Mag-log inAria's POV As I stood to my feet, a sharp ache shot through my lower back. “Ow!” I promptly grabbed my waist and twisted around. The moment I did, I saw Mila standing at the doorway, doubled over with laughter. One hand clutched her stomach while the other wiped tears from the corners of her eyes. “Oh my goodness, Aria,” she gasped between laughs. “You should see your face right now.” Her laughter grew louder as she staggered into the room. The wild pounding in my chest gradually slowed while I rubbed my sore back. “That wasn't funny, Mila.” I slumped back into the chair. “I know, I know." She waved a hand dismissively, still chuckling. “But I couldn't help it.” Her eyes landed on the desk. “And honestly, who told you to sleep on the
Aria POV I opened my eyes to find him moving back, calmly pulling a clean shirt from the valet stand right beside where I was pinned. As he slid his arms into the sleeves, his gaze raked over my form.“What are you doing here, Aria? You should be sleeping in your room. Or did you come in here tonight to seduce me with that choice of outfit.”Confused, I looked down at myself to see my chest partially exposed and my nipples fully visible through the material. Oh God! I instantly crossed my palms over my chest, burning with mortification. “I… I didn't mean to dress like this.”Stupid girl. I should have looked in a mirror before going into a man's room at midnight. He was a red-blooded man after all, and my tight pajamas were accentuating every single curve of my body. A shudder ran down my spine as the vulnerability of the moment sank in. I felt so embarrassed, remembering the way he was looking at me earlier. In
Aria's POV Curiosity instantly took over as I gently stepped inside. The room was massively elegant. My eyes widened. Wow. I never knew he was so neat. Coming closer, I allowed my eyeballs to wander. The large king-size bed sat against a far wall, dressed in crisp white bedding. A luxurious brown leather headboard stretched behind it. Near the center of the room stood a circular coffee table accompanied by a sophisticated seating area. Floor-to-ceiling shelves lined one wall, filled with books arranged with precision. A large television hung opposite the bed. Warm lighting from a floor lamp softened the room's masculine atmosphere. Glass doors opened onto a private balcony overlooking the estate grounds. Everything reflected Alexander perfectly. There was another door leading to what appeared to be a dressing room. Rows upon rows of custom glass wardrobes filled the space. Each section had its own category—suites, shirts, trousers, ties, casual wear, caps, T-shirts, shoes, a
Aria's POV Our gazes shifted toward the glass entrance of the hall. A small group was making their way down the building. Alexander, his grandfather; his father, Mr. Dylan; and Isabella's father, Mr. Grey, emerged together. Although they walked in the same direction, they maintained a distinct, chilly distance from one another. Mr. Dylan carefully supported his elderly father's arm, guiding him down each step with quiet attentiveness. Beside them, Alexander moved with effortless grace, his hands tucked inside his pants pockets, his dark eyes fixed on the lady as if she were a mildly irritating obstacle blocking his path. Evie shrieked at the sound of her father's voice, her intoxicated confidence fracturing. But instead of backing down and retreating to the car as her father had implicitly demanded with his glare, her eyes instantly drifted away, landing on Alexander. “Alex…” she called desperately, her gleaming white nails aiming for the lapel of his dark green suit jacket.
Aria's POV The celebrant, a man in his late thirties, greeted Alexander with a handshake followed by a brief respectful embrace. “Hello, Mr. Blake. Happy birthday.” Alexander reached into the inner pocket of his suit jacket and retrieved a small velvet box. “This is a little token from me.” Judging by the size of the box, I guessed it contained a wristwatch because that's what businessmen loved wearing. And I bet the watch is worth a million dollars. “Thank you, Mr. Sterling.” Then his gaze shifted down to me. “Hello Mrs. Sterling. She is just as beautiful as always.” He complimented, a smile spreading across his face. “I'm so happy that your wife is indeed alive.” "Mrs. Sterling, you're welcome. We're joyful to see you healthy and alive.” I smiled back, nodding my head. “Thank you, and happy birthday to you.” “Thank you! Come, come… Let's have a drink to celebrate.” We all settled down around an exclusive, low-slung glass table. Alexander took the seat beside me, his
Aria's POV To be honest, they're incredibly boring right now. The two ladies stood before me, projecting years of pathetic, one-sided corporate rivalry with Isabella, and I simply didn't have the energy to care. Her eyes were piercing into mine. “Say that word again.” I sighed heavily. “I'm afraid if I do,” I replied calmly. “You might not live to see tomorrow's daylight.” As I spoke, my gaze drifted towards Alexander. The unspoken message was obvious. Everyone in this room knew how ruthless he can be when it comes to his wife. For a briefest moment, fear flickered across both their eyes. Oh. So my threat actually worked. Maybe that arrogant jerk was useful after all. The blonde woman tossed her hair over her shoulder. “No wonder your stepsister hates you so much.” I clenched my jaw. Seriously. These two ugly dolls are really testing my patience. They're lucky we're in a public space — I would have shown them the difference between Isabella and Aria. I pressed my lips
Alexander's POV I leant against my car, my eyes fixed on the dark woods surrounding the building.The sound of heavy footsteps on the floor broke the silence and my thoughts. I didn't have to turn around to know it was Williams. He was the only man who dared to approach me when I was in this state
Alexander’s POV Elizabeth hissed, leaning forward. "Pretending like she has lost her memory. I'm warning all of you; she’s had five years to study how she will attack this family. Who knows who she’s been working with?”“Auntie!” I was fed up watching her tormenting Aria.“One more word from you,”
Aria's POV If I had told Mila the truth, she might start believing I was Isabella too, and I wasn't ready to lose the only person who saw me for who I really was. She nodded slowly. “That’s good.” “We need to play it cool until we get out of here. So… what's the next plan now?” I drew a steady
Aria's POV I shook my head, taking another step back. “No! He's not.” “You don't get to decide that and rewrite my life like an author, just because it suits you.” “Do you think I’d twist everything to suit myself?” He asked quietly. “I think you're desperate,” I shot back. “Desperate enough







