LOGINEthan’s POVI watched her from the doorway as she stood on our rooftop terrace months later, the city lights glittering like a thousand silent witnesses behind her.Aria laughed softly at something on her phone, the sound light and unguarded. Her fingers drifted unconsciously to the faint scar on her side, tracing it through the thin silk of her robe. The mark was small now, barely noticeable, but to me, it would always be a reminder of the night I almost lost everything.She looked peaceful. Whole. Mine.And I knew I couldn’t carry the weight of my secret any longer.I stepped outside and wrapped my arms around her from behind, pulling her firmly against my chest. My chin rested on her head, breathing her in a warm and familiar way.She leaned into me instantly, trusting, soft.“I need to tell you something,” I murmured against her hair.She turned in my arms, her eyes searching mine. “What is it?”I exhaled slowly.“I knew.”Her brows knit together. “Knew what?”“About Brandon and T
Three days later, while Aria slept peacefully in her hospital room beneath the soft glow of humming monitors, Ethan stood in the hallway, speaking in low, controlled tones with two of his most trusted private investigators. Their expressions were grim, yet there was a quiet satisfaction in their eyes.“We got them,” the lead investigator said, handing over a thick folder. “Ballistics match the rifle found in Brandon’s rental car to the bullet that hit Aria. Tamara acted as the spotter...she fed him the exact location and timing from a concealed position near the tree line. Phone records, GPS data, and encrypted messages confirm everything. They planned it together. Brandon pulled the trigger.”Ethan’s jaw tightened as he flipped through the file, his eyes darkening with cold fury. “Arrest them,” he said flatly. “Now.”Within hours, Brandon was taken into custody at his downtown hotel. He had been in the middle of a conversation with a business associate when federal agents, alongside
A sharp crack split the quiet air.Aria jerked violently in Ethan’s arms. Her eyes widened in shock as pain exploded through her side. She clutched at him, a small, broken gasp escaping her lips. Blood bloomed hot and fast across the white linen of her shirt, spreading rapidly.“Ethan…”Her knees buckled.He caught her instantly, one hand pressing hard against the wound while the other supported her weight. “Aria! No....stay with me!”She was already growing pale, her breath coming in short, shallow bursts. “It hurts… I can’t…”Ethan didn’t hesitate. He scooped her up, shoving his jacket tightly against her side to slow the bleeding, and ran toward the car. Her head lolled against his shoulder, her body limp and trembling.“Hold on, baby. Just hold on. I’ve got you. Stay awake for me.”He laid her across the back seat, one hand still pressing the makeshift bandage while the other fumbled for the keys. The tires spun on gravel as he tore down the narrow road, his voice raw as he kept t
The conservatory had grown cooler as night settled fully over the city, but the warmth between them kept the chill at bay. Ethan kept one arm securely around Aria’s waist while his other hand traced idle, soothing patterns along her side slowly sweeps from her ribs to her hip and back again. The gold pendant he had given her rested cool against her skin at first, then warmed quickly from the heat of her body. She touched it now and then with her fingertips, a small private smile playing at her lips each time.“You’re quiet,” he observed gently, voice a low rumble against her back.“I’m thinking,” she replied, tilting her head so she could look up at him. Moonlight filtered through the glass ceiling, silvering the edges of his jaw and the faint lines at the corners of his eyes. “About how different this feels from everything that came before. The spying, the messages, the careful games we played tonight… none of it touches this part of us.”He shifted slightly, adjusting so she could
Later that evening the conservatory lights dimmed to a soft golden haze. Ethan had excused himself for a few minutes while Aria finished the last of her tea. When he returned he carried a small silver tray holding two crystal glasses of deep red wine and a single white rose in a slim vase.He set the tray on the table and offered her his hand. “Come with me.”She took it without question, letting him lead her to the center of the room where the orchids framed a clear space on the marble floor. He pulled her close again, one arm around her waist, the other hand clasping hers as though they were about to waltz. Soft music began to play from hidden speakers—something slow and instrumental, strings and piano weaving together like a secret.They moved in gentle circles, bodies aligned, her cheek resting against his chest so she could hear the steady rhythm of his heart. The rose sat nearby, its petals catching the light with every turn.“You planned this,” she said softly, a smile in her v
Ethan had cleared the small wrought-iron table for lunch—simple plates of fresh fruit, crusty bread, and soft cheese. Aria sat across from him in a loose white linen shirt, sleeves rolled to her elbows, hair twisted up with a single clip. Sunlight caught the faint gold strands and made her skin glow.Ethan poured her a glass of chilled sparkling water with a slice of lemon, then filled his own. He watched her for a moment as she tore off a piece of bread and dipped it absently into olive oil.“You’re thinking about her again,” he said quietly, not an accusation, simply an observation.Aria glanced up, surprised for half a second, then offered a small smile. “Only because I can’t decide whether to feel sorry for her or keep enjoying watching her unravel.”He reached across the table and took her hand, lacing their fingers together. His thumb stroked the back of hers in slow, soothing arcs. “You don’t have to decide today. We can let her stew a little longer while we enjoy this.”She sq







