Aiden ,I sat in the car, staring intently at the hospital where Amira worked, my thoughts a tangled web of desire, curiosity, and something darker. The memory of our last encounter still lingered, her words echoing in my mind. She was different, and that difference intrigued me, provoked me, in ways I hadn’t expected. But intrigue alone wasn’t enough. I needed to know more—needed to see what lay beneath her composed exterior. How far could I push her before she broke? Would she break?Michael, sitting in the passenger seat, broke my reverie. "So, what’s the plan?"I turned to him, a smirk playing on my lips as a twisted idea formed in my mind. “I want to test her.”Michael raised an eyebrow, uncertain but willing. He had been with me long enough to know that when I got an idea, it was best to just go along with it. “How?”I reached into the glove compartment and pulled out a small, sharp knife. Without a word, I grabbed Michael’s hand, his eyes widening in surprise as I made a swift,
I prided myself on being able to sway people with little effort. But Amira was different. She was a challenge I hadn’t expected, a puzzle that seemed to shift just when I thought I had figured it out. And it was that very challenge that intrigued me, drove me to try even harder.Today, I decided to step into her world. I visited her hospital under the guise of a casual check-in, though we both knew it was anything but. I made sure my schedule was clear, every detail of the visit planned meticulously. I wanted to impress her, to show her that I was willing to go to any lengths to get her attention—even if she pretended not to care.When I arrived at the hospital, I noticed how the staff seemed both surprised and a little intimidated by my presence. I was used to that. My reputation preceded me, and it was rare for me to enter a room without commanding immediate attention. But as I walked down the brightly lit corridors, my thoughts were entirely focused on Amira.I found her in the ped
*Amira POV*Aiden’s gaze was intense, as if he were trying to figure out something hidden beneath the surface. Aiden was different from anyone I’d ever met—intense, brooding, with a darkness that seemed to cling to him. But beneath all that, I could sense a vulnerability, a softness he didn’t want anyone to see. It intrigued me, though I would never admit it.He was always trying to impress me, in his own way, and it almost made me want to laugh. There was something almost endearing about it, like he wasn’t used to having to work so hard for someone’s attention. But I wasn’t someone who could be easily swayed by a charming smile or a few sweet words. I’d seen too much, been through too much, to fall for that. And I could tell that my resistance frustrated him.When our eyes met, I kept my expression calm, unreadable. I wouldn’t let him see that he affected me, that there was something about him that stirred emotions I wasn’t ready to confront. But when he wasn’t looking, when he could
Amira pov My fingers hovered over the keyboard, my mind a tangled web of emotions and thoughts I couldn’t quite grasp. The engagement party had been a whirlwind of celebration, laughter, and love, but now that I was alone in my bed, the quiet of the night pressed down on me, leaving space for all the thoughts I had pushed aside.My friends had filled the group chat with congratulations, heart emojis, and virtual confetti. Everyone seemed genuinely thrilled for me, everyone except Ryan. As the messages poured in, I kept glancing at the chat, waiting for his name to pop up. But it never did. He was the one friend I expected to hear from the most, yet his absence weighed heavily on my heart.I tried to brush it off, telling myself that he must be busy. Ryan had a demanding job, and it wasn’t unusual for him to miss messages when he was caught up in work. But still, it nagged at me.My phone buzzed again, pulling me out of my thoughts. This time, it wasn’t from the group chat. My heart s
After a sleepless night, I dragged myself to the hospital, my mind still reeling from the events of the previous evening. I couldn’t shake the memory of Aiden’s words, the way they had affected me so deeply. It was foolish, I knew, to let him get under my skin like that, but the damage was already done. I was exhausted, both physically and mentally, and it showed in the dark circles under my eyes.As soon as I arrived at the hospital, I headed straight to Emera’s room. Emera was a little girl with no one in the world but me. She had been found fainted on the road, and when I saw her in the emergency department that night, the staff had been debating whether to admit her. They were concerned about costs, about whether she could afford the treatment. But the moment I saw her, something inside me snapped. I wasn’t usually the type to throw my weight around, but seeing her so vulnerable, knowing she had no one else, ignited a fire in me. I had ordered the staff to admit her without hesita
Aiden, My parents, Antoni and Isabelle Wolfe, had taken charge, turning the affair into something far grander than I had ever planned or wanted. If it were up to me, it would be simple—just me and Amira. But they insisted, calling it a “union of two great families,” as if this was about anything more than just me wanting her. I was fine with the show, as long as it didn’t interfere with my business. After glancing at the clock, I grabbed my phone and headed out. I was greeted by the sight of Michael near my car, he was about to go somewhere I think. I grabbed the stack of invitations from Michael’s hands, stopping him just as he was about to get into his car. He looked at me, confused, as I stood there with a raised eyebrow. “Going somewhere?” I asked casually, flipping through the invitations as if I were inspecting them. “Yeah, your parents wanted me to take these to Amira’s family. They’re supposed to check them over,” Michael said, watching me carefully. I chuckled, s
The hospital was buzzing with activity, a hum of energy that never seemed to die down. It felt like I’d been living within these walls for weeks, barely catching my breath between patients and new cases. The flu season had hit hard, and with an influx of rising cases, my workload had doubled. Every corner of the hospital was packed, every nurse and doctor running on fumes, and I wasn’t spared from the chaos. Between managing my regular pediatric patients and assisting in emergency cases, I found myself constantly running between rooms, barely pausing for a break. On top of that, my emotions were stretched thin. I’d been missing Aiden more than I thought I would, and with him being away in Italy, it felt like there was an emptiness gnawing at me. It had been a week since he left, and the distance was starting to get to me. Though, knowing him, he found ways to make his presence felt even from afar. In rare moments of quiet, I would sneak off to Emera’s room. She was one of the few
I had just finished my rounds, feeling a mixture of exhaustion and excitement as the wedding day drew closer. I could hardly believe I would be marrying Aiden a day after tomorrow. As I stepped into my small office to grab a quick bite, my heart skipped a beat. Standing there, leaning casually against my desk, was Aiden. I felt a rush of excitement flood through me, but I did my best to maintain my composure. “Hey princess !” he said, his smile lighting up the room. “When did you get back from Italy?” I exclaimed, a grin spreading across my face. He shrugged, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Just now. How about grabbing a lunch.” I felt my pulse quicken at the thought of spending time alone with him. “Sounds perfect!” I grabbed my bag, and we headed out together. We drove to a quaint Italian restaurant nearby, and as we entered, the warm ambiance immediately enveloped me. The rustic decor and soft music created the perfect setting for our lunch. We found a cozy corner table, a
Author pov,At Mia’s Hospital in the US, the air was heavy with a mix of tension and concern. Ryan was lying on a hospital bed, bandages wrapped around his wrists from multiple self-inflicted cuts. His face was pale, but his eyes held a stubborn defiance .In the corridor just outside his room, Mia, Eva, and Daniel stood huddled together, their expressions a blend of anger and worry. Mia had been harsh with Amira recently, and though her anger towards Ryan had initially fueled her outburst, she now realized that Amira was bearing the brunt of everyone’s frustration.“I can’t believe Ryan could be so reckless,” Eva whispered, glancing towards Ryan’s room. “I tried talking some sense into him, but he just kept going on about how much he loves Amira. It’s like he’s lost all sense of reality.”Mia crossed her arms, her brow furrowed. “I know he’s been struggling, but to put Amira through this… It’s not fair. I shouldn’t have taken our frustration out on her.”Daniel rubbed the back of his
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