LOGINARIA’S POV Two days of tests, monitors, and forced rest, and the doctors finally decide there is nothing left to find. No dizziness. No nausea. Everything back to normal—or as normal as my body ever gets. They discharge me with a strict warning about monthly check-ups. Naomi has already promised to take personal charge of my diet and recovery. I am more than ready to leave. The hospital gown slips off my shoulders with a soft rustle. Comfortable or not, I never want to see the damn thing again. I stand by the bed reaching for the clothes my family left folded on the chair. Everyone else has already taken my bags downstairs to the cars. Only Noah remains, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, watching me like he has all the time in the world. “Aren’t you going to follow them out?” I ask, tipping my chin toward the door. He pushes off the wall and walks toward me slowly. “Why should I?” His eyes drag down my body without shame. “Are you shy about undressing in front of
THIRD PERSON'S POVNoah followed Mike in his direction. Immediately they turned the corner, he felt the sharp crack of a fist connecting with his jaw.The impact snapped his head to the side. He staggered back a step but didn’t raise his hands. He had expected it. He deserved it. “Is this your idea of protection?” Mike’s voice was low, dangerous, shaking with restrained fury. “Is this what the great King power looks like? She’s been dragged through bad press, ended up in a coma, unconscious for days—what else has to happen before you admit you’re failing her?” Noah wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand and said nothing. Mike’s second punch landed hard against his chest, forcing another step back. “You got her pregnant and left her to survive it alone. Do you have any idea what that pregnancy did to her? The sleepless nights? The fainting spells? Watching her waste months in hospital beds while her body tried to kill itself keeping that child al
THIRD PERSON'S POV The study was dim except for the glow of the computer screen. Jamie sat hunched over it, the glow reflecting in his tired eyes as numbers filled the display. Four nights into their marriage, the house still felt temporary — like something borrowed rather than built. Lora slipped into the room wearing the new lingerie she had bought for the occasion, all black lace with intention. She moved behind his chair and coiled her arms around his shoulders, pressing herself against his back. “Jamie boo,” she murmured near his ear, voice soft and coaxing. “When are we leaving for our honeymoon?” He didn’t look away from the screen. “Lora, stop. You’re not a child.” He reached up and firmly removed her arms. “I’ve been buried in this for days. The business are in critical condition. Try acting like an adult for once.” The dismissal landed hard. Lora’s expression tightened as she stepped back, arms crossing over her barely covered chest. “Who’s the one not thinking like an
ARIA'S POV My eyes open slowly. They feel heavy, sticky, as if they’ve been closed for far longer than a normal night’s sleep. My mouth is dry. When I try to shift, my muscles hurt and feel stiff. For some seconds, I don’t know where I am. Then I hear the beep of monitor and faint smell of antiseptic. Hospital. I'm in a hospital. Why? Before I can process further, voices rush in. “She’s awake—oh my God, Regine’s awake!” Daisy is the first one I see clearly. Her eyes are swollen and red, face bare of makeup. She launches herself at the bed and wraps her arms around me, careful but desperate. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here for you,” she whispers against my hair, voice cracking. “I’m so sorry, Aria.” The rest of the room moves at once. Antoine is already leaning in too close. Aline smacks his arm. “Why are you hugging her so tightly? Do you want to compress her lungs?” “What’s your problem? Leave me alone,” Antoine shoots back, but he loosens his hold anyway. Uncle Mike st
THIRD’S PERSON POVNoah paced the corridor for what felt like the hundredth time, the soles of his shoes silent against the polished floor. Every few minutes he stopped a passing nurse, voice low and controlled but edgy. “Any change?” Each time the answer was the same. Still unconscious. Still running tests. Three hours. How the hell was that possible? He dragged a hand down his face, jaw tight. The image kept replaying—Aria’s face losing color mid-sentence, the sudden cough that turned into a struggle for air, Her knees giving out. One second she was cold and cutting him down with that fury of hers. The next she was falling. He had caught her. But the sound of her name tearing out of his throat still echoed in his ears. Staff had come running — and then the paramedics, the stretcher, the ambulance rode through had been a blur.He had ridden in the ambulance with her, one hand locked around hers the entire way, refusing to let go even when they wheeled her into the ER. Now he w
ARIA’S POVAlexis sits cross-legged on the bed beside my half-open suitcase, helping me fold the few pieces of clothing I actually brought with me weeks ago—when my uncle came to visit. “I’m going to miss you so much when you leave,” she says, carefully smoothing a blouse before placing it on the pile. I glance up from the outfit I’m setting aside for the studio tomorrow — a soft black trousers and cream blouse I can move in while working with Genevieve’s team. “I’ll miss you too. You can always come visit, you know. “You bet your ass I will.” She grins, then pauses, fingers brushing over the side pocket of my bag. “Ooh. What are these? They’re really nice.” I glance over. She’s holding up one of the handkerchiefs—the expensive ones my strange business partner—Mr junior insisted I take the last time we met. “A business partner gave them to me,” I say. Alexis makes an impressed sound, then suddenly leans forw
ARIA'S POV I stare up at the towering glass skyscraper of King Atelier. The building is breathtaking—a sleek masterpiece of white marble, brushed steel, and massive glass windows catching the bright sunlight. My dream building. Very soon, my business would surpass this heights. The revolving do
JAMIE'S POV From the center of the stage, even with the flashing cameras going off like gunfire, I still found her. Aria. And damn, she looked unreal. Aria had always been beautiful. Not just pretty but dangerously beautiful. People stare too long when they see her, I have to glare at them to sh
ARIA'S POV “Then go,” my father growled, standing up from the table. “I disown you as my daughter.” “Don’t say that, dear…” Carolina fake-interjected. “No, Lina. Let her go.” He yelled at her. “You idiot!" He says addressing me. "Was I the one that asked him to dump you, Aria? If you had be
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







