ARIA’S POVAs soon as Neal found out that Stella and I were in the hospital, he rushed over and stood at the entrance, his face pale and eyes wide with fear. His usual calm demeanor was replaced with a frantic energy, and his hands were trembling slightly.The sight of his sister and girlfriend in such a vulnerable state seems to overwhelm him, his worry etched deeply into his features. He runs a hand through his hair, a clear sign of his anxiety, and his voice wavers as he asks if we are okay. The relief in his eyes when he sees that we are safe is palpable, but the lingering fear and concern are still evident.Just as his eyes fall on Adam, Neal stops at nothing to charge directly at him, his words sharp and laced with accusations."This is all your fault, Adam! Why is it when Aria gets hurt, you’re always around?!"His voice is filled with a mix of anger and desperation, each word striking like a blow. The tension between them is visible, and Neal’s usually composed exterior crumbl
ARIA’S POVOnce Neal apologizes to Adam, he turns to Stella, his face softening with concern.“Are you okay?”Neal’s voice is gently, his voice barely above a whisper. He reaches out, brushing a strand of hair from her face as he looks her over for any signs of harm. Stella nods, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, and offers him a small, appreciative smile.I find it a heart-warming sight, a tender moment amidst all the chaos. Neal’s protective nature is on full display, and it’s clear how much he cares for Stella. Adam’s eyes linger on them, a mix of emotions playing across his face—perhaps a bit of envy and a touch of admiration.As I watch Neal and Stella, I can’t help but feel a ray of hope peeping through the window. Despite the turmoil, there’s a chance for love and healing. Maybe, just maybe, things can start to get better from here. I just wish that Neal would confess his love for Stella and they can both finally take their relationship further.However, I can’t ignore the
ARIA’S POVAdam's release from the hospital brings a sense of relief, knowing that his wounds are healing. Not that I've been concerned or keeping tabs on his progress, especially with Sophia already there to care for him. Each time our paths intersect at the laboratory or Wellington Enterprises, Adam maintains his silence. He continues to operate under the assumption that Nathan and I are romantically involved, and I remain steadfast in my decision not to correct his misconception. “How is your palm now?”I notice his bandaged palm during the meeting and casually ask if he is alright. He smiles, reassuring me that he is feeling better.“I’m good, Aria. Thanks for asking.”While I am deeply grateful to him for saving my life, I can't afford to be around him too much, nor do I want to give him the impression that I owe him anything in return. In any case, assigning him a project is already my way of repaying the debt I owe him.On the other side, observing Neal and Stella's regular m
ARIA’S POVEverything is arranged for the event before I head out of the house. I shall be driven to the location alone, with my driver dropping me off. However, the bodyguards will follow closely behind in another car, ensuring my safety at all times.Once at the party, the bodyguards will blend in, mingling with other guests as if they are businessmen. We won't acknowledge each other, but they'll discreetly keep an eye on me, ensuring my safety without drawing attention. As soon as I enter the ballroom, I notice there isn't a single woman present nor anyone I know from the business world. The room is filled exclusively with men, which strikes me as quite fishy and raises my suspicions immediately.I can't even find the host anywhere. Typically, the host would be at the entrance to greet and acknowledge the invitees, but their absence only deepens my suspicion. I scan the room, my eyes darting from face to face, until they land on someone familiar.“Sophia? Here?”I mumble to myself
ARIA’S POVSophia walks toward me with unashamed confidence, her stride purposeful and bold. The audacity in her approach is striking, and I can't help but feel a mix of anger and curiosity as she closes the distance between us. Her demeanor radiates a fearless assurance that leaves me bracing for whatever she has planned next.“Aria! Nice to see you after so long!”As if I am glad to see her! Her bold approach only deepens my unease, but I manage to maintain a composed exterior, unwilling to give her the satisfaction of seeing my discomfort. Sophia hands me her glass of Champagne, and I know all too well that anything she gives must be adulterated. Her gestures are never without a hidden agenda, and this one is no exception. I accept the glass with a forced smile, my mind racing with suspicion and caution, fully aware that her seemingly generous act is likely tainted with ulterior motives.Then, she takes it a step further by introducing the man she's with. Her voice carries a note
ARIA’S POVTo my shock, Sophia suddenly bursts into laughter. The sudden shift in her demeanor catches me off guard, and I can't help but feel a surge of confusion and disbelief. Her laughter echoes through the room, a stark contrast to the tension that had filled the air just moments before. Unable to comprehend the sudden change, I watch in bewilderment as Sophia continues to laugh, her amusement seeming out of place given the circumstances.“Aria, dear… We’re not together. He is just accompanying me, that’s all.”I make a conscious effort to remain unfazed in Sophia's eyes, refusing to let her see any sign of weakness or vulnerability. Despite the whirlwind of emotions swirling within me, I maintain a calm exterior, determined not to give her the satisfaction of knowing she's rattled me.“I don’t need to know anything about it. Just think what explanation you’ll give to Adam.”Sophia's expression shifts instantly, her demeanor betraying a hint of fear as she realizes the potential
ARIA’S POVThe room I've been thrust into is enveloped in pitch darkness, leaving me disoriented and vulnerable. With my heart racing, I struggle to make sense of my surroundings, feeling a sense of unease creep over me in the blackness.I attempt to open the door, but it's firmly locked, sealing me inside. Panic surges through me as I hear the unmistakable sound of sinister laughter behind me. Dread washes over me, and I realize with a sinking feeling that I'm trapped in this dark and ominous room with no means of escape.As I feel the arms of that man around my waist, instinct takes over and I lash out, striking him with all the force I can muster. My actions are fueled by fear and desperation, driven by the primal need to defend myself against this unknown threat.“You bitch! I should have drugged you first!”Now it's confirmed— the host— is indeed either Sophia or Brad, and their plan was to drug me and trap me in this room. The realization solidifies my resolve, and I brace mysel
ARIA’S POVI leave the party immediately, and no one dares to stop me, knowing full well the trouble they’d face if they did. Sophia is nowhere to be seen, which only confirms my suspicions. She likely assumed that with me trapped inside the hotel room, I would already be sexually assaulted, allowing her to wash her hands of the whole ordeal. The thought of her cold calculation fills me with a mix of disgust and determination to ensure she faces justice for her actions.It's truly disturbing how someone like Sophia could be so selfish and morally corrupt. Her actions demonstrate a complete lack of empathy and regard for others, reducing people to mere pawns in her twisted games.I can't help but ponder what would happen if Adam were to discover Sophia's true nature, especially her behavior around other men. Given how she's deceived him in the past, I fear it would shatter his perception of her.Sophia has managed to deceive Adam before, but if he were to witness this side of her, I'm
ARIA’S POVLydia’s tears dry up as she slowly turns away, ready to leave the hospital room. Her steps are hesitant, burdened by the weight of everything she’s confessed, and by the knowledge that she might be walking out of Ethan’s life forever. There’s a palpable sense of finality in the way she carries herself, like someone resigned to their fate.But just as her hand reaches the door, Ethan calls out her name.“Lydia.”Everyone freezes for a moment. Lydia stops in her tracks, her back still turned, and I can see the subtle rise and fall of her shoulders as she takes in what just happened. The room is tense, filled with emotions that swirl and collide like waves in a storm, but the sound of Ethan’s voice cuts through it all.“Who told you to leave?”He tells Lydia that he wants to give their relationship another chance.The words hang in the air, a shockwave that ripples through the room. I glance at Ethan’s parents, who stiffen at the unexpected declaration, but they remain silent,
ARIA’S POVAs soon as Ethan gazes at Lydia, her face crumples, tears welling up in her eyes, most likely because she knows she is about to lose him. The weight of everything she has done, both in the past and more recently, seems to crash down on her. Her vulnerability is unmistakable, and it’s clear that she fears this might be the end of whatever she and Ethan had built together in this strange in-between space where his memory had been absent.Ethan’s expression hardens as he processes the reality of the situation. He’s upset, and it's easy to see why. For weeks, months even, his parents had believed him to be lost, possibly dead, while Lydia kept him hidden from the people who loved him most. His emotions are a swirl of confusion, betrayal, and anger as he turns to Lydia, waiting for an explanation. The air between them grows thick with unspoken accusations, the kind that don’t need words to make their impact.Lydia’s sobs grow more frantic as she tries to defend herself, her voic
ARIA’S POV“I’m not here to take Ethan from you… We’re just best friends. Nothing more.”“What?”“It was just a charade at your engagement.”All of a sudden, the nurse informs us that Ethan has woken up. My heart races as I see the reaction from everyone around me. Without wasting a second, we all rush into his room. Ethan’s eyes are open, and the first thing he does is call out to his parents.There’s a moment of palpable relief as his mother and father rush to his side, elation lighting up their faces. They hold him close, their hands trembling with emotion, and for the first time in a long while, they seem to have a piece of peace back in their lives.But what stands out most is that Ethan doesn’t even look at Lydia. Not once. Her presence, once central to his confusion, seems to fade into the background. She stands near the door, frozen, her eyes glassy with unshed tears as she watches the reunion. I don’t know whether it’s fear, regret, or sadness that’s written on her face, but
ARIA’S POV“I’m not letting you take Ethan from me.”Lydia sits next to me, vulnerable in a way I’ve never seen before. She begins speaking softly, revealing her regrets and the reasons behind her actions. She admits that her past choices were driven by greed and a hunger for wealth, and that those choices led her to hurt Ethan and her ex-fiancé. She speaks of how, after fleeing to Arizona to escape the wreckage of her old life, she found Ethan on the shore, lost and helpless. In that moment, she says, she saw not the man she had wronged but someone she could help. Someone who needed her.It’s difficult to fully believe her, but something about her story rings true. The way she talks about Ethan and her past mistakes feels raw and genuine, not the calculated coldness I once associated with her. She explains that when Ethan didn’t remember anything—not his name, not his family, not even his old life—he still remembered her.“We’re meant to be together. Else, he wouldn’t have landed her
ARIA’S POVWe’re all seated in the waiting area of the hospital, the sterile smell and bright lights only adding to the tension. Ethan’s parents, sitting across from me, glance in my direction every so often, their frowns deepening as if my mere presence is an offense.It’s not the first time I’ve seen that look on their faces, and it probably won’t be the last. But what baffles me is how they’ve chosen to forget about Lydia entirely. She’s sitting in the corner of the room, arms folded, her face pale and tight with worry. I can’t tell if she’s genuinely concerned for Ethan or if this is all just another one of her well-rehearsed acts.I lean back in my chair, trying to process it all. At least the Mitchells had realized that their son had lost his memory before I even had the chance to explain. It was painfully obvious—his reaction when he saw them, the way his body gave out from the shock.He fainted because it was too much for him. Yet, here they are, acting like I’m the villain in
ARIA’S POVLydia seems to sense that she’s outnumbered. She glares at us for a moment, then steps aside, opening the door fully. We enter the house, the air thick with tension. I glance around, spotting the packed boxes in the corner. They were planning to leave, just as I suspected.I spot Ethan standing in the living room. He’s casually scrolling through his phone, but the second he looks up and sees me, there’s a flicker of recognition in his eyes. I hold my breath, waiting for some kind of reaction. But then, his parents step in behind me, and that’s when everything changes.Ethan freezes. His phone slips out of his hand and clatters onto the floor, but his gaze is locked on his parents. I can practically see the gears turning in his mind, as if something deep inside him is suddenly being unlocked. His face goes pale, and his eyes widen in shock.And then, just as quickly as it all hits him, Ethan stumbles back, clutching his head. He takes a few shaky steps before collapsing to t
ARIA’S POVI sit in my car, my eyes on the house as the night falls deeper. All the windows are dark, the curtains drawn, and not a single sign of movement inside. It’s almost midnight, and it doesn’t look like Lydia and Ethan are going anywhere tonight.Still, I can’t afford to take any risks. If I leave or let my guard down for even a second, who knows what they might do. Maybe they’ll sneak out in the early hours, slip away when no one is watching.But exhaustion is catching up to me. The rented car is spacious enough, well-equipped for a long night of waiting. I’ve pinned my location for the people I’ve summoned here—they’ll call when they’re close. I settle into the seat, finally allowing myself a moment to rest. There’s no harm in taking a quick nap while I wait.I drift off, my mind a swirl of thoughts and plans. Every scenario plays out in my head; confronting Lydia, pulling Ethan out of there, making sure he’s safe. It’s not peaceful sleep by any means, but it’s something.Ho
ARIA’S POVMy stomach churns with hunger, but the idea of stepping away from my spot, even for a moment, feels out of the question. I’ve been sitting here, fixated on the house, watching every movement behind those walls. It’s like Lydia and Ethan are carrying on with their perfect little life, while I’m stuck out here, trying to figure out what to do next.I have moved too far now to catch their conversation clearly, and their voices aren’t as loud as they were before. On top of that, before they notice me, I have to make sure I keep my distance.The sight of them earlier, packing boxes, moving around like they’re planning to skip town, is enough to make my blood boil. I can’t let that happen.I need to eat, I need to think, but there’s no way I can leave the area, not even for a second. They could take off, and I’d have no idea where they would go. If I lose track of them, it could be the last time I ever see Ethan. The thought alone makes my heart race.Then, I spot a kid in the di
ARIA’S POVI got the address and I head directly to the place to spy on Ethan and Lydia. My first step is to observe the surrounding and checking on their movements.“Aiden, love. Shall I keep this in the bag?”“Yes, baby.”She is addressing him as Aiden, and I roll my eyes in exasperation.As I watch from my hidden spot, I can barely contain the rage boiling inside me. Ethan, living a normal life with that deceitful witch, Lydia, like they’re some kind of perfect couple. How can he not see through her lies?My heart races, each second feeling like an eternity. She’s manipulating him, keeping him trapped in this farce, and it’s beyond infuriating. Ethan’s family has no idea he’s even alive, and meanwhile, he’s here, with her, under this disgusting illusion of love.But then something changes. I notice a flurry of activity at their house. Boxes. Bags. They’re packing up. My eyes narrow, and I feel a sudden rush of panic. This isn’t just spring cleaning or a casual weekend trip—they’re