روايات بقلم S. Doralis

Aria's pov I moved quietly through the penthouse after Max left the room, the door clicking shut behind him like a line being drawn. For a moment, I just stood there, staring at nothing in particular, listening to the silence settle around me. It felt different.Not comforting. Just… heavy.I walked toward the window slowly, the city stretched out in front of me, calm, controlled, exactly the way I liked it. Everything in its place. Everything predictable.Unlike me.My fingers lifted to my neck without thinking, brushing lightly over the spot Max had noticed. I froze there for a second, then let my hand fall.I lied to him…and I didn’t even hesitate.I let out a slow breath, folding my arms across myself as I leaned slightly against the glass. Ryan’s face flashed in my mind. The way he looked at me. The way he spoke like nothing about last night was accidental.And the worst part?I couldn’t call it a mistake.My eyes closed briefly. I could still feel the echo of it. Not just what

Aria's pov The morning light spilled on my face, causing me to turn to the pillow. My brows pulled together and I realized something.I wasn't on my bed.I sat up immediately, looking around me. Then the memories came back slowly. “Shit." I scrambled out of the bed. My legs got tangled in the sheet and I ended up slipping and hitting the floor.“Running somewhere?" Ryan stood at the bathroom entrance with nothing but a towel, wrapped around his waist. Water clinged to his tight muscles that I couldn't take my eyes away from.“Look Ryan, whatever happened, it was a mistake, like a really big mistake.”"But was it?” He asked, raising a brow. "Seriously, I'm engaged, I'll be getting married soon, this wasn't supposed to happen.”"What?You and I, we were each other's first love, got caught up in the moment and had sex.”"It's not so bad, Aria.”He was already in front of me. Looming over me like a shadow I couldn't shake off.He was so damn irresistible, I hated that he made me feel

Aria’s POVDinner with Ryan wasn’t supposed to mean anything.That’s what I told myself when I agreed to it.That’s what I told myself when I walked into the restaurant and saw him already seated, sleeves rolled slightly, looking like he had nothing to prove.And somehow I felt uncomfortable. “You’re late,” he said calmly, picking up a fork.“Sorry, I was busy.”“I figured.”I sat across from him, crossing one leg over the other as I set my clutch down beside me.“You clean up well for someone who used to avoid attention,” he added.“I don’t avoid anything anymore.”“I can see that.”The conversation after that flowed too easily.That was the first problem.“You built all this?” he asked at some point, gesturing lightly with his glass.“Yes, I did.”“On your own?”“Yes.”I pause for a beat, then.“That’s insane.”I almost smiled.“I had help,” I said eventually.He raised an eyebrow, “Max.”Ryan leaned back slightly, studying me. “Do you trust him?”“Yes, I do." My eyes locked to him

Aria's pov “They said you don’t lose.” I didn’t look up from the contract. “I don’t.” A pause. Then. “Then you might want to explain why someone just tried to kill your deal.” That got my attention. I lifted my gaze slowly. He hadn’t changed as much as I expected. Still the same sharp jaw, same steady eyes, just older now. Harder. Like life had taken its time with him. “Ryan,” I said, leaning back slightly in my chair. “I didn’t realize you were in Ravaryn.” “I wasn’t,” he replied. “Not until recently.” His gaze moved across the office, the glass walls, city view, huge space, before settling back on me. “You’ve done well.” “That’s one way to put it.” There was a pause, it wasn't uncomfortable. Just heavy things we weren't saying. “You disappeared,” he said finally. “So did you.” “My mother arranged something,” he said after a moment. “Big client. Different city. I left the day before…” His voice trailed off Before our pack got slaughtered. “I

Aria's povThe noise followed me out, muted, distant, like the world was still happening somewhere far behind me, but I had already stepped out of it.​The balcony doors slid shut with a soft click. Finally some silence.The cool air brushed against my skin, steadying me. I rested my hands lightly against the railing, staring out at the city lights of Ravaryn as they stretched toward the horizon. I didn’t realize I was holding my breath until I let it go, slowly, carefully, with the kind of control I had spent two years perfecting. My thoughts drifted slowly to the past. When the one person whose betrayal hurt the most was the one I loved more. Maeve.When I left, I discovered that all she ever wanted was the Vaelor twins. Her hatred for me was deep that even Julian only had to use for his selfish desires. But the poison was already there from the beginning. I shook my head slightly, trying to let go of the past. I had moved on to a new phase of my life. Enough of the past now.I to

Noah's povThe applause continued while their lips were still locked. Laughter bled into celebration. And I stood there— Still burning, trying to process what I was looking at. My fingers tightened slowly around the glass in my hand. The faint crack of pressure barely registered over the noise in my head.​Cassian moved first. Of course he did.​He took a sharp step forward, then another. The air around him turning dangerous. ​“You’ve got some nerve,” he said. His voice was low, but it cut clean through the noise of the ballroom. “Disappearing for two years and walking back in like this?”But Aria didn’t flinch. Not even a little.​Cassian let out a humorless laugh. “What? No explanation? No apology?”​She tilted her head slightly, her eyes were steady and unblinking. “I don’t owe you either.”Maeve let out a soft, sharp, ugly sound that should have been a laugh.​“Well,” she said slowly, stepping forward just enough to be seen. “I suppose we should congratulate you.” Her gaze sli

Ava's povAt that point, I wished nothing more than for the ground to open up and swallow me.Ryan leaned back in his chair like this was a normal introduction.“Oh” My mother laughed lightly, completely unaware. “You two know each other already?”My fingers curled tightly in my lap beneath the table, gripping the soft fabric of my dress. I pressed my nails into my skin just to feel something steady. Ryan's expression remained calm, almost bored… but his eyes were locked on me.“School,” I said finally, forcing the word out. “We go to the same school.”A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.“Yeah.”Victor smiled, clearly pleased. “Well, that’s convenient. Saves us from the awkward introductions.”My mom squeezed my shoulder, her excitement practically vibrating through her. “See? I told you everything would work out perfectly.”I risked a glance at Ryan, who was still watching me, probably waiting for me to crack.My stomach twisted. It was all a game to him.My fingers tre

​Ava’s POV​"You look beautiful, honey," my mother said, her voice tight with a nervous kind of excitement I hadn't seen in years. "Victor is so excited to finally have us all together. His son is joining us, too. I’ve heard he’s... well, he’s a bit intense, but I’m sure you’ll get along."​"I'm sure," I murmured, smoothing out my silk dress. My mind was miles away, wondering if Ryan was currently telling the hockey team that I was his property for the week.​I looked at my mum. She was glowing, grinning like a teenager. She had been absent for most of my life, especially since the divorce, and now she was moving on like nothing had ever happened. She chatted happily, her tone the same breathless pitch as when she’d called me at school.​"Ava, darling! I know it's been a while, but I have the most incredible news," she’d said over the phone. "I'm getting married. To Victor. We’ve decided not to wait. We're moving into his estate this weekend."​My stomach had dropped. "Married? Mum,

​Ava’s POV​"Are you two... actually together?"​The question came from a girl in the hallway who had her phone angled perfectly to catch the answer. The crowd had slowed waiting for the punchline.​I opened my mouth to say something, anything to lower the heat, but a heavy arm went over my shoulders before I could speak. Ryan pulled me against his side, his warm body a contrast to my cold skin.​"Yeah," Ryan said, his voice dropping into a low, possessive tone that vibrated through my own chest. "She’s mine. Any more questions?"​My heart hammered against my ribs like a trapped bird. She’s mine. It was just a line. Part of the act. But the way he said it, so certain, so final, it sent a shiver down my spine that had nothing to do with fear and everything to do with the way he was looking at me.​"Walk," he murmured into my ear.​He didn't ask. He just took my hand, his long fingers sliding between mine and locking tight. Ryan was used to the attention, hell he was the "King of the I

Ava’s POV​The weekend went by in a blur of avoided phone calls. I knew I should have stayed home.​I woke up to the sound of a dozen notifications on my nightstand. I reached for the phone, squinting at the harsh light of the lock screen. The school confessions post from the party was still at the top of my feed, the image of me and Ryan blurred but unmistakable.​The caption read: The Queen of Hearts just took the King. Sorry, Daniel. Looks like you’ve been replaced.​"Oh, no," I whispered, pulling the covers over my head as if it could shield me from the entire internet. I scrolled through the comments, my stomach twisting with every word.​“Is this a prank?” I read aloud. Further down, another user asked, “Wait, isn't she dating that guy Daniel?”“Ryan Carter doesn’t date. He barely speaks. How did she pull this off?!”​Then, a text from Lily slid into view: MEET ME IN SCHOOL ASAP!!!!​I groaned and rolled over in bed, staring at the ceiling. An hour later, I was stepping into th

Ava’s POV​I was kissing the most popular person in school, and I couldn't stop.​I had expected him to push me away. I expected him to laugh or look at me with the same boredom Daniel did. Instead, I felt his hand slide from my waist to the back of my neck, his fingers tangling in my hair with a grip that made my knees go weak.​When I finally pulled back, my heart was hammering so hard I thought it might actually break through my ribs. I couldn't look at the crowd. I could only look at him.​"Whoa," someone breathed nearby.​The heavy silence of the room broke all at once. The music seemed to roar back to life, followed by a wave of whispers.​"Did Ava just…?""With Ryan Carter?""Is she insane?"​"Ava!" Daniel’s voice cut through the noise, sharp and vibrating with a fury I’d never heard from him before.​I turned slowly. Daniel was staring at us, his face turning a bright red with his fists clenched tight at his sides.​"What the hell was that?" Daniel stepped toward us, ignoring

Ava’s POV​I didn’t know my boyfriend was cheating on me until someone handed me the video.​"Ava… don’t freak out, okay?" Lily whispered as she handed me the phone.​"Why would I—"​"Just… watch."​It was a livestream. The comments were pouring in and the views kept rising. When I saw the username, my stomach did a slow flip. It was Nina, my roommate. She was a content creator, always chasing views, but this stream didn't just break my heart, it shattered my entire world.​I could hear the moans in the background, a sound I knew I’d never be able to forget. It was in our room. My bed. She was on top of someone, her back arched, her legs spread wide.​Then the camera shifted, and I saw him. Daniel. My boyfriend.​His hands were on her waist, guiding her, pulling her closer. They were laughing, drunk, careless, and completely oblivious to the phone recording them. Or maybe they just didn't care.​"No…" I tried to breathe. ​"Turn it off," I said, my voice sounding like it belonged to a