LOGINARIELLA After breakfast, I tried to keep the morning as normal as possible. For Leon, and most importantly…For myself. “Mom,” Leon said, looking up at me, “should we go and prepare my study room? You told me that I could help.” “Of course,” I said. But before we walked out, I turned toward Marg
ARIELLA 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
ASHER Mrs. Costa knew the truth about Ariella and my father.... She has to. “What do you mean?” she asked on a swallow. “I want to know what happened.... Six years ago,” She took a death breath. "Ariella is gone. She died. And when she died, she made sure to pull my husband with her. That girl
ASHER I moved quietly, too quietly for a man coming home to his wife. Maybe deep down, I already knew what I was going to see... And then I saw them. My brother. My own blood. And my wife, tangled in sheets that weren’t meant for betrayal. Her hair spilled over the pillows, her body arching in wa
ARIELLA “No, it’s not too much,” I quickly said. I thought about it, trying to reason through my discomfort. I didn’t want to make this more complicated for him. And he was right, thinking about Leon and having him switch houses and schools so soon after everything… it was too much. “I think we’r
ASHER Dinara didn’t answer. She just kept looking at me, shaking her head, trembling like a leaf in the storm. “I need answers, Dinara,” I said, my voice cutting through the silence like a blade. “If what you’re saying means he raped you, then you’d better speak now. And if that’s the truth, know







