Se connecter*Ethan’s POV* I don’t know what the hell I’m supposed to do, but should I just stand here like a decent man and let another man who's her past, tear into her in front of everyone? Or defend the woman whose trembling fingers are laced through mine like I’m the only thing keeping her upright? Because all I know...all I know for sure is that I cannot stand here and watch someone shout at my woman. Not even her ex-husband who hurt her the most.Aria’s hand is cold in mine, too cold for a room this warm, this crowded, this alive with music and champagne and laughter that suddenly feels cruel. Her nails dig into my skin—not hard enough to hurt, but desperate enough to tell me she’s barely holding herself together. And then his voice cuts through the air. “Aria!” Lucien yelled, he didn’t just call her name. He throws it on her face like a command, like he still owns the right to summon her. Every head turned to see. I felt her flinch before I could even see it. She made a tiny, invol
(Aria’s POV) “We shouldn’t...we shouldn’t do anything here.” My voice came out shaky, breathless, almost betrayed by the way my body leaned toward his instead of pulling away. “It’s our first intimacy, Ethan. It shouldn’t be in a restroom.” I placed my hand on his chest, intending to create distance, but the moment my palm met the solid heat of him, he stilled. His gaze locked onto mine, his gaze dark and unreadable, like he was fighting something inside himself too. “Not here, Ethan,” I repeated, softer this time, like a plea. ”You don't know it's sinful to look this sexy right?" he said on my lips and I smiled. His jaw tightened. He rubbed his lips together slowly, the gesture alone enough to make my knees weak. Then, without a word, he took my hand and guided it downward. I bit my lips torturously as my fingers brushed against the hard line beneath his zipper, and I gulped. He was so hard that it startled me. Heat rushed straight to my belly, pooling between my thig
The kiss started slowly, each movement unhurried. His mouth was warm against mine, his hands cupping my cheeks, his thumbs brushing softly against my skin, stabilizing himself or maybe stabilizing me. My hands tightened into the fabric of his jacket, clinging to him, needing to touch him, desperate for more, and he responded by pressing closer, deepening the kiss like he’d been waiting all night for this exact moment, our lips and tongues glided together, a dance that was both gentle and consuming. I felt my body melt into his, the friction of his chest against mine, the heat of him radiating through me, the way he held me so securely it was almost impossible to think of leaving. He lifted me effortlessly, my legs wrapping perfectly around his waist, my heels fell and he placed me gently on the edge of the sink. His hands were calm and controlled, as if he knew the exact moment he could push and the exact moment he had to pull back. His forehead rested against mine for a heartb
After the dance ended, the room felt too loud, too bright, and my chest felt heavy in a way I couldn’t ignore. Maybe it was the stares I’d caught on the way in, maybe it was the weight of everyone watching us, maybe it was Ethan or maybe it was every single piece of that mix, pressing down on me until I felt fragile, exposed, like I could shatter in an instant. And the way some women were admiring Ethan annoys me but I don't even want to admit that I'm jealous.Well, I needed air. I needed to breathe, to escape for a moment from the crowd, from the lights, from the quiet, pressing intensity of him. My hand found his, the warmth of it relieving me. “Ethan,” I whispered, almost too quietly to hear over the lingering music, “please… let’s go to the restroom.” He’d been in the middle of talking to someone, a man with an important-looking watch and a confident laugh, but the second he heard my voice, it was as though the rest of the world disappeared. His attention shifted, fully, enti
Aria’s POV He drove straight to the venue. The ride there was quiet, not awkward, just heavy with anticipation. London glowed outside the car window—golden streetlights reflecting on wet roads, skyscrapers standing tall,the city always felt alive, but tonight it felt like it was holding its breath. The venue came into view almost too suddenly. He reached The Royal Halcyon Pavilion, where the party was held. A grand architectural masterpiece sitting proudly along the Thames—its glass façade glowing softly, chandeliers visible from the outside like suspended constellations. Black luxury cars lined the driveway, security positioned neatly at every corner. This wasn’t just a party. It was a gathering of power, influence, money, and reputation. And the moment Ethan’s car rolled through the iron gates, it became clear that they had been waiting for him because camera flashes erupted instantly, and relentlessly, like lightning strikes. Reporters surged forward behind barricades, their
Aria’s POV It’s a new year, another page, another breath, another chance to begin with something new… or maybe someone new. I stood in front of the mirror, the room was quiet except for the faint hum of the air conditioner, watching my reflection stare back at me like a stranger I was still learning how to recognize. The gown clung to my body perfectly, it was soft, elegant, and expensive. Ethan picked it for me. He always does. He chooses what I wear, how I style my hair, even the perfume I use sometimes. And somehow...I don’t mind. After everything I’ve been through, letting someone else decide feels easier than trusting my own judgment again. He’s my man now. That’s what this is, that’s part of what I said yes to. I smoothed the fabric over my hips, lifted my chin, and forced a small smile at the woman in the mirror. She looked calm, like someone put together and almost healed. I closed my eyes. “Father Lord,” I whispered softly, my hands clasped together, resting against my







