Aria's POV
. . “Don’t you think you are too close?” I leaned back, creating space between us as I cleared my throat. “We are even going to be closer.” A smirk formed on his lips as he leaned in, closing the space I had worked hard to create. His lips were a few inches from mine. Was he about to kiss me? My heart thrummed and I jerked back. My weight shifted too far and the legs of the chair lifted off the floor. My eyes widened as I grasped at the air—a futile attempt to stop myself from falling. Just in time, Julian wrapped his around my waist and with surprising strength he pulled me upright, anchoring me as the chair hit the ground with a sharp thud. My body pressed hard against his stone-like body and his warmth seeped into me, melding with mine. My hands rested on his chest, his very muscular chest. As soon as I registered how close we were, I jolted out of his hands. “Thank you.” Raising the seat, I sat back on it. Julian smiled and returned to his seat thankfully far away from me. Folding his arms, he leaned into the seat. “So, I’m proposing a deal, a contract marriage. We act like lovers. I get your husband jealous and you…Name anything you want and I’ll see you have it.” Another contract marriage. My chest tightened briefly as I remembered how my last contract marriage ended—in shame and disgrace. My brows gathered in and I folded my arms too. “I don’t know what went on between you and Ethan, But I’m not going to be a pawn in your game of revenge.” He cocked his brow. “Your mother is in the hospital and she needs $500,000 for her surgery. You also have a sister in college and college fees are no joke.” My breath shuddered and I clenched my fist. “You did a background check on me?” Ignoring my question, he continued. “You have no money or work to provide money. Don’t you think it’s stupid to turn down the offer?” Once again another man wanted to trap me. They came like they wanted to help, and when they were done with me, they’d tossed on the street like dirt. A bitter chuckle escaped and I rolled my eyes again. “Don’t you think it’s stupid to go after your rival’s ex-wife over something so petty as a crush? Besides, If Ethan stole your crush, it just means she didn’t like you back.” Oh, he wasn’t pleased with the words that left my lips. Julian narrowed his brows as he shot me a glare. “Petty as a crush? No wonder you had many failed relationships, you don’t know what love is.” I glared back at him. “like you know better with your failed marriages.” A heat snatched my chest as I remembered all the stupid men who came into my life to use me and they were always successful…Guess I was a stupid one. His jaw tightened before a smug smile descended on him. “Your marriage just failed; we are on the same boat here.” I snorted. “ Boat? With your four failed marriages, please mine is a dinghy and yours is a luxury cruise ship—a fucking titanic.” “So you also did a background check on me too?” Another smile sneaked into his lips. I averted my gaze and scoffed. “Just an internet search.” Julian inhaled before exhaling. “I know we got on the wrong foot, but your mother needs the money. It’s not like you are going to see $ 500,000 hanging on a tree.” He rose to his feet. “Think about my proposal. I expect your reply tomorrow morning.” He dipped his hand in his pocket and strutted out of the dining room. I eased up the seat and trudged to my room. After shutting the door, I sprawled on the large bed, its softness welcomed in ways life didn’t. I turned on the bed, Julian ’s words weighing on my mind. He was right. There was my mother’s health, my sister’s school fees, our house rent—I do need that money. But another thought broke in, one that tightened my throat. What if this ended just like It ended with Ethan, In pain, and tears? And then I am kicked out again with nothing? The questions came in circles, never-ending until sleep like a savior snatched me into her calm embrace. ******** The next morning, I descended the stairs dressed in the gown the maid had dropped for me. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee lured me into the dining area. My eyes fell on Julian ’s daughter in her school uniform. When her eyes locked with mine, a smile—one that reminded me of her father—carved on her lips. “Good morning, hope you slept well.” She jumped down from her seat. Curling her fingers around mine, she dragged me to the dining table. “Good morning,” the maid greeted me, “coffee or juice.” “Coffee.” “French toast or pancakes?” The maid asked. “Whichever is ready.” The maid placed a plate of French toast and a cup of coffee before me. I dug into the meal, while Julian ’s daughter's eyes remained glued on me. “What’s your name?” I questioned with a mouthful. “Ava,” she said with a wide grin. She seemed excited—too excited. “Nice name.” I returned my attention to the food begging to be eaten. Ava’s gaze was still fixed on me, her smile not attempting to falter. She just had breakfast, so she wasn’t hungry. With the little experience I had gotten when I worked as a nanny, I knew she had something to say.” “Do you have something to tell me?” I smiled. “Yes.” “And that is?” “Daddy said he's going to marry you.” My eyes widened. I hadn’t even accepted the proposal, why would he tell his daughter that…or maybe he didn’t. Did she overhear us? I turned to her. “And who told you that?” “Cause I told him to marry you and Daddy always gives me what I want.” She cupped her face and shot me a cute smile. My eyes bulged out and my mind raced to find out why she would want me to be her mother. She barely knew me. My lips parted to ask when Julian entered. Unlike last night His hair was perfectly styled back, leaving no strands to compete with his hunter eyes. His waistcoat accentuated his V frame. “Ava, the driver is out.” His eyes sliced to mine and in his hand was a brown envelope. “Good morning.” Remembering our conversation last night, I ignored his greetings and threw my gaze away. Ava jumped down and hugged her father. “Bye, Daddy.” Julian planted a kiss on her forehead. “Bye, my love. Be a good girl.” Gabrielle waved before leaving the dining room, leaving me and Julian alone. As Julian took the cup of coffee from the maid, the steam curled upwards. “Have you thought about my proposal?” He tossed the brown envelope on the table. I remembered his daughter’s words and my gut told me there’s more to this than his petty revenge game. “Are you doing this because of your daughter?” Julian ’s face tightened but quickly he schooled his expression. “Why does it matter?” A soft warmth lingered in my veins—maybe he wanted to give his daughter a mother. After all, It’s hard for a child to grow up without one. “I accept the proposal.” Julian nudged his head at the envelope on the table. “Read through it.” Picking it up, I opened it and ran my eyes across it. “The rules here are simple.” He began, despite seeing me read it. “The marriage is for show obviously.” Another wry smile flashed across his lips. “So you won’t be performing any ‘wifely duties’ Meaning we're not having sex. You'll act as my wife outside and as a mother to Ava. I'll pay you every month. You and my accountant would discuss something reasonable. If you try to seduce me, you'll forfeit your payment.” I scoffed and rolled my eyes. “Fear not, that would never happen.” “You think so.” “I know so,” I retorted. “I am quite an attractive man.” “Do you need glasses or Do you need a new mirror?” I knew he was good-looking, but I’d rather die than stroke his ego. His lips curled into a smile and he continued. “If you get pregnant for any reason, you will get rid of the pregnancy. If you decide to keep it, I'll take the child from you once you give birth. You'll also lose all the money from the contract.” I gasped. “I've been a victim of women trying to tie me down with pregnancies. I would not want that to repeat itself.” His voice sank dangerously low. The air hung with an unspoken threat and I swallowed, gulping down the chill caught in my throat. “What if you try to seduce me instead?” I jutted my chin. “That would never, unlike a certain someone I have good eyes.” He sipped from his coffee. “You can end the contract, and walk away with all the money.” “Fine by me.” Reading through the contract, one last time, I picked up the pen and signed it. No sex, no pregnancy, no wifely duties, sounded like a beautiful deal. The only role I had was to be a mother to Ava. I leaned into the chair. “So this isn’t just about a petty game, it’s for your daughter.” I pressed. “If she wants a doll to play with, then I buy it for her,” Julian said casually, sipping from his coffee. “Think about it as killing two birds with one stone. Wasn’t this the man who said it was rude to call people dolls? Another thought hit me; What if some of his failed marriages were actual contract marriages and the women were just toys for his daughters? A shiver sprinted down my spine. Was that what I was going to be; A doll for his daughter? “Good thing you accepted the deal. You finally saw I was right.” He dropped his empty cup on the table, snapping me out of my thoughts. Despite the chill that rocked my core, I rose. “You were wrong about one thing.” He cocked his brows. “About seeing $500,000 hanging on a tree,” I said. I wasn’t going to be the only one left with chills. “Guess what. I just found that tree.” I pointed back at Julian . I wasn't going to let another man use me just like Ethan did. “I plan on plucking every fruit and leaves till the tree is barren.” My voice deepened. Managing the knots in my stomach, I strutted out of the dining room, knowing I had just tied myself to the devil.Aria's POVThe antiseptic scent lingered in the atmosphere, melding with the soft chatters of hospital workers, and patients alike. I strode towards my mother’s hospital room. Opening the door, my eyes fell on my sister. Vivian lunged herself at me, pulling me into a hug. “How did you do it?” Tears streaming down her eyes and settling on my shoulders. She pulled back, a grin slipping onto her lips. My gaze zeroed in on her, as I attempted to make sense of her words. An unsteady chuckle escaped me. “The doctor came in and said the payment had been made. Mom will be having her surgery today.” A sense of relief tugged at every inch of me as my eyes widened. Despite selling my soul to the devil to make this happen, it was worth it. Her gaze lingered on me as her smile fell to a neutral expression. “How did you get the money?” I took a deep breath before heaving out a puff. Does she need to know? Does she need to know the price of the surgery was my soul? Of co
Aria's POVAfter my mother’s surgery, I returned home to take a shower. I slipped into a simple black gown. After putting on my red lipstick, I stepped outside my house. My eyes fell on the black sleek car that looked out of place in the scrawny area. Like a diamond amid dirt. The driver came out and opened the car door. As I entered the car, a familiar musky scent filled my nose, and whipped my head to the figure beside me. Lo and behold, the devil in the flesh—Julian. My body tightened as I wasn’t expecting him but his P.A. His eyes lingered on me. The intensity reviving up flutters—one so faint but not unnoticed—in my stomach. “How did the surgery go?” His eyes returned to the newspaper caught in his hands. Remembering our last encounter this morning, the air suddenly thickened in the confined space of the car. “It was successful, thanks for your assistance.” I fidgeted with my fingers. “I thought I was meeting with your P.A.” Without moving his he
Aria's POVThe chill in the room clung to me like an unwelcome shadow. I stared at the photo on my phone, the woman’s terrified eyes piercing right through me. My hands trembled as I zoomed in, my heart pounding so loudly I could barely hear anything else. The room where she was tied—it’s the same room. The realization hit me like a punch to the stomach, knocking the air out of my lungs.I quickly glanced around the spacious room, my eyes darting to the large closet, the silk curtains, and the grand chandelier hanging above. My mouth went dry. Everything in this room felt wrong, tainted. I could almost feel the oppressive weight of Julian's past pressing down on me. He was capable of that. Of doing something so cruel.A cold sweat broke out on my forehead, and my mind raced with thoughts I couldn’t control. What kind of man had I gotten myself tangled up with? I quickly turned my attention back to the phone, but the image was burned into my mind. I couldn't shake the panic creeping in
Julian's POVThe tension in Aria’s shoulders didn’t ease even as the waiter poured her a glass of wine. She barely touched it, tracing the rim of the glass with her finger. Something was gnawing at her, and I wasn’t one to let things lie unanswered.Well, mostly because she was right in front of me. She looked up at me, her hazel eyes holding a flicker of doubt before she quickly masked it with indifference. That mask of hers—it fascinated and infuriated me in equal measure. “What’s your next move, Julian?” she asked suddenly, her tone sharp, like she was daring me to show my cards.I leaned back, my fingers lightly drumming the edge of the table. “Move? You make it sound like we’re in a chess match.”“Aren’t we?” She tilted her head, her lips twitching in a bitter smile. Her smileI chuckled, though the sound lacked humor. “If we are, you’re not very good at hiding your next move, Aria. You’ve been on edge all night. Care to share what’s got you so rattled? It's getting tiring becau
Julian’s POV I should deal with Vanessa and I will. First I had to figure out how to calm Aria’s nerves. She has been fidgety. My phone buzzed beside me and I picked up “The bouquet of flowers have just been delivered.” The florist said from the other side of the phone. “Good.” I replied simply. “Thank you so much for your patronage, Sir. We value it.” She rattled on the words she has probably rehearsed more than a thousand times. My legs hurt from sitting at a place. I got up to stretch and my eyes caught the wall clock. It was almost 10pm. I’ve been working since the previous night. It was time to go home. I needed to see my daughter. As I walked through the underground parking lot, I realized that I noticed a shadow. “Who’s that?” I called as I kept up my pace. No answer. I heard the footsteps a little bit louder now. I got into my car and zoomed out of the parking lot. I got my CSO on the phone immediately. “I need security to be tightened up. I want security guar
ARIA’S POV I stand in front of the mirror and stare at myself. This gown was as simple as they come. I had had one wedding with long white ball dress, I wasn’t going to do that again. “Time to go, sis” Vivian said as she came into my dressing room. I nodded and followed her. “Mum is not here to walk you down the aisle like she did last time, let me.” Vivian offered. “No. This is no real wedding. I deceived myself once and dragged you guys into my mess. I won’t do it again. This is pure business and I need to work alone to shake hands with my patner.” Vivian looked at me with empathy. “Don’t cry Vivian. I’m not being forced here. I’m doing this with my reasoning in tact. I only want what is best for us. For me, you and Mom.” I cupped face. She immediately wiped her face. The generic ‘here comes the bride’ starts playing. I took a deep breath and braced myself for my new reality. Walking down the aisle, I kept my eyes focused on Julian. I didn’t want to see the faces
Aria’s POV “Hi!” A tiny bubbly voice woke me up. “Hi…” I answered tentatively. She kept jumping on the bed, “Miss Clara said I could go into your room. Are you angry?” She asked. “I can never be angry with you, Ava. You’re such a doll.” I cupped her face. “No, you are the doll.” She retorted I laughed. “Have you had breakfast yet?” She shook her head, “No…I’m not hungry.” “Oh, but I am. Let's go find something to eat.” I told her. As we approached the kitchen, she turned to me, “When are we going back home?” She asked. “Umm, soon, I guess,” I answered. “I miss my friends in school.” “I know you do and you’ll see them soon.” I ruffled her head We were currently in Julian’s vacation home. After he discovered that there was a mole, he moved us here and shuttles to and from New York. “But Dad is never here. He said we are on vacation but I don’t see him vacationing.” Ava asked again. She was such a smart girl. “Well, that’s because he has to work. He
Julian’s POV“Sir you can’t go in…He’s in a meeting…” that was all the chaos I could hear before I burst into Ethan’s Office.I immediately seized him by the shirt. “What the hell is wrong with you?! Why do you keep pushing me to the wall?” I shouted at him.A scrawny young girl fled the office, fixing her blouse as she ran out. I smirked.“How would the world love to know that their heroic impeccable businessman sleeps with young interns?” I whispered in his ears.His breath hitched.He glanced at his secretary. “Leave us.” “Will you release my neck now so that we can talk like civilized people?”I let him go and sat on his sofa. I poured myself a cup of wine.“Mmm…this is fine wine you’ve got here. As sweet as the girl who just left here, I’m sure.” I sipped on the wine.He just stared at me.After I had sipped to my fill, I dropped the glass on the table so loudly you might think it shattered.“I know that you’ve been the ones sending threats to Aria. I know we have settled the
I sat on the bathroom floor, the positive pregnancy test still trembling in my hand. My heart trembled. This was not the time for this.. I couldn’t be excited, I couldn’t feel the joy that should come with creating life. All I felt was fear. Fear of Julian’s reaction, fear of what will happen to the baby in a world where its father has so many enemies. Fear for missing Gabriella.I strolled around the quiet mansion like I normally do if I’m trying to relax. Julian had left earlier without informing me as he has always done since the kidnap of Gabriella hadn’t told him. I placed my hand on my belly. I couldn’t tell him about this pregnancy. At least not yet.“We agreed that there would be no kids in this relationship. Damn I messed up.” I muttered to myself. I wasn’t even sure if Julian still had any proper kind of affection for me anymore. With this whole Gabriella thing he has been a bit hostile. This couldn’t be more wrong timing. I stayed deep in thought until I fell asleep on t
Days turned into an agonizing wait, with no sign of Gabriela. Julian's frustration grew, and he became increasingly disorganized. He lashed out at everyone, including me.I'd never seen him like this before. His usual composure was gone, replaced by a desperate, angry man.I couldn't blame him, though. I was a mess too. Without Gabriela, everything felt off. My mom, who'd grown to love Gabriela like her own granddaughter, was worried sick.As we sat at the kitchen island, my mom tried to reassure me. "Have faith, Aria. Gabriela will be found soon."Just then, one of Julian's private investigators burst into the kitchen, looking like he had news.I immediately followed him upstairs to Julian's study, leaving my mom behind. "Mom, don't worry, I'll get back to you. Let me see what's going on."In the study, the investigator was explaining his findings. "I haven't found Gabriela yet, but I've discovered a link between Vanessa, Clara, and Ethan."My eyes widened as the pieces fell into pla
I called Ethan immediately, my heart racing with anticipation. "Hello, Ethan. What's going on? Why did you text me about Gabriela?"Ethan burst out laughing. "Oh, my ex-wife calls me again. What do I owe this pleasure? Do you miss me, or is it just about your stepdaughter?"I rolled my eyes. "Don't be stupid, Ethan. If there's one thing I hate, it's you. Love doesn't even come near it."Ethan chuckled. "Oh, please, Aria. Stop being tough. We both know you miss me. I could marry you again in a second if you just say the word."I felt a wave of disgust. "You're unbelievable, Ethan. I thought you'd be married by now, or at least engaged. Why are you still bothering me?"Ethan's tone turned serious. "Because you married my rival, Julian. That's what I don't like. You need to find your way back to me, or you'll never see Gabriela again."My eyes narrowed. "If you have Gabriela, put her on the phone."Ethan laughed. "What would that gain me? I could just help you find her... if you come bac
I tried to brush off Julian's cold behavior, focusing on getting ready for the public outing. I dressed in my best, did my makeup, and held Gabriela's hand as we waited for Julian in the sitting room. Julian finally emerged from his study, his expression still tense. We exchanged minimal small talk as we got into the car. "You look good." "Thanks, Julian," I replied, trying to sound cheerful despite the tension between us. "You look pretty great yourself." Gabriela, sensing the awkwardness, piped up, "Daddy, where are we going?" "We're going to a big event, sweetie," Julian explained, forcing a smile. "Lots of people will be there, and we need to show them what a great family we are." As we got into the car, the silence was palpable. Gabriela's occasional questions broke the silence, but the tension between Julian and me was unmistakable. When we arrived at the event, Julian transformed into a charming politician. "Smile, everyone!" he whispered, holding my hand and Gabriela'
I was taken aback when Gabriela asked, "Did my mom ask about me?" Her voice was laced with a mix of sadness and longing.I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. "No, Gabriela, I haven't spoken to her yet. But I'll try to reach out to her, okay?"Gabriela's eyes welled up with tears, and she whispered, "Please tell her I want to see her."My heart went out to this little girl, and I knew I had to make it happen. "I'll find a way, Gabriela. I promise. But I have to warn you, your dad might not be okay with it."Gabriela's face fell, but I quickly reassured her, "Don't worry, I'll figure something out. You will see your mom, okay?"Gabriela nodded, and we shared a hug.Fast-forward to my visit to the mental asylum, I was surprised to find Lauren looking more cognizant and better than I expected. She didn't seem like someone who belonged in a mental asylum.I explained to Lauren that Gabriela wanted to see her, but Lauren was adamant, "I don't want to see her. She's a reminder of my past w
I stormed into Julian's room, my heart racing with every step. "Julian, we need to talk," I said, my voice firm but laced with a hint of desperation.Julian looked up from his book, a mixture of curiosity and concern etched on his face. "What's wrong, Aria?"I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. "I found out about Lauren," I said, my eyes locked on his. "Your ex-wife, Gabriela's mother. She's been in a mental asylum, Julian. How could you keep this from me?"Julian's expression changed, a hint of guilt flashing across his face. "Aria, I—""No, Julian, don't try to justify it," I cut him off, my voice rising. "How could you keep this from me? Didn't you think I had the right to know?"Julian sighed, rubbing his temples. "Aria, Lauren...she just started to unravel, okay? She became paranoid, delusional...it was like she lost herself."I shook my head, my mind racing with the implications. "She didn't just lose herself, Julian. Something pushed her to that point. And I think
Who was behind this message?, and what did they mean by saying that Gabriella's mother had gone mad?Thinking of the mother of the girl I call daughter, going mad was not a particularly pretty picture in my head.“Why has Julian not deemed it fit to talk about this?” I asked myself.I decided to hire a private investigator to look into the matter. I couldn't just sit back and do nothing, not when my own sanity was being questioned.As I waited for the PI to get back to me, I tried to go about my daily routine as normally as possible. But it was hard to pretend that everything was fine when I was secretly seething with anxiety.Julian noticed that I was on edge, but I brushed it off, telling him that I was just stressed about some work-related issues."You're working too hard, Aria, have you been painting all night again?" he said, concern etched on his face. "You need to take it easy."I forced a smile, trying to reassure him. "I'm fine, Julian. Really."But the truth was, I was far f
I knew I had to be careful. Whoever was behind the creepy gifts and Clara's suspicious behavior was clearly inside the house, watching me. I couldn't let my guard down, not even for a moment."Vivian, I need your help," I said, trying to sound calm, as I called my sister. "I need to get out of here for a while. Can you help me plan a vacation?""Of course, Aria," Vivian replied. "What's going on? You sound really stressed.""I just need a break, Vivian," I said, trying to downplay the situation. "I'll tell you all about it later, okay?"Vivian agreed, and we started making plans. We decided to take my mom with us, and Vivian chose a beautiful resort in Ibiza."I'm so excited, Aria," Vivian said, as we finalized the plans. "This is just what you need. A little rest and some quality time with Mom.""I know, Vivian," I replied. "Thanks for doing this. I really appreciate it."When I told Julian about the vacation, he agreed readily."Take the card I gave you and use it to pay for everyth
I stared out the window, watching as the city bustled below. My mind, however, was elsewhere. “Aria, you keep getting lost. These past few days have been full if you are drifting off,” My mom woke me up from my reverie."I'm telling you, Mom, I'm fine," I said, trying to reassure her. We'd been shopping, had lunch together, and even taken her to the doctor for a check-up. She was getting better, slowly but surely. And we were getting closer like I hoped. "But Aria, I can see the worry in your eyes," my mom replied, her voice laced with concern. "You can't fool me, dear. What's going on with you and Julian? Does it have to do with the pictures from the other day?"I shook my head, “No, those pictures are of his therapist. And they were sent by Ethan and his accomplice, Vanessa. You might not know her but she’s so evil. Take it from me.” I said“Why would Ethan involve himself with someone evil?” She asked, puzzled.“Mom, the truth is that Ethan is not a good person. I can’t really ex