ADAM’S POVThe house feels like a shell without Aria, empty and echoing with memories that no longer bring comfort. The silence is suffocating, a constant reminder of her absence. Each room, once vibrant with her presence, now feels desolate, as if the life has been drained from it. I wander from room to room, restless, but there's no escape from the loneliness that gnaws at me. The desire to go out, to distract myself from this void, nags at me, but every time I consider it, I'm reminded that I only want to go out with Aria. And she’s not here.The hours stretch out endlessly, the boredom almost unbearable. It's the weekend, and the world outside is alive with possibilities, but I can't bring myself to embrace any of them. My thoughts circle back to Aria, the way things used to be, and the realization that it's all gone. The weight of it is heavy, pressing down on me, making it hard to breathe, let alone enjoy anything.Then George and Adrian call, suggesting we go to the bar for a d
ADAM’S POVThe shock of the news reverberates through me, numbing my senses, but one thing is clear; I can’t stay here. The bar, with its noise and indifferent faces, becomes a suffocating cage. I push back my chair and stand, not sparing a glance at George and Adrian. There’s no point in trying to explain anything to them. They don’t care, and even if they did, their words would be nothing but a hindrance, holding me back when all I want is to get out, to do something.They call after me, their voices mingling with the din of the bar, but I’m already halfway to the door. My steps quicken, propelled by an urgency I can’t fully explain, a need to escape before the weight of what I’ve heard crushes me completely. The cool night air hits me like a slap as I push through the door, but it does nothing to calm the storm raging inside me.I don’t think; I just act. My car is parked just outside, and I’m behind the wheel in seconds, the engine roaring to life with a ferocity that mirrors the
ADAM’S POVThe news loops in my mind, the words "crashed" and "no survivors" replaying over and over like a broken record. But, I refuse to accept it. There has to be a chance, some slim possibility that Aria is still out there, waiting to be found.The crash occurred somewhere in the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean, where islands dot the endless water. It’s almost impossible to know exactly where, but that doesn’t deter me. I have to try, no matter how difficult the search may be. I immediately begin making arrangements, calling my assistant to set everything in motion.“Do it as soon as possible and make sure that our jet won’t fail us.”“Sure, boss.”My private jet will be ready as soon as possible, and we’ll head out to those islands, combing the area for any sign of the wreckage, of survivors. The logistics are daunting – the ocean is so vast, the islands scattered like tiny dots on an endless blue canvas. But I can’t let that stop me. Aria is out there, and I won’t rest until
ARIA’S POVThe ocean is a vast, unforgiving expanse, stretching endlessly in every direction. The waves rise and fall like living things, their power evident as they surge around me, threatening to pull me under with each crest. My heart pounds in my chest, my limbs burning with exhaustion as I fight to stay afloat, to keep my head above water. Panic claws at my throat, but I force it down, knowing that giving in to fear now will mean certain death.Then, in the distance, I see it—a flash of color against the dark water, a sudden, desperate movement. It’s Ethan. Relief floods through me, a momentary respite from the terror that grips me. He’s alive. But as I watch, that relief turns to horror. He’s struggling, his arms flailing wildly, his head barely breaking the surface as the waves batter him from all sides. He’s drowning.Every instinct in my body screams at me to go to him, to reach out and pull him to safety. But the ocean has other plans. The waves are ruthless, pushing us apar
ARIA’S POVThe feeling of solid ground beneath me is a small comfort, a reprieve from the overwhelming terror of the ocean. I no longer have to fight against the waves, no longer feel the cold, unrelenting water pulling me under. But as I lie there on the beach, the weight of what’s happened crashes over me, and I’m powerless to stop the tears that follow.I cry for everything—the crash, the loss of Ethan, the unknown fate of everyone else who was on that plane. I cry for the terror I felt in the water, for the hopelessness that gnawed at me as I drifted further and further away from the wreckage. But mostly, I cry for the overwhelming loneliness that now engulfs me, stranded on this island, cut off from everything and everyone I’ve ever known.As the tears flow, my thoughts turn to my family. I think of my mother, my father, Neal, Nathan—wondering how they’ll cope with the news. They’ve probably already heard about the crash, and I know they’ll be doing everything in their power to f
ARIA’S POVExhaustion weighs heavy on my limbs, and despite the fear gnawing at the edges of my mind, sleep overtakes me. My body, pushed far beyond its limits, gives in to the desperate need for rest. I collapse onto the sand, the cool earth beneath me, and I fall into a deep slumber, the kind that comes only when the body has nothing left to give.Every muscle in my body aches, but the relief of lying still is overwhelming. My eyelids, heavy with fatigue, close almost involuntarily, shutting out the disorienting darkness of the night around me.For the first time in my life, there’s no one around, no familiar faces, no voices to break the silence. It’s just me, stranded in some remote corner of the world, far from everything I’ve ever known. This island, a place that should feel like a refuge, instead feels like a prison.The solitude is suffocating, the silence oppressive, and despite the stretch of land I now call my own, I feel more isolated than ever before. The waves that had o
ARIA’S POVMorning comes, but it feels like another dream, a surreal continuation of the night’s restless, fearful thoughts. The sun is already a bit high in the sky, its warmth filtering through the leaves overhead and casting dappled patterns on the ground.I lie there, half-asleep, caught between the remnants of my troubled dreams and the harsh reality of my situation. The sound of the waves, once terrifying, now feels almost soothing, a constant rhythm that lulls me into a false sense of security.Then, I feel something—a touch, warm and firm, wrapping around my hand. My first instinct is to think it’s part of the dream, that my mind is conjuring up a comfort I desperately crave. But the touch is persistent, real. I jolt awake, my body reacting before my mind catches up. I sit up quickly, my heart pounding, eyes struggling to focus in the bright morning light.Everything is a blur. The world around me swims with indistinct shapes and colors, the brightness of the sun making it dif
ARIA’S POVMy mind races as I try to make sense of everything. Adam is here, but how? The vastness of the ocean, the isolation of this island—how did he manage to find me in this seemingly endless expanse of water and land? I can’t help but ask, my voice still shaky. “How did you find me, Adam?”Adam looks at me, his eyes reflecting a depth of emotion that I’ve rarely seen. There’s a flicker of something in his gaze—joy, yes, but also wetness that hints at the tears he’s holding back, and a profound relief that seems to wash over him as he begins to explain.He tells me that after the news broke about the crash, the rescue teams located debris some kilometers away in the North-Western Leeward Islands. The world had known about the disaster, and rescue operations were swiftly mobilized. Neal, Nathan, and Dad were all there, scouring those waters, desperate to find any sign of life. But Adam followed his instinct.He goes on to explain that while the others focused on the area where th
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