LOGINPrincess leaned against the balcony railing, enjoying the view, when she felt Noah step closer behind her. “Are you planning to spend the whole day admiring the scenery?” he asked. “Why? Is the scenery bothering you?” “Not at all.” His arms settled around her waist. “I'm just wondering how long it will take before you remember I'm here.” She glanced over her shoulder, amused. “You're standing right behind me. It's a little difficult to forget you exist.” “Yet you've been looking everywhere except at me.” “Should I apologize for having eyes?” “No. But I wouldn't complain if you used them on something more interesting.” Princess laughed and turned to face him. “You're unbelievable.” “And here we are.” “Unfortunately, I seem to have developed a terrible habit.” He raised a brow. “Of what?” “Putting up with you.” Noah placed a hand over his chest,
Later, as the family gathered in the adjoining sitting room, Mike found himself standing near the doorway. He was watching Daisy helping Lily put her shoes back on when Mamie called for someone to bring more tea. The brief distraction gave Mike a chance to approach. "Daisy." Her hands stilled but she didn't look up. "What?" "We need to talk." "No, we don't." Daisy replied flatly as she finished adjusting Lily's shoe and stood. "Please. Just a few minutes." Mike said, his voice lowered. Daisy looked at him then, and the coldness in her eyes made him feel as though the years between them had become a distance he couldn't cross. "There's nothing to discuss." "You disappeared." A humorless smile touched her lips. "Oh, did I now?" "I… searched for you." "How unfortunate." "Daisy—" "Don't." Her voice was low but sharp. "Don't stand there and act as though you have the right to question me about where I've been." Mike glanced toward the sitting room. The others wer
Princess sat cross-legged on the bed, a sketchbook resting on her lap. She had spent most of the afternoon going through the few things that had been brought to her room. Among them were several folders of her old designs, some carefully preserved, others bearing the marks of years of use. She turned another page, studying a gown she had designed before her accident. The fitted bodice flowed into a sweeping skirt, with delicate embroidery tracing the edges. Even without remembering the process, she could appreciate the thought behind every line. She had been good at this. Very good, judging by the collection spread around her. A small smile touched her lips as she reached for another sketch. Then a pair of arms slipped around her waist from behind. Princess startled, nearly dropping the sketchbook. “Noah!” “Yes, Princess?” His voice came from beside her ear, far too pleased with himself. She turned her head to glare at him. “Do you have to sneak up on people?” “I
The mansion had not held this many people in years. Princess stood near the base of the main staircase and watched her Paris family fill the entrance hall with tearful laughter and overlapping voices. Mamie held her face between both hands for a long time, eyes shining. Aline and Antoine took turns embracing her as if testing that she was real. The familiarity sat just out of reach—like a word on the tip of the tongue. Their faces were unfamiliar, yet something about them stirred a strange feeling in her chest. She recognized the warmth in their eyes, the familiarity in their voices, and the way Mamie hurried toward her with her arms open. She wanted to remember them. She wanted to understand why seeing them made her heart ache. But whenever she tried to reach for it, pain shot through her temples. Her family surrounded her, crying and holding her as though they were afraid she might disappear again. Princess stood stiffly at first, unsure how to respond. Their affection was ge
When she woke up hours later to the pale light streaming through the curtains, she blinked groggily—only to freeze completely. She wasn't on her side of the barricade anymore. Her face was pressed against Noah’s hard, muscular chest, her arm thrown securely around his waist. Panic flashing in her chest, she tried to quietly slide backward off the bed. But before she could move an inch, Noah’s eyes snapped open. His arm tightened like steel around her waist, pulling her flush back against him as a husky, amused smirk touched his lips. "Running away so soon, Princess? After using me as a body pillow all night?" Heat flooded her face. She opened her mouth to answer— The door burst open. “Mom!” Remy launched himself into the room, hair sticking up in every direction. “I woke up and you weren’t there! You were supposed to sleep with me!” Princess shot Noah a look that clearly assigned full blame. He only looked entertained, casually resting his head on his hand as he looked at
Remy nearly dragged her down the hallway.His small hand was locked around hers as if he was afraid she might vanish the moment he let go. When his room door swung open, words poured out of him in a bright, unbroken stream.“This is my room. Daddy had it redone last year. Look—these are our pictures.” He pulled her toward the desk where framed photos stood in careful rows. Princess with a much smaller version of him on her lap. Princess laughing in a Paris garden. Princess and a group of people he called Mamie, granduncles, and the rest of the family. “And these are the things you bought me. I kept everything. Even the broken ones.”He showed her a worn stuffed dog, a little wooden car, and a stack of drawings. He did not seem disappointed that she watched it all with polite, careful interest instead of recognition. He only seemed happy she was here. His voice never stopped.“Daddy is always busy. He travels a lot. Sometimes he doesn’t come home for days. He says it’s work, but I thin
ARIA'S POV When the morning light hit my face, everything hurt. My head throbbed so hard I almost fainted right back onto the pillows. My limbs felt like lead, completely pinned down by a deep-seated ache and my lips were cracked, dry, and bitter. Parting them sent a sharp sting across my mouth.
ARIA'S POV I dropped to my knees on the carpet of the suite, clutching my stomach. My breath came in short, ragged gasps.The room was turning upside down. I was drowning in waves of unnatural, terrifying heat that felt like it was cooking me from the inside out. My skin felt so hot it was actu
ARIA'S POV The ultimate power couple. That's what they call them. A bitter taste filled my mouth as Jamie and Lora looked at each other with loving eyes on that stage. Seeing how perfectly they fit each other felt like a blow to my chest, a pain so deep I literally wanted to rip my heart out jus
ARIA'S POV This wasn't an accident. Mario didn't have the brains or the motive to pull off something this huge alone. There was only one person ruthless enough to orchestrate this kind of public humiliation. Stepsister charming, Lora. Everything started adding up in my head. The two strange me







