ARIANA'S POV As I stood on the balcony with Robert, the weight of my decision pressed down on me like a heavy cloak, suffocating me with its burden."Ari…please even if not for me, for Nate's sake. He worships you. God!" He threw up his hands in the air frustrated and I wished I could just hug him and tell him that I was going to stay with him. I wanted to. But I couldn't. His words hung in the air, thick with desperation and longing, but I knew I couldn't falter now. Not after everything that had happened.I instead moved past him and walked away from him, my heart heavy with emotion. I knew I had to leave, for my own sake and for Nate's. We couldn't continue with this toxic pattern, not when a child was involved. As I packed my few things into a carry on bag, I felt a sense of liberation wash over me. I was finally taking control of my life, finally standing up for myself. This entire experience had been a lesson for me and I knew it wouldn't be easy, but I was ready to face wha
ARIANA'S POV I stepped off the plane, feeling a mix of emotions as I made my way through customs and baggage claim. I was back in America, and it was time to face the music. I hailed a taxi and headed to Barbara's house, eager to see my friend and confidante.As I walked in the door, Barbara enveloped me in a warm hug. "Welcome back, darling! How was your trip?"I couldn't help but grin as I launched into an enthusiastic recounting of my adventures in London. Barbara listened with a warm smile, asking questions and making supportive noises in all the right places.When I finally wound down, she fixed me with a
ARIANA'S POV “Yes! And I mean it!” Rob said firmly.I stood there staring at him, my box on the bed, open with clothes spilling out of it. And then I turned and left the bedroom and began to descend the stairs rapidly.It must have taken Rob a significant amount of time to recover from my abrupt departure because I was almost out the main door when I heard his footsteps descending the stairs.He could keep the clothes and I dare him to keep me away from my Nephew and step-son, I was leaving.
ARIANA'S POVTwo days had passed since my mother's bombshell, and I was still reeling from the news. Bankrupt. The word echoed in my mind like a death sentence. How could this be happening? Vanderbilt Holdings, the company generations of Vanderbilts had built from scratch, was on the brink of collapse.Even working could not calm my nerves. I went to the office each day and sat down blankly staring at the computer. As I sat at my desk, staring blankly at my computer screen, an email notification popped up. My heart skipped a beat as I saw the subject line: “Urgent: Board Meeting - Vanderbilt Holdings.”I felt a sense of trepidation as I opened the email. The message was brief an
ROBERT'S POV The silence in the room was thick and one could have heard a pin drop in that large room. I saw Ariana's face turn an ashen colour and she kept her eyes on her father. I could not imagine what she was feeling at that moment.The CEO, Mr Thompson finally spoke up. “I think we should hold our horses before saying something like that Richard”.“Well, you and I know for a fact that it is true Thompson. The earlier we filed for bankruptcy, the better. We are in debts, stretched thin and losing money in the market every day”, Richard said, raisi
ARIANA'S POV As Odette introduced herself, the entire room seemed to pause. Who bears Odette anyways? I didn't like her. I knew that immediately. What kind of a CEO looked like that? She was stunning, with piercing green eyes and raven-black hair that cascaded down her back like a waterfall. Her skin was a radiant olive tone, and her full lips curled into a sultry smile. She stood tall, her slender figure accentuated by a fitted black dress that hugged her curves in all the right places. A gold necklace glimmered around her neck, and her stilettos clicked against the floor as she moved.I felt a pang of jealousy as Rob's eyes locked onto hers, his gaze lingering a moment too long. My heart tittered. This woman was trouble and I hated her all over again for it.“Hello, everyone,” she said again, her voice husky and confident. “I am the CEO of Elite Enterprises.”As she began to speak, her words were laced with authority and intelligence. She presented a proposal for a merger, outlini
ROBERT'S POV As I watched Ariana storm off, her face flushed with anger and embarrassment, I couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement. She was jealous, and that knowledge stirred something deep within me. I had thought our marriage was over, but now I wasn't so sure. If Ariana was still feeling jealous over me, then there was hope. I left the office building that day feeling elated for the first time in three months. At last, there was a silver lining in the cloud. I had been miserable without Ariana. I really hoped I would be able to win her back. Perhaps Odette wasn't such a bad idea. If her being around would make Ariana look at me again with love in her eyes, then I guess I could live with it.As I made my way to my meeting with Odette the next day, my mind was a jumble of conflicting desires. I wanted to reconcile with Ariana, to make our marriage work again. But another part of me was concerned about the danger of towing this path. Odette was obviously sultry and confiden
ROBERT'S POVI was consumed with rage, my anger boiling over like a pot left unattended. How dare Odette suggest such a thing? Did she really think I would betray my family, my father-in-law, for the sake of power and control? I was tempted, I won't deny it, but my indignation and anger won out. I pushed her away, my hands on her shoulders, and took a step back."Get out of my sight, Odette," I growled, my voice low and menacing. "You're not worth my time or consideration."With that, I turned and stormed out of her office, leaving her standing there, a look of shock and surprise on her face. I didn't care. I needed to get out of there, away from her and her toxic influence.As I drove home, my anger only intensified. I couldn't believe I had trusted Odette, that I had agreed to meet with her. What was I thinking? I beat myself up over it, my mind racing with thoughts of betrayal and deceit.As I walked into the living room, I was met with a sight that made my heart sink. Nate, my you
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