ARIA’S POVI stand at the foot of Charlotte's bed, a cold determination settling over me. Her eyes flutter open, and I see the fury burning within them. She knows she's failed. Every breath she takes is labored, a harsh rasp that fills the room. The anger radiates from her, a force that seems to fuel her continued existence. Despite her condition, she clings to life, her resentment giving her strength.“How is our dear Charlotte?”Once more, I ask her how she's doing, my voice calm and steady, masking the turmoil inside me. Her reaction is immediate—a fresh wave of anger and frustration contorts her features. She struggles to maintain her composure, but the realization that all her plans have backfired is written plainly across her face. Her heavy breathing becomes more pronounced, and I can't help but think she's on the brink of slipping into a coma or worse. But before that happens, I am determined to make her suffer for what she's done. She will know the full extent of her failure.
ARIA’S POVThe air in the room is thick with a sense of finality, each sound from the machines a grim reminder of the life slipping away. The beeping of the heart monitor grows slower, more erratic, until it finally ceases, replaced by a continuous, high-pitched tone that signals the end.Charlotte is no more. It's a swift and stark end, and as I stand there looking at her lifeless body, a complex tide of emotions washes over me. There is a sense of justice for the innocent child she killed, a crime she so callously covered up with the help of her journalist ex-boyfriend.Although he wasn’t directly involved in the crime, his complicity in hiding it makes him a partner in her guilt. The thought of the child, gone too soon and silenced by Charlotte’s ruthlessness, stirs a deep sorrow within me. Yet, alongside that sorrow, there is an undeniable sense of peace—peace that God has intervened, that she has been punished, and that I have been saved.The doctors and nurses rush in, their fac
ARIA’S POVFinally, Adam is up. Relief floods through me, but I keep my emotions tightly controlled. He doesn’t need to know how much I’ve worried about him. As I stand by his bedside, I can’t help but notice how pale he looks, the after effects of the blood loss and the injury evident in his drawn features. His eyes, though, are alert, and there's a glimmer of the old Adam in their depths.The doctors bring in his reports, and for the first time in what feels like forever, there’s good news. The scans are clear, and he’ll soon be discharged. A wave of relief washes over me, but I don’t let it show. Instead, I offer a small, composed smile, thanking the medical staff for their diligent care. My family and friends are also visibly relieved, their tense postures easing as they hear the good news.I turn to Adam, meeting his gaze. I say, my voice steady. The words feel insufficient for what he’s done, but they’re all I can offer in this moment."Thank you for saving my life."“As you alw
ARIA’S POVThe next day, when I visit Adam, I find him more alert, his strength returning. His eyes light up as I enter, and before I even settle in, he brings up the topic again.“The doctor says I’ll be discharged tomorrow. So, you’re coming with me home, right?”He asks me, with a persistence that feels almost childlike, about moving in with him. His insistence makes me wonder if the bruise has affected his mind.“Have you lost your mind during the coup?”His chuckle at my remark is soft, but it carries a hint of the old Adam, the one who could always make light of a serious situation.I tell him that saving me doesn’t give him the right to make things difficult for me. His eyes, filled with a blend of amusement and sincerity, meet mine as I ask why he’s so determined for me to live with him. He explains, with an earnestness that’s hard to ignore, that my presence will help him heal faster. Seeing my face, he claims, is the best medicine for his wounds. He adds, almost playfully, t
ADAM’S POVI am alive. The realization dawns on me as I open my eyes, taking in the hospital room around me. The beeping of machines and the sterile scent of antiseptic are a stark contrast to the chaos of the crash, but the sight of Aria sitting beside me is the only thing that truly registers.Her presence is a balm to my frayed nerves. She looks exhausted, her face pale and drawn, with dark circles under her eyes. She looks like she’s been through hell, and it’s clear she has been by my side since the accident. Relief floods through me as I see her safe and sound, a stark contrast to the chaos of the crash.The weight of her gratitude and concern hangs in the air as she thanks me for saving her life. Her voice is shaky, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. I feel a pang of guilt for causing her so much distress, but I also feel a surge of determination.Although I didn’t want to use this moment to press my agenda, I find myself unable to resist. I need her close to me, with me ev
ARIA’S POVI owe Adam my life, and the weight of that debt settles heavily on my shoulders. The moment he saved me flashes through my mind, a stark reminder of the selflessness that drove him to risk everything for me. So, I make the decision that I know will change everything; I shall move in with him as soon as he is discharged.Returning home, I start the familiar process of packing my belongings. The room feels different now, filled with the ghosts of our past and the uncertainty of our future. Each item I pack carries a memory, a fragment of the life I once shared with Adam. As I fold clothes and wrap keepsakes, I am reminded of the life we built together and the cracks that eventually caused it to crumble. This time, though, there's a resolve in me, to face whatever comes our way.My father enters my room, his face a mask of concern and determination.“Aria, dear… We need to talk.”“Sure, Dad.”“Are you certain you’re doing the right thing?”“Yes, Dad. Don’t worry about me.”I s
ARIA’S POV“No, it’s okay. I can do it myself.”“But, I can help you. I am getting bored doing nothing.”Adam insists on helping me unpack, even though he’s barely strong enough to stand for long. I laugh and shoo him back to bed, where he reluctantly complies. His stubbornness is both endearing and frustrating, a reminder of the man I had once fallen in love with and the complexities that come with it.Connor shadows me as I settle in, his presence both a comfort and a constant reminder of the danger that still looms. I try to make the best of the situation, arranging my things and finding space in Adam’s home. It feels strange, like slipping into a life I once knew but that has changed in subtle, profound ways.Adam and I fall into a routine, navigating this new chapter together. There are moments of tension, of old wounds reopening, but also moments of connection, of rediscovering the bond that brought us together in the first place. The bodyguard remains ever-present, a silent sen
ARIA’S POVConnor’s presence is a barrier between Aria and me. His constant vigilance feels like a wall, impenetrable and unyielding. I understand the necessity of his presence, especially after everything that has happened, but it’s frustratingly restrictive. I try to find ways to connect with Aria without any third party involved, but it’s impossible to have a bodyguard around us 24/7. Each time I attempt to speak with her, to share a moment of intimacy or genuine conversation, Connor’s shadow looms, a silent reminder of the ever-present danger and the barriers between us.I know that Connor will report every single matter to Dave Wilson. The thought of my every move being scrutinized and reported back is suffocating. If Dave Wilson gets to know that I am doing my best to get Aria back, he might oppose. The gratitude in his eyes for saving his daughter is unmistakable, but it doesn’t erase the skepticism and lack of trust he still holds toward me.I can see it in the way he watches
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