Se connecterAria As I looked out the window, I could see Father staggering his way home. The faint glow from the street lamp captured the bottle of unfinished beer in his right hand. His whistle carried through the quiet night, loud enough to wake up neighbours who were asleep. I tried to figure out the tune, whether he was in a good mood or not, but I couldn’t tell. Our room was on the top floor, and as a child I used to struggle to see clearly from that height. The lampstands below looked small, but I had memorized his silhouette over the years. The way he walked, the way he tilted his head.It was him. “Mr. Cole, hurry along now. Some of us had a long day!” a neighbour shouted from his window, his voice sharp in the stillness. It had always been a small neighborhood, with houses so close that the walkway couldn't fit a fat man.“Oh, shut your trap,” father replied, although his words were slurred.That was my cue. I rushed to the room where Sylv and Anna slept, their small bodies curled u
NoahThe ride to the station was quiet, the kind of silence that doesn't comfort you but forces you to sit with your own thoughts. I leaned back slightly, my eyes fixed ahead, but I wasn’t seeing the road anymore. My mind kept replaying everything that had happened in the past few weeks, every decision I had made, every reaction that had come too quickly.I felt different. I didn't feel like the Noah I used to be.Somewhere along the line, I had changed into someone more aggressive, more impulsive, someone who acted first and thought later, and now that I was forced to sit still, it all felt wrong in a way I couldn’t fully explain or maybe because things didn't go the way I had planned.I had only wanted to see Aria.I had imagined it differently; walking into the office, surprising her, watching her smile in that quiet way she does, maybe… just maybe things could finally get rosy between us.But instead, I pushed her away.The car came to a stop in front of the station, pulling me aw
NoahMy hands tightened around the steering wheel tightly like my life depended on it, the leather pressing into my palms as though holding on harder would somehow make the car move faster. My thoughts were no longer steady; they came all at once, tangled and loud, every single one of them leading back to Aria.By the time I got to the highway, a long line of cars stretched ahead, unmoving, their brake lights glowing red in the dark. Traffic had been brought to a standstill. A truck had fallen across the road, blocking it. I leaned towards the wheel, my jaw tightening as I looked around quickly, searching for an opening. Waiting was not an option. Not tonight.Not when she could be in trouble.I swerved slightly, taking a risky turn toward the narrow path by the footbridge. I knew it was illegal. I knew exactly what it could cost me.But none of that mattered… not when it was Aria.As I struggled with the wheels through the tight space, memories of that night rushed in against my wi
Aria Hours passed by, and I was still seated behind the desk, flipping the files page by page. All I needed to do was review again and include the points I had missed earlier. It sounded simple, but my mind was already slowing down. The words had begun to blur, so I had to pause and clean my eyeglasses and sometimes swipe my eyes with the back of my palm.My phone screen brightened, and a chime sounded. It was a message from Eloise.“We would have loved to help, but Mr Sterling is still in the office.”I paused and lifted my head slightly, my eyes drifting toward his office. He was still seated behind his desk, leaning back in his chair, his eyes staring at nothing in particular. He seemed distant.I looked around, and half of the office lights had gone off. Only the lights that came from my office and his illuminated the office. What was he waiting for?I looked back at my phone and sent a response. “It's fine, Eloise. I understand.”“We’ll check on you later”A small smile formed
Aria The past few days had been… peaceful. After I completed the task on Tuesday, I found myself looking forward to Noah’s arrival more than I cared to admit. Each morning, I walked into the office with a small, quiet expectation sitting in my chest, hoping he would be there.But he never came.By the fourth day, that feeling had slowly disappeared. I slipped back to my old routine, the one I had before Noah Sterling came into view. I felt light, my laughter came easier, and for a moment, I forgot he existed.Almost.—A day before the partyDuring lunch break, I decided to get coffee and take a short walk. It wasn’t much, but it felt like a small escape from the walls of my office.The coffee dispenser stood in the corner. Sleek.I stared at it longer than I should have, pressing a few buttons that did absolutely nothing. It wasn’t working… or maybe I didn’t know how to use it.I sighed softly, glancing around, hoping someone would come by.This was my first time using it, and clea
Noah No one prepared me for this. The garden of my father's mansion had been completely transformed. What was once a quiet, open stretch of trimmed hedges and stone paths now looked like something out of a high-society magazine. Miss Gina had outdone herself. Strings of warm fairy lights were draped carefully across the pergolas, their golden glow reflecting off crystal glassware arranged on tall cocktail tables. Lanterns lined the stone walkway, guiding guests through the space, while a soft instrumental band played somewhere near the fountain, their music blending into the low hum of conversations.Earlier, she had brought me a three-piece navy blue suit. It fit perfectly, like it had been tailored with me in mind. My black shoes gleamed under the light, polished to perfection. The hairstylist had redone my hair, and when I finally looked at my reflection, I barely recognized the man staring back at me. Clean shave. Sharp jawline. Composed. I looked… mature.When the hairstylist







