LOGINI ignored his voice in the background and opened my browser, typing Ethan's name into the search bar. The page refreshed.I finally understood why Ethan had called me.Two stories were dominating every major media outlet in the country.The first article had been published close to midnight:**[CEO ETHAN STERLING'S TRUE LOVE: WHO IS THE MYSTERY WOMAN BESIDE THE YOUNG BILLIONAIRE?]**Directly beneath the headline was a photo of Ethan and Sienna stepping out of an exclusive downtown restaurant. His hand was resting possessively against her waist, his face turned toward her with an open, tender devotion he had never once shown me.The second headline had begun trending less than an hour ago, exploding into viral territory:**[IS CEO ETHAN STERLING CHEATING ON HIS WIFE? EXPLOSIVE HOTEL PHOTOS RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT STERLING MARRIAGE.]**This piece was accompanied by a collage of evidence: Ethan and Sienna exiting his private suite at the Sterling Hotel late at night; Sienna sitting beside
The door opened, slowly to reveal a face I wasn't expecting. I stared at the man who just walked through the door, my brows pulling together in confusion.‘What was he doing back here?’Jake must have caught the questioning look on my face because he offered me a respectful, polite nod. "Hello again, ma'am. The boss delivered... I mean, this food delivery arrived for you," he corrected smoothly, holding out a large, heavy paper bag that seemed packed with a variety of containers.My mind stalled. ‘Damian personally brought food to the hospital? Why would he risk coming here himself? What if someone saw him?’"I... I can't accept this," I stammered, taking a small step back."The boss explicitly mentioned that if you refuse this delivery, a fresh one will be ordered and sent immediately," Jake replied without missing a beat.‘What on earth—didn't he just tell me in his office that I had the right to refuse his advances?’"Where is he?" I asked, my voice dropping."Don't worry, ma'am
"Get them away from me... I don't want to see them..."My mother kept mumbling those frantic, broken words over and over, even after the nurse administered a sedative to force her into sleep."They're gone, Mom. It's just me," I whispered softly, smoothing back her graying hair as tears burned behind my eyes. "It's Arabella. I won't let them hurt you ever again. You're safe, Mom... I promise."It took nearly twenty minutes for her breathing to finally even out into a deep, drug-induced slumber, though her forehead remained tightly creased with residual terror. I gently smoothed the line between her brows with my thumb and pulled the heavy blanket up to her chin, the doctor's warning from earlier echoing in my mind:“Mrs. Sterling, you must be extremely cautious about what happens around your mother. These five doses are only meant to stabilize her enough so her heart can withstand the upcoming surgery. Another emotional episode like this will bring all our medical progress down to ze
15I stared at my father's smug face, the disgusting reality of his scheme clicking into place.All that grand speech about saving my mother's life—all those vicious insults calling me ungrateful and despicable—had been nothing more than a calculated performance.He had refused to help me, withheld her medication, and staged a crisis for one single reason: to corner me and force my hand into securing a contract with the Sterling Group.After my desperate phone call yesterday, he had assumed I was completely trapped. He never imagined I could raise $100,000 on my own in less than twenty-four hours. In his mind, he held absolute leverage over my mother's life.When I remained silent, the grin on his face widened, ugly and triumphant."What? Cat got your tongue?" he mocked, stepping closer. "It's simple, Arabella: give me the $100,000 or secure a Sterling Group contract for Morgan Enterprises within seventy-two hours. Considering you're my daughter, I'm being remarkably generous."‘Gener
My father yanked Sophia behind his back, raising his hand once more, his palm quivering with unrestrained rage. "You insolent brat! What kind of barbaric attitude is that?!"I stood my ground and met his murderous gaze head-on, letting a cold, bitter smile curve my lips. I tilted my face slightly, offering him my already stinging, bruised cheek."Go ahead," I whispered, my voice dripping with pure hatred. "Hit me again. But the second you do, you can kiss any chance of working with the Sterling Group goodbye forever.""You...!" He faltered mid-swing, his hand trembling in the air. His eyes flared with venom, but he froze, catching the dark, unyielding conviction in my stare.He swallowed hard, lowering his arm just an inch. "If I hadn't stepped in when the hospital called and saved that whore of a mother of yours, do you think she'd even be breathing right now?!""How much?" I scoffed, taking a step closer to him. "Name the exact figure so I can reimburse you, Mr. Morgan."My father's
13Arabella's POV I paid the cab driver and practically sprinted into the hospital lobby, my heels clicking frantically against the polished linoleum.It wasn't until I had finally sunk into the back seat of the cab that I checked my phone. 15 missed calls.Nine of the fifteen missed calls were from the hospital billing department.Ethan had called twice.And my father had called four times."Good afternoon," I gasped out, leaning over the reception desk to get the attention of the duty nurse. "I'm here to ask about my mother, Sylvia Morgan. She was admitted to the ICU yesterday. Can you tell me how she's doing?"The nurse looked up, her initial confusion shifting into sudden clarity as she checked the file on her screen. "Are you Arabella? Her daughter?""Yes, that's me," I said, my chest heaving. "I'm the one you've been trying to reach.""I have to say, you children nowadays are far too negligent," the nurse scolded, shaking her head disapprovingly. "Your mother is critically il
***Wedding day*** The door bursts open with a hard shove, slamming against the wall with a loud thud that makes everyone in the room turn. Aria turns in her seat; her stylist pauses in her actions, a powder brush in hand. Cara lets out a gasp that sounds like a scolding waiting to happen.Kayden
Hello loves… Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for journeying with me all the way to the end of Kayden and Aria's story. Writing this novel has been an adventure filled with late-night plotting, emotional twists, and characters who refused to stay quiet—yet none of it would mean anything w
Hello Loves, Thank you so much for reading and supporting Aria and Kayden's story. It means more than I can ever say. If you’ve enjoyed my writing so far, I’d love for you to check out my newest novel. “BOUND BY FOUR MOONS: The Omega's temptation.” It’s filled with the same emotional intensity
"Would you stop interrupting me when I speak?" Kayden growled, causing Aria to flinch at his harsh voice, but despite her fear of this new side of her husband, she was determined to get to him.Fueled with determination to win back her husband, Aria hugged him tighter, putting all the seductive ski







