POV) I woke up in his arms, this time, fully aware and hardly willing to break the contact between our bodies. I slowly turned around to look at his face, to be sure none of it was a dream. Jared’s lips stretched in a smile and his eyes peeled open gradually. “Hey,” he said. “Hey,” I e
She opened her mouth to speak, but her words died away in the back of her throat the moment I slid myself into her. It felt like heaven. It felt like returning back to a place I’d vowed never to set foot in, only to realize I’d never really left in my heart—if I was being honest with myself. She
(JARED'S POV) When we arrived at the hotel, Arielle insisted on stopping by her room first for a quick shower and to change her dress. I didn’t object because I thought I could use the time to surprise her with a little culinary adventure. The poor chicken I put in the oven would have fared better