ARIA’S POVA few days ago, after I had asked Mario, my assistant, to track down the old widow Tony had scammed, I finally received a breakthrough. At first, Mrs. Katarina Duberville was very guarded. However, once she understood that I sought information about Tony for personal reasons, she began to open up. We decided to meet for lunch at a quiet restaurant to discuss the matter further.Sitting across from Katarina, I listened intently as she recounted her story. It was eerily similar to my own experience with Tony. He had meticulously researched her interests and hobbies to get close to her, exploiting every detail.“Can you believe this? I feel ashamed to have been blinded by him.”“You don’t need to be ashamed. I’m also in the same situation and I can understand.”As she continues with her recount, she emphasizes on how this manipulation was made possible because he had bribed one of her maids. The maid had been feeding Tony information about Katarina’s schedule and preferences,
TONY’S POVMy reaction is sheer shock as I hear Dave Wilson transferring his company under Aria's name. It's a massive company to be inherited by someone whom I always underestimated as stupid, frail, and vulnerable—a direct blow to my ego.“Wilson Paragon!”Wilson Paragon stands as a magnanimous titan in the corporate landscape, renowned for its unparalleled scale of operations and groundbreaking achievements. It commands awe with its global presence, pioneering advancements across diverse sectors from technology and finance to healthcare and beyond.The company's name has become synonymous with visionary leadership, transformative impact, and unwavering commitment to excellence, setting benchmarks that redefine industry standards and inspire generations of entrepreneurs worldwide and thinking that Aria is the owner of such a prestigious company, is just unbelievable.My original plan is simple; make some money off Aria Cook and then dump her. But now, knowing she is the richest man’s
ARIA’S POV“Miss Aria… You need to come to the hospital right now. Tony has been admitted.”Tony's manager calls unexpectedly, bypassing Tony himself, who I had expected to hear from after the live event. Surprised and wary, I answer the call. Harry’s voice is urgent as he informs me that Tony is in the hospital and urges me to come quickly.Rushing to the hospital, before I can get inside the ward, from afar, I find Tony lying in a hospital bed with his arm bandaged. Harry explains that Tony was attacked by a deranged fan who was furious about our relationship. The fan demanded Tony to end things with me, and when Tony refused, he was assaulted.Despite Harry’s explanation, doubt gnaws at me. Why would a fan attack Tony over our relationship when everyone already knows I'm the richest woman in the country? The story feels off, and I can’t shake the suspicion that this might be another orchestrated drama.“Oh really? Why would the fan do this to Tony? It makes no sense.”“P-please don
ARIA’S POVAfter some more of talking and acting, I try to probe deeper into the details of the attack on Tony.“How come, the fan knows where’s your location to come and attack you?”“I-I have no idea.”“Didn’t you do anything to defend you?”“It was too fast that I couldn’t react.”“At least, let’s press charges.”Tony refuses to press charges saying that the fan did this to him in a blink of an eye and ran off before he could catch him.His responses are stilted, his behavior unnatural, raising my suspicions further. The way he describes the incident, the details he provides—they don’t add up. It feels rehearsed, and his demeanor is too controlled, too perfect. This realization sends a chill down my spine. My instincts scream that something is off.Unable to get a straight answer from Tony, I exit the hospital room with a sense of urgency. I need the truth, and I need it now. Therefore, I head straight for the doctor who treated Tony, hoping he can provide clarity.“I’m sorry, I ca
ADAM’S POVI’m still reeling from the announcement. Aria was never the type to be anyone’s mistress—that much I always believed. But as Dave Wilson took the stage, speaking about her, doubt crept in. My heart pounded, unsure of what revelation would follow. The room held its breath, and then the words dropped like a bomb; Aria was his daughter. Not his mistress, not a secret lover—his actual daughter.Relief washes over me instantly, a weight lifting from my chest. I breathe deeply, and the tension I’ve been holding onto all evening finally dissolves. Beside me, my mother lets out a gasp, her shock palpable. Her eyes widen, and her hand flies to her mouth as if she’s trying to stop herself from screaming.“There’s no way!”She mutters under her breath, her voice filled with disgust.“That lowly bitch, the daughter of the richest man in the country? Impossible.”“Mom! Keep quiet!”Her words hit with a cold bitterness. Even in this moment of truth, she can’t accept it. Aria’s legitimacy—
ARIA’S POV“Mom, I would never marry Aria even if she’s rich.”Stella and I meet at one of the most exclusive, opulent restaurants in the city, a place where wealth drips from every corner and status is worn like a crown. The walls are adorned with gold accents, and the chandeliers hanging from the ceiling are made of the finest crystals, casting a soft, warm glow over the entire space.The tables are draped in rich, velvety linens, each centerpiece an elegant arrangement of flowers flown in from around the world. The servers move gracefully, their attire immaculate, anticipating our needs before we even speak.As I take a seat at the plush, high-backed chair, I’m reminded of the power I now hold. I glance around, feeling the weight of the stares, the quiet murmurs that ripple through the room. People know who I am now. They’re watching.Stella sits across from me, leaning in with a sly smile as she shares what she’s just heard. She narrates to me what she has overheard during the even
ARIA’S POVRumors and accusations about Tony flood the internet. I see news articles detailing his abusive behavior towards staff, recounting instances where his charming façade slipped to reveal a more sinister side.“Tony is just a jerk!”“What’s the use of being the hottest supermodel with shit attitude?”“Tony doesn’t know how to treat others with kindness. I hate this guy!”As I read the comments on Instagram, a cold smile spreads across my face. It seems like the world is finally starting to see the real Tony.“Hey Aria. Let’s meet up.”Later, Tony texts me, asking me out on a date. My initial impulse is to refuse; the thought of spending more time with him repulses me. But curiosity and the need to uncover his next move compel me to agree. I need to see what he's up to.At the restaurant, Tony greets me with his usual charismatic smile. As we settle into our seats, I bring up his recent "injury," the so-called attack by a crazed fan. He assures me that he is completely fine now
TONY’S POVI try making the accusations go away by contacting some of the people I've wronged over the years. Some agree to delete the content they posted in exchange for money, but many are determined to expose me. Their responses are harsh and unforgiving, filled with anger and disdain. They call me a manipulator and worse. Each rejection feels like a tightening noose around my neck.“The fucking bastard! What does he think of himself?”“Slapping a staff member just because he spilled coffee by mistake?”“This is a violent piece of trash.”I want to get my plan in action—marrying Aria—but with a reputation like this, she might not want to marry me. I'm getting cornered, and desperation gnaws at me. Every attempt to salvage my image crumbles, and I can feel the walls closing in.“Tony, I’m coming over in a few minutes. Someone approached me to help us.”As soon as Harry calls me to give me good news, I am all ears and glad that somebody approached him to offer a solution. The person
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