ROBERT'S POVI paced back and forth in Barbara's office, my mind racing with thoughts. Where was Ariana? I had tried calling her phone, but it was still switched off. I had called her assistant, but she hadn't heard from Ariana either. A sense of desperation was creeping in, and I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was wrong.Barbara got up from her seat, walking over to me. "Rob, try to stay calm. I'm sure Ariana is fine. She might have had an emergency or a last-minute meeting. Let's not jump to conclusions yet."Barbara couldn't know that. There was a possibility that Ari wasn't safe. With recent happenings, I couldn't trust anyone. It was now very obvious that
ARIANA'S POVI stood frozen, my phone still clutched in my hand, as the menacing voice echoed in my mind. "Come alone...or your precious Rob will pay the price." My breath caught in my throat, and my heart raced like a jackhammer. Panic set in, and I felt the familiar symptoms of a panic attack creeping up on me. My chest constricted, and I struggled to breathe. I tried to calm myself down, but it was too late. The hyperventilation took over, and I felt like I was suffocating.I collapsed onto the couch, my body shaking uncontrollably. Tears streamed down my face as I gasped for air. The attack lasted for what felt like an eternity, leaving me exhausted and drained. When I finally regained control, I broke down into sobs, fear and anxiety consuming me.
ROBERT'S POVI stared at Ariana's purse, my mind racing with thoughts. Something was fishy, and I knew it. I quickly grabbed myphone and dialed Margaret's number. Maybe Ariana was with her, and I was just overreacting. But as soon as Margaret answered, I knew I wasn't."Margaret, it's Rob. Have you seen Ariana?" I asked, trying to keep my voice calm."No, Rob. I haven't seen her. Is everything okay?" she replied, concern etched in her voice.I sighed, feeling a sense of desperation creeping in. "I don't know, Margaret. I can't find her anywhere. And now I've found her purse at our house, but she's nowhere to be found."
ROBERT'S POVI punched Thompson with all my might, my anger and frustration spilling over like a volcano erupting. My fist connected with his face with a satisfying crunch, and he stumbled back, holding his cheekbone. For a moment, he looked like a wounded animal, his eyes wide with shock and confusion.But as I turned to face Odette, my rage only intensified. She stormed towards me, her face red with rage, her eyes blazing with fury."Robert, what is wrong with you?" she shouted, her voice echoing through the office like a thunderclap.I stood my ground, my fists still clenched, my arms trembling with tension. "You know exactly what
ROBERT'S POVI was taken aback by Detective Parker's offer, my mind racing with confusion. Why would he want to help me after everything that had happened? But as soon as I recovered from the shock, my entire body became consumed with rage. I remembered the way he had treated Ariana, the way he had arrested her and thrown her in jail without enough evidence. I remembered the pain and suffering he had caused her, and my anger boiled over."Get the hell out of my property!" I screamed, my voice echoing through the hallway. "You have no right to be here! You've done enough damage already!"I slammed the door shut, my heart racing with fury. I couldn't believe I had almost fallen for his trick, almost believing that he
ROBERT'S POVI tried to defend myself, but my father cut me off at every turn. "You have failed, Robbie," he said, his voice cold and harsh. "You have failed the company, and you have failed your family.""I understand your concerns, Father," I said, standing tall and meeting his gaze. "But let me remind you of the facts. Under my leadership, Vanderbilt Holdings has seen a significant increase in profits. Our stock prices have risen by 20% in the past quarter alone, and our market share has expanded by 15%. I've secured major deals with key investors and implemented innovative strategies that have boosted our revenue."My father scoffed, but I continued, unfazed. "I've worked tirelessly to salvage our reputation an
ARIANA'S POVI slowly opened my eyes, groggily taking in my surroundings. But there was nothing to see. I was enveloped in thick darkness, and my head was pounding furiously. I tried to lift my hand to my temple, but it wouldn't budge. Panic set in as I realized my hands and legs were tied.I tried to remember where I was and what was happening, but my mind was a jumbled mess. Fear crept in, crawling up my spine like icy fingers. I was trapped, helpless, and alone.Suddenly, Rob's face flashed in my mind. I had come here to find him, to save him. The memory sparked a surge of adrenaline, and I struggled against my restraints. My hands and legs thrashed wildly, but they wouldn't give.
ROBERT'S POVI woke up to the sound of my mother's gentle voice, calling me from the doorway of my room. "Robbie, breakfast is ready." I groggily got out of bed and made my way to the dining room. The table was laid out with a feast, but my stomach was churning with anxiety. Ariana had been missing for three days now, and I couldn't shake off the feeling of dread that had settled over me."Mom, I'm not hungry," I said, trying to push the plate away.Elizabeth Stone looked at me with concern. "Robbie, you need to eat something. You can't keep going on like this."But I couldn't bring myself to take a bite. How could I eat when Ariana was out
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