LOGINARIELLA I walked in. Leon was still at the desk, though now he was writing, his tongue slightly peeking out the side of his mouth in concentration. Sia sat across from him, watching, not interrupting. Just… there. Present. “Mom,” Leon said without looking up, “I’m writing now, you shouldn't inter
ARIELLA We went quiet for a moment, neither of us saying anything. The air seemed to shift, less playful, more real. Asher leaned back slightly in his chair, watching me like he was trying to read something I hadn’t said out loud. “You’re quiet,” he noted. “I’m thinking.” “About what?” “About
ARIELLA When I finally walked out of Leon’s study, I felt a lot better about the decision I had made. So I decided to go into Asher’s office. I lightly knocked, even though the door was partially open, and peeked inside. Asher was on the phone And the moment he saw me, he smiled and motioned for
ARIELLA When Asher walked out, I must have fallen asleep from the exhaustion, because when I felt his arms on my shoulders, telling me he was here to feed me, I thought he was joking about the feeding part. But then, it turns out....He wasn’t. Because as soon as I sat up on the bed, he held the s
ARIELLA When Asher walked out, I must have fallen asleep from the exhaustion, because when I felt his arms on my shoulders, telling me he was here to feed me, I thought he was joking about the feeding part. But then, it turns out....He wasn’t. Because as soon as I sat up on the bed, he held the s
ARIELLA Asher shoves me down against the counter and I buck, but he pins me in place by my hair, so I have no choice but to hold on to the edge of the marble. “Here’s the thing, I’m not going to lie to protect your fragile emotions. I am Don, and Leon is our son and heir. You are my wife and the
ASHER I felt something inside me snap. It was sudden, like a cord pulled too tight. I was breathing heavily on that sofa, staring, unable to move my eyes away from Mrs. Costa as she spoke. “Ariella was pregnant?” I asked, my voice sounding strange even to me. My chest felt tight, my mind racing.
ASHER I just sat there, staring into nothing, my heart aching so badly it felt like it had hands squeezing it from the inside. My stomach hurt too. I hadn’t eaten since last night, and the whiskey I’d been drinking since morning was burning its way through me like acid. And then it hit me. Ariell
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







