Sebastien's POVAfter dinner, I can’t shake the feeling of unease. It’s not just the conversation with Aria's annoying parents; it’s also the upcoming meeting. I need to keep my head clear when I meet Michael and Elizabeth. They have always felt like annoying little shadows, hovering over everything in Aria's life.“Tch, annoying bugs.”I glance over at Aria, who is sitting on the couch, lost in thought. She looks beautiful, even with her brows furrowed in worry. I want to say something comforting, but I know that whatever is happening tonight is going to involve more than just us.“Hey,” I say as I stand up. “I’m going to step out for a bit. I’ll be back soon.”Aria looks up, her eyes wide. “Where are you going?”“Just to talk to a couple of people,” I reply, trying to sound casual. But I know that Aria can sense that it's more serious.“Can’t it wait?” she asks.I shake my head. “No. This is something that needs to be done. Just relax, and I’ll be back before you know it.”“Okay, bu
Sebastien's POV As I stand in the dim warehouse, the air thick with tension, a coldness washes over me. I can't believe the audacity of Michael and Elizabeth. They’re sitting there like they’ve done nothing wrong, casually threatening to take Aria away from me—as if they did the jobs properly.“Wait,” I call out, my voice echoing in the emptiness. Michael and Elizabeth pause, looking back at me with expressions of annoyance.“What now?” Michael snaps, impatience clear in his tone.I take a step forward, focusing on them. “You want to talk about what you've done for Aria? Let’s go over a few things.”Elizabeth narrows her eyes. “What are you talking about?”I don’t wait for her to interrupt. “Let’s start with Susan,” I say, my voice steady. “Remember the time she pushed Aria down the stairs when she was just a child? Lucky for Aria, she caught herself.”“That was an accident,” Michael argues, but I cut him off.“An accident? Really?” I scoff. “And what about the time she locked Aria i
Elizabeth's POVI can barely breathe as I sit in the passenger seat, my heart racing faster than I can process what has just happened in the warehouse. Michael’s hands grip the steering wheel tightly as we drive, his knuckles nearly white.“Drive faster!” I practically scream. “We need to get home!”“Elizabeth, I’m going as fast as I can!” Michael replies, his voice strained. “What are we going to do once we get there?”“We’re going to get Susan, and we’re going to leave the city!” I reply, panic rising in my chest. “Sebastien’s made his intentions clear. We can’t stay here any longer!”“Leave the city?” he echoes, glancing at me with confusion. “What do you mean? This is our life! Where would we even go?”I shake my head, focusing on the road ahead. “I don’t care where we go, just as long as we’re away from here. Just...a place where we can be safe.”The car screeches to a halt in front of Susan's place. I fling the door open before the car is fully stopped and rush inside. I can nea
Elizabeth's POVI stand in the living room, the tension is palpable as I feel the panic rising again. There’s got to be someone who can help us. Suddenly, it hits me—Aria might be the only person who can provide any useful information on Sebastien.“Michael, I’m going to call Aria,” I decide, my voice filled with urgency. She was my last option here.“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Michael asks, worry etching his features. “What if she doesn’t want to hear from you?”“I don’t care!” I snap, feeling a rush of determination. “I need to make her understand. She has to know what’s coming.”“Fine,” Michael concedes, but I can see he still feels reluctant. “Just be careful how you approach this.”I pull out my phone and look for a different number. I’ll use one that she won’t recognize, something to catch her off guard. I dial it and hold my breath as it rings.It’s answered quickly. “Hello?”“Aria?” I ask, my heart racing at the sound of her voice.“Who is this?” she replies, her tone c
Aria's POVI storm back into the living room, pacing like a caged animal. My heart is racing, and I feel like the walls are closing in on me. How dare they? How dare my parents call me out of nowhere like everything is fine? I can’t believe them. They think they can just waltz back into my life after all this time. My feet hit the hardwood floor hard as I pass by Sebastien, who’s lounging on the couch with that annoying grin plastered on his face.“What’s so funny?” I snap, stopping in my tracks.“Just watching you work off that steam,” he replies, his voice dripping with amusement. “Quite the show, Aria.”I roll my eyes, but it doesn’t stop me from feeling a tiny spark of annoyance. “This isn’t a show! They were my parents, and they just ruined my day.”“Your parents?” he asks, raising an eyebrow. “They haven’t been your parents in a long time, Aria.”Anger flares within me, and I clench my fists at my sides. “Hence the word, ‘WERE!’”Sebastien shrugs, casually leaning back. “Sure. B
Maira’s POVI sit nervously in the plastic chair next to Emily’s hospital bed, glancing at the green curtains that barely separate us from the bustling outside. My heart races even though Emily looks peaceful, resting under the crisp white sheets. But all I can think about is Aria. Why is she lying? Why can’t she be honest with us?“Ugh!” I groan, breaking the silence. “This is so frustrating!”Emily stirs slightly but doesn’t open her eyes. “What’s frustrating?” she mumbles, her voice groggy.“Aria! She’s driving me crazy with her secrets!” I run my fingers through my hair, feeling the tension in my chest. “Why would she lie about Sebastien? It doesn’t make any sense!”Emily finally cracks one eye open, looking at me with a hint of annoyance. “Maira, can you please let it go? We have bigger things to worry about right now.”“But this is important!” I insist, crossing my arms. “She’s hiding something. I just know it!”Emily lets out a small sigh and shifts in her bed. “Shouldn’t you b
Maira’s POVI help Emily settle into bed, pulling the covers up to her chin. “You’re going to get some rest, and then we can worry about everything else, okay?” I say, making sure she’s comfortable.“Yeah, yeah. Just don’t forget to bring me back ice cream,” she mumbles, already half-asleep.“Deal! I’ll even get your favorite flavor,” I promise, trying to lighten her mood. “Just focus on getting better.”“Okay, Mom,” she whispers with a teasing smile, her eyes closing. I chuckle, standing up to tiptoe out of the room before she falls asleep.Once I’m in the living room, I take a deep breath, the remnants of worry still lingering in my mind. I grab my phone and dial Aria’s number, my heart racing as I hope she picks up this time. It rings a few times, and just when I’m about to give up, she finally answers.“Maira?” Her voice is a mix of surprise and fatigue.“Hey! It’s me! How are you doing?” I ask, trying to keep my tone light, even though I can sense a heaviness in her voice.“I’m d
Michael and I are driving out of the city, and I can feel the tension in the air. I keep glancing at the rearview mirror, wondering if we should have left earlier. “Do you think we really should have stayed back for more of the event?” I ask, trying to keep the conversation light.“Elizabeth, we needed to get out of there,” Michael replies, his hands gripping the steering wheel tighter. “Too many people were getting crazy over the news about Caleb. We can’t take any chances.”“Yeah, you’re right,” I say, shifting in my seat. “But that doesn’t mean this drive feels any less nerve-wracking.”Suddenly, there’s a loud horn blaring, and I barely have time to react. A car speeds into our lane, crashing into our side. “Oh no!” I shriek as I feel the impact hit hard.“Stay quiet, Susan!” Michael barks, his voice a mixture of panic and urgency. I turn and see our daughter in the back seat, wide-eyed and frozen with fear.“Mom? Dad? What’s happening?” Susan’s voice trembles and I want to reach
Sebastien’s POVI rush into Aria’s room with Chloe, Maira, and Emily following closely behind me. The moment we enter, I see her sitting up in the hospital bed, her eyes wide and frantic. The sight sends a jolt of fear through me.“Aria!” I call out, moving quickly to her side. As soon as she sees me, her expression softens, and she visibly calms Down. What was she so frantic about?“Sebastien…” she breathes, her voice shaky. “Are you okay?”I kneel beside her bed, looking into her eyes. “I’m completely fine. Just worried about you.”Relief crosses her face, but then it crumples as tears start to spill from her eyes. “I thought… I thought Caleb was going to kill you next!” she sobs, her hands gripping the sheets.Anger rises in my chest as I hear her words. I reach out, carefully wrapping my arms around her. “Shh, it’s okay, Aria. You’re safe now. I’m here. You’ll be okay.”Her crying intensifies as she nestles into me, and I hold her tightly, wanting to comfort her as best as I can.
Vera’s POVI drive with purpose, focusing on the road ahead. The sun sets in the distance, casting long shadows across the highway. In the back seat, Susan, Michael, and Elizabeth sit, their expressions a mix of confusion and fear. I can feel their eyes on me, wondering what’s going to happen next. Just what had those three idiots done to piss off the boss?“Where are we going?” Michael finally asks, breaking the tension in the car.“It’s just a little place outside the city,” I reply, keeping my tone light. “Sebastien wanted me to take you somewhere safe.”Elizabeth glances at me. “Safe from who? And this car is so small and dimly lit. Also, could you turn down your music? It's very annoying.” Tch. Whiny bitch.I chuckle softly. “You’ll find out soon enough.”As we drive further out of the city, I spot an abandoned area up ahead. “Perfect,” I think to myself. I turn onto a side road, and soon, I stop the car in a deserted lot surrounded by overgrown grass and dilapidated buildings.“
Sebastien's POVI sit in my car, gripping the steering wheel tight, the engine humming as I watch Caleb's house from across the street. I had him tracked down when I left the hospital. I know he's back home, and now it's time to confront him. The police might not want to act, but I won't wait for them. The bastard had to pay for what he did.After a few minutes, I take a deep breath and step out of the car. I walk up the driveway, my heart pounding with each step. The door stands slightly ajar, and I push it open. The house is dimly lit, and I can smell something foul in the air."Caleb!" I call out, my voice echoing through the empty rooms.I hear movement in the back, and I quickly make my way toward the sound. As I round a corner, I see him -Caleb leaning against the wall, a lazy grin spreading across his face."Well, look who finally decided to drop by!" he says mockingly."Cut the crap, Caleb. I know you ordered the hit on Aria," I say, my voice deadly calm.His expression shifts
Aria’s POVAfter lunch with the girls, I quickly board a cab back home.“Well, more like Sebastien's place,” I murmur to myself.Soon enough, I get there and I get out of the car.As I walk towards the door, I remind myself to stay aware of my surroundings. The mansion’s surroundings are so quiet. Sebastien said something about having ghost staff. In other words, they were barely seen. There wasn't a soul in sight.But just as I reach the door, I notice something strange. A red light shone across my stomach. I freeze, my heart racing. What is that?I open my mouth to call out, “Sebastien?” But before I can say anything, there’s a loud crack. A sharp pain jolts close to my heart, and everything goes black.---Sebastien’s POVThe alarms blare, cutting through the calm of the afternoon. I jump up from my desk, my heart racing. “What the hell?” I mutter as I sprint toward the door.I fling it open and rush outside. “Aria!” I shout, panic gripping my chest. She was lying down crumpled on
Aria’s POVAfter our conversation, I grab my phone and dial Sebastien's number. My hands tremble a bit as I wait for him to pick up."Hey, it's me," I say when he answers."Aria! Where are you? Are you okay?" he asks, his voice tight with concern."I'm fine, but I need to let you know I won't be available for the rest of the day. I have some things to handle.""Things? What kind of things?" His tone sharpens, and I can hear the protective edge in it."I'm with Emily and Maira. We're just... sorting stuff out," I reply, trying to keep it casual."Sorting stuff out?" he presses. "What kind of sorting?""Mmmm, I can't talk about it right now," I say, feeling a rush of guilt."Where exactly are you?" he asks, his voice lowering as if he knows I'm not being entirely honest."Just at my friends' place," I say, hesitantly.Before I can respond, Emily reaches over and snatches the phone from me. "Sebastien!" she says into the receiver, her tone firm. "Listen, buzz off for now. Aria needs a br
Aria’s POVI slowly wake up, my head pounding and my mouth dry. The sunlight filters through the curtains, and I squint, trying to remember where I am. As my surroundings come into focus, I notice I'm in my room.Thank goodness I made it to bed last night. I sit up and suddenly recall everything I said while I was drunk. My heart races in panic. Did I mention Caleb? I felt so vulnerable, and now the memory stings.I throw off the blanket and rush to the living room. I need to talk to Emily and Maira. As I enter the room, my heart sinks. They are still asleep, curled up together on the couch. Emily's head rests on Maira's shoulder, and they look peaceful.Guilt washes over me. They shouldn't have had to drink with me. I feel like such a burden. Maybe I should sneak out before I wake them.I step quietly toward the door, but then Maira's voice breaks the silence. "Where are you going?"I freeze in my tracks. "Uh, just... out for some air?" I say awkwardly, trying to sound casual."Stop
Emily's POVThe atmosphere in the apartment is lively as we gather around the coffee table to play "Exploding Kittens." The brownies and cookies are laid out, and Maira fills some glasses with wine."Alright, let's get this party started!" Maira says, pouring generous amounts for all of us."I'm ready to crush you both!" I declare, feeling the excitement in the air. Maira glares at me but Aria laughs, picking up her hand of cards. "You think you can beat me? I've been practicing! Ever since the last game! No friggin 'way I'm losing."Maira shakes her head. "Practice doesn't make perfect in this game; luck does!"“Tch. Amateur. That's what you'll say but you'll see baby girl. I'm set out to win!”The game begins. We all giggle and shout as we take turns. I can't help but tease Maira each time she draws an exploding kitten card."Ha! You're out!" I tease, laughing."Shush! This is just beginner's luck," Maira retorts, rolling her eyes dramatically.Aria leans back, sipping her wine. "
Emily's POVI sit at my desk, surrounded by piles of files that seem to multiply every hour. Maira buzzes around me, checking in every few minutes. She keeps the coffee coming, which helps me stay focused on my work.“I really shouldn't have gotten so worked up about Aria and abandoned my job! I could have friggin done both!”“You couldn't and Emily, have you made any progress on those reports?” Maira asks, peering over my shoulder.“Getting there! I’m just figuring out how to present this data.” I scroll through the screen, feeling the pressure of the deadline looming.Suddenly, there’s a loud knock on the door. I look up, surprised.“Who could that be?” I say, glancing at Maira.“Let me see!” Maira rushes to the door, her excitement bubbling over. I hear her gasp.“Emily! Come quick! You won’t believe who’s here!”My heart skips a beat. Who could it be? I rush down the hall and stop short when I see her.“Aria!” I exclaim, throwing my arms around her.“Emily!” she cries, hugging me
Caleb’s POVI'm sitting here in this stupid prison, and the anger is boiling inside me. Aria divorced me—and just tossed me aside like I’m nothing. I can’t believe I thought she loved me. I always knew she was trouble. The moment she started associating with that crazy fixer, it was clear she was a trashy woman. I feel like such a fool. How dare she leave me?!I pace in my cell, fists clenched, imagining what I would say if I ever got out. “How could she do this to me?” I mumble to myself. It infuriates me! I thought we had something special. We had plans for the future—until she decided I was worthless.I pound my fist against the wall, feeling the sting but not caring. “I’ll make her pay,” I vow, my voice low and full of anger. “She thinks she’s so smart, but she doesn’t know who she is messing with. I’ll make sure she pays for this.”Suddenly, an officer walks by, eyeing me warily. “Quiet down, Caleb. You’re not allowed to cause trouble in here.”“I’m not causing trouble!” I snap.