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CHAPTER 427

Author: Lauren
last update Last Updated: 2024-10-29 19:42:56

ARIA’S POV

I’m here in Wickenburg, Arizona, and I feel more alive than I have in weeks. This place is everything I need right now—calm, peaceful, and full of opportunity. The landscape stretches wide, untouched by the chaos that follows me in New York, and I’m thrilled about this new venture.

Investing in property here is not just a business move; it feels like the start of something new, a backup plan that I desperately need. With all the attacks on our businesses lately, I need a solid fall-back. This property business could be the answer.

The plot I’m looking at is incredible. The potential for growth in this area is massive, and I can see it becoming a major hub before anyone else from New York even thinks about flocking to this side of the country. This is my chance to get in early, to claim my stake before the competition realizes what they’re missing.

I’m not involving anyone else—not Adam, not any of our companies. This time, it’s just me. I’m the sole proprietor, and I’m goin
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    ARIA’S POVI glance again at the familiar face, my heart racing with disbelief. It’s impossible to mistake those features—the same sharp jawline, the same intense eyes. Ethan Mitchell is alive. He’s sitting at the café, casually sipping a coffee as if nothing has happened, as if he hasn’t been missing for months.The sight of him floods me with a mix of emotions; shock, confusion, and a surge of relief I can barely contain. I had given up hope, convinced we’d never find him, and yet, here he is.I move quickly, my feet propelling me toward him before I’ve even processed the situation fully. My mind spins, searching for answers that don’t exist. How could he have survived without contacting anyone? Where has he been? What has he been doing all this time? And more importantly, why hasn’t he tried to reach out to me, to his family? My chest tightens with the weight of it all. He’s alive, but something is terribly wrong.“Ethan!”As I approach, my eyes lock onto his, and for a moment, I e

  • My Secret Billionaire Ex-wife   CHAPTER 429

    ARIA’S POVAs I turn away from the café, my heart pounding from the shock of seeing Ethan alive, I catch sight of a woman rushing toward us. Before I can process her presence, she’s already in my face, her words sharp and cutting.“Stay away from him!”She shouts, her voice laced with anger. I stand frozen as she hurls insults, each one landing harder than the last. People around us stop in their tracks, eyes wide, whispers spreading through the crowd like wildfire. It’s not the kind of scene anyone expects in a place like this—back in New York, people mind their business, but here, they gather as if watching a spectacle unfold.The woman’s fury only intensifies as she steps closer, her body positioned protectively in front of Ethan. “Leave my boyfriend alone! How dare you harass him?”She snaps, her voice dripping with venom. Boyfriend? My mind reels, unable to comprehend what’s happening. How could Ethan—my friend, my best friend—be with this woman? It doesn’t make sense. None of th

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    ARIA’S POVEthan can’t be pulling off a prank this elaborate. I keep telling myself that over and over, trying to calm the whirlwind in my mind. Revenge, a joke, a twisted plot—none of it fits. Maybe, just like me, he lost his memory. That thought strikes deep, unsettling me. I know what it feels like to have your past stripped away, to wake up and not recognize your own life. Is that what happened to him? Is that why he doesn’t know me?But then, I hear the whispers around me growing louder, piercing through my thoughts.“How shameless! Going after someone else’s man!”The words sting even though they’re coming from strangers, people who don’t know anything about the situation. I try to block them out, but they keep echoing in my mind as I watch Ethan—Aiden, he insists—and that woman, hand in hand, disappearing down the street.Something clicks. I know that woman. My heart skips a beat as I realize who she is. Lydia. Of course, it’s Lydia—Ethan’s ex. How could I have forgotten? It’s

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    ETHAN’S POVI can't shake the strange encounter with the woman who called herself Aria. The whole scene plays over and over in my mind like a movie I can't turn off. She had approached me with a mix of excitement and relief, as if she'd just found something she had lost for a long time.At first, I thought she might need help. Maybe she had mistaken me for someone else, but then things got… intense.She grabbed my arm, practically pulling me out of my seat, her grip tightening like she’d never let go and the way she looked at me—her eyes wide with disbelief—calling me Ethan. I kept telling her, over and over, my name is Aiden, but she wouldn’t listen. For a moment, I could see the desperation in her eyes, the hurt mixed with hope, and I almost felt bad for her. Almost.Then Lydia had shown up, like some kind of savior, rushing in with her fierce protectiveness, shouting at Aria to back off. That’s when everything took a turn. People around us started whispering, looking at me like I w

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    ARIA’S POVI roam through the quaint streets of Wickenburg, Arizona, absorbing the atmosphere. This town is far from the towering skyscrapers and relentless pace of New York City, yet it carries its own charm. The sun shines brightly, casting a golden hue on everything it touches, and the air is crisp, laced with a faint scent of desert blooms. There’s a sense of timelessness here, like life moves at its own unhurried rhythm, unaffected by the outside world.The people are friendly, though not overly familiar. They smile as I pass by, tipping their hats or nodding in acknowledgement, but they don’t pry. Everyone seems to have their routine—shop owners chatting with customers, ranchers discussing livestock, and tourists snapping pictures of the town’s old Western buildings. It’s a simple life, a far cry from the chaos I left behind, but there’s something grounding about it.I stop by a small café, a local favorite judging by the crowd, and pull out my phone. Ethan’s face stares back at

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    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

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