Mag-log inAria’s POVI searched again.I checked the nightstand, the vanity drawers, my jewelry box, the wristwatch cases, the closet, my handbag, and my wallet! Hell, I even checked the bathroom! But I could not find Edrick’s debit card.Did he really take it? No, he wouldn't.I sat on the floor amidst scattered bags, dresses, and half-folded rugs.Edrick would not do this to me.He had moved out completely, that I understood. But taking his card? He always left it here carelessly in case I needed something for myself or Jaime.I stood up and checked the messages on my phone.Clarice, the lady from our association, was having an auction. I needed Edrick’s card badly. If not, those women might suspect something is not right in my life. From there, they will start monitoring my life. Once they find out Edrick is leaving me, I will be kicked out of the association. Those bitches have always hated me because I was not high-born. Without Edrick's name, I will go back to being nothing. Purely irrele
Alina's POV"What? Why has no one said a word to me?" My question was directed mainly to Hannah. I cannot believe that the sickness has gotten bad to the point that she no longer wants to be alive.I tried to fight back my tears. I did not want to hurt them further than they already were. But it was too late, because Lila was already sobbing. Hannah wrapped an arm around her, tears streaming down her cheeks too.Lord knows I will never understand the depth of their grief. I had only known Grandma Vale for a short period of time. Yet, the thought of losing her was killing me. What about them? They had known her, lived with her through sad and happy moments, through the good and the bad days, throughout their lives. I can only wonder about their level of ache. I can only wonder what they were feeling. I could only wonder what Edrick was feeling.My heart stung at the thought of him grieving. I remember clearly the relationship he had with her on the island. The way she'd yell at him lik
Alina's POVI was seated in my favourite spot at work. The balcony where all my creativity flows. But today, I was unable to put the pen on the sketchpad.Not just today. For the past two days, all I did was sit here, watch the beautiful view, and procrastinate. That is all I have done since the day Edrick left my apartment.He had called me Alina. And I had sent him away. So why was I wasting my days waiting on the balcony as if he would sneak up on me like he has done in the past?But today, the third day after that incident, I finally started giving up. Maybe he heard me and chose to stay away. How long will he avoid this office?"Liana? Are you busy?" Hannah wrecked my train of thought. I was so engulfed in it, I hadn't noticed when she appeared."We have a guest," she added.Hope welled in my heart. Was it Edrick?But Hannah would not address Edrick as a guest. Still, I kept an open mind. Well, at least until she continued."She is a fan of your designs. Can you spare a minute to
Edrick's POVAlina is Liana.I was still confused as to how that is possible. But then, deep down, I was convinced she was the one. That was the only explanation to the pull I had towards her. To how every touch, every kiss, felt so familiar, so drowning, so irresistible and so addictive.But again, it made no sense. I was there. I watched that warehouse burn. I did not leave the spot until I was convinced she was really gone. The place was surrounded by policemen. I heard her scream before the place exploded. Her jewelry was found there alongside remains.The more I tried to make sense of the whole issue, the more frustrated I got.Instead of going home like I had intended, I went to John's office."Congrats on your promotion," I said, as I sat down in the vacant seat in his office.John looked at me as if I had just fallen out of space. I did not blame him. After losing Alina, I blamed him for not acting fast and then proceeded to cut him off."Well, isn't this a surprise?" he said,
Alina's POVHe said it.He said my name.He stood frozen in place and stared into my eyes in surprise as if he was just figuring this out.I did not know what to do. Whether to move, or to just stand there and let him believe what he had just discovered."Bu— Bu— But how?" His voice shook and I swear his eyes were slowly filling with tears."You, it, it can't," A bit of doubt flashed through his eyes. Still, his gaze would not leave mine.He looked away briefly, trying to digest the information. All I needed was a little bit of doubt from his side, then I will deny this completely."Alina, you survived? But I watched you burn to ashes." His face twisted in pain as he uttered that word. Still, I remained silent."How are you her?" He inched closer, and closer, trapping me between him and the wall again. He tucked the strands of hair in my face behind my ears. Then with hands that trembled slowly, he cupped my face. His hands were cold, but that was not the cause of the shiver running d
Edrick's POVI dialed Adrian's number for the 100th time as I drove towards the office. He was not picking.I shoved the phone to the passenger seat, and picked up the picture again. The more I stared at it, the more confused I got. I had not noticed it earlier. Though seeing the faces looked familiar, I could not point out where I recognized the face from.Not until I got to this particular picture. It was the brightest out of all. I could not tell if it was Aria or Alina, but the wide contagious smile looked exactly like that little girl when she said, "Goodbye Jaime's Dad."The face looking back at me was Clover's face. Exactly.How? How?Her resemblance with Jaime was obvious. But it was not weird. But now, I just realized she looked exactly like Aria and Alina. What fucking coincidence is this.I pulled over at the office and went straight to my secretary. "Where is Adrian?""Sir, he's in the meeting with the..."“Tell him I need to see him now.”I sat down in my chair, but it fe
Alina’s POVI saw him through the glass door before he even stepped inside.Edrick.sweatpants hanging low on his hips, shirt clinging to his chest, hair a little messy from the salty morning breeze. God. Why did he have to look like that? Why did he have to exist in a form specifically designed t
– Alina’s POV I knew I should have left the cinema the moment he walked out. That would’ve been my chance, my escape. But I didn’t move. I sat there, frozen, my fingers brushing over my lips where his kiss still lingered. It felt like my whole body was holding its breath, waiting for something
Chapter 29 – The Taste of JealousyAlina’s POV“Stop flattering me,” I said, rolling my eyes and trying to hide the heat creeping up my neck.“I’m not flattering you,” he said, his voice calm and firm. “I’m fucking serious.”His words caught me off guard. He stared at me like he meant every syllabl
Edrick’s POVHer lips tasted like something I couldn’t describe, sweet, soft, and dangerous.I kissed her deeper, hungrier, like I’d been starved for years, and she was the only thing that could satisfy me.At first, her body was stiff. Frozen.For a second, I thought she’d push me away. But then h







