ADAM’S POVThe morning light filters through the blinds, casting a warm glow over the office as I step inside. The contrast between the hectic, cluttered state of my workspace and the calm, clear-headed feeling within me is striking. Last night with Aria has reignited something in me—an energy and clarity that I desperately needed. I feel a renewed sense of purpose and determination as I sift through the day’s reports.These days, I need to be at the office. Hence, I prefer heading there to pursue my investigation. It’s best to be away from Aria, since I don’t want her to be worried. The more I delve into the financials and updates, the more I realize the gravity of our situation. It’s not just my company that’s struggling. Aria’s family businesses are also experiencing severe setbacks.It dawns on me that this isn’t just a series of unfortunate events; there’s a coordinated effort to destabilize us. The pattern becomes clear—our common adversary is systematically undermining us, driv
ADAM’S POVThe weight of recent events presses heavily on my mind as I reflect on the current state of affairs. Dave Wilson’s complete focus on Aria has become increasingly apparent, and with it, doubts about his commitment to salvaging his business have grown.While his dedication to his daughter is entirely understandable, I can’t shake the nagging concern that he might have resigned himself to abandoning the company altogether. His actions, seemingly devoted solely to supporting Aria, leave me feeling uneasy about whether he still possesses the resolve needed to fight for the survival of his business.Adding to this worry is the troubling possibility that Neal and Nathan might hold me responsible for the deteriorating situation. The memory of how Ethan’s parents were abruptly sent away from my house due to my frustration still lingers in my mind.At that moment, my priority was Aria’s well-being, and I admit that my desperation to protect her may have led me to overreact. Looking b
ARIA’S POV“Guys! It’s nice to see you!”Neal and Nathan are at our place today, their presence a comforting reminder of the strength of family ties. They have always been concerned about me, and today is no different.“Just passing by to see our lovely sister.”They say they’re here to check if I need anything, to see if I’m doing alright. I appreciate their concern, but I reassure them that I’m fine—actually, I’m more than fine. I’m alright and happy, and I want them to see that for themselves.We settle into the living room, the warmth of the space reflecting the familial bond that we share. We talk over tea and biscuits, our conversation flowing easily from one topic to another. We laugh about old memories, share updates on what’s been happening in our lives, and discuss plans for the future. For a while, it feels like things are back to normal, or at least as normal as they can be under the circumstances.The air is light, filled with a sense of ease that has been missing for a w
ADAM’S POVAfter inviting Neal and Nathan to join me in my study, I can't help but notice Aria's expression of awkwardness and sadness. I know she must feel excluded from whatever discussion is about to take place. However, this isn't a conversation she should be involved in, especially when it concerns Ethan and his family. Her well-being is my priority, and protecting her from these distressing matters is crucial.As soon as Neal and Nathan step into the study, I can see the tension in their posture and the worry etched across their faces. They’re anxious, and it's clear that they’re bracing themselves for whatever I have to say.I begin by recounting the last time the Mitchells showed up here, desperate for answers and firing questions at Aria about Ethan. The way they cornered her, making her more confused and agitated, was too much to bear. I had to intervene quickly to prevent things from escalating further. But my actions have had repercussions.I explain how my confrontation w
EVAN MITCHELL’S POVOur only son, Ethan, spent most of his time with Aria Wilson. Even when the jet crashed, she was with him. Does she think I don’t know that? It’s impossible to ignore how intertwined their lives became, how she seemed to be around him constantly.When I heard that Aria was safe at home while my son remained missing, I felt a wave of rage. My wife and I wasted no time; we went straight to the place where my informant said she was staying.Seeing Aria there, seemingly comfortable and unharmed, made my blood boil. I confronted her about Ethan, expecting answers, expecting some acknowledgement of the gravity of the situation.However,the look on her face—blank, confused—it was as if she didn’t even know who Ethan was. The shock of it was like a slap in the face. She must have been pretending. There’s no way she could have forgotten him that quickly.I pressed her for more information, tried to get her to admit what she knew. Unfortunately then Adam Miller, that insuffe
ARIA’S POVSeeing Adam back to his usual self fills me with immense relief. The past few weeks have been challenging, with so much uncertainty hanging over us, and it’s been difficult to watch him struggle. But now, as I see the familiar spark in his eyes and the confidence in his smile, I can’t help but feel a surge of happiness. The weight that has been pressing down on us seems to have lifted, and for the first time in a while, I feel like everything might be okay.“All good, love?”I ask Adam about the turnaround in his business, and he grins at me, that old, charming grin that always makes my heart skip a beat. He explains that the quality of his materials was so good that the clients who had initially pulled their contracts were left with no choice but to come back to him. They realized they couldn’t find anything comparable elsewhere, and they had to return, practically begging to be taken back. He tells me how he cleverly ensured that all his materials on the market were made
ARIA’S POVEven though everything is going well, I still can’t bring myself to return to work just yet. Instead, I find solace in my painting, focusing on completing a piece I’ve been working on for a while. The rhythmic strokes of the brush across the canvas are soothing, and I lose myself in the colors and textures, letting my creativity flow freely. It's a welcome distraction from the whirlwind of recent events and an opportunity to immerse myself in something that brings me peace.The maids have been incredibly gentle and attentive, ensuring I have everything I need, especially when Adam isn't around. They check on me often, offering me tea or snacks, always with warm smiles and kind words. It’s comforting to know that, even in Adam's absence, I’m surrounded by people who genuinely care about my well-being.As I sit in the garden, enjoying the fresh air and the gentle rustling of leaves in the breeze, I’m surprised by a familiar voice.“Hey, Aria. How is it going?”Regis has come
ARIA’S POVWhen Adam comes home, I can't wait to tell him about my day. I mention that Regis was here, and we had a wonderful time together. I’m expecting him to be pleased, maybe even relieved to hear that I had such good company.But as soon as I mention Regis, I notice a change in Adam’s demeanor. His face flushes slightly, and there’s a tightness around his mouth that wasn’t there before. He comments, almost offhandedly."Oh, so now he comes to check if we are fine?"The tone of his voice is strange, almost sarcastic, and it catches me off guard. I wasn’t expecting such a reaction. I pause, trying to make sense of his words and the sudden shift in his mood. What does he mean by that?I ask him directly, trying to keep my voice calm."What do you mean, Adam?"I can see the conflict in his eyes, as if he's weighing whether or not to tell me what he’s really thinking. After a moment of hesitation, he shakes his head and dismisses it with a short."Leave it, it’s nothing."However, it
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