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 For a long time, there was only silence between us. I could feel her watching me. I could feel her presence behind my back like a weight I couldn’t escape, but she didn’t move or speak. The quiet stretched, almost unbearable, until finally, she broke it. Her voice was quiet, so quiet I could
ASHER When I went back home that night, I was drunk and angry. Those were the only feelings I could manage....rage burning through the alcohol and alcohol burning through the rage. I wanted to fight. I needed to fight. I even called Luca back, dared him to show up so I could land the blows that wer
ASHER When I woke up the next morning, I was exhausted. My head pounded with a headache so sharp it felt like a punishment, and my body was heavy, as though every muscle remembered last night. I caught the image of myself in the mirror, my knuckles bruised, the faint ache in my neck a reminder of
ASHER I swallowed, feeling the weight of her gaze. The truth was simple, but the words felt fragile on my tongue. Everything I had done, everything I had fought through just to be here, it all came down to this one moment, this conversation, right here in the quiet of the night, just the two of us.







