Chapter: Head-OnARIA The applause was thunderous, vibrating through the floorboards of the stage, but I couldn't feel the victory.As I stepped away from the podium, a strange, heavy sensation settled in my chest. It wasn't pride. It wasn't a relief. It was a sickening, weird feeling that crawled under my skin like insects. I felt dirty. I felt exposed.I didn't bother with the party anymore because at this point I think I have achieved what I want for tonight. I shook hands with a few other people reaching out to shake my hand and gave a fake smile when needed. The room suddenly felt like a cage, the air too suffocating and deceitful to breathe.I excused myself from the crowd and walked away, keeping my distance, heading toward a lonely spot near the exit while keeping my eyes on the door.I walked straight out of the ballroom, down the corridor, and out into the biting cold of the New York night."Ms. Aria?" my driver asked, jumping to open the door of the SUV.I didn't answer. I just climbe
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2026-02-11
Chapter: SCREW ARIA!MARK. "Can't you see it?" Zane whispered, her eyes wide and manic. "Can't you read the writing on the wall? Aria isn't real, Mark." "She’s real enough to wire twenty-five million dollars," I snapped, tired of her hysteria. "She’s real enough to save this company." "No," Zane shook her head violently. "She’s a mirage, she’s a reflection. She talks like a predator. She isn't a partner, Mark. She’s a punishment." "You're drunk, Zane," I said dismissively. "Go to bed." "I'm not drunk!" she screamed, the sound echoing off the high ceilings. "I'm the only one seeing this clearly! You're blinded by greed, and Jason is blinded by lust! But I see her. She hates us. She hates us with a fire that doesn't make sense for a stranger." She walked toward the hallway, her white dress trailing behind her like a shroud. She paused at the entrance to the master bedroom—the room that used to belong to Elara—and looked back at us with dead eyes. "She’s going to bury us," Zane said softly. "And wh
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2026-02-10
Chapter: What's Happening?MARK I scanned the ballroom for the third time, my eyes darting frantically between the clusters of investors and the white rose displays. Still can't find her, not even a glimpse of her reflection. Just minutes ago, Aria was standing on the stage, bathing in the applause, looking like the queen of New York. But now, as the orchestra began to play a slower waltz and the waiters circulated with fresh champagne, the silver dress was nowhere to be seen. She hadn’t come to say goodnight or offered a professional handshake to seal the evening’s success. She hadn’t even sent a text message. She had simply evaporated into the night before the first guest had even called for their coat. "Mr. Miller? Is everything alright?" a board member asked, holding out a hand to congratulate me. I ignored him. I walked right past him, my jaw set so hard my teeth ached. I didn't care about the optics anymore. I didn't care if it looked rude. I also didn't check if Zane was still by the ice sculpt
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2026-02-10
Chapter: At the galaARIA "Mark," I called out, my voice sharp enough to cut through his rambling. "I need some privacy." Mark stopped. He looked sweaty and desperate, staring back at me with pleading eyes. "Aria, listen," he stammered, stepping in front of me again. "I’m really sorry about what just happened. Jason... My brother doesn't know how to behave in public. He’s been out of the country for a long time. He’s rough. Please, don't let him ruin the night." I looked at him with zero patience. "Mark," I said coldly. "I do not care about your brother. I don't care about his manners or where he has been. The only thing that brought me here tonight is this company. That is what matters most to me. My investment." I took a step forward, forcing him to move out of my way. "If you'd excuse me," I said, making it clear it wasn't a request. "I’d love to get a drink. Alone. Before the event needs me for the speech." I didn't wait for him to answer. I walked away, heading straight for the VIP bar se
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2026-02-09
Chapter: Are you kidding me?MARK "That's Aria, Jason," I said, pointing my chin toward the staircase. "That's a lie," Jason countered instantly, not even blinking. He squinted, leaning forward like a cartoon character trying to read fine print. He looked from the woman descending the stairs to me, and then back to me. "I’m not playing around," I said, taking a long, deliberate sip of champagne to hide the smug grin threatening to split my face. "I am dead serious, Jason. That is our investor, that is twenty-five million dollars walking on two very nice legs." "Oh, I see," Jason breathed out, a low, appreciative whistle escaping his lips. "I see everything." He took a step back, running a hand through his messy hair. His whole demeanor shifted from 'angry thug' to 'lovesick puppy' in two seconds flat. He looked like a pirate who just found a treasure chest that opened itself. "Well," Jason chuckled, the sound dry and amused. "If you’re being honest, Mark... then I think I can finally see why you haven't
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2026-02-08
Chapter: That's AriaMARK Aria, Miss Know-It-All, has turned my life into a circus.I stood near the open bar, nursing a glass of champagne I had no interest in, watching the ballroom of the Plaza Hotel fill up with people I barely tolerated. It's Christmas Eve. Any other year, I would be halfway to a private suite in Vegas or chilling in a high-end brothel in Amsterdam with a woman who didn't ask questions. I should be relaxing and spending my stolen fortune. Instead, I’m standing here playing the role of the perfect CEO at a gala I never asked for. She is such a hard nut to crack. I had agreed to this event after days of her relentless persuasion. She claimed it was necessary to "reassure the investors." She claimed we needed to show the world that Vance Logistics was alive and well. But even after I said yes, she didn't let me be. She literally turned me into an event planner. She picked the flowers, the music and the wine list.“Ever since Aria walked into my life two weeks ago, she’s been writ
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2026-02-07
Chapter: EPILOGUE XAVIER'S POV Months later, Melissa gave birth to a bouncing baby boy—our blue jet finally arrived. The first time I held him in my arms, it felt as though the world stilled just to watch that moment with me. His little fingers curled around mine, fragile yet full of promise. My chest tightened, not in pain, but in overwhelming joy. This child, this tiny miracle, was more than blood and name; he was a symbol of redemption. A reminder that love, even when bruised, can bloom again. Melissa, exhausted but radiant, leaned against her pillows with a tired smile. She whispered, “He looks just like you.” And truly, he did. From the shape of his nose to the faint curl of his lips, he was a miniature version of me. My mini-me. The hospital room was filled with laughter, blessings, and emotions so high they felt tangible. I remembered kissing Melissa’s forehead and silently thanking God for a second chance—not just with her, but with the family I thought I would never have. *** A month la
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-10-13
Chapter: JUST THE BEGINING XAVIER'S POVWEEKS LATER... Filing that case against Louis and Marco wasn’t easy, but it was necessary. Too many lines had been crossed, too many scars left behind, and I couldn’t just sit back and let them continue tormenting Melissa and i. They thought they could manipulate the media, twist the truth, and bury us under scandals. They thought intimidation and lies were enough to shatter us.They were wrong.When I walked into the courthouse that first morning, the weight of everything pressed down on me. The tall marble columns, the echo of shoes against the polished floor, the sharp scent of paper and ink from the clerk’s desk—it all hit me at once. This wasn’t just another day. This was justice in motion.Melissa was by my side, her hand lightly resting in mine. She had insisted on coming, even though I told her the stress wasn’t good for her. But Melissa was strong-willed. “If I don’t stand beside you now, Xavier, when will I? This fight is ours,” she had said.And she was right
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-10-13
Chapter: FIGHTING A LOSING WAR KATRINA'S POV After I saw Xavier’s post—from the media frenzy at the airport to the photographs of his proposal to Melissa—I realized I had lost this battle. There was no denying it anymore. Xavier’s love for Melissa was real. It had always been real, whether I wanted to accept it or not.For weeks I had fooled myself into believing that I could somehow win, that I could outshine my sister, that Xavier would see me differently. But watching the way he held her hand in those photographs, watching the way he looked at her as though she was the only woman in the entire world, crushed every last ounce of denial in me.I scrolled through the comments under the viral posts.“Finally, he’s acknowledging her.”“True love always wins.”“Look at her glow—she’s definitely pregnant!”“She’s carrying his child. The Kesh heir!”The rumors were true. Melissa was pregnant, and Xavier was responsible.It should have been me, a bitter voice whispered inside me. But another part of me, the part I had
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-10-13
Chapter: I CAME TO SEE YOU
XAVIER'S POV Everything felt like it was finally back to normal—or at least as close to normal as it could get in my world. Melissa was back in my life. For the first time in months, I didn’t feel that gaping hole in my chest. She was here, in my arms, in my bed, in my apartment, carrying my child. The noise online had died down. The internet trolls who once branded Melissa with cruel names had shut their mouths, forced into silence after I made my declaration at the airport and followed it with something bigger—our engagement photo. The picture of me on one knee, sliding the ring onto Melissa’s finger, had gone viral. It wasn’t just gossip anymore; it was evidence of a man in love, ready to fight for the woman he nearly lost. That morning, I woke up earlier than Melissa. The sunlight was just peeking through the blinds, spilling across her face. She looked peaceful, her lips slightly parted, one hand resting protectively over her stomach. That image alone—my fiancée, glowing wit
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-09-29
Chapter: BACK HOME
MELISSA'S POV The flight felt endless. The hours in the air dragged on, weighed down by silence so heavy it seemed to press against my chest. I sat by the window, staring at the vast clouds that blurred into each other like brushstrokes on a cold canvas. Beside me, Xavier was a statue. His shoulders were tense, his gaze fixed on nothing, his jaw tight. He would only look at me periodically, smile and pat my head. He didn't even want to say anything. There were too many unspoken words between us, too many ghosts lingering in the space that separated our seats. My heart kept hammering with every little movement he made. I wanted to ask him why—why he looked like he was carrying the weight of the world, why he had dragged me back here, why his joy when I agreed to return had been replaced by this cold silence. But the words stuck in my throat. So I pressed my forehead against the window, pretending to sleep, pretending the distance didn’t matter when it mattered more than anything.
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-09-29
Chapter: TIME TO SAY GOODBYE
MELISSA'S POV Xavier looked like a child who had just been handed his favorite candy on Halloween. His entire face lit up the second I said I’d go back with him. For a brief moment, I forgot the heaviness in my chest. His joy was contagious, so pure and unrestrained that a small smile crept onto my lips despite everything. But then the reality struck—he had said the flight was this morning. That meant there was barely any time to prepare myself mentally or emotionally. I glanced around my small apartment, my safe haven for months. My chest tightened. Could I really leave this place behind? It was modest, yes, but it had been mine. Every corner carried memories—late nights curled on the couch, mornings spent staring out the window with coffee in hand, silent tears shed when the loneliness became too much. This apartment had held my grief, my healing, and now it was about to witness my next chapter. “Mel,” Xavier’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts. He was already rolling up his
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-09-29

The Christmas Captive
I woke up in a penthouse dressed up for Christmas, having no memory of how I got here. With a stranger sitted beside my hospital bed, his dark eyes watching me like I was something precious he was afraid to lose. He says his name is Damien Cross, my husband. He says we were in an accident two weeks before Christmas, and that I've forgotten everything about our perfect life together.
But nothing felt right. The staff won't meet my eyes. My phone had no history. And when I found a journal hidden behind wrapped gifts in my dressing room, the handwriting is mine, but the words were a warning: Do not trust him. Leave before Christmas. You know what he did.
Damien surrounded me with holiday magic, kisses under the mistletoe, and planned romantic surprises beneath twinkling lights. He's everything a husband should be: protective, tender, devoted. Yet his love felt like a cage decorated with ribbons and bows. The closer we got to Christmas Eve, the more I remember fragments of another life. Arguments,Fear,Betrayal. One night I tried to run from him in the snow and never made it out.
Now I have until Christmas Day to uncover the truth about my past before Damien's version of our love story becomes the only one that matters. Because the man who saved me might be the same man I was trying to escape.
Baca
Chapter: THE JOURNAL Ava's POV The penthouse is too quiet at night. During the day, there are staffs moving around, phones ringing, the city noise filtering through the windows. But after midnight, when Damien thinks I'm asleep, the silence is suffocating. I've been awake for hours, lying in the dark, listening to footsteps in the hallway. Damien paces when he can't sleep. Back and forth, back and forth, like a predator circling prey. Sometimes he stops outside my door. I held my breath until I heard him move . Tonight, he's been in his study for the past two hours. I know because I've been counting the minutes, waiting for my chance. Dr. Chen's words from this morning keep replaying in my mind: "Sometimes physical activity can help trigger memories. Walking around familiar spaces might help." Damien immediately said I should rest, not push myself. But the way he said it felt less like concern and more like a command. Like he doesn't want me walking around, doesn't want me exploring, doesn't want m
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2026-01-21
Chapter: CONTROLDamien's POV I Watched her sleep from the doorway, the way I've watched her every night since she came home. Ava doesn't know about the monitors in her room, the cameras I had removed whose footage I still review obsessively, trying to understand what she's thinking. Trying to predict what she'll do next.She looks peaceful now, curled on her side, dark hair spread across the white pillow. Like the girl I first met two years ago, before everything got complicated. Before she became my wife and then my enemy and now... something I don't have words for.I shouldn't be standing here like some lovesick fool. I have a company to run, deals to close, problems that require my attention. But I can't seem to walk away from her, can't stop checking that she's still here, still safe, still mine.The accident was supposed to fix everything. That's a terrible thought, the kind that proves I'm exactly the monster she accused me of being. But it's true. When the doctors told me about the amnesi
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2026-01-21
Chapter: THE PERFECT HUSBANDAva's POV I woke up to the smell of fresh coffee and cinnamon rolls. Morning light streams through floor-to-ceiling windows, showing a view of Central Park covered in snow. The sight is beautiful enough to hurt. For a moment, I forget where I was. Then I remember. The accident. Amnesia. The stranger who says he's my husband.Damien enters carrying a breakfast tray. He's dressed in a dark suit that probably costs more than a car, but his tie is loose and his hair slightly messy, like he tried to look casual but couldn't quite manage it. When he sees I'm awake, his face lights up."Good morning," he says softly. "I wasn't sure what you'd want, so I had the kitchen make a bit of everything."The tray holds coffee, juice, pastries, fruit, and scrambled eggs. It's too much food for one person but I didnt say that. Instead, I sat up carefully, my head still aching but better than yesterday."Thank you," I say, because I was raised to be polite even when I'm terrified.He sets the tray
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2026-01-21
Chapter: WAKE UP CALLAva's POV The first thing I feel is cold. Not the cold of winter air or snow, but the cold of fear, sharp and deep in my bones. My eyes won't open. My head pounds like something inside is trying to break free. Voices float around me, low and serious. Medical equipment beeps somewhere close. Everything smells like antiseptic and pine needles, a strange mix that makes no sense.I force my eyes open. The light hurts. White ceiling. White walls. A Christmas tree in the corner, tall and perfect, covered in crystal ornaments that catch the light like frozen tears. Where am I?"Ava." The voice is soft, careful, like speaking to someone who might break. "Ava, can you hear me?"I turn my head, slow because moving hurts. A man sits beside my bed. He's beautiful in a way that feels dangerous, all sharp edges and dark hair and eyes the color of storm clouds. Those eyes watch me with such intensity that I want to look away but can't. Something about his face feels familiar, like a dream I can't
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2026-01-21