LOGINARIELLA My eyes instinctively moved around the table, searching. “Where is Maria?” The question slipped out more naturally than I expected. Not sharp, not loud. Just… there. Maria should have been at the table with Leon. She wasn't but Sia was, why? Sia’s smile didn’t falter, but it softened ju
ARIELLA The next day, Leon and Asher were up bright and early. They went through their morning routine and by the time I woke up, it was already around eight. I took a shower, got dressed, and headed downstairs, wondering why they still weren’t back. They had left at five in the dark of the morni
ARIELLA “What the hell is going on here?” Asher asked. Maria dropped the pillow immediately, Like she had just realised we were there. She stepped back quickly, wrapping her arms around herself, her eyes avoiding all of us. “Luca,” Asher said, his voice harder now. “What the hell is going on?”
ARIELLA Leon looked at Luca more carefully this time And for a second, I saw it.... The shift, the realisation that Uncle Luca wasn’t his usual self. Leon then just nodded slowly. “Okay, Dad,” he said. “I’ll go inside with Mom.” Then, like nothing had changed, continued “It’s bath time an
ARIELLA This time, Luca answered. “She climbed higher than she should have,” he said, his tone quieter now, steadier. “Lost her footing.” Leon’s eyes widened. “And then?” “Asher caught her,” Luca said simply, nodding toward him. “Before she fell.” Leon turned to Asher, as if he had just confir
ARIELLA Asher gave me a questioning look as he sat down. "What's going on?" He whispered low. I shrugged slightly. "Sia happened," I whispered back. Frowning. “So,” Asher said, turning back to Leon, “how was your day?” “It was fun!” Leon said immediately. “I learned so much. And she told me th
Asher brought his tip to my opening and pushed in a bit. I clenched at the intrusion, even as my body begged for more. Watching me, Asher licked his thumb and pressed it down on my clit, beginning to draw small circles as he began to thrust into me with shallow, gentle thrusts. Round and round his
That night, when Asher called, I couldn’t bring myself to pick up. I didn’t want to fall into the same pattern I had before—ignoring him to get him to give me what I wanted. But tonight, I just... couldn’t. When I woke up the next morning, my phone was full of missed calls and messages from him. I
I got to my bedroom, slammed the door shut, and threw my bag onto the floor. Then I climbed into bed, pulling the blanket over me, hoping it could somehow shut everything out. My mind raced with everything that had happened—what I’d done, what I couldn’t undo. Then the door creaked open. I looked
"Ariella, you can’t keep this baby." "Yes, I can," I answered flatly, not missing a beat. "Listen to me—" "No. I don’t want to talk to you. I’m not talking to you," I snapped. "What do you want me to do? You want me to have an abortion?" "Ariella, your father’s life and mine are at stake. The fa







