Aria's POVThat kiss was possessive and deep, like a dam finally breaking after being held back for too long.My first instinct was to pull away, but Kane's hand cradled the back of my head, holding me in place.I gave in, letting myself drown in the heat of it all.I should've known better—when it came to Kane, I had no defenses."Kane…"I whispered his name, barely audible between our breaths.He didn't respond.Instead, his arms tightened around me, pulling me impossibly close, as if he could anchor both of us with that embrace.I wrapped my arms around his waist, clinging to this fleeting moment of warmth. But then—Bang, bang, bang!A sharp knock on the door sliced through the atmosphere like ice water down my spine.Kane tensed immediately. In one smooth motion, he pulled the blanket over me and sat up, his expression wiped clean of any tenderness."Come in,"he sai
Aria's POVThe moment his eyes locked onto mine, so sharp and unreadable, the dam broke. I couldn't hold it in anymore.I collapsed into his arms and sobbed uncontrollably.His chest was warm and solid, his hand rubbing gentle circles on my back. That steady rhythm grounded me, gave me just enough to breathe."It's okay. I'm here,"he said, voice low and gravelly. Just those few words and the tight coil inside me finally loosened.By the time my tears ran dry, the room had fallen completely still, save for the lingering sounds of my sniffles. I took a deep breath and forced the words out in a whisper barely louder than a breath."They… they took pictures of me…"I felt his entire body stiffen.I told him everything—every awful detail I could remember. Each sentence tore something raw and bleeding from inside me. By the time I finished, I could barely breathe.His face darkened with a fury so fier
Aria's POVThe moment I pushed the door open, a wave of silence hit me like a tidal surge.The cold metal of the doorknob bit into my skin, and the sensor light flickered on, illuminating the empty hallway with a sterile glow."Kane?" My voice echoed through the vast, lifeless house.No answer.He wasn't here.The air was still. Cold. Void of his presence.Even his scent—once comforting and familiar—had all but faded.Panic clawed its way up my throat as I raced to the bedroom. I threw myself onto the bed and buried my face in his pillow, desperate to cling to the faint trace of him still lingering there.I ripped open the wardrobe and grabbed one of his shirts, slipping it on like a second skin.The fabric brushed against my bruised arms, but the comfort I once found in his scent—his touch—was gone."Why..." I curled up in the corner of the room, nails digging into my palms until they drew blood.My tears fell freely, splattering against the hardwood floor with a sickening finality.
Aria's POV"Are you in love with him?"Eden's words hit me like a punch to the gut. My chest tightened, and I couldn't help but flinch.It felt like he had peeled open my heart and exposed the truth I was too afraid to admit. Even breathing suddenly became difficult.He was clearly a seasoned player. My tiny slip-up didn't escape his notice."I've been wondering," he said lazily, swirling his glass. The amber liquid caught the light, glinting like fire. "What is it about you that's got Kane so completely out of his mind?"I froze.What did he just say? That I was the reason Kane was losing it?That couldn't be right… He had to be messing with me.Eden leaned in, his breath warm and laced with alcohol. "Looking at you now… I don't really see what's so special."I swallowed hard.Exactly. I'm not special.Why would Kane lose mind over someone like me?All those restless nights, the twisting ache in my chest—I'd always assumed it was one-sided.Just me, foolishly wrapped up in feelings t
Aria's POVBack in my room, exhaustion clung to my body, but sleep was nowhere to be found.I lay in bed, staring blankly at the ceiling for a while before throwing off the covers and stepping onto the balcony, hoping the cool night air could sweep away the chaos in my mind.Just as my fingers brushed the curtain, a flash of metal caught my eye—a familiar car parked beneath the streetlight.And leaning against it… a man I could never mistake.Kane.My breath caught. My heart pounded so hard it echoed in my ears like war drums.I didn't think.My body moved on instinct. Barefoot, I bolted from the room and down the stairs, flinging the front door open.But the street was empty—just a few drifting leaves caught in the wind.He came… and left.Without a word. Without a trace.Why? Why bother coming if he wasn't going to see me? Was it a mistake? Or… did he already decide he didn't want me anymore?My legs gave out as I sank onto the stone bench by the gate, wrapping my arms around myself
Aria's POV"I…" The words stuck in my throat as my fingers unconsciously clenched the fabric of his shirt.I wanted to say something—anything—but my thoughts were a tangled mess.How could I explain feelings I didn't even understand myself?How could I tell him that someone else might've taken root in my heart—the very man I should've hated most?"It's okay. You don't need to say anything."Chad gently stroked my hair, his voice calm and steady. "I'm not in a rush. We've got all the time in the world."I looked at him, feeling the warmth of his fingertips—just like before.Back then, he used to paint pictures of our future with such ease, and I believed every word he said.But now…That perfect trust we once had had been cracked, and those cracks felt unbearably sharp.Maybe it's because things were once too perfect, that any imperfection now feels impossible to ignore.It wasn't his fault. And maybe not mine, either.Maybe this world is just... unfair."Thank you," I whispered at las