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
ARIA’S POVIs Adam on drugs or something? Didn't Grandpa already find out that we're divorced? So why is he suddenly asking me to pretend we're still married? I'm feeling a mix of disbelief and frustration. It's like the ground beneath me has shifted, and I'm struggling to make sense of what's happening.“Do you even know what are you saying and asking me, Adam?”“Yes, Aria. I know very well what I’m asking you.”I stay silent, waiting to hear more of what he has to say. After a few seconds, he hits me with the most astonishing explanation.The revelation hits me like a ton of bricks. I'm stunned, trying to wrap my head around the implications of Grandpa's partial memory loss. The fact that he's forgotten about the divorce adds another layer of complexity to an already bewildering situation.“How is this possible?”I am still trying to recover from the news and Adam keeps going on.“He has gotten a deep shock. I believe perhaps deep inside he is in denial and hence his mind is jumble
ADAM’S POVFinally, Aria agrees, and a surge of hope floods my heart. This time, if she comes back, I vow to never let her go again. I'll go to any lengths to mend our broken relationship. The wait has been agonizing, but I believe my patience will soon be rewarded. As much as I am pained by Grandpa's state, I see it as a blessing in disguise, a chance to reconcile with Aria and rebuild what we once had.My family doctor visits me, and at first, he checks my report and reads the progress on the log, reassuring me that I am fine.“You should be out soon. You recovered quickly from the trauma.” At least I have some good news today. But why is my doctor looking at me like that, as if he has something important to disclose?“Is something the matter, doctor?”“Actually, I’m here to talk to you about something important.”My heart skips a beat—Grandpa! It must be about Grandpa.“Is Grandpa alright?”“Don’t worry about him. He is alright now. Um…”He tries to comfort me about Grandpa, but t
ARIA’S POVI'm busy packing with a heavy heart, my emotions in turmoil. It's only because of Grandpa that I'm willing to go through with this. Just then, Mario calls me to share his findings.I listen intently as Mario dives into the details of his findings. His voice is steady, but the weight of his words fills me with a mix of anxiety and anticipation. He explains each point meticulously, unraveling a web of information that paints a clearer picture of what's been happening behind the scenes.Every revelation, every piece of evidence he shares, adding to my growing understanding of the situation. My mind races as I try to absorb it all, feeling a complex blend of anger, betrayal, and determination.“She paid these guys to tamper with the brakes, Miss Cook. Shouldn’t we press charges?”Well, to press charges is a great idea, but at the same time, this matter is so sensitive that I don't intend on taking a wrong step.“Okay, Mario. Thanks for informing me, but wait for some time and I