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 POVAdam has been trying to connect with me ever since I stepped into his house. His attempts are relentless, each gesture and glance heavy with unspoken desires. I can see the hope flickering in his eyes, the belief that there is a chance for us to be together again—or to start anew. But I am here only until he fully recovers and can return to work. I remind myself of this constantly, even as the days stretch into weeks, and his recovery, although gradual, seems to take forever. Sometimes, I wonder if he is faking it, prolonging his convalescence just to keep me close.His frustration is apparent, especially with my father’s appointment of Connor as my bodyguard. Connor’s constant presence is a silent but powerful reminder of the dangers that still lurk and of my father’s unwavering protectiveness. I know Adam wishes he could be the one protecting me, a role he would have gladly taken on. I roll my eyes, exasperated by Adam's determination to win me back. His persistence is b
ADAM’S POVThe family dinner was surprisingly successful. At first, Aria's family was noticeably uncomfortable, their guarded expressions betraying their skepticism. The atmosphere was tense, each moment fraught with the unspoken history between us. But gradually, the tension began to dissipate. The conversation flowed more naturally, touching on business and light-hearted topics. They asked me about my well-being, their concern genuine yet tinged with wariness.Truthfully, I’m not entirely alright. The physical pain is bearable, but the frustration of being confined at home, while Connor hovers protectively over Aria, is almost too much to endure. Connor, with his commanding presence and chiseled features, exudes an air of confidence and strength that I find both impressive and intimidating. He is everything I once was and more—a paragon of protection and reliability.I can't help but feel a pang of jealousy whenever I see him with Aria and around her. His easy rapport with her, his
ADAM’S POVThe problem isn’t with the plan itself but with Connor’s constant presence. He shadows Aria everywhere, his vigilance making it almost impossible for me to spend any time alone with her. Connor’s distrust of me is evident, and it’s a barrier I can’t seem to break through.Enter Blake, my wingman. Blake, with his boundless energy and knack for the theatrical, assures me he can distract Connor. I’m in doubt, but desperate times call for desperate measures, so I decide to trust him.Blake’s plan is as unconventional as he is. He suggests staging a minor emergency at the house—a situation that requires Connor’s immediate attention. His idea is to create a distraction elaborate enough to lure Connor away but harmless enough not to cause real concern. I reluctantly agree, though I have my doubts.“Just trust me, boss!”“If I didn’t I wouldn’t have allowed you in.”The day of the plan, Blake arrives at the house wearing an outfit that screams eccentricity—a bright red suit with ma
ARIA’S POVI really can’t understand why there is a new person in Adam’s house with his assistant. God knows what kind of business he is getting himself involved in. After the accident, Adam seems to have changed a lot, and I can’t quite put my finger on it.Moreover, I’ve also noticed changes in myself—my attitude and anger towards him have decreased over time. I hope I’m not falling for him again, or perhaps his charm still has some effect on me. Despite my best efforts to remain unaffected, I sometimes catch myself softening in his presence.This new guy, Blake, irritates me to no end. He looks like one of those jesters appointed to entertain royals in the old days. If Shakespeare were alive, he’d probably write a sonnet about this guy. The name Blake doesn’t even suit him.Today, Blake he came, dressed up like a joker and had the audacity to pull Connor into the garden for some kind of emergency situation.“Aria, come with me.”“But, Adam—”I thought about going to the garden to s
ARIA’S POVI believe Blake is here as Adam’s wingman. He is doing his utmost best to patch things up between Adam and me. Now I get it. I am somewhat irritated when he comes to the living room one day, talking about Adam, praising him in every possible way. I am not buying it.Needless to say, Connor is around and listening to him. For the first time, I see Connor stepping in, telling Blake that his time with me is up. Connor’s stern expression and firm tone leave no room for argument.“Your time is up! You got to leave Miss alone, now.”“Time up, means?”“You’re not authorized to speak to Miss too frequently… You’re crossing your limits.”I believe Connor has discovered Blake’s game and now he is more alert. I just hope that Connor doesn’t report this to my father and brothers.While the situation is amusing, it’s equally frustrating. I have many things to handle and no mind to always be having Blake fooling around with us. I need to focus on more important matters, like ensuring the
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