ARIA’S POVWeeks go by, and things have been pretty calm. I can finally breathe and enjoy my freedom. The chaos of the past feels like a distant memory, and I relish the peace and quiet. With no one to answer to and no drama to contend with, I find solace in my routines and the simple pleasures of life.The project with Wellington Enterprises progresses smoothly, despite the occasional run-in with Adam and the ever-annoying Clark. Their attempts to unsettle me fall flat; I've grown stronger and more resilient. Each day, I become more confident in my abilities and more certain that I made the right decisions.I spend my evenings unwinding with a good book or catching up with friends who genuinely care about me. The oppressive weight of my past life with Adam lifts, replaced by a lightness I haven't felt in years. I'm finally in control of my destiny, and it feels empowering.Adam's outburst at his place, where he confronted Eva and Elodie for their mistreatment of me and for their invo
ARIA’S POVAs I arrive at the event, I'm greeted by a sea of affluent figures, each one exuding an air of sophistication and importance. It's a gathering where prestige and influence seem to mingle effortlessly, and I can't help but feel a sense of belonging in such esteemed company.It's no secret that I'm Neal Jackson's sister, and it seems that my association with him has garnered me a certain level of respect among the elite crowd. As I make my way through the room, I notice heads turning in my direction, and I'm met with nods of recognition and polite smiles.“Nice to see you, Miss Cook.”The host greets me and I smile at the courteous welcome.“What an amazing event. I’m glad to be here.”There's a certain weight to the way people regard me, as if my presence alone carries a measure of significance. It's a feeling that I've grown accustomed to, yet it never fails to remind me of the responsibilities that come with being part of a prominent family.Despite the grandeur of the eve
ARIA’S POVAs I spot the car crashing into the tree in front of me, my heart races. I recognize that car. Without a second thought, I unbuckle my seatbelt and scramble out of my vehicle. My heels click sharply against the asphalt as I rush towards the black sedan.The hood is crumpled, smoke rising ominously from the engine. I reach the driver's side door and peer inside, my hands trembling as I try to pull it open. Inside, I see a familiar face slumped against the airbag. My breath catches in my throat as I realize who it is.“Adam! No!”He stares at me, unable to move, and my heart sinks. I reach out to him, my fingers brushing against his arm. Instead of mourning in pain, he asks faintly."Are you alright?"His concern for me, even in this dire situation, overwhelms me. I choke back a sob and nod to comfort him."Yes, I’m fine. I’ll call 911."I fumble for my phone, my hands shaking, and dial emergency services. I can barely keep my voice steady as I explain the situation. Glancing
ARIA’S POVAs we arrive at the hospital, Adam is swiftly taken away for treatment, his injuries more severe than mine. I'm left feeling a mixture of relief and guilt—relief that he acted so selflessly to protect me, yet burdened by the weight of knowing he's now suffering because of it. If he hadn't intervened, it could have been me lying in that hospital bed, fighting for my life.The hospital room fills with the presence of the Millers, a sudden convergence of family amidst the chaos. Even Grandpa, whose health had been a source of concern, is here, stable and present.As I take in the scene, it dawns on me that the unsettling feeling I had experienced at the party wasn't about Grandpa's well-being or anyone else's, but it was an ominous premonition about Adam and me.“You! It’s all because of you!”Eva's entrance into the room is sudden and tumultuous, her voice echoing with accusation as she directs her anger towards me. Adam, lying in a comatose state, is the center of attention,
ARIA’S POVGrandpa isn't easily fooled. As days go by with Adam still lying in the hospital, my routine visits do little to mask the truth.Grandpa starts noticing the subtleties. He observes how I don’t linger after visiting hours, how I keep a careful distance, never reaching out to touch Adam. It’s these small, telling signs that finally clue him in to the reality we’ve been trying to hide.He realizes that Adam and I are no longer living together. His piercing gaze, filled with a mix of disappointment and understanding, tells me he’s figured it out. There’s no hiding the truth from him anymore.Then, he finally asks Adam.“What’s going on between both of you?”Before I can open up to him, Adam intervenes.“Actually, Grandpa… Um, it’s my fault. I made her mad and she left home.”Adam continues, explaining that we didn’t want Grandpa to be upset, which is why we had concealed the truth."We thought it would be best to keep it from you until we could sort things out ourselves."He ad
ARIA’S POVAfter the phone call, I rush to meet Mario at a nearby café where he promised to show me some proof.When I arrive, he quickly ushers me to a secluded table and opens his laptop. To my shock, the screen displays footage from a parking lot security camera. Three men are clearly seen tampering with the brakes of my car. My heart races as I watch them work methodically, their faces are quite clear.Mario pauses the video and looks at me gravely."Do you know them?"The realization that someone had deliberately tried to harm me sends chills down my spine. "Never seen them."As I sit back, trying to process the gravity of the situation, I realize my enemies are closer than I ever imagined, and this was just the beginning.“Hand this evidence to the police and let them dig deeper.”Mario agrees with me and tells me that he will expedite this matter. But he also asks me to exert caution.As I leave the café, my mind races with thoughts of who could be behind this and why they want
ADAM’S POVAria is so mad at me, and she has every right to be. I’ve endangered Grandpa’s life, but Sophia being in the hospital isn’t entirely my fault. However, getting her pregnant in the first place is totally on me.I have warned Sophia repeatedly not to come to the hospital, but she ignored me. She has been insistent for a long time now, and today she finally shows up despite my objections.Grandpa is with me when Sophia arrives. I am baffled to see her come in unannounced, without informing me beforehand. And mind you, she does not even turn her back and leave when Grandpa hasn’t yet noticed her.Instead, she marches right in, greeting us and addressing me very intimately. Even though she knows Grandpa doesn't like her, she insists on forcing herself into the family and having a conversation with us.“What is she doing here, Adam?”Grandpa's question sends a chill of unease down my spine, stirring up a wave of confusion and apprehension within me.Before I can even muster an ex
ARIA’S POVAdam is insistent that I listen to what he has to say about what just happened to Grandpa. Doesn't Adam realize that Sophia, carrying his child, would rush to the clinic upon hearing about his accident? She likely knows I'm with Adam and will do everything possible to visit him despite any reprimands.“It’s none of my business, Adam. I’m only concerned about Grandpa.”I couldn't care less about what those two do. My only priority is keeping Grandpa safe and away from any unnecessary drama.“No, Aria. You need to know… And please, getting Sophia pregnant was just an accident. I never wanted this.”“You mean you wanted to only sleep with her and not get her pregnant?”I chuckle at my own question. I can't help but remember how every time I saw Adam and Sophia together, they were so happy, leaving me feeling like a third wheel. I have been ill-treated on several occasions and been degraded like anything. Adam has never stood for me.“I mean I never wanted to cheat on you at al