FAZER LOGINAriaEthan closed the door behind us and stood there for a moment, his hand still resting on the handle as if he was deciding whether to say something or let the silence take over. I moved toward the bed slowly, but before I could sit, his fingers wrapped around my wrist and stopped me.“Aria.” He said.I turned to face him, and the look in his eyes made my breath catch. The tension from earlier had not completely disappeared, but something softer had replaced it, something that made my chest feel tight in a different way.“Yes?” I answer slightly.He stepped closer until there was barely any space between us.“I do not like how tonight ended,” he said quietly.“Neither do I,” I admitted.His jaw loosened slightly, like my answer had given him some kind of relief.“Then let me fix it.”Before I could respond, his hand slid to my waist and pulled me closer. My palms pressed lightly against his chest, and I could feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath my fingertips. It grounded
AriaThe villa had fallen into a deep, almost unnatural quiet.Outside, the Aegean Sea whispered against the cliffs, the soft rhythm of waves brushing the shore like a lullaby meant to soothe restless minds. The moon hung high over Santorini, spilling pale silver light through the large windows of our bedroom.But sleep refused to come to me.I lay on my side, staring at the faint glow of the curtains moving gently with the night breeze. Ethan lay beside me, his breathing slow and steady, one arm draped loosely across my waist.A few hours ago, that simple gesture would have made me feel safe.Now it only made my chest feel tight.I shifted slightly, careful not to wake him.The events of the evening kept replaying in my mind. Tamara’s injured wrist. Ethan rushing her to the hospital. The tension that had settled between us afterward.And the letter.My heart skipped as my gaze flickered toward the nightstand.The letter was hidden beneath my clothes in the drawer. I had barely looked
TamaraThe wind coming from the sea had grown stronger by the time Brandon and I left the bar. It carried the scent of salt and night-blooming flowers through the narrow Santorini streets. The white buildings glowed faintly under scattered lantern light, and the island that had once felt romantic now felt like the perfect stage for something far more interesting.Brandon walked beside me with his hands in his pockets, looking far too pleased with himself.“You know,” he said casually, “watching you tonight reminded me of something.”I glanced at him.“And what exactly is that?”“That you always loved a good game.”A small smile tugged at my lips.“Games are only fun when the other players don’t realize they’re losing.”Brandon chuckled.“And Aria definitely doesn’t.”“No,” I replied calmly. “She thinks this is jealousy.”“Which makes it even easier.”We reached the edge of the road where his car was parked, but neither of us got in immediately. The warm night air wrapped around us whi
Tamara“You’re late.”Brandon’s voice carried easily across the dimly lit terrace of the small seaside bar.I slid into the chair across from him and removed my sunglasses, even though the night had already settled over Santorini. The place was quiet, tucked away along a narrow street that tourists rarely noticed. Soft music drifted through the warm air, and the sea shimmered darkly beyond the railing.“I had to wait until they were asleep,” I said calmly.Brandon studied me for a moment.His eyes moved to the white bandage wrapped around my wrist.A slow smile spread across his face.“Well,” he said, lifting his glass, “I see you committed to the role.”I glanced down at the bandage and let out a quiet laugh.“It worked, didn’t it?”He leaned back in his chair, clearly pleased.“So tell me,” he said. “How bad is the damage?”I took the glass of wine the waiter had just placed in front of me and swirled it slowly.“Oh, it’s only the beginning,” I replied.Brandon raised an eyebrow.“M
AriaThe villa had grown quiet.Too quiet.The kind of silence that presses against your ears and makes every small sound feel louder than it should.I stood in the kitchen, watching the kettle slowly heat on the stove. The faint hum of the appliance filled the room, but it did little to calm the storm swirling in my chest.Ethan’s words still echoed in my mind.Things don’t need to get physical.My fingers tightened around the edge of the counter.Physical.As if I were the kind of woman who would attack someone out of jealousy.As if the last twenty-four hours of our marriage had already painted me into that corner.I inhaled slowly and forced my shoulders to relax.No.Anger would only play into Tamara’s hands.And something about today felt too deliberate to be accidental.The kettle clicked softly as it finished heating.I poured the hot water into two cups and carried them toward the living room.Ethan was standing near the terrace doors, staring out into the darkened sea. The l
Aria“I did not hurt her.”The words left my mouth calmly, even though my chest felt tight with anger and disbelief.For a moment, no one spoke.The living room seemed smaller than before, the air heavy with tension. Outside, the last streaks of sunset had faded into deep blue, and the soft lights of the island flickered along the cliffs.Ethan ran a hand slowly through his hair.“I hear you,” he said finally.But the way he said it made my stomach twist.Because it sounded like someone trying to calm an argument, not someone who actually believed me.Tamara shifted slightly on the couch. Her bandaged wrist rested carefully on a pillow Ethan had placed under it earlier.“I really don’t want to cause problems between you two,” she said softly.Her voice was almost apologetic.Almost.I forced myself not to react.Instead, I crossed my arms loosely and leaned against the back of a chair.“No one is blaming you,” Ethan told her gently.That made something inside my chest snap.“No one?”
Aria’s POVI walked into the conference room and felt the air shift immediately. Ethan had promised he'd be by my side during this meeting, but no... Sophia just had to throw one of her usual tantrums to get his attention....Chairs scraped against the floor. Eyes turned, then looked away. Everyon
Aria's POVThe air in the room was thick, saturated with the warm musk scent of his skin and the faint vanilla clinging to mine. The bedside lamp painted everything in a hazy gold, but my heart hammered so violently I could feel it in my throat, drowning out the distant hum of the city.Ethan hove
Aria’s POVThe words were right there.Balanced on the edge of my tongue—sharp enough to draw blood, precise enough to end everything Sophia has been planning.It would take is one sentence and one revelation. The proof sat heavy in my purse downstairs, medical reports that would rip the mask off S
Aria’s POVHis arms were still around me, loose enough that I could step away if I wanted to.I didn’t.The hallway felt smaller than it had moments ago, as if the walls had leaned in to listen. The lights were dimmed, casting everything in soft amber shadows, and the storm outside had finally quie







