Damien’s POV I pulled up in front of one of the most exclusive boutiques in the city, stepping out of the car without sparing Ariana a glance. She followed, her hesitation evident as we walked through the grand glass doors. The second we entered, the boutique manager and two attendants rushed toward us, their polished smiles and eager attitudes a clear indication that they knew exactly who I was. “Mr. Logan! What an honor to have you here,” the manager gushed, practically bowing. I gave a curt nod. “I need outfits for her. Something suitable.” Ariana shot me a sharp look. “I have clothes, you know.” I ignored her and continued, “She needs to look presentable when meeting my grandfather. Nothing more, nothing less. Just get it done quickly. I don’t have time to waste.” Ariana scoffed but said nothing as the manager and attendants led her toward the racks. I settled onto one of the leather chairs, flipping open a magazine while they picked out dresses, shoes, and accessories.
Damien’s POVAs we pulled up to my grandfather’s mansion, I stole a glance at Ariana. The dim evening light reflected off her smooth skin, and the elegant dress hugged her figure perfectly. I hated to admit it, but she looked… breathtaking.I clenched my jaw. Focus, Damien. This wasn’t about her beauty. This was about getting my grandfather off my back."Remember what I told you," I said, my voice low and firm. "If he asks how we met, it was at a friend’s party. We became friends, then started dating six months ago."Ariana sighed, adjusting her dress. "Got it. Friend’s party. Six months. Anything else, your highness?"I ignored her sarcasm and stepped out of the car, walking around to open her door. We had to put on a show.Inside, my grandfather sat in the mansion’s lavish sitting room, a thick magazine in his hands. The moment he looked up and saw me, his expression darkened."So, you finally decided to show up," he muttered, setting the magazine aside. "I assume you’re here with a
Ariana’s POV"Tomorrow night?!" I nearly screamed, staring at Damien in shock. "But I'm not even prepared!"Damien barely spared me a glance, his expression unreadable. "Don’t worry about that. I’ll handle everything." His voice was calm, almost indifferent."But—""You don’t have to do anything. Just pretend like we’re in love," he cut me off, already turning away. "I’ll send a team for your dress, hair, and makeup later."And just like that, he walked away, disappearing into his room without another word.I stood there, completely frozen. My heart pounded in my chest. Tomorrow? Is he insane?!A surge of panic rushed through me, and before I could think twice, I dashed to my room and grabbed my phone. There was only one person who could help me get through this.I dialed Julie’s number.The moment she picked up, her voice came through in a rush. "Oh, thank God you called! I was about to call you. Have you seen the rumors online about Damien? It’s everywhere!""Julie, that’s exactly w
Damien’s POVThe moment Alex walked into my office with that look on his face, I knew he had something important to say. And from the way his jaw was clenched, I could tell it wasn’t good news.“We finally found the source,” he said, placing a file on my desk. “It wasn’t easy, but we traced it back to Cindy. She hired a few guys to spread the rumor about you not being able to produce an heir and, um… other rumors too.”I leaned back in my chair, fingers steepled as I processed his words. Cindy. Of course.That woman was relentless. I had expected her to throw tantrums as usual, but this? She had played the long game, manipulating the situation with careful precision.Alex continued, “She knew your grandfather would never let a scandal tarnish Logan Group’s reputation. The best way to shut it down would be for you to announce an engagement. And since your grandfather doesn’t approve of Ariana, Cindy assumed you’d have no choice but to choose her.”I let out a cold laugh, shaking my hea
Ariana’s POV I woke up to the sound of persistent knocking on my door. Groaning, I blinked my eyes open and reached for my phone. 6:30 AM. I frowned. Breakfast at 6:30? That’s not even 7:30 AM, so why was Martha knocking? The knocking came again, followed by her voice. “Miss, are you awake yet?” I sighed, rubbing my eyes. “Yes, Martha. What is it?” “Mr. Logan is waiting for you downstairs. He asked you to meet him now. I’ll take my leave, Miss.” I sat up in bed, confused. Why does he want to see me at 6:30 in the morning? I really wanted to sleep more. Then it hit me. Oh my God—the engagement is today! I jolted out of bed, all traces of sleep vanishing. Rushing into the bathroom, I grabbed my toothbrush. As I brushed my teeth, last night’s moment with Damien flashed in my head. The way he had held my waist, his body so close to mine… Why am I even thinking about this? Before I could stop myself, my teeth lightly tugged at my bottom lip. I froze. Did I just… bite my lip?
Damien's POVAs Ariana descended the stairs, I lifted my gaze, and for a split second, I couldn't believe what I was seeing. She was breathtaking. Stunning, even. The champagne colored dress hugged her figure perfectly, her hair cascaded down her back in soft waves and her glossy lips looks so beautiful. Her slight smile stirred something in me, something I feared alot , but I quickly pushed it down. This is a contract. No strings attached."So? How do I look?" Ariana asked, twirling slightly.I schooled my expression, keeping my face unreadable. "Too much makeup. The dress brings out too much of your shape, which isn’t exactly ideal for a lady, and your hair is too wavy," I said, completely lying. "Overall, it's manageable."Her mouth dropped open. "Are you serious right now? I put in this much effort, and you can’t even give me a single compliment? Not even a tiny one?"I glanced at my watch. "I think you're forgetting this is business. You’re crossing the line."Her expression dark
Damien’s POVAs soon as I reached where Grandpa was waiting, his scolding began."Damien, how dare you? When I told you to get engaged, did you not understand what I meant? Do you have any idea what this will cost the company? Our partnership with Cindy's father who is also my best friend in case you’ve forgotten, is on the line! You're jeopardizing both business and friendship! A disgrace! That’s what you are! Now the shareholders are panicking, the scandal is still unresolved, and instead of fixing things, you pull this reckless stunt by getting engaged to someone else instead of Cindy?"I met his furious gaze, unfazed. "You told me to get engaged to whoever I wanted, and I did exactly that," I replied firmly."No! No, Damien, you didn’t do what I wanted. You did what you liked and put the company in danger!" he roared. "If the shareholders withdraw their investments, how do you think we’ll continue to prosper? The alliance between Logan Group and Cindy’s father’s company is what br
Ariana’s POV Sitting in the car, I couldn't stop shaking. The humiliation from earlier clung to me like a second skin, each cruel word echoing in my head. My fingers trembled slightly as I clenched my dress. How much more did Daniel want to take from me? I gave him five years of my life—five years of love, loyalty, and devotion. And this? This was what I got in return? A soft sigh left my lips, and my gaze flickered toward Damien. He was staring at me, his expression unreadable, but there was something in his eyes that made my chest tighten. Did he really just defend me back there? Was this the same man who had been nothing but cold and distant toward me? It was almost hard to believe. Before I could dwell on it further, Julie burst into the car, her face red with fury. "Oh my God, Ari! Did that bastard and his bitch really do this to you?" she demanded, her voice shaking. "What else does he want? You gave him everything—you even gave him your body! And this is how he repays you?"
Ariana’s POV"Those bastards!" Julie cursed after the guards dragged us out of the waiting room. Her eyes were filled with anger and worry."Ari, you need medical attention too. Will you stop being stubborn and get yourself treated? Please, we'll figure the rest out later I promise." she pleaded, her voice shaking."No! I'm not going anywhere," I cried, my body trembling. Tears streamed down my face as guilt crashed over me. "This is all my fault. I'm so stupid, so stupid!" I hit myself, frustration and despair mixing into one overwhelming emotion."No, Ari! This is not your fault. Stop hitting yourself, please," Julie rushed forward, grabbing my wrists to stop me."I put him in danger," I sobbed. "It's my fault!" My chest ached as the words left my mouth. "I have to go in. I need to know if Damien will be okay!" I tried to push past her, desperate to reach the surgery waiting room."Ariana, no! Come back! Don't do this!" Julie grabbed my arm, trying to hold me back.I fought against
Ariana’s POV“No… no… Damien, you’ve been shot!” My voice broke as I fought back the tears threatening to spill.Damien groaned in pain, his body swaying before his knees buckled, and he sank to the ground.Panic surged through me as I rushed to his side, my hands shaking uncontrollably. I pressed my trembling fingers against the wound in his stomach, trying to stop the bleeding, but the warm liquid kept seeping through my fingers.“Ari… run… just… leave me… here… go……” His voice was weak, barely above a whisper.“No, Damien! I won’t leave you… I won’t… I won’t let you die here alone! hey look at me!" My hands cradled his face, forcing him to look at me. “You hear me? We’re leaving together. I’m not leaving you behind.”His breathing was shallow, and his face was growing pale. “Ari… please… go… just run…”“Damien, stop! Stay with me, please… please stay with me.” My voice cracked as the tears finally fell. I looked up and saw my father’s men closing in on us, their footsteps growing l
Ariana's POVI opened my eyes, disoriented. Where was I? My head pounded as I tried to move, only to realize I was tied to a chair. Panic surged through me as I glanced around the dimly lit space—an abandoned factory. I struggled against the ropes, but they wouldn’t budge.Then, a voice cut through the silence."Stop struggling, Ariana. Don’t make things harder for yourself, darling," the voice taunted, stepping closer.I froze. My breath hitched as my eyes met his. My father. The sight of him sent a wave of anger and fear crashing over me."What do you want from me? Why are you doing this?" I demanded, my voice shaking with both fury and desperation."Oh, Ariana, darling, are you crying?" He smirked, taking slow, deliberate steps toward me. He leaned in, brushing a strand of my hair behind my ear."Don’t cry. This won’t take long," he murmured, lifting my chin with his hand."Let go of me!" I spat, sinking my teeth into his skin.He recoiled, hissing in pain. Then, with a flash of an
Ariana's POVI slowly opened my eyes. My head ached, my neck was sore, and my body felt weak. Everything around me was dark. My mind struggled to grasp where I was. Then it hit me—I had been injected with something earlier.I tried to move, but my body wouldn’t cooperate. The floor beneath me was rough. I was at the back of a moving van.I forced myself up and crawled toward the door in the darkness, trying to open it. It wouldn’t budge.“No… no… where the hell are they taking me?” I whispered, panic gripping me. My hands shook, and tears welled in my eyes.My phone!Yes! I had tucked it inside the inner pocket of my gown.With weak, trembling hands, I searched for it. When I finally found it, I grabbed it quickly and turned on the screen. 200 missed calls. Damien.I tried to call him back, but there was no signal. Fear surged through me, making my hands tremble even more. I moved to the other side of the van, hoping for a better connection. Nothing.Tears streamed down my cheeks.He
Ariana’s POVI had just finished my bath and walked downstairs. As I stepped into the living room, I glanced around, expecting to see Damien, maybe reading his journal or watering the flowers like he usually did. But he wasn’t there. The house felt empty, and I wondered where he could be.I moved toward the flowers by the window, the ones Damien always took care of. Bending down, I inhaled their fresh scent, a small smile forming on my lips. I could almost picture him standing here, watering them with that serious look on his face.Realizing what I was doing, I quickly straightened up and shook my head. What am I even thinking?I walked to the dining area, my eyes landing on the empty table. A sigh escaped my lips."God, I really miss you, Martha," I muttered. If she were here, she would’ve made breakfast by now.My phone beeped in my pocket. I pulled it out and checked the screen.An alert from yesterday's design sale.My eyes widened, and excitement bubbled up inside me. I jumped up
Ariana's POV"H...hi," I said hesitantly, my voice coming out softer than I intended.Damien stood near the entrance of the villa, his gaze locked onto mine. There was something in his eyes—anger, maybe—but I couldn't quite tell. His face was impassive, yet his sharp blue eyes held a fire I wasn’t sure I had ever seen before.I was about to brush past him and head inside when his voice stopped me."You're late. It's almost 8:30 PM," he said, slipping one hand into his pocket while the other flicked at his watch.I scoffed. "Last time I checked, there wasn’t a rule saying I couldn't come home whenever I wanted. And you need to learn how to mind your own business ." My tone was laced with defiance as I stepped forward, intent on walking past him.But before I could take another step, I felt his hands on my waist. My breath hitched as he pushed me gently—yet firmly—against the wall.My heart pounded."Do you really think so?" he asked, his voice a low whisper, the warmth of his breath br
Ariana’s POVThe moment Julie walked in, I spotted her right away and waved. She made her way toward me, her expression playful as always.“You’re thirty minutes late, girl,” I said, pretending to be mad.“C’mon, Ari, I’m sorry! I just decided to grab some groceries on the way,” she replied, pouting cutely.I rolled my eyes, unable to stay fake-mad at her. “Just sit already,” I said, motioning to the chair across from me. “So, what do you think we should order? They’ve got this funny-looking pork dish,” I said, flipping through the menu and pointing at the image. “And there’s also noodles, tofu, fried rice…” I paused and glanced at her for a second.Julie bit her lip—again.“Okay, I know that look,” I said, narrowing my eyes. “Who’s the guy?”“Ari!!” Julie shrieked, then burst into laughter.I smirked. “C’mon, spill the tea already. You’ve bitten your lips more than ten times since you got here. I bet they’re bleeding by now,” I teased, leaning in to take a closer look at her lips.“S
Ariana’s POVI followed Charles into his office, my eyes widening slightly as I took in the sophisticated space. So, he’s the CEO of the company? Wow. He looks so young for such a powerful position.“Please, have a seat, Miss Ariana,” Charles said, flashing me a friendly smile as he gestured toward the chair opposite his desk.“Oh, thank you.” I settled into the chair, shifting slightly to make myself comfortable.“Would you like something to drink? Coffee, juice, wine?”I shook my head. “No, I’m good, thanks.”“You sure?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.“Yes, of course. But I appreciate it.”Charles leaned back, clasping his hands together. “So, I happened to stumble upon one of your designs on your website, and all I could say was—‘fantastic.’” He smiled. “The design is truly unique, and I’m glad you agreed to sell it to us. What I’ll need you to do now is sign this contract, input your account details, and add your signature.” He pulled out a file and placed it in front of me.I took
Ariana's Pov The events of yesterday still lingered in my mind as I made my way down the stairs. I had woken up feeling drained, surprised that it was already 8 AM and that Martha hadn’t come to wake me. How sweet of her. She must have known how exhausted I was.Dressed in a pair of shorts and a crop top—something comfortable for the day—I walked toward the kitchen, only to find it empty.Where did she go? I wondered, glancing around.I was about to head toward her room when a deep voice behind me made me pause."She asked for a leave. She won’t be back until next month."I turned around and saw Damien standing near the window, watering the flowers. The sight of him made my breath hitch. The memory of yesterday's kiss flashed through my mind, making me uneasy. Even though I knew it was just for show, the urge to ask why he had done it gnawed at me. There were plenty of ways to convince the media without actually kissing me.As he walked toward me, I couldn't suppress the question any