Her general reaction to my words were nothing close to what I’d expected. She seemed confident, too confident for comfort. I quickly pulled out the drawer and fished out the documents I had sitting inside. “I bet that’s going to cure you of your sense of humor,” I said with a confident smirk. “W
(ARIELLE’S POV.) I hurried out of the building, shaking off the awkward experience I’d just had in Michael Langley’s office. He had to be deranged to think I’d buy even the slightest bit of his silly farce. It only amused me what lengths people were willing to go with their foolish ambitions. I ro
I was instantly filled with anxiety as the realization dawned on me that I was in some serious danger. “You son of a…,” I cursed through gritted teeth. “Let me out of this car, now!” Denzel chuckled in amusement and shook his head. “You’ve not been paying attention, ma’am. I have the upper hand wh
(JARED'S POV) Sitting by the window in the VIP waiting lounge of the airport, I gazed out at the relentless drizzle that had begun almost an hour again and had refused to let up. This slight delay of my flight due to the rain shouldn't have bothered me as it had already been announced by the weat
“Save it, Langley,” I said firmly. “ I'm not buying any of it. If you're looking for people to help, there's the least privileged out on the street. Go help them. Arielle doesn't need your help to be whatever she wants to be. Whatever she needs, I'm always here to help with it.” “And I'm done talki
(JARED'S POV) My spirit left my body as Michael's words hung in the air, echoing in my ears like a death sentence. “She might be in danger…” It felt like I was hit by a truck, my breath knocked out of me. My mind was racing now, with so much intensity, trying to process what Micheal had just told
I nodded, seeing the sense in his suggestion. “Sure,” I said, pulling out my phone to call Michael. He informed me he was at the hospital now and gave the name. “Let's go,” I said to the cops. I drove ahead in my car, leading the cops, while they followed closely behind. We arrived at the hospita
(DWAYNE'S POV) I stood outside of the headquarters building of the Italian Mafia family, overlooking the eyesore that was once the sprawling building of the family. The sound of machineries and men at work shouting orders filled the air as I watched them try to repair and fix the harm done as a res
(JARED'S POV) I left the hospital hesitantly, my mind hazy with worry. I was tired myself. I sat behind the wheel and looked into the rearview mirror. I let out a sigh and steered the car onto the road. I struggled to maintain my concentration as I drove. I resorted to driving slower than usual, a
(JARED’S POV) For the rest of the evening, I couldn’t help but feel guilty about forgetting Maverick’s birthday. It beat my imagination how I’d forgotten something as important as that. I never forgot important dates, especially not my son’s birthday. I smiled through the call and even instructed
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