LOGINARIELLA The room was still dark, the faintest hint of early morning barely touching the curtains, and for a second I was too lost in the feeling of him even to think properly. By the time he finally pulled back, I was breathing hard, completely flushed, my chest rising and falling rapidly. I tri
ARIELLA "What do you mean?" “Tonight..... My mother humiliated me in front of everyone. Creating problems for you publicly... in front of everyone.” I looked away from him. “I know how these people are. I know how they talk and you have a reputation to uphold. I am supposed to....” Asher's enti
ARIELLA My voice cracked completely after that. “She is my mother." I began, trying to hold it together. "She's the only relative I have left, the only parent I have left, and I know my dad loved her. And as much as my mom was... that to me...” I swallowed painfully. “She was there for my father.
ARIELLA Leon had been a very welcome, loving, and warm distraction from all the emotions and the pain I was fighting inside. He had occupied my mind when I helped him to bed, when I read him a story, and when he fell asleep and I just sat there on his bed, watching him sleep, seeing him taking in
ARIELLA Asher helped me into the car carefully, like I might shatter if he moved too fast. The second I sat down, he followed after me, pulling the door shut behind him before anyone else could touch it. Outside, I could still see movement near the ballroom entrance. Men collecting phones and Guar
ARIELLA Asher lifted his hand slowly toward my face. For one terrifying second, I thought he was going to wipe the spit away himself.... Instead, he took out a handkerchief from inside his jacket and placed it gently into my hand. Like he knew I would break completely if he touched my face right n
That day had been bad. I didn’t feel like going downstairs. The weight of everything that happened...Luca, Asher, Alan my guilt, my silence, sat too heavily on my shoulders. And I guess Maria knew I wanted to be by myself, because Leon didn’t come up to bother me. Not even once. I stayed there, cu
Alan had taken me home last night. We got back safely. At the front door, he kissed my forehead. Soft, almost like a whisper and waited until I stepped inside before turning toward his house. Maria was still awake, just like she said she would be. She didn’t say a word when she saw me. Just closed
“I already told you...” I started. But Maria cut in, her voice turning serious. “Listen… if you really love Dana,” she said, her tone careful now, “and if she truly is the only family that man has left, then you won’t get close to him. Not like that.” She shook her head, eyes narrowing with quiet
Alan didn’t say anything at first, just exhaled slowly. I gestured toward the food. “Come join us for breakfast?” There was a pause and then, with a shake of his head and a muttered “Sure”, he walked over and pulled out a chair. And just like that, we were all pretending again. Like nothing had h







