Novels by Nadiya Aziz

Aria..The next morning, I woke before sunrise. By six o'clock, I was already in the kitchen, helping the cooks prepare breakfast. Lucian had ordered me to assist in managing the household, and although I still didn't understand why, I decided not to complain. The kitchen was surprisingly warm and lively. The maids chatted while chopping vegetables, the chefs barked playful orders at one another, and for the first time in months, I felt like I belonged somewhere.After breakfast was served and everyone had finished eating, I hurried upstairs to shower. My body ached from standing for hours, but the warm water washed away the exhaustion. I changed into a simple outfit—a white blouse with an open back and a short floral skirt. It was much shorter than what I usually wore, exposing more of my legs than I was comfortable with. A younger version of me would have changed immediately, worrying about what others would think.Not anymore.I was tired of living in fear.If this was what I wante

Aria's POV..Lucian's words stayed with me long after I returned to my room."You look like an ugly worm that rolled through a gutter."No matter how many times I washed my face, I couldn't wash away those words. They echoed in my mind over and over again. It had been two months since I had entered this mansion, and not a single day had passed without him insulting or humiliating me. I always told myself his words didn't matter, that they were only meant to hurt me. But today... they did.For the first time, I looked at my reflection and questioned it.Was I really that ugly?Had I become so miserable that I no longer looked like the woman I used to be?I hated myself for even asking those questions, but his words had planted a seed of doubt inside me. Every insult slowly chipped away at my confidence. If this was his way of breaking me...Then he was succeeding.After changing into clean clothes, I remained in my room until one of the maids informed me that dinner was ready.I quietl

Lucian....I walked into my office and closed the door behind me. The silence was exactly what I needed. Removing my suit jacket, I tossed it over the back of my chair before pouring myself a glass of whiskey.Aria Romano.Any other man would call her beautiful.They would describe her as gentle, kind, and innocent.But I wasn't any other man.Every time I looked at her, I didn't see beauty.I saw the blood running through her veins.The blood of the Romano family.The blood of the man who destroyed everything that belonged to me.People said children shouldn't pay for their parents' sins.I disagreed.Some debts were too great to be forgotten.Some wounds were too deep to heal.And some families deserved to lose everything they loved.To the world, Aria Romano might have been the most beautiful woman alive.To me...She was the ugliest woman on earth.Not because of her face.Because of her name.I pressed the intercom."Send the head gardener to my office."A few minutes later, ther

Aria.....It had been two months since I was forced into this mansion.Somehow, I had gotten used to the silence.Or perhaps I had simply accepted that loneliness was now my only companion.Ever since the morning Lucian introduced me to Isabella, he had rarely been home. According to the maids, he was either with his girlfriend or buried in business meetings. I didn't know which was true, and honestly, I didn't care. The mansion felt less suffocating whenever he wasn't around.The only thing that caught my attention lately was the news.Rumors filled every business channel. Reporters claimed that the Devereux Group and the Romano Empire were preparing for the biggest merger in the country's history. Neither company had confirmed the reports, but the speculation refused to die.I pushed the thought aside as I wandered through the mansion gardens.It was my favorite place.Flowers of every color bloomed around winding stone paths. The scent of roses, lilies, and jasmine filled the fresh

Aria..The next morning, I made sure I reached the dining room before eight. I wasn't going to give Lucian another reason to punish me—or worse, someone else because of me. The memory of Natalia and her little boy was still fresh in my mind. I quietly took my seat while the maids arranged the breakfast on the long dining table. The room was peaceful without Lucian, and for a few precious moments, I was able to breathe without feeling his presence.The grandfather clock suddenly chimed.Eight times.Right on cue, Lucian walked into the dining room.Not a second early.Not a second late.Exactly at eight.His eyes immediately landed on me. A slow, satisfied smile appeared on his lips, as though he was pleased that I had finally learned to obey his rules. Without saying a word, he walked to the head of the table and took his seat. The maids quickly served breakfast, and silence settled between us as we began eating.For the first few minutes, neither of us spoke.I prayed the meal would

Aria...The guilt refused to leave me. No matter how hard I tried to push it away, Natalia's tear-filled face kept appearing before my eyes. I couldn't bear it any longer, so I quietly walked toward the front of the mansion. As I stepped outside, I saw Natalia standing near the gates with her little boy, who couldn't have been older than four or five. Her face was swollen from crying, and her son clung tightly to her hand, confused by his mother's tears. The moment she noticed me, she gave me a weak smile before looking past me toward the mansion. "Mrs. Devereux," she said through trembling lips, "please... I don't want to speak to you. I need to speak to Mr. Lucian. Please tell him to see me just once. I only need five minutes." My heart tightened painfully. "Natalia..." I whispered helplessly. She shook her head, tears spilling down her cheeks. "Please... my salary for this month has been deducted. I have rent to pay. I have groceries to buy. My son has no one but me. I just wan