Mr Stone shared his story with me, a sad expression clouding his once smiley face. "After the fire accident, I suffered a major setback. I had to sell my properties and the restaurant land to get this place," he said, gesturing to the cafe. "I'm sorry," I said, genuinely sad. Ashley had told me ab
(ARIELLE'S POV) After driving for a while, I finally brought the car to halt at a spot I considered safe and tried to catch my breath. My hands shook uncontrollably on the steering wheel, while my heart thudded fast like it would jump out of my chest. I tried to calm down, else I might not be able
(JARED'S POV) My phone rang, breaking the silence in my office. I glanced at the screen to see my investigator's name flashing. "Talk to me," I answered. "Do you have an update?" "Yes, I do," he replied and hesitated. "Go on," I urged. "Unfortunately, I was unable to trail her to her house
(ARIELLE'S POV) My restaurant, A and M, an initial for Arielle and Maverick, had finally opened its doors to the public the previous day, and today, I was hosting a meeting with potential shareholders of my restaurant. The response and turnout has been overwhelming, and I was excited to discuss the
(JARED’S POV) I blinked at her words. Huh, what entertainment? When I decided to come here, I knew talking to her wasn't going to be a walk in the park. What was I expecting, that she would warm up to me on the first day we met, three years after I wronged her? She looked... different. More than
(SOFIA’S POV) It was noon, and I was hungry, but being my lazy self, I didn't have the strength to make food. Pizza, my favorite food, was out of the question as I had been having it non-stop for a week. Scouting for a nice restaurant to have a decent lunch seemed like the best option. And so I go
(SOFIA’S POV) I froze, shock flooding my entire system like ice water. My eyes widened and I feared they would fall out of their sockets, and my breath paused in my heart, making it hard to breathe properly. The scene felt eerily familiar; by this time, the power dynamics seemed to have changed dr
(JARED'S POV) When Arielle had left with the man on shades, I hadn't really paid attention to him, but now, as they made for the exit door, I couldn't help but stare. One would think I was staring at Arielle, but In reality, I was focused on the burly man. Now this wasn't about me feeling jealou
He took deep breath, and slowly knelt down on one knee. He let go of my hand momentarily and the other arm which he’d had behind him the entire time produced a velvet box. He gently opened it and nestled right inside the box, sitting on a black velvet pad, was a diamond ring, resplendent and breatht
(ARIELLE’S POV.) The air in the kitchen was calm and peaceful. Ashley stepped out of the kitchen at some point, so I was now all by myself, still drowning in the euphoria of my new joy. I wanted to eat and taste everything in the kitchen and yet at the same time, I was a little too overwhelmed to d
The possibility of getting to cook again filled me with strength. “Let’s make a stop at a grocery shop,” I said to Ashley. “Of course. We’d also pick up something for you to eat as well. You haven’t..” “No!” I said more sharply than intended. “Please. I’ll eat when I’m done cooking,” I maintained
(ARIELLE’S POV.) It felt like stepping out of a dream. A long one. The world was a blur around me, full of bright colors swirling into each other in a dizzying dance in the corners of my eyes. Slowly, my vision settled and the colors faded into the fluorescent bulb hanging down from the ceiling. I
(JARED’S POV) The next day, I pulled out of the hotel's driveway, Arielle and Ashley chatting away in the backseat. The atmosphere was lively, with Arielle's infectious laughter and Ashley’s bright smile. I was glad to see Arielle so carefree, even on a day like today. Ashley's presence was a bless
“Okay, how about… the bartender from that rooftop dinner we went to?” “Arielle!” Ashley exclaimed, feigning offense. “Seriously? A random bartender?” I shrugged. “Hey, you never know. Besides, you said it yourself that he was your type.” She rolled her eyes and didn't say a word. I continued the
(ARIELLE’S POV) I halted, my mind going blank. Pregnant? Ashley? It felt unbelievable. The Ashley I know would never let a man knock her up without marriage, she was that uptight. My eyes darted from her beaming face to the hand she was now placing on her stomach. “Pregnant?” The word escaped my l
(ARIELLE'S POV) “Surprise!” She exclaimed, her face beaming with smiles as she stepped fully into the room, pulling a small suitcase behind her. My jaw dropped, and my eyes widened. She looked tired from her trip, but her radiant smile masked it well. “Ashley, what are you doing here?” I asked, st
(ARIELLE'S POV) Back in my room at the hotel, I sat in front of my phone that was placed on the bed’s dashboard, waiting for my mom to answer the phone. Excitement coursed through my system like an unending river, and I couldn't wait to share the good news with my loved ones, my mom topping the cha