ARIA’S POVAfter leaving the café that day, I feel a whirlwind of emotions. My encounter with Adam has left me unsettled. When the anger in me subsides, I finally decide it’s time to be honest about my past.“He’s my ex-husband. I feel bad for not telling you before and I didn’t know he would be here.”Taking a deep breath, I finally tell Tony about my divorce from Adam. I apologize for not sharing this with him sooner and brace myself for his reaction, uncertain of how he will take the news. My heart pounds as I watch his face for any sign of disappointment or shock.To my surprise, Tony remains calm and composed, his expression unchanged. He simply nods, his eyes filled with understanding and compassion, making me feel a sense of relief and gratitude.“I don’t care about your past. I love you with my heart.”He simply says that what happened in the past stayed in the past and assures me that he loves only me.This declaration catches me off guard. It's the first time Tony has said h
ARIA’S POVAnother day, yet another date. I can’t recall going on dates like this and I am loving each and every moment of it.This time, Tony and I are at a fine-dining restaurant, enjoying the elegance of the evening. The ambiance is perfect, with soft music playing and candlelight casting a warm glow over the table. For once, I feel relaxed and happy, savoring the moment with Tony.Out of nowhere, chaos erupts. Tania, wild-eyed and furious, storms into the restaurant, her voice shrill and filled with venom. She brandishes a knife, charging at me with an intensity that sends a chill down my spine."You slut! I’ll kill you! You had Regis, and now you’re dating another guy? Fucking slut!"The restaurant falls silent, and all eyes turn towards us. Panic grips me as I see Tania’s crazed expression and the gleam of the knife. But before I can react, Tony steps in front of me, shielding me with his body. Tania lunges, and the next few seconds feel like an eternity.Tony takes the brunt of
ARIA’S POVTony is fine and quickly discharged from the hospital. The doctors assure me that his wound is not severe, and he can go home to rest. Relieved, I help him to the car, feeling a mixture of gratitude and guilt. I feel an overwhelming sense of guilt, as if I've put his life in danger, just as I did for Stella, Adam, and Regis in some inexplicable way.Tania's attack has landed her back in jail, and this time, she won’t be able to post bail. There’s a sense of justice served, but the incident has left a lasting impact on me.Although it's a small victory, but at least is a significant one.As I drive Tony back to his house, I can't help but feel a deep sense of appreciation for his bravery and the air is filled with a sense of calm. Tony leans back in his seat, looking out the window."Thank you for everything."His voice is sincere and soft. I smile at him, grateful for his presence in my life."I'll visit you soon."I promise, while trying to keep my voice steady despite the
ARIA’S POVAs I scroll through the TikTok feed and come across a video of the incident. In this video, the narrator is describing what has been captured while he was at the restaurant that day; Tania’s wild-eyed fury as she charges at me with a knife, screaming incoherent accusations. Tony steps in front of me, shielding me from the attack, and the security quickly subdues Tania.The video is shaky, clearly filmed by the TikToker, but the chaos is evident. The slashing of the arm and blood oozing out of Tony’s arm has not been blurred and this incident is laid bare to anyone on social media.These days, people seem ready to capture any moment on their phones, no matter how private or sensitive, and then quickly upload it to social media for the world to see, not bothered about the person’s reputation or emotions.As I watch, I notice the comments section filling up rapidly. One of the early comments catches my eye; “Wow, that boyfriend is really nice to protect his girlfriend.”It’s a
ARIA’S POVWhen I get home, the first thing I do is check the video and the comments again.“She’s not even pretty! Tony deserves so much better.”“Why didn’t she do anything to protect herself or at least not let him get hurt? So useless!”“This is disgusting. Tony is way out of her league.”“How dare that plain Jane think she’s good enough for Tony!”Each comment feels like a punch to my gut, a painful reminder of what I used to hear when I was married to Adam. It’s as if nothing has changed, as if I’m forever trapped in a cycle of not being enough.I sit on the edge of my bed, scrolling through the comments, feeling the weight of their judgement bearing down on me. The problem with social media is that once someone lights the fire, it spreads like a wildfire, and it's nearly impossible to put out the flames or may take some time.In my case, it may take longer.“Tony deserves someone better.”“She’s just using him for his fame.”One comment reads, while another claims. The words bl
ARIA’S POVIt seems that Tony’s revelation has made things worst. When Tony tags me in the photo, it doesn't take long for people to figure out who I am. They recognize me as Neal’s sister and the CEO of Jackson Paragon. Despite Tony’s plea for his fans to stop their harsh comments, the controversy still impacts our stock market value. It feels like my entire world is under a magnifying glass, every move scrutinized.Soon, it’s not just Tony’s fans who are noticing. The media and general public start digging into my past. My marriage with Adam resurfaces, and rumors begin to swirl again about how I supposedly climbed my way up the corporate ladder through less-than-ethical means. The frustration is overwhelming, and I feel like I’m being suffocated by the weight of public opinion.Nonetheless, in the midst of this chaos, Adam’s company releases a statement defending me. They clarify that our marriage ended amicably and affirm that I was an excellent worker during my time with them. Sh
ARIA’S POVLying in bed, I feel a mix of exhaustion and hope washing over me. The weight of the day presses down on me, yet the thought of Tony by my side provides a comforting reassurance. The journey ahead is bound to be challenging, but knowing that we are in this together makes me feel more equipped to handle whatever comes our way. I close my eyes, allowing a sense of renewed determination to fill me. As I drift off to sleep, I embrace the hope that tomorrow will bring strength and resilience.Nevertheless, I finally feel at ease, the turbulence of the past days settling into a calm acceptance. Yet, a sense of impending dread lingers as the court date for Tania approaches. The uncertainty of what lies ahead weighs heavily on my mind, casting a shadow over the fragile peace I've found.The day has finally arrived when I shall seek justice once again. In the courtroom, I take the stand and testify as a witness. I carefully narrate each and every detail to the court, emphasizing tha
ARIA’S POVThe courtroom scene still lingers in my mind as I leave the courthouse. Tania's menacing words echo in my ears, but I push them aside as Adam approaches me with an urgent look. I am a bit impatient, but I decide to hear him out.We step away from the bustling crowd, and Adam’s expression grows even more serious. He begins, his tone grave."I’ve found something you need to know about Tony."I feel a surge of irritation. I don’t want to hear anything that might ruin the fragile peace I’ve just begun to rebuild. But Adam's concern looks genuine, so I nod for him to continue.Adam pulls out his phone and shows me a series of documents and photos.“Tony was a scammer before he became a model. He used his looks to scam money from rich old widows.”I glance at the so-called evidence coldly. It’s a collection of emails, text messages, and photos showing Tony with various women. My mind refuses to accept it, perhaps because it’s coming from Adam, who has always doubted me in the pas
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