“No matter where you’re going,” he said gently, his voice steady yet soft, “it’ll be faster and safer if I take you there.” His tone wasn’t just reassuring; it was firm. It was as if he could see right through me, knowing I was teetering on the edge. “I know the owner of this shop,” he added. “He
(ARIELLE'S POV) I relied on my memory to remember the box Jared had been in earlier. My heart was beginning to race, and I could feel my hands growing sweaty. I wiped them on my dress, trying to calm myself down. For a moment, I hesitated in front of the door. I hadn’t planned out exactly what to
All eyes turned to me. Jared’s head snapped in my direction, his face paling as his gaze locked onto mine. My whole body felt ice-cold, the blood draining from my face until I was certain I looked like a ghost. My heart clenched painfully as his words replayed in my head. He said it didn’t matter
(ARIELLE’S POV) The air had grown colder, the chill creeping into my bones. Dwayne wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into his chest. “Are you cold?” he asked, his voice soft with concern. I wiped my tears, shaking my head. All I could feel was exhaustion. My mind had turned to mush, too drai
Did he even realize the simple fact that he was with Sofia was enough to tear me apart? She was the source of my pain for three years, and now he was with her, again. Why? Why?! Argh! A silent scream tore through my mind. I grabbed my head in my hands and rocked back and forth. I moved a little to
“Good night, ostrich,” he said softly and walked out of the room. I let out a long sigh and stared up at the ceiling, the hours blending together in a haze. My thoughts were a tangled mess, each one spinning faster than the last. For a moment, I imagined there were tiny dots on the ceiling and the
(ARIELLE S POV) The rest of the morning passed quietly as I cleaned the apartment after Dwayne left. His place had a certain charm to it. It wasn’t flashy, but there was a quiet allure in the way everything was arranged. Much like Dwayne himself. Effortlessly captivating. As I was about to tidy up
For a moment confusion clouded my mind, before I suddenly remembered everything. I’d been so carried away with the events of the previous night to remember I had better things to worry about. Things concerning the people who genuinely mattered to and cared about me. I chastised myself and tapped aw
“Okay, how about… the bartender from that rooftop dinner we went to?” “Arielle!” Ashley exclaimed, feigning offense. “Seriously? A random bartender?” I shrugged. “Hey, you never know. Besides, you said it yourself that he was your type.” She rolled her eyes and didn't say a word. I continued the
(ARIELLE’S POV) I halted, my mind going blank. Pregnant? Ashley? It felt unbelievable. The Ashley I know would never let a man knock her up without marriage, she was that uptight. My eyes darted from her beaming face to the hand she was now placing on her stomach. “Pregnant?” The word escaped my l
(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