SINAs we reach the car, Ryder steps out quickly and opens the door for Mae and she slides in, still lost in her thoughts. I circle the car and get in while Ryder rushes into the driver's seat and starts the car engine."Home," I order staring at Ryder through the rearview mirror, he nods and drives the car out of the parking lot. My phone suddenly vibrates in my pocket as I reach for my phone to find a message from Ethan.[You owe me.] The message is followed by some pictures of pages from a file.Mr. Winchester's Will, Mae's father.I knew I could count on Ethan, he was good at snooping around, a skill he had learned from me and gotten better at. I would have gotten it done myself but my presence would easily be noticeable. Not to brag, but who would see me in a room and not keep their eyes locked on me?[Thanks.] I reply.The car ride back to the penthouse is unusually silent. I glance over at Mae, she leans on the window looking out lost in her thoughts and I can tell that her mi
MAEI sit up embarrassment taking over me, this is the second time he has walked out on me tonight. My hand slowly retracts as I sit up covering my naked body with the nearby blanket.I run my finger through my hair cursing myself internally for doing that, why? Why did you do that Mae? I thought putting myself out there would make him want to get it over with but he just walked out. Does he hate me that much? Or does he not find me attractive? Am I repulsive to him? Do I disgust him? Was that why he couldn't stand kissing me and now he couldn't even look at me?Tears well up in my eyes as I try to process everything. I wrap the blanket around me tightly, seeking solace in its warmth as the tears welling in my eyes run down my cheeks. "Fuck. You. Sin." I yell cleaning the tears off my cheeks. I said I will never be vulnerable in front of me but I keep going back on my own words. Why? Why Mae? Why do I even care about his opinion of me? Why do I care if he finds me attractive or no
MAEThe next morning I woke up feeling exhausted, beads of sweat clinging to my forehead. I had a dream last night of Sin and Jason fighting over me, the dream was so vivid, that it felt unsettling. I raise my hand yawning deeply and stretching my body. It must have been because of everything that happened last night, that's why I had that weird dream. I rub the back of my neck cleaning my eyes, yawning again. I roll out of bed and make my way towards the window, I am sure the curtains were opened last night before I fell asleep or did I close them, I can't remember. I opened the window slowly, squinting my eyes and the bright sunlight seeped through the tall glass panes, casting a warm glow throughout the room. I look down at the view of the city, it looks so beautiful from up here.Maybe I can get used to waking up like this to this beautiful and quiet view for the time being. My mind suddenly goes to my conversation last night with Jason, I will go to see Lily in the hospital fir
MAEIt doesn't take long when we arrive at the hospital, I insisted on Ryder coming back to pick me up when I was done in hopes of going to Jason without his help but he insisted that it will be best he waited. Not wanting to arise suspicion on my movement, I was forced to agree with him and go into the hospital to meet Lily. "Mae," Lily smiles as I step into the room. She sits up on the bed opening her arms to me, as I rush to her side to give her a warm embrace. "Hey, you are energetic today," I notice as I let go of her planting a kiss on her cheek. "I don't know, maybe its because the doctor reassured me that with the chemotherapy I will get better," she smiles."That's good to hear, I am glad I was able to get the money on time. I can't wait for you to get better, it must be tiring just being in the same spot all day," I say feeling sorry for her. "You will be amazed to find out that the hospital is not so bad," Lily chuckles. "We could go out for a walk using the wheelchair,
MAE"Sin has a brother?" she says, disbelief evident in her voice. "I mean I know he did but didn't expect the brother to be you."Ethan stares at Lily with a puzzled look, "Should I take that as a compliment or should I be worried?" "No, I mean. You look too good to be his brother," Lily confesses."Ah, I see," Ethan's shoulder rises with pride as he chuckles lightly. "Well, it's a small world, isn't it?" he remarks. "Yeah, it really is," I reply, feeling a sense of unease settling in the pit of my stomach. I don't know if it's the fact that Lily is openly flirting with Sin's brother or something else."Please tell me you are nothing like your brother, I heard he is a Playboy. Is that your thing as well?" Lily blurts out."Lily," I caution her, surprised by her words.Lily lifts her head to stare at me. "What? I am just asking."Ethan's brows knit together, a hint of irritation clouding his features. "I'd rather not discuss my personal life with you," he states firmly. "It was nice
MAEJason's eyes flicker with a hint of amusement as he leans back in his chair. "Ah, straight to the point I see," he says with a chuckle. "Well, Mae, let's just say that your aunt and I go way back."My curiosity piques, and I lean forward slightly. "How far back?" I ask.Jason's smile widens, and he steeples his fingers in front of him. "Your aunt is a friend to my mum," he replies, his gaze never leaving mine. "We have been family friends for quite some while."A sense of unease washes over me as I try to piece together the puzzle. How is that possible? I mean it's possible but how did I not know this? "You said you had something to tell me about my aunt, was this it?" I press, my voice laced with frustration hoping I didn't waste my time coming here.Jason's expression turns serious, and he leans forward, his elbows resting on the table. "Your aunt came to us when your parents died, she wanted to make a deal with us," he says, his voice low and intense.My heart races as I stare
MAEI sniff in wiping away the tears streaming down my cheeks with my hand, "I am alright," I manage to say, my voice barely audible. "Are you sure?" Ryder asks staring at me, he reaches out to touch me but he places his hand to the side."Just take me home," I mutter heading towards the car. "Yes ma'am," he nods rushing to open the car door for me. I slide into the back seat as Ryder closes the door, he circles the car and gets into the driver's seat. "Are you sure you are okay Ma'am?" Ryder asks again looking at me through the rearview mirror with a worried look. "Did someone there say anything to you? All you have to do is point them out and I promise you I will handle the situation." As much as I would enjoy him beating Jason up, I don't think I need that sort of attention right now. They already think I am broke, to hear of me beating up my ex will be worse."No, it's fine, Ryder," I lie meeting his worried eyes in the rearview mirror. "Just take me home, please."He nods, hi
MAEMy eyes size him up before meeting his eyes, "Yeah, is that a problem?" I ask. I am not in the mood for any of this right now."It depends, I could buy you a -""Get lost," Ryder interrupts him."Hey mister I wasn't talking to you, I was talking to the young lady, and she-" The man suddenly stops talking as Ryder opens his suit slightly showing him a gun tucked in his pants. "I-I am sorry to interrupt," the man stutters walking away. I watch the man before staring back at Ryder and I don't know if I should laugh or be worried. Why does he have a gun?I take a sip from my drink staring at Ryder through my lashes, "You have a gun?" Ryder's eyes meet mine, the faintest hint of a smile playing on his lips. "I do," he admits. "It's just a precaution and as you can see it works."I nod slightly, understanding his reasoning. My father used to have a gun when he was alive, although he never used it.I take another sip of my drink, feeling the burn as it slides down my throat. "So," Ryd
NOAH"Noah, I know what happened. I remember everything. And I know you saved my life. But that doesn't give you the right to leave me without a word. To break our engagement and walk away. You need to understand, I thought we had something real. Something worth fighting for," she says, her voice cracking with emotion.I nod, feeling a pang of regret. Of course, what we had was real, I sent her 500 million without batting an eye, all I wanted at that moment was her and it still is, but I..."Aria, I know I made a mistake. I owe you an explanation. I just... I don't want you to get hurt because of me, I don't want your parents to..." Aria closes the distance between us placing her hand on my cheeks, I feel the warmth of her hand zapping away the frustration and anger building up inside of me from what had happened that day and how things could have turned out worse."So, what? You are going to be a coward by allowing Melissa to get into your head.""She killed two women I was involved
NOAHI thought falling in love was complicated, no, it's loving them from a distance that is quite complicated, seeing them and being unable to hold them, touch them, or even talk to them.I've been away for two weeks, trying to clear my head and make sense of everything. The investigation, Melissa's arrest, Aria's coma... it's all been too much. I know I shouldn't have left without talking to Aria, but I couldn't bear the thought of hurting her more than I already have. I've been watching her from afar, making sure she's safe and recovering well. But now, as I'm back in town, I know I will need to face her soon. As I step towards my car at the airport, I'm bombarded by reporters. "Noah, how does it feel to be back?" "Noah, what's your response to the allegations?" "Noah, are you dating anyone new?" I ignore them and rush to my car, but one of their questions strikes a nerve in me, "Do you think Melissa will have the new person in your life killed?"I turn to stare at the reporter
ARIA"Where is Noah? Is this a joke because I do not find it funny," it's been one month, one fucking month, and the first thing he decides to do instead of being right here with me, holding my hands and comforting me is to run away and give them some stupid rule over what? "What did I do? If anyone should be keeping any distance, it should be me, his psycho friend tried to kill me," I yell."A lot of Noah's flings have all suffered their fair share, Melissa has been secretly fucking up their life. The moment she finds out they are involved with Noah," Arthur explains. "The investigation found out that two of the girls died, they were able to trace it back to Melissa," he adds.I feel a chill run down my spine as I process this information. Noah's flings? How many girls has he been involved with? Two of them are dead? And all this happened while I was in a coma.My mind is racing with questions, but before I can ask any of them, Arthur drops another bombshell."Melissa had the inten
ARIAThey say a near-death experience is different for everyone, I have read that some people wake up not remembering anything leading to their accident. The last thing I remember is seeing Noah's face before blacking out, but the memories are still sharp in my head.I wake up to the beeping of machines and the antiseptic smell of a hospital, which I hate. I try to sit up, but a sharp pain in my stomach makes me wince. I look down to see my stomach is bandaged, I look around, disoriented, and see my mother sitting in a chair beside my bed, her eyes red and puffy from lack of sleep.She gasps as she sees me awake and trying to sit up, "Aria, my child, you are awake, you are awake" she yells standing on her feet, relief washing over her face.I try to speak, but my voice is hoarse and barely audible. My mother rushes out of the room and I can hear her screaming at the top of her lungs for the doctors to come, she soon comes back in with not only the doctor but my dad and Arthur. "Ari,
NOAH"Can you make a reservation at the Haute Cuisine?" I ask, making a turn into the road leading to the cabin."Is it a business meeting, Sir?" Brian questions. "I can have it set for -""It's a date Brian, not a business meeting," I interrupt him, parking the car right in front of the cabin. For a second the phone goes silent on the other end, Brian probably wondering why I am having a date in an expensive restaurant downtown and canceling my schedule for the day."A d-date?" Brian finally says stuttering. "I mean yes Sir," he says and I am sure he is already scribbling away on his note. He has always had a thing with jotting every single word I say, well it has always been useful for him especially since I love my things done almost to perfection. "A date at Haute Cuisine tonight, what menu are we looking at?" "Do not place an order?" I am not sure what Aria would like, it will be best if she makes the order instead. Anything she orders is fine by me as long as I get to look at h
ARIAMelissa stands in the doorway, a stern expression on her face. "Well, what do we have here?" she says, her voice firm but polite. What the hell is she doing here and how did she get in? Did Noah not close the door? I am sure he wouldn't have made that mistake, to keep the door open."What the hell are you doing here and how did you get in?" I ask, my voice getting loud with each word.Melissa chuckles and walks into the room, her eyes scanning the space as if searching for something. "I have a spare key, what? Did you think you are the only one Noah has brought to this cabin?"Rolling my eyes, I kiss my teeth not answering her question, it doesn't matter who has been here before. Although, I am jealous of the idea of him sharing this space with another woman, but he has made it clear that I am all he needs in his life and that is enough for me. "Anyways," she continues. "I wanted to see Noah, I have been trying to reach him since last night but he wasn't picking up my calls."O
ARIA"This should fit just fine," Noah says handing me one of his T-shirts from the wardrobe, I don't know how he convinced me to spend the night in the cabin, if anything I should be heading home to be alone, and think about the proposal but I want to be here with him. Whenever I am with him, every other thing seems meaningless. Noah had suggested spending the night at his house first, but I was against it, at least for now. His mother would just have us married at sight, if anyone wants us paired together other than Noah, it's her.I put the towel on the hanger and wear the T-shirt over my head, the T-shirt fits like a dress, big and just above my knee. I check my face in the mirror, packing my hair into a ponytail before leaving the bathroom. I am not surprised when I find Noah in his pajamas standing by the door waiting patiently for me to come out. His eyes light up the moment I step out, his eyes falling from my face to his T-shirt on my body. "Noah, you're staring," I say, t
NOAHDammit!I have placed her in a spot, look at her eyes, I can see the desire to say yes, but also the confusion at how soon this is all happening. I knew I should have waited a bit, but I don't think I can.The thought of someone else and not me being her life is going to completely wreck me. I always have this ring, it has been in the family for ages, all I had to do was ask my mother for it. She was stunned when I asked, "Are you sure Noah? I mean I am happy you are finally asking for the ring, but are you sure you want it?" She asked."Aria, you don't have to say anything right now," I say, not wanting to get rejected. Her rejection will hurt more than her silence. "How about you think about it? I don't want to pressure you into anything okay?" I say holding her hand and placing the ring in her hand. "Y-You want me to think about it, while I hold on to the ring?" She stutters. "That's a lot of pressure Noah, and... And this ring looks like a family heirloom."Of course, she d
ARIA"So, what's it with you and this cabin?" I ask as he offers me a glass of wine before joining me on the couch. "Do you bring all your girlfriends here?" "Girlfriend?" He chuckles taking a sip from his wine glass. "I don't do girlfriends Aria, you are the first."First? I don't know if I should believe that or not. "The cabin is just a safe space for me, away from everyone," he continues."Well, the reason I wanted us to meet was because of my parents," I begin, taking a sip from my drink. He raises an eyebrow, " Your parents? Are they fine?""Yeah, they are but my dad suspects foul play, he thinks someone might be on to him and my mum. He said the accident was caused by the brake failure," I explain. "He wants his recovery with that of my mother hidden for now, he hopes this will hopefully lure out whoever is behind it."Noah takes a sip of his drink, nodding his head, "You want me to hide seeing him and your mother?""Yeah, for now of course," I say."You know, you could have