ARIANA My name is Ariana Winslow, and I am 23 years old. I live with my three brothers, Matthew, Ethan, and Gabriel. Our dad passed away in a car accident while rushing to the hospital from work to see my mother, who was about to give birth to me. My mother was determined not to give birth before my dad arrived. Because of the complications, the doctors had to perform a c-section to deliver me. The next day, when my mother received the news of her husband's death, she left the hospital and has been missing ever since. No one knows where she went. This is a brief story that my brothers have shared with me. Now, let me give you some insight into how I was raised by my brothers. My brothers became my pillars of support from a young age. They were just teenagers when our father passed away, but they stepped up and took on the responsibility of raising me. Even though they had no idea of how to raise a newborn, especially a girl, they raised me. They became my protectors, my role mode
I froze, my mind racing to comprehend the situation. Who was this man, and why did he think I was someone named Skyler? The cold demeanor in his eyes sent a shiver down my spine, and I instinctively took a step back, my heart pounding in my chest. "I-I'm not Skyler," I insisted, my voice trembling with fear. "You've got the wrong person." But the man didn't seem convinced. His eyes narrowed as he took a step closer, his presence looming over me like a dark cloud. "Where were you hiding all this time," he growled, his voice low and menacing. "I've been searching for you everywhere. And now that I've found you, you're not getting away again." Panic surged through me as I realized the gravity of the situation. Whoever this man was, he was convinced that I was someone named Skyler, and he seemed determined to confront them, or me, whoever he believed me to be. "I swear, I don't know who you're talking about," I pleaded, desperation creeping into my voice. "Please, just let me go." B
Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision. I wanted to scream, to lash out, but fear and shock paralyzed me. The room felt suffocating, the walls closing in as his sneer deepened. He seemed to take pleasure in my silence, a twisted satisfaction flickering in his eyes. "Answer me,wife," he demanded, his voice a low growl. "Do you understand now?" I swallowed hard, the taste of blood still fresh on my tongue. Slowly, I nodded, knowing it was the response he wanted. Defiance would only bring more pain, and I couldn't afford that right now. Not when every part of me ached with the need to survive. Suddenly, a noise like a gunshot rang out from outside, startling us both. His grip loosened slightly as his attention was momentarily diverted. Seizing the opportunity, I pulled away and stumbled towards the door. My heart pounded as I fumbled with the handle, desperation fueling my every movement. "Get back here!" he bellowed, but I was already out, sprinting down the dimly hallway. M
My heart pounded with such ferocity. It felt like it might burst from my chest. Bound and gagged, every breath was a struggle, every thought a desperate cry for freedom. He took a step back, his eyes raking over me with a mixture of possessiveness and malice. I could feel his gaze lingering on my restrained form. He turned away, moving towards the table of instruments. The sound of his footsteps echoed ominously in the confined space, each step a prelude to the torment that awaited. I pulled at my restraints, the cuffs digging painfully into my wrists, but they held fast. Panic surged through me, my mind racing for a way out, a way to escape this nightmare. "Ah, this should do nicely," he murmured, lifting a flogger from the table. He tested its weight, swinging it experimentally through the air. The leather tails made a soft, menacing sound as they cut through the silence. He turned back to me, a cruel smile twisting his lips. "Now, wife," he said, his voice a dark whisper, "it's
She nodded slowly, her eyes filled with sympathy. "Yes, you've been unconscious for five months. We had to keep you sedated to ensure the baby's safety. The man you refer to as 'him', I mean your husband, wanted it that way." My heart sank at her words. Five months of my life gone, and lost to a nightmare I couldn't escape. The room seemed to spin as I struggled to process the enormity of what she'd said. I was pregnant with his child and had been kept in a drug-induced sleep for months. I tried to gather my thoughts, but the horror of my situation made it nearly impossible. "Why? Why would he do this?" My voice was barely a whisper, trembling with fear and confusion. The nurse hesitated, glancing towards the door as if she expected him to walk in at any moment. "He... he said he wanted a family," she replied, her voice low. "He wanted to make sure you couldn't run away or resist him. This was his way of controlling you completely." A sob escaped my lips, the reality of my situat
"What is this place?" I whispered aloud, my voice trembling with disbelief and fear. The noise of traffic hummed in the background, a stark contrast to the silence I had endured for so long. My mind raced, trying to grasp the enormity of my situation. Where was I supposed to begin in this unfamiliar city? I wiped the tears from my face, steeling myself against the overwhelming sense of disorientation. Every passing car seemed like a potential threat, every pedestrian a possible informant. I needed to find safety to find help—but I had no idea where to start. With a shaky breath, I began walking, keeping to the shadows and avoiding eye contact with anyone who passed. The city seemed endless, its streets winding and twisting like a labyrinth. I felt small and vulnerable amidst the towering buildings and bustling crowds. As I walked, I searched for any sign of familiarity—a street name, a landmark, anything that could orient me. But every corner turned revealed more unfamiliar territ
The sight of him walking towards me sent a fresh wave of terror through my body. His smirk was a cruel reminder of everything he'd done to me. Desperation surged within me, and I darted towards Gabriel, hoping for some protection. "Gabriel, help me! Get this madman out of our house!" I pleaded, my voice breaking. But before I could reach him, Gabriel's hand shot out, stopping me mid-air. His grip was firm and stiff. He clenched his teeth, his eyes cold and hard. "Yes, he's leaving," Gabriel said, his voice tight with controlled anger. "But you're leaving with him." I stared at my brother, my mind reeling. "What do you mean?" I asked, confusion and fear blending together. "Why would I go with him? He kept me prisoner! He—" "Cut the crap, Arianna," he snapped, cutting me off. "We know everything. From when you decided to run away and get married to this..." He gestured toward my swollen belly. My heart sank. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "Gabriel, you can't be serious. He
As the plane touched down and rolled to a stop, the tension in my body reached a fever pitch. I felt like a prisoner being transported to a new cell, and the man beside me was my warden. He stood up and reached for my hand, his grip firm. “Come, wife,” he said, his voice a dangerous whisper. I followed him out of the plane, my heart pounding in my chest. The night air was cool and filled with the scent of rain, but it did little to calm my nerves. A sleek, black car waited on the tarmac, its windows tinted and intimidating. He opened the door for me, and I hesitated for a moment, the urge to run overwhelming. But his eyes were locked on me, daring me to disobey. With a resigned sigh, I slid into the backseat, and he joined me a moment later. The drive to his mansion was silent. The only sound was the hum of the engine and my own racing thoughts. When we finally arrived, the grandeur of the place was almost suffocating. Tall iron gates swung open to reveal a sprawling estate.
ARIANA Grayson’s steady presence over the past few days had been a balm to my frayed emotions. He wasn’t overly affectionate or smothering, but he stayed by my side in quiet solidarity, offering comfort in ways only he could. Whether it was the small gestures, like ensuring I ate or sitting with me during my sleepless nights, his presence had become a lifeline.It was after one of those long, quiet nights, with dawn breaking and spilling soft light into the room, that I realized I was ready to let go of the past—or at least try. Clinging to the pain wouldn’t change what had happened. And Grayson, in his own way, had shown me that moving forward was the only way to truly live.Grayson and I hadn’t spoken much about Florence or Skyler since that explosive confrontation. But I knew he’d made his decision, prompted, no doubt, by my brothers. Gabriel had insisted he let them go, arguing that the cycle of anger and vengeance had to end somewhere. To my surprise, Grayson agreed—not because
ARIANA The tension in the car was thick enough to cut with a knife. Grayson drove in silence, his grip on the steering wheel firm. Gabriel sat in the passenger seat, his usual stoic demeanour intact. In the back, Ethan on my left stared out the window, while Mathew on my right leaned back, his eyes darting between me and the others. I couldn’t sit still, my thoughts spinning wildly after everything Gabriel had told me.Florence, our aunt. Skyler, her daughter. And yet, I still had questions. Questions Gabriel hadn’t fully answered.Unable to stay silent any longer, I leaned forward, poking my head between the front seats. My eyes fixed on Gabriel. “Are you absolutely sure you had no clue that Skyler was her daughter?” Gabriel sighed, his expression as unreadable as ever. “No, Ariana,” he said firmly. “I didn’t.” I looked ahead at the road, my mind spinning. Then, almost involuntarily, my gaze flicked back to Gabriel. “But why does she look so much like…” My voice trailed off befo
ARIANA Gabriel's sharp gaze softened unexpectedly, catching me off guard. "As much as I want to break you two apart, I won't," he said, his voice calm, almost resigned. "I'm not here to do that. I just wanted to check on all of you, but it looks like you're much better than I thought." My mouth fell open. Had I heard him, right? Was this some sort of trick? My heart raced even faster than when he had first walked through the door. I tried to read his face, but his expression was maddeningly neutral. Gabriel wasn’t the kind of man to sugarcoat his words or play games. If he wanted to make his disapproval known, he would. But now...he was standing here, saying he wouldn’t tear me and Grayson apart. My chest tightened, confusion swirling with a strange relief. "Y-you’re serious?" I managed to say, my voice cracking slightly. Before Gabriel could respond, Mathew—never one to stay silent—opened his mouth. "She and I nearly—" Panic shot through me like lightning. Without thinking
GRAYSON I stood frozen, my mind reeling as I tried to process what he had just said. He was there? My father had done unspeakable things in his life, but the idea that Gabriel had witnessed one of those horrors firsthand made my stomach churn.“You were… there?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, struggling to keep my composure.Gabriel’s expression hardened, his jaw tightening as he nodded slowly. "I was there. I saw everything," he said, his voice low but steady. "I was in the car with my father that day. He took me with him but when we arrived at his destination he left me in the car and went inside the building. That's when I noticed another boy around my age. He was sitting in a nearby car, looking bored and tired. And recently I just found out that he was your brother." He paused, the memory sharpening in his eyes. "As kids do, we got caught up in our little world, talking and laughing like nothing else mattered. Then
GRAYSON I sat in the chair beside Ariana’s bed, watching her sleep, her face still pale, her breath shallow but steady. The quiet of the room wrapped around me like a shroud, the soft hum of the mansion's night air only adding to the stillness. I felt the weight of every hour that had passed, the clock ticking relentlessly toward dawn, and yet I couldn’t bring myself to move. It was as though time had slowed just for me, granting me a moment of respite to reflect on everything that had happened and the broken pieces of my life that seemed to be multiplying with each passing second.The doctor had come earlier, gave them both some medication, and thankfully, there were no major injuries or anything more serious. Florence... she had always been there for me. I had trusted her with everything. When I had lost my way, when I thought I needed guidance, she was the one I leaned on. She had become like a mother to me. But now, sitting here, with every
GRAYSON I pushed myself off the bed, the heaviness of the night and the weight of Ariana’s tense reaction pressing down on me like a suffocating smoke. The unease was unbearable, clawing at my insides. I couldn’t stay here any longer. Quietly, I grabbed my phone and left the room, making my way to my home office. The moment I stepped inside, I shut the door behind me, the silence of the space offering no solace. I reached for the whiskey bottle sitting on the corner of my desk, poured myself a shot, and downed it in one gulp. The burn seared down my throat, bringing a fleeting sense of relief—temporary, but it was something. I pulled out my phone and stared at it for a moment before scrolling to Lucian’s contact. It was late, but I knew my brother well enough—he would still be awake. I pressed the call button, bringing the phone to my ear. Lucian answered after the second ring, his voice low and indifferent. “Did you make up your mind already?” I ignored the question, my grip
GRAYSON The drive to Lord Andre’s estate felt endless, the weight of the envelope on the passenger seat an unbearable presence. My knuckles ached from gripping the steering wheel too tightly, my thoughts spinning in chaotic circles. Every photograph, every name, every signature—it all pointed to him. The man I’d spent my entire life trying to outshine, to escape from under his shadow. When I arrived, the towering gates loomed like the bars of a prison. I punched in the code, barely waiting for the gates to swing open before speeding through the driveway. The tires screeched as I parked haphazardly near the front steps. The house, always a symbol of his power, now felt like a fortress of secrets. I stormed through the entrance, my footsteps echoing against the marble floors. A few of his staff glanced my way but wisely stayed silent. My destination was clear—his office. I shoved the double doors open, expecting to find him beh
GRAYSON The car came to a halt in front of Lucian’s hotel, the sleek black facade gleaming under evening night lights. I tightened my grip on the steering wheel, jaw clenching as I stared at the building’s entrance. Lucian always had a way of orchestrating his theatrics, and the thought of dealing with him only made my patience wear thinner. I stepped out, the cool night air doing little to ease the heat simmering beneath my skin. With purposeful strides, I made my way to the entrance. The doorman nodded, opening the grand glass doors as I walked inside. A polished worker greeted me immediately, bowing slightly before speaking. "Mr. Anderson, Mr. Lucian is waiting for you in the VIP private lounge. Please, this way." I followed him silently, the muffled sounds of classical music and faint chatter growing distant as we ascended to the exclusive floor. The plush carpet absorbed the sound of my footsteps, the hallway eerily quiet until the worker stopped in front of an intricately
ARIANA I stormed out of the room, the sharp sound of the door closing behind me echoing through the hall. My mind raced as I leaned against the door, pressing my ear to the wooden surface. Whatever Ethan and Florence were discussing, it was intense enough for him to shut me out. My curiosity burned like a flame. Their voices were muffled, but I could catch faint snippets of words—nothing clear enough to make sense of, just tones of urgency and frustration. I pressed closer, determined to hear more, when suddenly, the door flew open. I stumbled back, nearly losing my footing as Ethan stood in the doorway, arms crossed, a knowing smirk tugging at his lips. “I knew you’d be eavesdropping, Ariana,” he said, his tone a mix of exasperation and amusement. “Do me a favour and head downstairs.” I crossed my arms over my chest, glaring at him. “What business do you have with that woman, Ethan? You barely know her, yet suddenly you’re h