Se connecterChapter 164Arya’s POVMy office door opened and Derek walked in holding a bouquet of flowers in one hand and a box of chocolates in the other, and as I watched him, I could not help but feel a little bit of irony at the situation.Because five years ago, this gesture would have been enough for me to fall for him. I would have thought him doing all this really meant he loved me, but now I could see through his performance, and looking at him, I felt nothing more than a hint of amusement and entertainment.“Arya,” he said warmly, his lips curving into a practiced smile as he approached my desk, placing the flowers and chocolates carefully on the table. I glanced at the huge roses briefly, trying to hide my disgust. We were together for three years and he still never figured out that I hated roses. Taking my eyes off the flowers, I looked back at him, forcing my lips to curve into a slight smile.“What are you doing here?” I asked in a cool, dismissive tone.Instead of answering me, h
Chapter 163Arya’s POVI sighed as I walked out of the conference room with a file tucked neatly against my chest, my mind filled with thoughts of all the work I needed to get done before the grand Prix. I missed when all I had to do was work on cars, now I had to handle unending meetings and office politics and a lot of things that I had no interest in doing. I had barely taken a few steps when I bumped into someone, but before I could fall flat on my ass, strong hands clamped onto my arms, steadying me. “Sorry,” I said automatically, taking a few steps back, my voice steady even as my pulse stuttered faintly in my chest. But when I looked up… the apology died on my tongue.Blake.For a moment, neither of us moved as we stared at each other. It had been a week of avoiding him, which had been quite easy considering the fact that we worked in the same building. And maybe because I finally let my guard down, I had to go and bump into him.The hallway around us carried on as though not
Chapter 162Arya’s POVI pulled into the parking lot of the bar the address the bartender had given me led me to, looking around in surprise and confusion. With its dim lights and graffiti painted walls, this was the last place I was expecting Blake to go drinking, especially with how unsafe it looked.I parked as fast as I could and ran into the bar, trying and failing to ignore the scent of alcohol, sweat, and smoke that filled the air.My eyes scanned the room for a few seconds before landing on Blake who was slumped over a counter, motionless. For a moment, I just stood there watching him. It didn't feel real, Blake was never the kind of person that would do this to himself. This version of him — disheveled, undone, stripped of the control and composure he carried so effortlessly — felt like something I wasn’t meant to see, something no one was supposed to see.“Are you Arya?” the bartender asked as I walked to the counter, standing next to Blake.“Yes.” I nodded, and she let out
Chapter 161Arya’s POVI sat in my study with the dim glow of the lamp casting soft shadows across the walls, I found myself staring at nothing in particular, my mind circling around what had happened this evening over and over again.Everything had changed…. Or at least it felt like it had.“I’m telling you, it doesn’t change anything,” Milo’s voice cut through my thoughts, and I could hear the frustration in his voice as he tried to convince me.I leaned back slightly in my chair, exhaling slowly as I dragged my fingers through my hair, the strands catching between them.“It does,” I murmured, but I didn't really believe what I was saying because my mind was still a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions that I didn't have the strength to sort out right now. “It changes everything.”Milo shook his head almost immediately walking closer and leaning against the table so that our eyes would be at the same level.“No, Arya,” he said, his tone softening slightly. “Believe me, it doesn’t.”I
Chapter 160Blake’s POVI watched Arya handle her children, smiling and laughing with them as she put them in the car and drove away. Knowing that this could have been us, knowing that my family was the reason why we ended up this way… the betrayal was fresh.The sound of the car driving away lingered long after it had disappeared beyond the gates, and I stood where I was, rooted to the ground and reeling from the discovery.My mother stood a few steps away, her hands trembling slightly, her expression caught somewhere between regret and fear, and the more I stared at her, the less I could recognise the person who was standing in front of me.I trusted her… I trusted her without any questions. But I had no idea who she was anymore. This was not the person who raised me, it couldn't be.“Blake—” she took a shaky step towards me, her hands coming up like she wanted to though me, but I shifted back, my face filled with disgust.“How long?” My voice cut through her words. My voice was low
Chapter 159Arya’s POVThe drive to Blake’s house felt longer than it should have. It was evening, and I knew that most of his family would be home, and I was dreading the interaction that would take place, while hoping that I would be able to pick the kids up and leave without any drama.My mind was still on Danielle's warning earlier. What did she mean about Casey's health? What would she do to my children if the truth was revealed that they were Blake's? It was a good thing I sent the nanny with them, I needed someone to keep their rules on my children and make sure they'd be safe.I tightened my grip slightly against the steering wheel before releasing it again, forcing myself to take a deep breath as the gates opened before me and I drove up to the house.The car came to a stop, and I climbed out, stilling my nerves and walking towards the door. But before I could knock, it opened and Blake's mother, Mrs Donovan stood there like she had been waiting for me.I was expecting hostil
Chapter 42Arya’s POVThe first thing that struck me as Blake led me out of the car was how big the building was. I slowed down, staring up with my mouth slightly open.Damn…this was Donovan money. And I could see why Grandma Cecilia let me go when Blake Donovan himself requested it. As huge and th
Chapter 41Blake’s POVMy mum's call came in just as I was finishing a meeting with a lawyer. I tried to ignore her, but by the time I finished the meeting and fished out my phone, I had so many missed calls from her that I knew ignoring her would only make it worse. Especially considering the fact
Chapter 40Arya’s POVThe cab slowed to a stop in front of the workshop and I took a deep breath, clutching the strap of my bag so tightly that my knuckles turned white. I had woken up to an empty house this morning with Blake nowhere to be found, and a small part of me was disappointed because I
Chapter 39Arya’s POVI stared at the test strip at the table at a loss for words. I had no idea that he had seen it and he knew all this time. But why didn't he say anything?My ears rang, and everything faded except the pounding of my heart and the cold weight settling in my chest.I stared at th







