INICIAR SESIÓNARIELLA The room was still dark, the faintest hint of early morning barely touching the curtains, and for a second I was too lost in the feeling of him even to think properly. By the time he finally pulled back, I was breathing hard, completely flushed, my chest rising and falling rapidly. I tri
ARIELLA "What do you mean?" “Tonight..... My mother humiliated me in front of everyone. Creating problems for you publicly... in front of everyone.” I looked away from him. “I know how these people are. I know how they talk and you have a reputation to uphold. I am supposed to....” Asher's enti
ARIELLA My voice cracked completely after that. “She is my mother." I began, trying to hold it together. "She's the only relative I have left, the only parent I have left, and I know my dad loved her. And as much as my mom was... that to me...” I swallowed painfully. “She was there for my father.
ARIELLA Leon had been a very welcome, loving, and warm distraction from all the emotions and the pain I was fighting inside. He had occupied my mind when I helped him to bed, when I read him a story, and when he fell asleep and I just sat there on his bed, watching him sleep, seeing him taking in
ARIELLA Asher helped me into the car carefully, like I might shatter if he moved too fast. The second I sat down, he followed after me, pulling the door shut behind him before anyone else could touch it. Outside, I could still see movement near the ballroom entrance. Men collecting phones and Guar
ARIELLA Asher lifted his hand slowly toward my face. For one terrifying second, I thought he was going to wipe the spit away himself.... Instead, he took out a handkerchief from inside his jacket and placed it gently into my hand. Like he knew I would break completely if he touched my face right n
After dinner, things settled into a quiet lull. It was clear Rosie and Leon were getting restless, both of them squirming and yawning. Rosie kept tugging on Alan’s ankle until he finally chuckled and said, “I would’ve loved to spend a few more minutes getting to know you, Ariana, but it looks like
Luca drives. And drives. And drives. At some point, I must have dozed off. When I blink back to consciousness, we’re parked in front of a building, not nearly as grand as the one I’d just left behind when Asher found me. It’s not terrible, but it’s older, and worn down. The kind of place where no o
ASHER I ground my teeth. “That was romantic, by the way,” he added with a smirk. “Who takes their mistress on a vacation like that? The pictures… you looked like a couple in love. Engaged. Married, even... Beautiful.” He laughed. I didn’t. “I cried a little,” he said, with that damn grin. “Not f
Still, the silence between us lingered long enough for me to break it. “I’ve seen you around… You live next door, right?” I asked “Yup. That modern grey house that looks like it’s judging the rest of the street.” I chuckled. “It’s beautiful. Do they pay teachers that well here?” Dana burst out l






