ANMELDENARIELLA I took a second before smiling. “Okay,” I said. I didn’t want to push it. I didn’t want him to think I didn’t trust him… or worse, realise that I was jealous. Because that’s what it was, wasn’t it? Leon was already completely taken by her. Something I was still trying to figure out. And
ARIELLA We found Margaret was placing the last bowl on the table. “Everything ready, Margaret?” I asked. “Yes,” she said. “Everything’s ready.” “Okay, I’ll go get everyone.” Maria shook her head, already taking a seat. “I’ll just stay here. Why don’t you go and get them?” I paused, looking at
ARIELLA I froze. It wasn’t inappropriate. It wasn’t… that. But it was.... Familiar. Too familiar. Asher laughed, reaching up to ruffle her hair, messing it up playfully as someone would do with a younger sibling. “Hey, stranger,” he said. Leon stood beside them, smiling brightly, clearly loving
ARIELLA I exhaled. “Okay.” “I’ll see you later,” he said. “Don’t be late for dinner,” I responded. “I want a promise.” A small smile slipped into his voice. “Okay. I promise.” “I love you.” I couldn't help myself. “I love you too.” The call ended and I stayed there for a moment longer, star
ARIELLA The truth was… maybe I did. Maybe I had seen them before. Maybe I had grown up around them. But I didn’t actually know who had died. “I don’t know,” I said honestly. “Maybe.” Leon frowned again. “Then why didn’t you go to the funeral?” I hesitated. “I guess I should have,” I admitted
ARIELLA 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
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
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?”
Then, without a word, I turned and walked up the stairs, ignoring her calls as I disappeared into my room—where I finally let the sobs take over. ~~~~ When Asher called me that night, I was too tired and too angry to pick up, so I didn't pick up at all. So he sent me a text [Hey, are you okay?]







