ARIANA'S POV
I felt as though I was dreaming.
Everything was surreal and I could not make sense of the past or the present.
All I recalled was hearing Barbara and Rob's voices shouting my name as I ran down the streets angry and hurt and suddenly, I was floating and the whole world was blurry.
What has gone wrong? Where was I? Was I stuck in a bad dream?
It had been a few weeks to their wedding and the two families; the Stones and the Vanderbilts were both in a frenzy.
The marriage was a form of amalgamation. It would make the two families partners and increase their wealth.
The Vanderbilts, my family, were the second richest company in Chicago.
The Stones were the richest family in Chicago and Rob Stone had made his family so. I was chosen to be the one he would wed because of my knowledge about the business world.
Then, Rob had been a tall, young man, 6 '5, handsome, and one of Chicago's most elite bachelors.
Apart from that, he had a head for business and was fast advancing his family's company. When I first laid eyes on him, I fell in love with him. I knew I had a reputation in the business grapevine as a ruthless and cold corporate raider and people even gossiped that being in the same room as me, could make the room get a few degrees colder.
All of these did not matter to me. All I had wanted then was to advance my family's company.
My father always said I was worth more than two sons and so, it was me who came up with the plan to make our two families connected by marriage in order to advance our business.
Now, I knew I was lying down somewhere but I could not feel my body. I felt as though I was floating in space unable to find my body.
Something was definitely wrong. What was it?
I could not figure it out. It felt like that time when I had discovered Rob was in love with my sister Flora.
I had known and I had been determined to stop it.
Something was wrong. I started to hear Rob's voice in my dream. He was saying something. What was he saying?…
“We'll figure it out, we'll figure it out,” Rob muttered continuously in his sleep until he woke up.
The minute he opened his eyes, he found himself staring into my eyes.
I fixed my gaze on him so he could feel it mentally boring a hole into the back of his head. I wanted to destroy him at that moment.
He cleared his throat.
“How are you?” He asked. “Well…I mean…”
I continued to stare at him until the silence in the room became unnerving. He noticed the tears slipping from my eyes, running a trail down my cheeks.
“Please talk to me, Ari,” he begged.
“Why do I feel empty Rob?” I asked him suddenly.
For a moment, Rob was confused and at a loss for what to say.
“Rob, I lost the baby didn't I?” I began to sob until I was wailing.
That was what was wrong.
I survived. My baby died.
I had been in an accident and I- I had lost my baby.
He left me, just like Flora.
Why is death always around me? How many people see their close ones die in front of them?
Why was the world so cruel? Did I deserve this?
“I lost my baby, didn't I?”
Rob stood up and came to stand by my side attempting to comfort me, “I'm sorry”.
“Your sorry doesn't mean a thing. I no longer have what to live for,” I said coldly and looked out of the window.
Why was I the one who survived? A woman no one needs?
I just wanted to fly away. Far from life’s existence…
“Hello,” a gentle shove interrupted my sleep.
It felt like someone was dragging me from a dark tunnel into the blinding sunlight.
I began to whimper and toss on the bed, not wanting to wake up.
I wanted, no, needed to remain in the dark.
The sunlight was cruel. The sunlight was a world without my baby and I did not want that.
“Ms. Stone,” the voice said, even more closely.
Suddenly, I felt something soft and warm on my forehead.
I closed my eyes and opened it again and there he was smiling down at me.
“You're finally awake,” He said with a smile that almost knocked the breath out of me. “I'll be in charge of you. You can call me Dr. Josh.”
ARIANA’S POVI had been in the hospital for over a week now but I knew I did not want to go home. Without my baby, home was not going to feel like home anymore. Not after what had happened, I knew I was going to spend all my time hating Rob. I could not forgive him for the loss of my baby. As I laid on the bed mulling over the events of the past days that had brought me to this moment, Dr. Josh walked into the hospital room with a few resident doctors in tow, and a nurse. They seemed to be talking about something funny, and Dr. Josh's smile was very bright. It was as if the gray cloud looming over my head disappeared with his appearance.“How are you today?” He asked, benting to examine me.“Vital signs are okay,” He announced, “you should be able to leave the hospital in two days”.My heart skipped a beat but I kept my eyes focused on his smile that seemed like 1000 watts of light.I bet no one can stay calm when they see this gorgeous smile.I cleared my throat, and said, “Yes, I
ARIANA’S POVWhen Rob came in, I could see on his face that he was remorseful. He was not his usual proud and haughty self. He came and sat beside me, attempting to touch my hand but I pulled it away. “I’ve called my lawyer Rob and he will be here soon, I want a divorce”.“A divorce?” Rob asked, shocked.“Yes Robert Stone, a divorce”.“That… that would destroy us. Not just us, the business world in this city! Besides, a divorce is not the answer to everything. We can make things work, Ari”.“My decision is final Rob; we cannot stay married”.“Fine, I’m not going to sign the papers. You can do whatever you want, draw up any paper you want but I sure as hell am not signing any damn papers”.“You cannot fight this, Rob. If you wanted our marriage to work, you wouldn’t have cheated on me”.“I said I am sorry, Ariana”.“Sorry doesn’t make it go away Rob; you hurt me, you embarrassed me, you made me look pathetic and more than that, I lost my baby.”“Well, it was my baby too, Ariana. Why d
ARIANA’S POVIt was as though my world suddenly crumbled before me. “I don’t understand”, I said.“I followed her because let’s face it; that resemblance is uncanny. I felt there has to be more to it and then I saw her talking to your mom”, Barbara replied.“What could they have been talking about? Babs, have you considered the fact that Emily could be Flora?”Barbara frowned and gave me a look, it was her thinking face. She was looking up with her lips pulsed.“It’s impossible Ari; we were both at her funeral. Flora’s dead, it could never be her.”I stood up from the bed and began to pace inside the small room.“Just what if? Just consider it Babs, damn! My life would be a living hell all over again. I had a terrible childhood living in Flora’s shadow and I simply cannot imagine it happening to me again”.Barbara sighed. “I’m aware of that Ariana, I could never forget. We all know that the Vanderbilts favoured their second daughter even though you were the one killing it in the busin
ARIANA’S POVMy mother started to stutter and my father stood beside her at a loss for what to say. Robert was even more stupefied because I was certain he had not expected me to bring up his cheating in front of my parents in that manner. My mother cleared her throat. “Well, we were introduced. She works for my friend Jasmine and she could not help but notice that Emily looks a lot like your sister.”“So she is not Emily then?” I asked in a small voice.There was pin drop silence in the room until my father spoke to me in an abrasive manner as though I was a foolish little child.“Your sister is dead Ari; you were there at her funeral”.“I know”, I said and started to sob, relieved yet sad at this turn of events. “Now, now, wipe your tears Ari. You don't have to be so dramatic about everything. I would love for you and Emily to be good friends. She is such a nice and lovely lady.” My mother’s voice had all the colors of the rainbow now. The way it always sounded when she was genui
ROBERT’S POVThe sight of Dr. Joshua curled up on the cushion and my wife lying on the bed with a smile on her face made my stomach churn. I was trying hard not to explode with rage.I was only now trying to make amends with Ariana, flipping out now would not be a good idea. Besides, the pressure from her parents made me have to flatter her.So I walked into the room and with all the calm I could muster, asked, “What is the meaning of this?”Dr. Joshua bolted from the cushion as though stung by an insect.“My apologies sir”, he said to me and headed for the door.“Wait,” I said.He stopped in his tracks.I walked closer to him. “I am very sure you would not like the hospital management knowing you fell asleep while on duty and worse, beside a patient”.“Well, let them know. As the highest ranking doctor and one of the largest shareholders, I have the final say in this hospital”, he said with a smile and left.“Stay away from my wife”. I said at his retreating figure.I was about to blo
ARIANA’S POVI watched as Robert’s face fell flat. I was certainly not done torturing him. He had to pay for all the pain I felt.“Is that necessary?” rob asked, his voice almost a whisper.“I’m afraid so, Rob. I’ll be moving to one of my father’s penthouse in the city. Don’t bother to visit. Besides tomorrow I’ll be going to France for a business trip”.I watched as Rob fidgeted in his chair. “Okay Ariana, but what about the ball?”“You really think I want to attend a ball organized in Emily’s honor? Oh please! I think it’s time for you to go.”Later that day, I called Joshua on the phone. After we found that we had a lot to talk about, he gave me his number. We agreed to meet in a restaurant in the suburbs as that was where he lived, plus it promised privacy away from the elites.I left the office that day, switching my stilettos for loafers and putting on a face cap and dark sunglasses to serve as a form of disguise. I was able to find the restaurant that Josh had described and on
ROBERT'S POVI wanted to kill him. I kept on punching him and soon, he was punching me back. For every blow I dealt, he returned it to me. Ariana was screaming and begging us to stop but none of us would listen. I was out of breath now and Josh was gasping too. We were both bleeding from the nose and there were several bruises on my face but I wouldn't stop. I had to get all my anger out.Too tired to go on, both of us stopped at last and stood there panting.“You are just a jerk,” Josh spat. “You hurt her every chance you get, yet you claim to love her”.“She's my wife,” I screamed.I watched Ariana curse under her breath and rush to his side as soon as she was sure we would not rush at each other anymore.“I'm never going to forgive you for this,” she swore.I was hurt deeply. “Wait…what? You are MY wife! It makes absolutely no sense for you to choose his side!”“Oh please stop repeating that! Marriage doesn't mean you own me like a caged bird!” She screamed, staring at me with her
ARIANA’S POVI was unhappy that Rob had made the decision for me. He was not yet understanding that I was my own person and he just couldn't make decisions that affected me without asking me first. But it seemed that I missed the chance to reject. Plus, Fernando was a passionate young man so I didn’t want to let him down. So I just ended up going along though saying nothing.Fighting exhausted me and I simply did not have the mental acumen for it any longer. We both walked into the shop with Fernando and I felt like I had stepped into the past. It was a bridal shop and was quaint yet beautiful and luxurious. Every wedding piece was beautiful and perfectly sewn and designed.“This is breathtaking”, I exclaimed, completely taken in by the beauty of the shop.“Thank you madame”, Fernando said smiling. “Meet Giselle, she'll be helping you change”, he said introducing a young girl to me.“The changing room is this way”, she told me.I simply nodded at her.“Who designed these?” I asked o
ROBERT'S POVAriana's words hung in the air, their weight sinking into me. Pregnant. She was pregnant. I couldn't help it; I pulled her into my arms, holding her tightly as joy bubbled up inside me.“I can't believe it,” I whispered, kissing the top of her head. “I'm so happy, Ari.”As I held her, memories of the past rushed back. The day we lost our baby still haunted me. It was my fault. I had been reckless, and she had paid the price. I had never been able to forgive myself for what happened that day.The pain and guilt I felt back then came flooding back, but I pushed them aside. This was a new chance. I had to focus on the future, not the past. I had another chance to do it right now and I was going to seize it.“I promise I’ll do everything to protect you and our baby,” I said, my voice thick with emotion. “You won't go through that pain again.”Ariana pulled back slightly, looking up at me with those beautiful eyes of hers. “I know, Rob,” she said softly. “I believe you.”Her t
ARIANA'S POVAs the reception wound down, Josh's words echoed in my mind. My mother was here. I felt a mix of surprise and anxiety. Robert, sensing my unease, offered to come with me.“I'll go with you, Ari,” he said, his hand warm on my shoulder.I shook my head gently. “No, Rob. I need to do this on my own.”He nodded, his eyes full of understanding. “I'll be right here if you need me.”I took a deep breath and walked outside, my heart pounding in my chest. My mother stood by a water fountain, looking as elegant as ever. She wore a stunning dress that shimmered in the evening light, her hair perfectly styled. She turned as I approached, a hint of a smile on her face.“Ariana,” she said, her voice cool but not unkind. “Why wasn't I invited to your wedding? Or did my invitation get lost?”I swallowed hard, trying to find the right words. “I didn't think you would want to come after everything.”She sighed softly, her eyes studying me. “I was only trying to honor my husband's will, Ari
ARIANA'S POV Rob knelt before me, holding out his grandmother’s ring. It sparkled in the light, reflecting the warmth in his eyes. My heart pounded in my chest as the reality of the moment hit me. Rob was asking me to marry him, not out of necessity or convenience, but out of love.“Ariana,” he said, his voice steady and filled with emotion, “I never formally asked you to marry me. Our marriage was one of convenience. But now, I want to ask you properly. This ring belonged to my grandmother. Will you marry me, this time in the right way?”For a moment, I was too stunned to speak. Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision. It felt like the universe was finally looking upon me with kindness. How long had I longed for Rob to want me, to love me? Now, here he was, making my dreams come true. Overwhelmed, I started to sob, unable to contain the avalanche of emotions.“Yes,” I whispered, my voice choking with tears. “Yes, Rob, I will marry you.”I stretched out my hand, and he gently
ROBERT'S POV The judge’s words echoed through the courtroom, but the specifics blurred in my mind. All I heard was the end result: Nate would be ours. A rush of joy surged through me, and it took every ounce of my self-control not to jump up and shout with happiness. I squeezed Ariana's hand, feeling her warmth and strength beside me. This victory was beyond anything I had dared to hope for. Josh’s character witness had been the tipping point. His words had painted a picture of me that even I hadn’t fully seen. We left the courtroom, the heavy doors closing behind us with a finality that signaled the end of a long, hard journey. Outside, Sylvia and Josh were waiting. Ariana and I exchanged a glance, and she broke the news.“Nate's ours,” she said, her voice choked with emotion. Nate’s reaction was instantaneous. He ran toward us, his little face lighting up with pure joy.“Dad!” he shouted, launching himself into my arms. I caught him, hugging him tightly. His small arms around my
ARIANA'S POV The judge’s voice echoed in the courtroom as she read out Josh's character witness statement. My heart swelled with gratitude for Josh. I had never known he thought so highly of Rob or that Rob had been so tormented when I had gone missing. Our relationship had seen many ups and downs, and there were times I could hardly believe we had arrived here, together and happy.As the judge adjourned the case, Rob and I walked out of the courtroom. Outside, Sylvia and Josh were waiting for us. Without warning, Rob enveloped Josh in an embrace, thanking him profusely. I stood there watching, admiration shining in my eyes.Sylvia rolled her eyes and said, “Alright, break it off, you two. How did it go?” she asked.“The judge will give her decision tomorrow,” I replied.Sylvia then turned to Rob. “It seems you have a chance of winning. With so much against you, it was supposed to be an open and shut case. But if the judge is taking time to make a decision, she’s surely considering e
ROBERT'S POV As we stepped out of the courtroom, I felt like I could finally breathe again. The whole process had been suffocating. My life, with all its mistakes and regrets, laid bare for everyone to see. The fact that I had been about to marry one sister but ended up sleeping with the other still made me cringe.Jason caught up with us, looking serious. “Rob, we need to talk. The judge will need that character witness now more than ever. You also need to decide if you’re willing to share custody with Margaret or if you want to go for full custody. With your history, it might be wise to accept partial custody if it’s offered.”Jason’s words hung heavy in the air as he left us alone. Sylvia, ever pragmatic, sighed. “I hate to agree with Jason, but he’s right.”Ariana stepped closer to me, her eyes filled with regret. “I wish I could write the character witness, Rob. I should be the one doing it, but given everything that’s happened…”Before she could finish, Josh spoke up quietly. “
ARIANA'S POV Seeing everyone smiling again, my heart swelled with happiness. A year ago, I never would have believed that life could turn out this way. I never would have imagined myself as friends with someone like Sylvia. I sighed contentedly, not at all unhappy about the change. I was happy.Rob filled Sylvia in on the custody case, explaining the complexities of the situation. Sylvia, her fierce determination back in full force, insisted she needed to meet Rob’s lawyer, Jason. She scoffed, “He sounds like a sorry excuse for a lawyer. We need someone who can actually fight for you.”As the night wore on, fatigue eventually took over. I woke up the next morning to find myself lying on Rob's chest. His steady breathing was soothing, and I could hear the soft snores of Sylvia and Josh nearby. Sitting up carefully, I looked around and smiled. Despite everything, we were together.The next two days passed in a blur of preparation and anxiety. Sylvia grilled Jason over the phone, deman
ROBERT'S POV As Ariana's words sank in, a wave of relief washed over me. She might know where Josh was. But another emotion tugged at my gut, something more unsettling. Ariana had been sitting beside me, her mind clearly elsewhere—thinking about Josh. That was the only explanation.For a heartbeat, I thought back to the time when Ariana had no memories. When I had made her fall in love with me all over again. Things had been better between us then, without the shadows of Flora and Josh hanging over us. It was like starting on a clean slate. But as soon as the thought crossed my mind, I shook it off. Ariana loved me. That was all that mattered.“Ari,” I said, keeping my vo
ARIANA'S POV A sickening feeling gnawed at my stomach. I didn’t know why, but the sense of dread was overwhelming. The memory of Josh grabbing hold of me and then letting go as he drunkenly declared he didn’t love me flashed through my mind. He had been drunk and unstable. Where could he have gone? Sylvia's round eyes looked up at me, filled with anticipation, as if she believed I had the solution. She seemed to think I knew Josh better than anyone else. I didn’t want to disappoint her. Desperately, I glanced at Rob for help, but his expression was unreadable.“Everyone, calm down,” Rob said firmly. “Josh is probably not in any danger. All our known enemies are behind bars. Reginald and Detective James are serving time, and Odette i