ARIANA'S POV I left the meeting feeling like a deflated balloon, my confidence and self-worth leaking out of me like air from a puncture. Odette's poise and composure had highlighted my own inadequacies, and I couldn't shake off the feeling of jealousy that had taken up residence in my heart. Why was Rob spending time with her? What did she have that I didn't?As I drove home, my mind was a jumble of conflicting emotions. I questioned everything - my feelings for Rob, the impending failure of Vanderbilt Holdings, and my own relevance in the business world. Years ago, I had been the one to save the company and expand it; now, we had to rely on Odette's cunning and ambition. It was a bitter pill to swallow. I was now faced with the possibility that I was obsolete and could no longer do anything to help our financial situation. What had happened to me? I was Ariana who had turned rooms cold! The next day, I woke up feeling particularly blue and lonely. I had still not gotten over the f
ROBERT'S POV I was taken aback by Nate's request, my mind racing with thoughts of how to respond. I deliberated on how to tell him the truth - that Ariana and I were separated, and I wasn't sure I could ask her if Nate could live with her. Yes, she loved Nate and he was her nephew but it wasn't that simple. I was shell-shocked, unsure of how to navigate this conversation."Nate, buddy, it's not that simple," I began, trying to sound calm and reassuring. "Ariana is not your legal guardian, and we're...separated."Nate's face scrunched up in protest. "But she's my aunt, Dad! And I miss her. I feel like she would make me feel better."Nate was just a child. What was I thinking? I could never make him understand the complexities of these things. I sighed deeply and stood up, I was tired and even beginning to fall asleep on my feet. With Nate here, the whole thing with Odette had even escaped my mind but just now, my body was starting to remember that I had had a trying day.I sighed again
ARIANA'S POV"What?" I shouted.I felt like I had been punched in the gut. My father, Richard, had a heart attack? I couldn't process it. I was still reeling from the argument with Robert and my mother's accusations. But this...this was too much.My mother's calm demeanor was unsettling. She seemed so composed, so collected, while I was falling apart. Nate burst into tears, and Robert sprang into action, grabbing coats and ushering us out the door.The drive to the hospital was a blur. I couldn't shake off the feeling of numbness. My father, the strong and stoic man I had always known, was lying in a hospita
ARIANA'S POVThe weight of grief descended upon me like a suffocating blanket, wrapping me in its icy embrace and leaving me gasping for air. My father, the rock of our family, was gone, leaving behind a void that no amount of tears could fill. I did not know how to react. I had only three months ago started to process Flora's death, it was like life was just being cruel. I sat down on that cold floor resisting Rob's attempts to pull me up. I was in a daze. Confused and lost. And slowly, I began to wail. It came from somewhere deep within me, loud and painful.As I sat in the hospital corridor, my mind numb with shock and disbelief, I watched my mother crumble before my eyes. My mother who had always been a pillar of strength now seemed small and fragile, her composed facade shattered by the weight of her grief. I wanted to reach out to her, to offer her comfort in her time of need, but I felt like I was drowning in my own sorrow, unable to find the words to express my pain. I didn't
ROBERT'S POVOdette's sultry voice on the other end caught me off guard."Here's your chance, Mr. Stone," she purred. "Are you going to let this opportunity pass you by?"I felt a surge of irritation. Before I could respond, she ended the call. I stood there massaging my temples. I hoped I survived this. There was just no respite from another angle. Odette could not even wait for Richard's body to get cold. Damn!I turned and was star
ROBERT'S POVI spun around, my anger boiling over. "What did you mean by that, Thompson?" I demanded, my voice low and menacing.But Thompson just smiled, a cold, calculating smile, and turned to leave. "Good day, Rob," he said, his voice dripping with condescension.I was furious. I wanted to know what he had meant by his veiled threat. But Thompson just walked out of the boardroom, leaving me seething with anger.I stormed out of the office building, my mind racing with possibilities. What had Thompson meant? Was he planning a coup? Did he have some secret agenda to take over Vanderbilt Holdings? Was he wo
ARIANA'S POV My mother's words brought me back to reality. What was I thinking? My father had just died and our company was at the brink of crumbling. How could I be making love? I should be thinking of ideas to save us.As we left the room, I couldn't help but question my actions. Should I have been kissing Rob with all that's happening? It felt like a betrayal to my father's memory. On the day of my father's funeral, I went to Nate's room. He had barely been eating and wouldn't come downstairs for anything. He had shut everyone out. decided to check on Nate. When I entered the room, he looked up at me with tears in his eyes. I sat down beside him and gently coaxed him to eat a plate of hamburgers and fries. When he was done eating, he broke down in tears, and I held him close, feeling overwhelmed with pity. He was only six years old, and he had lost his grandfather.After he calmed down, I dressed him in a black tux, and we all headed to the funeral together - Margaret, Rob, Nate,
ROBERT'S POV I was trying to extricate myself from Odette's grasp, but she was persistent. Her arms were wrapped around my neck, and she was gazing up at me with an unsettling intensity. I had my hand on her waist, trying to gently push her away, but she was refusing to take the hint.Just as I was about to firmly remove her arms, I saw Ariana standing in the doorway, her eyes fixed on us with a mixture of shock and hurt. I knew I had to act fast. I roughly pushed Odetteaway, trying to convey that I was not interested in her advances."Ariana, wait!" I called out, but she was already turning to leave. I quickly followed her, trying to explain, but she was having none of it. She got into her car and sped off, leaving me feeling frustrated and angry.I angrily went back to the hallway and confronted Odette, my expression stern. "What do you think you're doing? I'm not interested in you, and even if I was, this is not the time or place."Odette smirked, unfazed. "Oh, come on, Rob. Don't