I stared at the tattoo on the man’s hand as it tightened around the gun, the letter "V" standing out sharply against his skin. My heart pounded as recognition struck me like a lightning bolt. “Aiden?” I whispered, my voice barely escaping my lips.He didn’t say anything at firstAs I faced him, everything I knew—everything I thought I knew—came crashing down. My husband. The man I once loved, trusted, and believed in. He stood before me, his expression unreadable, his eyes cold and dark, so different from the man I had married .“How…how could you?” My voice broke, tears welling up in my eyes as I took a step back, my legs threatening to give way beneath me.Aiden’s gaze didn’t waver. Instead, he took a step closer, closing the distance between us. His presence was suffocating, his shadow looming over me like a dark cloud. “Why are you so surprised, Amira?” he said, his voice low, almost mocking. “You must have known, deep down. You’re not stupid.”“I trusted you,” I choked out, my v
I sat in the silence of my apartment, my mind racing as I tried to process the horrifying truth about Aiden. How had I missed it? How had I been so blind? My life had been turned upside down in an instant, and the weight of everything that had happened was pressing down on me, threatening to crush me under its sheer enormity.As I sat there, my thoughts drifted back to a time when life was simpler, when the world made sense and I was blissfully unaware of the darkness lurking just beneath the surface. I closed my eyes, letting myself sink into the memories of my past, trying to find some comfort in the warmth of nostalgia.I grew up as one of the wealthiest kids in town. My father, Dr.Matheo Carter, owned a chain of hospitals, each one a gleaming monument to his success and dedication to saving lives. My mother, Dr.Clara Carter, ran them with the same passion. They were a power couple, respected by everyone, and their influence extended far beyond the walls of the hospitals they owned
**Aiden's POV:**The door to Amira's apartment closed behind me with a resounding finality. I walked down the dimly lit hallway, my footsteps echoing in the emptiness, but my mind was anything but quiet. My hand still tingled from the force of the slap, the image of Amira's shocked face seared into my memory. I hadn’t planned on hitting her—I never wanted to hurt her like that—but the anger had surged, uncontrollable, leaving me with only the aftermath of my own impulsive actions.As I got into my car, my hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, knuckles turning white. I was supposed to continue with my work, to keep moving forward as I always did. But my thoughts kept drifting back to her, to that moment in the apartment, to the look in her eyes that was a mixture of hurt and disbelief. I couldn’t shake the guilt gnawing at me, the worry that I had crossed a line I couldn’t uncross. Yet, as much as guilt tugged at my conscience, anger was there, too—fierce, hot, and relentless.How
Authors povAmira stood in her apartment, feeling completely lost. She couldn’t believe what had just happened. Aiden had slapped her, accusing her of cheating, and then he left.Aiden had left to unavoidable work, but she knew he would come again.Aiden went to look after his work for few hours as he was confident that she wouldn’t go back to Ryan because of his return . Aiden’s sudden reappearance in her life had thrown her into confusion. She didn’t know what to do or who to choose. That slap made her question everything. Did she really make a mistake? Was she wrong to try to move on from Aiden? The guilt weighed heavily on her. She felt terrible even thinking about Ryan after Aiden came back into her life. She had never been in such a difficult situation before. She couldn’t bring herself to see Ryan, not now, not after what had happened. The thought of facing him, of explaining why she had allowed Aiden back into her life, made her feel sick to her stomach.Living with Aiden seem
AmiraMy heart pounded in my chest as I stared at the picture on the wall with the words "Be Strong" boldly printed underneath. I drew in a shaky breath, my resolve hardening as I processed the chaos that had become my life. For a moment, I felt a flicker of hope, a sense of purpose that I hadn’t felt in months. I knew I had to act—no more running, no more hiding. I couldn’t keep letting Aiden control my every move, my every thought. I needed to take back my life, even if it meant facing him head-on.The warm water from the shower washed over me, soothing my tense muscles, but it did little to calm the storm raging inside me. I kept replaying the events of the past few months in my mind—the lies, the manipulation, and the toxic grip Aiden had on me. I had been trapped in a web of fear and desire, unable to break free, but now, as the steam filled the bathroom, I knew what I had to do.After drying myself off, I dressed simply but deliberately, choosing clothes that made me feel strong
AmiraI could feel my heart pounding in my chest, each beat echoing like a war drum in the silence that followed my words. “You need help, Aiden,” I said, forcing myself to maintain a calm, rational tone, though inside I was anything but calm. Fear rippled through me, cold and insistent, but I had to keep it together. I had to stay strong, for my sake and for Ryan’s. “You’re not in your right mind. Please, just… let’s talk this through. We don’t have to do this.”Aiden’s smile widened, stretching across his face like a predator’s grin. There was nothing warm or reassuring in that smile; it was cold, mocking, and it sent a shiver down my spine. “You think I need help?” he asked, his voice low and taunting. He took a step closer, and I instinctively took a step back, my body reacting before my mind could process the movement. “You think I’m crazy?” He laughed then, a dark, menacing sound that made my blood run cold. “The only thing I’m crazy about is you, princess. And I’m not going to
I stepped out of the apartment and closed the door behind me, my heart racing as I hurried down the corridor. The walls seemed to close in around me, each step echoing like a countdown in my head. Aiden’s presence loomed over everything, a dark shadow that I couldn’t shake. I didn’t know what his game was, but I knew one thing for certain: I wasn’t safe. Not as long as Aiden was still out there, obsessed with me, willing to do anything to keep me in his life.I clutched my phone tightly, the cold metal pressing into my palm, as I made my way to the exit of the building. My first instinct was to run to the police, to show them the video of Aiden admitting to shooting Ryan, to make them understand the danger he posed. But as I neared the door, a chilling thought struck me: What if Aiden had planned for this? What if he had people on the inside, watching my every move? The police hadn’t exactly been helpful in Ryan’s case—they had been dismissive, slow, almost as if they were being caref
I stood outside Ryan's room, the sterile hospital air pressing in around me, as I watched him through the glass. He looked so peaceful, he was asleep, but the truth was far more painful. He was still recovering, his body fighting to heal from the bullets Aiden had put in him. The image of Ryan lying there, helpless, filled me with a crushing sense of guilt. Tears welled up in my eyes, and I couldn’t hold them back any longer. They spilled over, tracing a path down my cheeks as I leaned against the wall, trying to keep myself together.I wasn’t alone for long. Daniel, Mia, Eva soon found me, their faces a mixture of concern and anger. They’d heard what Aiden had done, the twisted game he was playing with my life, with Ryan’s life. I could see the fury in their eyes, the way their jaws clenched and fists tightened. They wanted to help, but there was so little they could do against someone like Aiden.Mia was the first to reach out, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. “Amira, how
The next day, I was at the hospital, busy with my rounds when my phone buzzed. It was Mia, calling me in a tone that dripped with anger.“Amira, what the hell did you do?” she snapped before I could even say hello. Her voice was filled with accusation, and I could almost feel the heat of her frustration through the phone.“What are you talking about, Mia?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. “What did I do?”“You know exactly what I’m talking about. Ryan is devastated, Amira. You’ve really hurt him this time,” she said, her words like sharp daggers. “By the way, congratulations on all the likes your post is getting. You and Aiden look so cozy, practically made for each other.”The line went dead before I could say another word. I stood there, frozen for a moment, confusion and panic washing over me. What post? What was Mia talking about? My pulse quickened as I pulled out my phone and opened Instagram.There it was—a post of me and Aiden, arms wrapped tightly around each other, o
The air between us was thick with tension as Aiden closed the door behind him. His eyes burned with a possessive intensity, and before I could even register what was happening, he grabbed me by the waist and pulled me against him, his grip firm and unyielding. His mouth crashed down onto mine, urgent and demanding, and my immediate instinct was to push him away. I pressed my hands against his chest, clamping my mouth shut, but it only seemed to fuel him more.“Stop it, Aiden,” I managed to say, turning my head to the side to escape his lips. But he was relentless. His hand snaked up to my neck, and he gripped a fistful of my hair, yanking it just enough to bring my face back to him, forcing me to look into his darkened gaze. His voice was low and dangerously soft as he murmured, “I’m showing you that I own you, Amira.”I clenched my lips together, determined not to give him the satisfaction of my compliance. He kissed me again, harder this time, his mouth moving against mine with a hu
As I sat at the dining table, I couldn’t help but notice the tension thickening in the air. Aiden stormed into the mansion wearing his perfectly tailored suit, but his face carried a look of cold fury. His jaw was clenched, and his eyes burned with an unspoken anger. He glanced at me with a scowl before heading upstairs without a word. I watched him disappear down the hall, utterly confused about what had triggered his sudden temper.I turned back to my dinner, but the curiosity gnawed at me. What could have possibly happened to make him so furious? Aiden returned after a few minutes, freshly showered, and looking more composed. He strode down the stairs, his steps purposeful, his hair slightly damp, and his white shirt unbuttoned at the top, revealing a hint of his toned chest. His mother, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, instructed the servants to serve him dinner.As he settled at the table across from me, the tension was palpable. He began eating in a calm, almost too measured
L following day at the hospital, I was already feeling the strain of having my personal bodyguard shadowing me everywhere. Every step I took, there he was, a few paces behind, his stern gaze making my every move feel scrutinized. It was as if Aiden’s reach extended beyond the confines of our home, clutching me tightly even here. I desperately needed some space, and my irritation was starting to show.As I was tending to one of the pediatric patients, my phone vibrated in my pocket. It was Eva. I quickly excused myself and stepped out into the hallway, pressing the phone to my ear. “Eva? Is everything okay?”“Amira, I just wanted to check on you. How are you doing?” she asked, her voice carrying a hint of concern. “You’re really working in that hospital in Italy now?”“Yes,” I replied, glancing back at the bodyguard who stood near the corner, pretending not to eavesdrop but clearly listening. “I’m fine, just adjusting to everything here.”“Adjusting?” Eva’s tone became more skeptical.
At dinner, the atmosphere was a blend of tension and a strange sense of belonging I hadn’t quite felt in a while. Aiden’s mother, a warm and elegant woman with a gentle demeanor, was seated across from me. She looked at me with an encouraging smile as she asked, “How was your first day, dear? You must have had quite the challenge working in a new country.”I took a deep breath, setting my fork down. “It was… different,” I admitted, a small smile creeping onto my lips. “But I managed. The language barrier was difficult, but I’m learning.”She nodded, clearly pleased. “I’m proud of you,” she said, her voice soft but sincere. “It takes courage to adapt so quickly.”A rush of pride filled my chest, and I couldn’t help but cast a quick glance at Aiden, who sat at the head of the table, casually eating as if the whole conversation was of little interest to him. He didn’t look up, his focus solely on his meal, and it only made my resolve harden. At least his mother was proud of me, and that
The morning of my first day working at the hospital in Italy, I woke up with a strange mix of eagerness and anxiety. The air in the mansion felt heavy, almost suffocating, as if reminding me that I wasn’t here by choice. I sat at the edge of the bed, pulling on my slippers with a sense of determination. Working at the hospital was my one opportunity to feel some sense of normalcy, even if it came with strings attached.I headed downstairs holding Leo in my hand and handed over to his mom to take care of him. where Aiden was casually seated at the dining table, sipping his coffee as though he didn’t have a care in the world. His presence filled the room in a way that made me feel small and insignificant, even though I wasn’t about to let him see that. Marco, my assigned bodyguard, was already waiting by the door, dressed in a black tuxedo that seemed completely out of place for a hospital.As I picked up my bag, Aiden glanced up at me with that familiar controlling look in his eyes. “Y
I sat on the couch with Leo nestled in my lap, his small body curled up as I ran my fingers through his soft fur. The house felt unusually quiet, save for the occasional ticking of the wall clock. Aiden had just finished getting ready to leave for the hospital, his keys jingling in his hand as he strode toward the door. There was a finality in his movements, like he was already in his own world, where I didn’t matter. And for some reason, that bothered me.I glanced at the clock again and then at Leo, who seemed perfectly content to lie there and bask in the moment. Something inside me stirred—a resolve I wasn’t sure I had before. I couldn’t just sit here every day while my career and life slipped away. I needed to do something, to reclaim a sense of normalcy, of independence.Before I could overthink it, I called out to Aiden, my voice breaking the stillness of the room. “Aiden.”He stopped, halfway out the door, and turned back with a look of mild surprise. I almost never called him
The next morning, I woke to the soft tickle of a small, warm tongue licking my cheek. I opened my eyes to see Leo’s tiny face staring at me, his big brown eyes full of curiosity and affection. He let out a little whine and limped slightly as he moved closer, nudging my hand with his nose. It was as if he was trying to wake me up properly, to start the day together. I reached out and stroked his fur gently, feeling a pang of worry as I noticed the slight limp from the previous day’s accident.“Good morning, little one,” I whispered, lifting him up and kissing the top of his head. His tail wagged weakly, but there was a spark of life in his eyes that made me smile.As I got up, I noticed Aiden stirring on the couch. He sat up slowly, rubbing the back of his neck and wincing in pain. Sleeping on that couch hadn’t done him any favors, and it was evident by the irritated grimace on his face. He caught sight of Leo and me cuddling together, his expression darkening. For a moment, I saw a fl
I gently patted the soft fur on Leo’s little head as he nuzzled into my hand. He had bright, curious eyes and a coat of fluffy white and brown patches. I had spent the last hour crafting a makeshift bed for him out of a wicker basket I found in the storage room, lining it with soft blankets to keep him warm. Placing it on the bed where Aiden usually slept felt like a small act of defiance. If he wanted to control everything, he would have to share the bed—at least with Leo.Leo seemed to be enjoying himself, playfully pawing at my fingers. For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt a genuine smile tug at my lips. I wasn’t thinking about Aiden, or the nightmare my life had become. I was just focused on this tiny creature who seemed to love me unconditionally.The door clicked open, and I looked up to see Aiden walk in. His eyes took in the scene before him—me sitting on the bed with Leo curled up next to me, clearly marking his territory. Aiden’s jaw tightened for a moment, b