LOGINChapter 142Arya’s POVI sat in the backseat of the car, one leg crossed over the other, my fingers resting lightly against the armrest as I stared out through the tinted window at the towering glass structure ahead of me.The Donovan Group building, even after everything, it still looked the same.A faint smile tugged at my lips.“Arya.” Milo’s voice broke through my thoughts, sounding calm as always in a way that grounded the chaos that was my mind.“They’ve been waiting for over half an hour already. It seems like you're too important for them to accept you keeping them waiting.” he said with a smile.That made my smile deepen.“Are they angry?”I caught the flicker of amusement in his eyes as he nodded.“They weren’t expecting this, calling a board meeting out of the blue and then not showing up… it’s caused quite a stir.”“Let them stir,” I said softly. “It’ll make this more memorable.”“They’re already questioning your authority,” he continued. “Especially Danielle.”Of course s
Chapter 141Blake’s POVI woke up to my head throbbing in pain. It felt like my skull was being spit apart from the inside.I lay on the bed, staring up at the ceiling instead of getting off the bed. My mind was sluggish and trying to piece together the fragments of last night. Did I really drink so much that most of the night ended up being a blur?I groaned in embarrassment. Well, not everything. I still remembered how good Arya looked standing on that stage, and worst of all, I remembered every single moment of her dance with Derek. And the ensuing fight that followed when I lost control of myself for a moment.“Damn it…” I closed my eyes briefly, the words coming out laced with frustration.What the hell had I been thinking?No, that was the problem. The problem was that I hadn't been thinking at all.I dragged a hand over my face and pushed myself up slowly, my head throbbed harder with the movement, a dull reminder of just how much I had let myself lose control. I wasn’t someone
Chapter 140Arya’s POVWhat a night. I walked out of the ballroom breathing a sigh of relief as the cool air hit my skin. My mind was still replaying everything that had just happened, and I was slightly amused at how the night had ended.When I was dancing with Derek, my plan was simple — provoke Cassidy and remind her that I was no longer the woman she could trample over. I had no idea that Blake would also be offended by my actions. I could feel his eyes on me the entire time I was dancing with Derek, and that look in his eyes— anger, a hint of jealousy, and something else that I could place but it unsettled me.And his actions confused me because he was the one who had abandoned me and cheated on me with Ivy. So why did my actions affect him enough to resort to violence?“Ma’am?” The voice pulled me out of my thoughts and I saw that my car had already been brought for me, the sleek black vehicle waiting at the curb, and my bodyguard stood beside it, holding the door open.I nodde
Chapter 139Blake’s POVI was late, and I knew it as I stepped out of the car and walked towards the entrance, ignoring Ivy as she expected me to walk hand in hand with her. These events were always the same, the same faces, the same rehearsed smiles and small talk that circled around money and gossip. I only ever attended them because I needed to, but I didn't plan on staying long enough to be dragged into conversation with anyone.I adjusted my cufflinks as I walked toward the entrance, my expression composed, but my mind elsewhere, until I stepped inside and my gaze landed on her and everything stopped. The air was filled with soft music and quiet applause, but none of that registered the moment my eyes landed on the stage and on Arya.She stood there looking like she belonged in this room more than anyone else. She looked regal in her dress and the tiara sitting daintily on her head.My jaw tightened slightly as I watched her turn, her gaze sweeping over the crowd, completely un
Chapter 138Arya’s POVI stepped out of the car slowly, the cool night air brushing against my skin as the hem of my dress trailed behind me, catching the light with every movement. My dress was eye-catching, literally, and I could already feel the stares I was garnering. The fabric was heavy with crystals, each one placed deliberately, reflecting just enough to draw attention without appearing gaudy and over the top.And as I walked toward the entrance of the ballroom, I could already feel the shift in the air. Conversations paused and people turned to stare at me curiously, probably wondering who I was. By the time I stepped into the hall, the party had already started, but I was fashionably late — the kind of lateness that's still socially acceptable instead of rude.The ballroom shimmered like something out of a dream. Crystal chandeliers hung from the high ceiling, casting soft golden light that danced across polished marble floors and glittering gowns, while the low hum of laug
Chapter 137Blake’s POVI buried my face in my hands, trying to stop the headache I could feel coming. It had been days already, and after a lot of failed attempts, we still had not been able to reach AA, and the Japanese investors were already getting impatient.Tucker walked into the office without knocking, which told me that what he was about to say is something I wouldn't likeHe rarely skipped formalities unless something was important .“Blake,” he said, holding his tablet like it carried bad news.I didn’t look up immediately, instead I finished signing the document in front of me, capped my pen, and then leaned back in my chair.“Is it her?” I asked.“Yes. AA’s management just responded.”Finally! It had taken days of calls being ignored, meetings declined, and messages left unanswered. For someone who wanted to work with a racing team, she had made herself nearly impossible to reach.“Read it,” I said.Tucker hesitated, and I knew that what was coming was bad news.He clear
Chapter 70Arya’s POVThe sun filtering through the curtains would have woken me up the next morning if I wasn't already awake.I had basically stayed up the whole night unable to sleep and my mind racing with everything that had happened yesterday…especially that kiss.No matter how hard I tried,
Chapter 69Blake's PovI didn’t say a word as I walked past her and into the suite. I was scared that if I did, if I talked to her, something ugly would come out. Something I wouldn’t be able to take back. So I stayed silent instead.I could still see Milo standing too close to her and the way he l
Chapter 68Arya’s POVI walked back to the hotel room on unsteady legs, my heels clicking too loudly against the polished floor, but it wasn't loud enough to drown out my thoughts. The corridor was quiet by this time with people either in their rooms or out exploring the islands, and despite the di
Chapter 67Blake’s POVDinner stretched on longer than I expected, and normally I would have been annoyed about the wasted time, but I found myself wanting to stall for some time.This was the first time since we got here that Arya and I were sitting together comfortably without arguing, and I didn







