Romances de Jo

KADEHer hands trembled, the card shaking along with them. I wondered what was written on it that had disoriented her this badly. I searched her face for signs, but there was nothing.She was eerily calm.“I think this is what’s best for both families. Adrian doesn’t deserve a wife who’s going to die on him in less than a year. Him turning into a widower would be bad news for the company.”How could a father say something like that? To his only child too?Aria’s expression gave nothing away. Her eyes remained fixed on the white card in her hands.He stood up and walked out.Margaret stayed seated, the corners of her lips lifting slightly. She looked pleased about everything happening.“You look like you’re going to collapse any moment from now,” she said, turning to me. “You should probably tuck her into bed.”She stood and adjusted her top.“Cassie has always been right for Adrian. You were just the wrong choice. But now everything’s been sorted out.” She smiled. “On the bright side,

ARIAThe aroma of fresh pancakes drifted into my nostrils, stirring me awake. My eyes opened slowly as I took in my surroundings.It didn’t look familiar.Where was I?I replayed the previous day’s events in my head and instantly regretted it because the sadness washed over me like a dirty blanket.The room was small and barely looked lived in. The bed was the only proper piece of furniture there, with brown boxes littered around the floor.It looked like someone who never got around to fully unpacking.Subconsciously, I stretched my arms and yawned.That was when he walked in.Kade Wolfe.My stomach twisted at the sight of him. He was bare-chested with a pair of sweatpants hanging low on his waist, teasing me with the sharp outline of his V-line.I swallowed hard.“You’re up,” he said casually before picking up a black shirt lying nearby and pulling it over his head.My eyes trailed to his biceps and the flex of his abs from that simple movement nearly made my mouth water. He looked

ARIA“The groom is missing.”Everyone’s eyes turned to me, slowly.“What do you mean the groom is missing?” Amy asked. The bearer of the news said nothing else and scurried away.“I hope you don’t mind what that clown just said. It’s probably a prank. They do these things these days.” She rubbed my shoulders in a comforting way.She was speaking. I could see her lips moving, but I wasn’t hearing anything. It felt like a loud drum was beating in my head, drowning out every other sound.Margaret walked in next.“Aria, what the hell is going on? Where is your groom? What have you done this time?”Everyone was speaking at the same time.“Did her husband just abandon her at the altar?”“Psst… she didn’t even make it to the altar.”“I feel bad for her. But what was she thinking? That a handsome, promising man would settle for an invalid who spends more time in the hospital than at home?”“You’re right. No one wants such a burden.”My head spun, everything blurring almost immediately. I almo

ARIAWhen he knocked twice, I knew it was him. There was a reason I specifically instructed he knocked twice. It saved me the stress of guessing. I woke up feeling much worse than I had the previous day. The thrill I felt from crushing Adrian’s spirit wasn’t enough to keep me from falling apart. “How are you feeling today?” He asked after setting the breakfast tray down. I hated that he always saw me like this. At my lowest. “Fine.” I gritted out, even though my ribs hurt with any word that left my lips. “I overheard your parents talking about your marriage with Adrian. Are you really doing that?” I scoffed and looked away. His questions were irritate me now. “Is that why you barged in here this morning?”“Aria…”“I’ve never understood you, Kade.” I turned to face him squarely. “You leave when you want and return like nothing happened. You act like you don’t remember me, and yet you’re here worrying about my life?”“Because your safety matters to me. It’s my responsibility.”“I

KADE“And I will never hate you, Adrian.”I stood by the door, watching as she leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his cheek.As a trained security personnel who has undergone several high-risk operations requiring psychology to solve problems, I have never come across someone like Aria Hale.I didn’t understand her when she was a little girl grieving her mother, and I still don’t understand the woman kissing her cheating husband now. When I heard her crying after her cousin Cassie left, I expected her to call it off. Officially.I was surprised she didn’t.Not after the last dinner they shared, where she finally called him out on his bullshit.So imagine my shock when I saw him sitting in the chess room, cross-legged like he owned the place, less than forty-eight hours after she kicked him out.She walked past me without a word and headed for the stairs.Adrian, the fool, was still standing there, dumbstruck, her lipstick print burned into his left cheek like a mark of ownership.I

ARIA“What are you doing?”I lifted my face, dropping the compact powder back on the vanity. I turned to face him.Kade stood by the door in a well-tailored suit, hands tucked into his pockets. He looked as ravishing as always.“I’m not sure I understand you.”“Adrian Parker is in the chess room.”I squinted. Where was he going with this?I turned back to the mirror, finishing my makeup. I dragged the sharp red lipstick across my lips and pressed them together.I looked… decent.The concealer couldn’t hide how measly I looked.“I’m aware. I invited him over.”“W-what?” He spluttered.“Yes. I did.”I knew he had questions. Even I had questions for myself. I didn’t know how this would end.But I knew one thing.I wasn’t going to lose.“Adrian Parker. The lying cheat who’s been fucking your cousin for over a year?” My head snapped toward him.How did he know that?“How did I know?” he said quietly. “I know everything about you, Aria.”His voice softened, and I caught his expression in th