Aria's POVI grip the steering wheel tightly as I drive through the rainy streets. My phone beeps several times, but I ignore it. Caleb is probably trying to call me again, and I don’t want to hear what he has to say.“Ugh, why is he making such a big deal?” I mutter to myself. “It’s not like I owe her anything.”I know I shouldn’t feel like this, but I can’t help it. I wasn’t going to jump into the hospital chaos. I just want to get home and relax.The hospital is not far from my house, and soon enough, I find myself pulling into the parking lot. I notice Caleb’s car parked nearby. “Great. Just what I need,” I say, rolling my eyes.I step out, rain soaking through my clothes immediately. I don’t care; I’m too annoyed to pay attention. The usual hush of the hospital feels heavy today as I walk through the sliding doors.I head straight for Susan’s ward without even looking at Caleb. He stands there, staring at me with wide eyes, but I ignore him. I push the door open and walk in."Sus
Emily's POVI rush through the hospital doors, Chloe right beside me. We’re both out of breath, running from the parking lot after hearing what happened to Susan and how Aria had to help. I can’t believe my best friend is in trouble. We’re not letting anything stop us from seeing her.“Do you think she’s okay?” I ask Chloe, anxiety bubbling inside me.“We’ll find out soon. Just stay calm,” Chloe replies, her voice steady.We reach Susan’s room, and I swing the door open without knocking. The scene hits me like a punch. Everyone looks tense. Aria stands near the bed, looking annoyed. Caleb is there too, and he looks like he’s seen a ghost.“Aria!” I call, rushing in. But my attention quickly turns back to Susan.“What are you doing here, Aria?” I ask, confusion mixed with worry.Aria ignores me and focuses on Susan, who seems weak but at least awake.“Is she going to be okay?” I ask, moving closer to the bed.“She’ll be fine,” Aria replies without looking at me.Just then, Chloe steps
Aria's POVI sit on the hospital bed, staring at Susan, who is now awake. She looks weak, but her eyes are filled with spite. “Drop the act, bitch. What do you want?” she says, her voice shaky but defiant.I raise an eyebrow, surprised by her directness. “Wow, nice to see you’re up, Susan. I didn’t come here to cause trouble,” I snap back, trying not to let her words get to me.“I don’t care why you’re here,” she retorts. “You don’t get to pretend you care now. If you wanted to help, you would have done it sooner.”I clench my jaw. “This isn’t about you! I’m here because I owed a favor to someone long ago. And now I’m stuck dealing with you.”Her expression changes slightly, a flicker of confusion. “A favor? What do you mean?”“Don’t act innocent,” I say, narrowing my eyes. “You know we don’t have that kind of relationship. I only did this because I felt guilty.”“Guilty?” she laughs bitterly. “Good luck with that. You don’t even know what guilt feels like!”Susan and I are both heali
Caleb's POVI sit in the parking lot, staring at the divorce papers in disbelief. My hands shake slightly as I read the words over and over again. “Divorce.” The word feels jagged in my throat. I can’t believe Aria just left me.“Caleb!” I hear someone call. It’s Susan’s voice, and she rushes over to my car. But I don’t want to deal with her right now.“What do you want, Susan?” I snap, feeling angry and frustrated at the same time.“Caleb, I heard about the papers. Are you okay?” she asks, concern painted on her face.“Am I okay?” I repeat, raising my voice. “No, I’m not okay! My wife just decided she was done with me!”“Caleb, please. It’s not the end of the world,” she tries to comfort me, reaching out to touch my arm.But I feel a surge of rage. “Don’t! Don’t do that!” I shout, slapping her hand away. “You have no idea what I’m going through!”Susan takes a step back, hurt flashing across her features. “I’m just trying to help. You’re acting like you’re losing everything!”“I am l
Caleb's POVI slam my fist against Aria's door in anger. What the hell is taking her so long? “Aria!” I shout, pounding again, the sound echoing in the quiet neighborhood. “Open up! I’m not leaving until you let me in!”Silence. Just the sound of my heavy breathing.“Caleb,” I mutter to myself, “don’t lose it. Just give her a minute.” But there's an edge to my voice, a tightness in my chest that I can’t shake off. She needs to understand how serious this is.Finally, I hear movement inside, but it’s not the relief I’m hoping for. The door cracks open a couple of inches, and I see her face peering out, her brow furrowed, eyes narrowed. “What do you want, Caleb?”“Let me in, Aria! I’m not playing around here. I swear I’ll break this door down if you don’t open it!”“Go home, Caleb,” she replies, her voice calm and steady. Lies, she must have been crying.“Seriously? You think I’m just gonna walk away?” I lean closer, pushing my face against the door. “I know you saved Susan. You must've
Aria’s POVI stand by the door, still feeling the sting of Caleb's words and wondering how the fuck I ended up with a crazy man. He’s gone quiet now, and for a moment, I think it might be over. But then, I hear the sound of sirens getting closer, and it fills me with a mix of relief and anxiety. I never wanted it to come to this.The police arrive, lights flashing, and I step back, letting them handle things. I watch as they approach Caleb, who looks like he’s about to lose it entirely.“Caleb!” one officer calls out, hands raised, trying to calm him down. “It’s okay. We’re here to help.”I can see Caleb’s face pale. He glances towards me, and I can see the panic in his eyes. He looks like he’s about to bolt, but then—Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Sebastian pulling up. Who had called him?! I turn to Maira but she seems equally shocked as well.My heart sinks. I didn’t want him to see me like this, but at the same time, part of me felt relief. He always knows how to handle diffi
Emily's POVI’m back at Aria’s place, and panic rages through me like a wildfire. I can’t believe this is happening. “I have to call her!” I say, practically shouting, as I reach for my phone. “I need to warn her that Sebastian is responsible for everything!”“Emily, no!” Maira grabs my wrist, stopping me. Her eyes are wide, but not in fear. “You can’t just call her and yell. It won't help!”“Why not?” I insist, my heart racing. “She needs to know! What if he does something terrible?”“Sebastian would definitely not kill the top model of the company,” Maira snaps back, trying to ground me. “You need to calm down. Just breathe.”“I can’t calm down! He took her!” I yell, feeling the despair rise. “What if he hurts her? I can’t lose her!”“She’s probably fine!” Maira says with urgency. “Look, I’ll keep in touch with Aria. I promise I’ll find out how she’s doing. Just… don’t panic.”I shake my head, fighting back tears. “But I don’t want to just sit here! I have to do something!”“Freakin
Aria’s POVI step into the mansion, and my breath catches in my throat. The grandness of it is overwhelming. “Wow!” I exclaimed, staring at the high ceilings and grand staircase. “This place is incredible!”Sebastien stands next to me, a proud smile creeping onto his face. “Glad you like it! It took a lot of work to maintain this place.”“A lot of work? This is huge!” I can hardly believe it. “How do you even live here?”“It’s just what I do,” he replies casually. “But right now, it’s about making you comfortable.” He opens a door and steps aside. “This is your room.”I walk in, and my heart flutters. The sunlight pours in through large windows, making the room feel warm and welcoming. “This is beautiful,” I say, turning around. “I can’t believe how nice it is. Are you sure this isn't an inconvenience? I mean, being stuck with me isn't ideal and I'd never want to leave.”“Well, well. Where's the you that was stomping your foot and causing scenes about not wanting to leave their house?
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.