LOGINRiley's POVI sat behind my desk with my hands pressed against my head.I hadn't slept throughout the night.I couldn't.I had tried to close my eyes, but every time I did, Mariah's words played in my mind over and over again.I couldn't walk out of my office either.I didn't know where I would even go."I didn't know," I whispered as tears ran down my cheeks.This was the second time in my life I had felt so useless and weak.The first time was when I was young and helpless, but this was different.This time, I was the reason for my own destruction.Not only had I hurt the woman I had loved all my life, but I hadn't even recognized her."I deserve death," I whispered as more tears ran down my cheeks.How could I even bring myself to face her after everything I had done?Mariah had been the light of my life back when we were in college.I had no idea about her family's background, and I was sure she knew mine.But that didn't matter to me because she was different from all the ladies
Arielle's POVI was woken up by my loud alarm.Hours had gone by, and I had kept myself from calling Cassian despite the temptation. I couldn't even bring myself to look at the text notifications I had received.Yes, I was scared.And yes, I was a coward.I refused to face him only to have him reject me again.I had told myself multiple times that my soul was way older than the young body I was living in, but the fear was still there.Reincarnation hadn't taken away my emotions.It hadn't made me fearless.I looked at myself in the mirror, adjusting the clothes I had picked after taking a bath."Arielle, maybe fate has different plans for you in this life," I whispered to myself.It wasn't convincing, but it was enough to give me the strength I needed to go about my day without breaking down.I grabbed my bag and walked downstairs, ignoring my mother's humming that came from the dining room.She was obviously running late, and I was way too early.Either way, that was okay.As soon as
Cassian's POVI was woken up by my cell phone ringing.I groaned loudly and grabbed it, half asleep, from the dressing table, answering without checking who it was."What?" I asked in a low voice."Come home, now!" Father's voice commanded through the phone.I was instantly awake when I heard him."What?" I asked, sitting up."Home. Now!" he commanded again and cut the line before I could ask anything else.I stared at the phone for a few seconds.Something was wrong.Father never called me like that unless something had happened, and from the tone of his voice, whatever it was wasn't small.I forced myself out of bed and went into the bathroom to take a bath.I was feeling a little fatigued and hungry, but I knew my father wouldn't let it slide if I took more than an hour away from home. He had always treated my time as if it belonged to him.After dressing, I grabbed my things and walked outside.Nemesis was already waiting by the car."Home," I told him.He didn't ask questions.He
Cassian's POVI couldn't believe Slash had called me out for something like this.As it was, I wanted to see or talk to no one.I was going through emotions I had never experienced this intensely before.My chest felt heavy, and my mind was a mess.And every time I closed my eyes, I saw Arielle standing in front of me with tears in her eyes after I had called her a whore.I had destroyed her.I knew that.But then again, how could I turn down Slash's invitation without a proper explanation?Maybe I needed to be around my best friend.Maybe I needed to get high and get everything off my chest without caring about how pathetic I sounded.So I went.When I arrived, Slash welcomed me like always, with a joke and a happy tone that didn't match my mood at all.I barely reacted.We took our seats, and he immediately looked at me from across the table."Why the hell do you look like shit?"I stared at him.Normally, I would have insulted him back.Today, I didn't have the energy."I let her g
Soraya's POV"Are you okay?" Lady Chi-Chi asked while I packed the bottles into the crates.I paused for a moment and looked at her.I was okay in a way.But ever since yesterday, I had felt so uneasy.I couldn't really explain it properly, but something inside me just didn't feel right.Maybe it was everything that had happened.Maybe it was the strange feeling I had been carrying since meeting certain people.Or maybe I was simply overthinking things."I'm okay, Lady Boss," I answered.She immediately rolled her eyes.Since yesterday, I had started calling her that.When a customer came at me, throwing his weight and name around because he wanted me to act like the dirt he thought I was, Lady Chi-Chi had gotten very upset and stepped in.To shut the man up, she had pulled seven cards from her purse.I still remembered the sight.They went from a golden card all the way to a black card.Even I had been shocked.I had never seen so many cards like that in my life.When the man called
Arielle's POVI woke up with a headache that felt like my head was being ripped apart.I groaned low and slowly moved to sit at the edge of the bed, bringing my hands to my forehead with a low sigh."Arielle, how much did you drink?" I asked myself softly.I honestly couldn't remember the last time I had drunk that much.I stayed there for a few seconds, trying to collect my thoughts. My mouth felt dry, and my body felt heavy. Even opening my eyes properly seemed like too much work.Then everything from last night slowly started coming back.Cassian's friend.The pub.The liquor.Cassian.I swallowed hard.I got up and made my way to the bathroom. I stripped off my clothes and stepped into the shower, turning it on.As cold water poured over my body, I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.Almost immediately, images of what happened last night played in my mind.Slash sitting across from me.His serious expression.The things he told me about Cassian.The truth about his childhood.T
Arielle’s POVI lay on my bed, exhaling deeply as if I had been holding my breath for days. The walls of my bedroom had always felt familiar, like a shield—but now they felt like a trap.It was very late, yet I couldn't hear anyone's voice. Usually, Evelyn and Raya were noisy whenever they came int
Arielle’s POVI lay on my bed, tangled in sheets that I couldn't bring myself to fix. My mind was restless, and my heart beat louder than ever.Cassian.That name had become a curse for me.Every time I blinked, it was him I saw. The way he moved and smirked whenever things went his way. The way hi
Arielle's POV A few days had gone by, and I was trying my very best to ignore and avoid Cassian. Raya was now usually coming home late, and her excuse was, "I'm doing two shifts since my bestie Kayla sometimes goes to take care of her sick mother." I understood her, but I also felt very uncomfor
Arielle's POV"Better," I said to myself as I looked in the mirror.After breakfast and taking a bath, I felt refreshed, and since classes were starting later, I had an hour or so to myself."What to do?" I whispered as I turned and looked at my bed.Instantly, I smirked and rushed to grab my phone







