LOGINDamage ControlAriana’s POVI waited for the ground to open up and swallow me, but nothing happened. Sadly. I stared at Jason, and the boy stared back confidently.As much as I knew his confidence was born out of nativity and utter innocence, I found it a little annoying… not enough to express my feelings though.Jason was completely unaware that he had probably just created the most uncomfortable breakfast conversation in history.Across the table, Kylan had suddenly developed a strange interest in his coffee. Bu my side, Skylar looked seconds away from bursting into laughter.“Jason,” I finally said carefully.“Yes, Mom?”“Where exactly did you read such thing?”He frowned, also as if the answer was obvious.“Uh, online.”Of course. Nothing feeds toxic shit to people like the internet. Especially little kids like Jason.“Online where?” I pressed.The boy just shrugged.“I don’t remember.”Wonderful.Skylar calmly covered her mouth. I narrowed my eyes at her, and she tried to compose
Bombshells At BreakfastAriana’s POVI woke up with the familiar feeling of guilt and embarrassment… for the second morning in a row. At this point, it was really reckless.Opening my eyes fully, I glanced toward the other side of the bed. Kylan was already awake. Of course he was.He was sitting on the edge of the bed, staring out the windows, lost in thought that he didn’t notice I had woken up at first.The moment he noticed I was awake, his gaze shifted to me.“Hey, you’re awake.” He said with a nervous smile on his face.I smiled back at him, immediately feeling the tension build in the air.“Yeah. Just woke up.”After that, neither of us said anything more. But the awkward silence said everything we hesitated to say to each other.This morning felt more awkward than yesterday. Not because it happened, but because it happened again.The first time could be considered a mistake. The second time I couldn't.Slowly, I sat up, pulling the soft sheets over my naked body. The silence b
Regret & Dangerous Cravings Sebastian’s POVAs soon as I opened my eyes, I felt a rush of emotion flood through me. An annoying rush that left an unpleasant feeling in my chest.I stared at the ceiling for several seconds before slowly turning my head. Camilla was still asleep beside me… or at least she appeared to be asleep.One look at her naked frame lying there beside me, and everything from yesterday came rushing back.First, the confrontation with Ariana… then my argument with my mother afterwards. The unsettling tension eventually led me into Camilla’s seductive arms. Something I no longer craved for.But seeing Ariana yesterday had woken something in me… wild, raw, and impossible to tame.I rubbed a hand over my face. What exactly had I been thinking when I came into her room? When I kissed her first? When I had steamy sex with her?The answer to those questions came to me almost immediately… I hadn’t been thinking right yesterday. And it was all because of Ariana.Seeing her
Embarrassments & Relentless UrgesAriana’s POVThe first thing I felt when I woke up the next morning was embarrassment. As my eyes opened slowly, I didn’t remember where I was at first.Then as I turned to my side and everything came rushing back… Kylan.“Oh, God,” I whispered.Kylan wasn’t in the room at that moment, so I buried my face in the pillow. What have I done? I questioned myself.Six years of carefully controlling every aspect of my life, avoiding emotional attachments or mistakes. Everything I felt, I felt only for Jason.I had been able to convince myself that I was stronger and smarter now. But somehow, all of that just disappeared in one night.I sat up slowly. The room was quiet, and a part of me felt relieved that Kylan wasn’t there. While the other part felt strangely disappointed.After getting dressed, I quietly gathered myself and headed for the door. The sooner I got back to my room, the better. I thought.Maybe if I avoided Kylan for a few days, everything woul
New Home, New CravingsAriana’s POVAfter the meeting, I was on edge about how my encounter with Sebastian had ended. But the moment I saw Jason running toward me, everything melted away from my heart.“Mommy!” his tiny voice sounded as he bolted towards me inside my hotel lounge.I barely had time to open my arms before he crashed into me. The force of it almost knocked me backwards.I laughed through the tears already gathering in my eyes and hugged him tightly. God. I had missed him so much.“Hey, sweetheart.”I buried my face in his messy hair.He smelled the same. Familiar. Like home.“I missed you.” He said, looking up to me.“I missed you more.”He smiled immediately.“That’s impossible.”“It isn’t,” I answered with a grin.“Pretty sure it is, Mom.”“Nope. You’re smaller than me. No way you could miss me more than I miss you.” I pointed out jokingly.“Okay, that’s fair.” He said with a laugh.I returned the gesture, then kissed the top of his head again and held him in my arms,
Six Years In A Moment's KissSebastian’s POVFor one tiny moment after I kissed her, everything else ceased to matter. Even the six years that had separated us all folded into those few seconds of ecstasy.And shockingly, Ariana didn’t stop me. The fact that she hadn’t immediately pushed me away told me something I wanted so much to hear.My pulse pounded in my chest as a sense of excitement stirred inside me… dangerous, but still optimistic that there was still hope.Perhaps, underneath all that anger, she still felt something for me. I took a step closer, intending on kissing her again.But that proved to be a mistake.The moment I moved, Ariana’s finger pressed firmly against my lips. Stopping me instantly.“Don’t.” She said commandingly.The cold look in her once sexy blue eyes immediately told me I had misread everything.I remained frozen in my step.For some seconds, neither of us moved. Then Ariana slowly lowered her hand. The disappointment that followed hit me hard.Harder t
The Smell Of Victory And DangerAriana’s POVThe fallout began exactly the way I expected… with a lot of chaos. By morning, every major media outlet in Los Angeles was discussing only one thing. SinTech, FrosTech… and me.Financial analysts called the acquisition brilliant. And others called it hos
Sebastian’s POVI knew I had made a mistake. A terrible one at that. And the worst part? I had not even realized it until it was already too late.The television in my office replayed the same news headline for what felt like the hundredth time… “SINTECH ACQUIRES TWENTY PERCENT STAKE IN FROSTECH.”
Lighting The MatchAriana’s POVThe first rule I had learned when destroying powerful people was simple. Never attack them where they are strongest. But where they are more desperate.And right now? FrosTech was desperate. That was why I believed the plan would work so easily.Three days after the
Old Wounds ReopenedAriana’s POVFor a moment, the news headline on Kylan’s screen blurred before my eyes. Partly because I was shocked with the sudden move, but also just because I didn’t get to strike first through the media.Intimidations, character assassination and public humiliations. I was f







