ROBERT'S POV
I rushed forward, but Margaret was already on the floor. I was alarmed and disoriented, unsure of what to do. I quickly called Josh on the phone, and he guided me through the steps to revive her.
As Margaret came to, she began to lament. Her voice was heartbreaking and cut through my heart like a knife.
"Robert, you can't let this happen to us. Vanderbilt Holdings is our legacy. You can't fail me."
I felt trapped, unsure of what to do next. My desire was to hold Ariana close, to hug her tightly and never let go. I missed her like mad, but how could I hold someone who didn't even know who I was?
ROBERT'S POVI stood there, frozen, as Odette's words hung in the air. She hung up and turned to face Mr Winters.Mr. Winters' eyes narrowed, his expression serious. "What is it, Robert?" he asked, his voice low.I took a deep breath, trying to compose myself. "It's nothing," I said, trying to sound nonchalant. "Just Odette trying to blackmail me."Mr. Winters' eyes widened. "What does she have on you?"I hesitate
ARIANA'S POVI tossed and turned in bed, my mind a jumble of fragmented memories and sharp pains shooting through my head like lightning bolts. Sleep was a distant dream, a luxury I couldn't afford. My brain was a battlefield, with memories fighting to surface, but I couldn't grasp them. They taunted me, leaving me with more questions than answers.Who am I? What happened to me? Why can't I remember anything?The questions swirled in my mind like a vortex, sucking me down into a dark abyss. I felt like I was drowning in a raging sea.
ARIANA'S POVI had no idea why Rob was screaming. Who was Odette and why was he so shocked? I wished I had answers to all these questions. I wish I knew things. I wish I could remember something. Anything. I wanted to. So I could make sense of all that was happening around me.The silence in the room was deafening. I could feel everyone's eyes on me, but my focus remained on Robert. His intensity, his passion, his determination to protect me—it was overwhelming. This was my husband. This handsome man, with his perfectly chiseled features and piercing eyes, was my husband. In that instance, I felt a strange pull toward him, a magnetic attraction that made my heart race.
ROBERT'S POV"...We go live now to our financial expert, Joseph Smith, who has been following this story. John, can you tell us more about the implications of this scandal?"Joseph Smith appeared on screen, looking grave. "Thank you, Bob. Yes, this is a developing story, and the implications are huge. If the allegations are true, it could lead to a complete loss of faith in Robert Stone's leadership and a massive exodus of investors. This could ultimately lead to the downfall of both Vanderbilt Holdings and Stone Enterprises."The anchor nodded, "And what about the impact on the stock market, Joseph?"
ARIANA'S POV I couldn't explain the intense attraction I felt towards Rob. It was as if my body was drawn to him without my consent. As we stood in the doorway, the tension between us was palpable. Our bodies were inches apart, the warmth of his skin radiating towards mine. I could feel his breath on my face, sending shivers down my spine. My heart raced with anticipation, my pulse pounding in my temples.I wanted to kiss him, to feel his lips on mine, to taste the sweetness of his mouth.My eyes locked onto his, and I saw the same desire reflected back at me. His gaze was burning with intensity, his pupils dilated with passion. I felt like I was dr
ROBERT'S POVThe minute Ariana called Emily's name, shock spread through all my body. Was it possible that Ariana could only remember faces? But why was it that so far she only recalled Nate, Odette and Emily even though she didn't really know who they were?While we were listening to the news, she had not seemed to recall Emily. And what the hell was Emily seated here doing with Odette? When Ariana had first gone missing, had Detective Parker not showed up on my doorsteps saying he and Emily could help?What was happening? I was suddenly consumed with rage and turned to face Odette, my anger boiling over."You'
ROBERT'S POVMy eyes widened in shock, my mind racing with the implications. "Blackmailing Richard? Who is it?" I asked, my voice sharp with concern.Sylvia shook her head, her expression grim. "We haven't been able to figure that out yet. But it seems this person has something on Richard, something big enough to make him send large sums of money to an offshore account."I felt a surge of anger course through my veins. Who could be behind this? And what did they have on Richard that was so damning?But before I could process my thoughts further, Ariana spoke up, her voice intelligent and insightful. "That sounds
ARIANA'S POVI did not know who Thornton-Frost is but his name had popped into my head like a light bulb coming on.The room fell silent as my words hung in the air. I glanced around, noticing the shocked expressions on everyone's faces. Rob turned to me, his eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and concern."Ariana," he began gently, "how do you know the name Thornton-Frost?"I paused, trying to pinpoint the source of my knowledge. But there was nothing—no memory, no explanation. Just the certainty that I knew this name. "I just...know it," I replied, feeling a bit unsettled by the intensity of their react