LOGINARIELLA I held his gaze. “I can’t survive without you,” I said again. “You won’t have to,” he replied quietly. “I’m going to be okay. I’ll come back. I have to. You and Leon are waiting for me. I won’t break that promise.” He lifted my chin gently so I had no choice but to look at him. “I just
ARIELLA I woke up to feel light kisses on my face. I opened my eyes to find Asher hovering over me, pressing soft kisses against my skin. I let out a small laugh as he brushed his lips against mine before straightening. He was already dressed. Tie in place. Hair perfectly styled. Everything about
ARIELLA When Asher is finally, fully seated inside me, the bed groans beneath our combined weight. He pulls back out just as slowly, and the friction is enough to make my head swim. He’s doing this on purpose; I can see the intent in his eyes. He’s paying me back for every stolen glance and silen
ARIELLA That did it. Asher's expression shifted, something deeper, more certain. And this time when he kissed me, I didn’t hesitate. Didn’t hold back. Didn’t think about later or tomorrow. Or anything waiting for us outside that room. I let myself go into Asher's arms. I shiver beneath his touch,
ARIELLA The moment the flash went off, both of them stirred. Leon shifted first, letting out a small, confused sound as he buried his face deeper into the pillow. But Asher.... Asher woke instantly. His hand tightened instinctively around the book on his chest, the other bracing slightly at his si
ARIELLA I couldn't believe him right now. “None of the above,” I replied quickly, turning away from his smug face and back to Leon. “Okay, listen. Dad is coming upstairs to read you a book.” “Yay!” Leon said instantly, already turning around and running out of the room. The moment he left, I le
Pop! pop! Suddenly there was the sound of gunshots in the air and I just froze. I don't know what happened as I sat there on the bed, frozen, but then suddenly Asher was in my face, talking to me. He was already dressed, he had never taken anything off, so he was fully dressed. I was the one naked
I stayed in the bathroom long after my mom left. I wasn’t doing anything in there—I just didn’t want to be in the same room with her while she kept trying to convince me to break up with Asher. That wasn’t happening. I had a plan. And the plan was going to work. I hadn’t expected Asher himself to b
The room fell silent. Then my mom broke it, her voice softer now, but still sharp. “Ariella, be reasonable for once. I’m doing this for you. For your dad. For myself too, yes—but also for the entire Costa timeline. Didn’t we tell you everything? We laid it all out. Why are you being so stubborn?”
I don’t know where I got the courage to answer him, but I did. "If I know why you’re here,” I said, “you also know why. We both know why I wasn’t picking up calls, and we both know why you’re here. There, case solved.” “You think you’re smart like that, huh?” I smiled, even though I was nervous a







