Mag-log inAria was unusually quiet on the drive home.She sat beside Eleanor in the back seat, looking out of the window. The streets passed by, but she barely noticed them.Her mind kept returning to the same place.The office.The familiar face.The way Damian had looked at her.And that awkward little exchange that had lasted barely a minute.Five years ago, she could have sat beside him in complete silence and still known what he was thinking. Now, she couldn't even tell what he felt about seeing her again.She didn't know whether that hurt more than she expected.“Aria?”She turned.“Yes, Grandma?”Eleanor studied her for a moment.“What's on your mind?”“Nothing.”Eleanor raised an eyebrow.“Nothing?”Aria gave her a small smile. “I'm just tired.”“Of course.”Aria looked at her.There was something about the way Eleanor said it that made her suspicious.“What?”“Nothing, darling.”“Grandma.”Eleanor chuckled and turned toward the window.Aria shook her head, but the smile soon disappeare
The Next MorningAria woke up before her alarm.For a few seconds, she stared at the unfamiliar ceiling.Then she remembered.She was home.A small smile appeared on her face.She turned onto her side and looked around the room.Everything was beautiful. The large windows. The soft curtains. The neatly arranged furniture. Even the flowers on the bedside table.It was supposed to feel like home.But it didn't yet.Maybe it would take time.Five years was a long time to be away from everything.Aria slowly sat up.She touched her face and sighed.Last night had been overwhelming.The celebration.The people.The food.The hugs.The stories.And Damian.She frowned.She hadn't meant to think about him again.But somehow, his name had found its way into her mind before she'd even gotten out of bed.She shook her head.“Enough.”She got out of bed and walked into the bathroom.After taking a shower, she changed into a simple cream blouse and black trousers.When she came downstairs, Eleano
Four Years Later The gates of the correctional facility slowly opened. Aria Carter stepped outside. For a moment, she simply stood there. Free. After five long years, she was finally free. She looked ahead. And then she saw them. Grandma Eleanor. And Ethan Cole. They were standing near the car, waiting for her. The moment Aria's eyes landed on Eleanor, tears immediately rolled down her cheeks. “Grandma…” Eleanor didn't say a word. She rushed toward her. Aria opened her arms, and Eleanor pulled her into a tight embrace. “My darling.” Aria broke down in her arms. “I’m free,” she whispered through her tears. “Yes, my love.” “I’m finally free.” Eleanor held her tighter. Aria cried against her shoulder. Ethan stood beside them, his eyes filled with emotion. When Eleanor finally released her, Ethan stepped forward. He placed a comforting hand on Aria's shoulder. “It's alright now.” Aria looked at him through tear-filled eyes. Ethan smiled gently. “Everything is a
9:00 A.M. — Cross Empire Headquarters The elevator doors opened. Damian Cross stepped out. The employees immediately straightened. “Good morning, Mr. Cross.” Damian gave a brief nod as he walked past them. “Morning.” His assistant followed closely behind him, holding a tablet. “Your meeting with the board begins in ten minutes. The Singapore acquisition documents have also arrived for your signature, and Mr. Harrison is waiting for confirmation regarding the European expansion.” Damian didn't slow down. “Move the Harrison call to noon.” “Yes, Mr. Cross.” “And send the Singapore documents to my office.” “Yes, sir.” Damian entered his office. The glass doors closed behind him. For a moment, silence filled the room. His eyes moved toward the city outside. One year. An entire year had passed. A year since Aria had been taken away. A year since the trial. A year since he had watched the woman he loved disappear from his life. In the beginning, forgetting her had been
One Year Later7:30 A.M. — Women's Correctional FacilityThe sound of the morning bell echoed through the prison.Aria opened her eyes.For a few seconds, she remained still.Then she slowly sat up.One year.It had been one year since the courtroom.One year since the judge had looked at her and sentenced her to five years in prison.One year since she had watched the handcuffs close around her wrists.One year since she had walked away from the life she once knew.Aria looked around the small cell.By now, she knew every corner of it.The narrow bed.The small window.The cold walls.The silence that came after the lights went out at night.In the beginning, she had hated all of it.She had hated waking up there.She had hated the uniforms.The rules.The locked doors.The constant reminder that she couldn't simply walk away.For the first few months, she had counted the days.Then the weeks.Then the months.Eventually, she stopped counting.Not because she had forgotten how long s
5:40 P.M. — Cross MansionThe Cross Mansion was unusually quiet when Grandma Eleanor returned home.For the first time in a long while, there was no sound of conversation coming from the living room.No staff moving about.No music playing softly in the background.Only silence.Eleanor slowly stepped inside.She had barely taken a few steps when she noticed Damian sitting alone in the living room.He was seated on one of the sofas, his tie loosened and the top buttons of his shirt undone.A glass rested in his hand.A bottle of liquor sat on the table in front of him.Grandma Eleanor stopped.Her heart tightened.Damian wasn't drunk.Not yet.But she could tell he was trying to become numb.He lifted the glass and took another drink without looking in her direction.Eleanor stood there for several seconds before walking toward him.She placed her handbag on the table and slowly sat down across from him.“Damian.”He didn't respond.His eyes remained fixed on the glass in his hand.“D
The Cross Tower boardroom was a cathedral of glass and shadow when Damian set his phone on the polished table and stared at the screen one more time. Photo after photo. Aria with Sky Adams, heads tilted in shared laughter. Aria’s hand on his arm, the soft light catching the green silk of her dress
The spa’s lobby smelled of eucalyptus and quiet luxury. Soft music, pale marble, attendants gliding like calm water. Aria walked in wearing wide-leg cream trousers and a silk top, sunglasses still on. She was already picturing the heated massage table when a too-familiar laugh sliced the peaceful a
Aria was halfway through a vintage rom-com, a bowl of caramel popcorn balanced on her lap, when her bedroom door slammed open. Damian filled the doorway like a storm front—jacket off, tie loosened, eyes hard.“Stay away from Selene,” he said, voice clipped.Aria hit pause, the movie freezing on a h
Three days later The Cross penthouse was a quiet glass fortress at dawn. Soft grey light spilled across polished marble; the city below still yawned awake. Damian was already dressed for work, dark suit, silver cuff links, every line of him precise. He stood at the espresso machine, reading mark







