LOGINARIELLA I held his gaze. “I can’t survive without you,” I said again. “You won’t have to,” he replied quietly. “I’m going to be okay. I’ll come back. I have to. You and Leon are waiting for me. I won’t break that promise.” He lifted my chin gently so I had no choice but to look at him. “I just
ARIELLA I woke up to feel light kisses on my face. I opened my eyes to find Asher hovering over me, pressing soft kisses against my skin. I let out a small laugh as he brushed his lips against mine before straightening. He was already dressed. Tie in place. Hair perfectly styled. Everything about
ARIELLA When Asher is finally, fully seated inside me, the bed groans beneath our combined weight. He pulls back out just as slowly, and the friction is enough to make my head swim. He’s doing this on purpose; I can see the intent in his eyes. He’s paying me back for every stolen glance and silen
ARIELLA That did it. Asher's expression shifted, something deeper, more certain. And this time when he kissed me, I didn’t hesitate. Didn’t hold back. Didn’t think about later or tomorrow. Or anything waiting for us outside that room. I let myself go into Asher's arms. I shiver beneath his touch,
ARIELLA The moment the flash went off, both of them stirred. Leon shifted first, letting out a small, confused sound as he buried his face deeper into the pillow. But Asher.... Asher woke instantly. His hand tightened instinctively around the book on his chest, the other bracing slightly at his si
ARIELLA I couldn't believe him right now. “None of the above,” I replied quickly, turning away from his smug face and back to Leon. “Okay, listen. Dad is coming upstairs to read you a book.” “Yay!” Leon said instantly, already turning around and running out of the room. The moment he left, I le
ARIELLA I don’t know what he’s going to ask right now. “Tell you what,” I say, forcing a smile, “I’ll bake you a huge cake tomorrow after school.” “Yay! Yay!” His eyes light up. “Would you be coming to my birthday at school?” “I don’t know,” I answer carefully. “We’ll see. I’ll talk to your teac
ARIELLA I found myself slumping down on the wall beside the door, knees pulled up to my chest, my head buried in my arms. I don’t know how long I sat there, wrapped in my own heartbeat, in the ache of everything I had just witnessed. But then… I heard it. Click! The soft sound of the door opening
ARIELLA Luca’s voice dropped lower, deliberate, each word heavy as it settled into the room. “This isn’t about threats anymore. This isn’t about the mistakes we’ve already made. Those mistakes are already done.” He paused, letting the weight hang between us. “Right now, this is about survival. F
ASHER Ariella is smiling. Really smiling. Her hair is tucked behind one ear. Her hand gestures in midair as she talks, and then she laughs at something Maria says. That sound...God, that sound. I used to hear it in my dreams. I used to ache for it in the silence of every damn night. And now it’s







