LOGINARIA'S POV I'M BACK HOME“Tell him to check his desk drawer if he asks for me.”I lift my bag strap to my shoulders. Mira stands beside me, hands clasped tightly in front of her apron, eyes already glassy.“Miss Aria… when will you be back? The house will feel so empty. The matriarch left yesterday, and now you are packing up your things too. The mansion is going to feel so lonely. I’ll miss seeing your face. And little Remy—”“I’ll miss you too, especially the way you all look after my baby.” I glance toward the car where Remy is already settled, kicking his legs against the seat. “It’s only business. I’ll be back soon.”The leather pulls against my shoulder, reminding me that my flight leaves in less than two hours.She nods, but the way she presses her lips together says she doesn’t fully believe the lightness I’m forcing into my voice. I give her a quick hug anyway, then climb in beside my son.Matteo drives to the
ARIA'S POV The flashing neon lights of the Onyx Lounge do nothing to cool the frantic rhythm of my heart as I follow Alexis past the curtains of the VVIP section.Somehow, I’m already regretting my decision.I should have stayed back. I shouldn't have…Calm down, Aria.The moment we step into the booth, almost every head at the table turns toward us, but I barely register their faces. My eyes are pulled toward the center.Noah is sitting there, his frame casting a dark shadow over the leather seat. His white shirt is undone at the collar, his dark curls slightly ruffled, and his jaw is clenched so tightly a muscle jumps in his cheek. And beside him, looking like the cat that just swallowed the canary whole, sits Stephanie fucking Langford.“Aria. I didn’t expect to see you tonight.” She tilts her head. “How has your day been? We were just talking about you. You remember Lora, right? Your stepsister.”I follow the direction of her gaze to the corner of the table. Lora is angled tow
STEPHANIE'S POVThe private lounge on the top floor of the club is all low lighting, noisy as everyone in the lounge keeps cracking jokes, drinking and having fun.My mission tonight is very clear. I need to plant a sprout of doubt in his mind about Aria which is why I brought Lora with me.Lora is on my other side, already leaning toward Brian with that eager, wide-eyed look she thinks is charming. It makes my stomach turn. She doesn’t belong in rooms like this and it shows in every desperate smile. Still, she has proven useful. The information she delivered earlier was worth the irritation of bringing her.I press the sharp toe of my heel lightly against her foot, a painful reminder to bring her wandering focus back to the script.Lora flinches, tremors running through her shoulders before she catches herself, clearing her throat and forcing her features into a vulnerable mold. Hallelujah. Let the performance begin."I...“I just don’t understand why she won’t leave him alone,” Lor
ARIA'S POVNaomi turns in front of the mirror, examining the blouse I paired with a skirt. She tilts her head, then smiles.“You’re dangerous,” she finally says. “I came here for a simple afternoon and you’re rebuilding my wardrobe.”I adjust the collar slightly. “The proportions are better this way. You have the posture for clean lines. Most people waste it on things that are too busy.”She laughs lightly as she examines her nails in the reflection. “Then we’re doing matching colours. I’m thinking a deep rosewood. Something chic. It will look good on us, especially you.” She winks at me at her last word.We end up side by side at the manicure station, the soft whir of the dryers filling the comfortable silence between us. Naomi’s phone buzzes for the third time. She glances at the screen and her expression softens.“My husband again,” she says, not sounding the least bit annoyed. “He’s decided I’ve been away long enough. Keeps a
ARIA'S POV “Just a reminder, the appointment with Mr. Junior is still locked for next Thursday at eleven. He’s refused every alternative I’ve offered.” Sandra’s voice comes through the speaker. He said he will only deal with the owner of Aureline. No second designer, no senior associate. Only you.”I pinch the bridge of my nose, sketchbook still open on my lap. “Did he give any reason?”“Only that the pieces are for a private collection and he trusts your eye. He’s already transferred the holding deposit. I can try to push it another week if you need more time in New York.”“No. Keep it. I’ll be back in Paris by then.”"Perfect. I will lock it in immediately," Sandra sighed with immense relief. "We are all eagerly awaiting your return, boss. Safe travels."We go over a few more details—fabric arrivals, the junior team’s progress on the spring samples—before I end the call. Less than a week left. Noah and I still haven’t spoken. The fight— can it even be called that—has stretched l
STEPHANIE'S POVThe last takes wraps under the bright studio lights. Crew members begin resetting equipment while the director calls for a short break. I hand my prop weapon to an assistant and smooth the front of my costume, already calculating the rest of the afternoon.Coltrane Cruz stands a few metres away, accepting a bottle of water from his PA and shrugging into his coat. I cross the distance with an easy smile.“Coltrane. What do you say about running through a quick table read or some private run-through of the balcony scene before the main shooting. The choreography still feels a little loose on my side.”He glances over, polite but already half-turned toward the exit. “Yeah, sure. Just not today. I’m stacked.”“Oh, of course.” My smile doesn’t slip. “My driver is stuck in midtown traffic—can I hitch a—”Before the request can fully leave my lips, Coltrane offers a distracted wave over his shoulder and stride
ARIA'S POV The heavy front door clicked shut behind me. I stood on the smooth white marble floor of the foyer for a few seconds, to prepare myself before meetingtheir disgusting faces. Then I heard the laughter again. Louder this time. It was coming right from the dining room down the hall. L
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
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







