LOGINI watched as my mother completely forgot I existed.That was the only way I could describe it.One moment she had been crying over a past I didn’t fully understand, and the next she had already pulled Arianna gently toward the sofa like she had known her all her life. As if I wasn’t even standing there.“Arianna, sit properly,” my mother said softly, adjusting the cushion behind her. “You look too thin.”“I’m fine,” Arianna replied politely, clearly overwhelmed but trying to stay composed.“Nonsense,” my mother dismissed immediately, her hands already moving to straighten Arianna’s hair. “How old are you again?”“Eighteen,” Arianna answered.My mother gasped lightly. “Still a child then.”I exhaled slowly, leaning back slightly as I watched the scene unfold.A child?Arianna was not a child.At least not in the way my mother was treating her.But my protest died before it even formed.Because Arianna didn’t look uncomfortable.In fact… she looked calmer.Almost softened.My mother con
Aiden's POVThe moment Arianna’s expression changed, I knew something was wrong.Not the usual shock people show when they see someone unexpected—but something deeper. Something that looked like recognition mixed with disbelief. Her knees almost gave way, and I moved closer without thinking.“Arianna,” I said quietly, steadying her by the arm. “Breathe.”She didn’t respond.Her eyes were locked on the woman standing in the center of the room, as if the rest of us had disappeared.My mother stood frozen too, tears already spilling down her face before anyone could speak again.I hadn’t expected her here.Not without warning.Not like this.“Mother,” I called sharply, stepping forward. “What are you doing here?”She didn’t answer immediately. Her gaze was still fixed on Arianna like she was seeing a ghost.“Aiden…” she whispered faintly, but her voice broke halfway through.Arianna finally moved slightly, her brows furrowing in confusion and unease.“Why… are you crying?” she asked soft
I kept my eyes on her for longer than I should have.Arianna sat beside me in the car, her fingers loosely resting near mine, though she still hadn’t fully gotten used to the fact that I was holding her hand. She was quiet, staring out the window like she was trying to erase everything that had happened earlier.Courtney.The restaurant.The confrontation.I noticed everything.Including the fact that she wasn’t saying anything about it.That alone bothered me more than it should have.After a while, I finally spoke.“Why aren’t you reacting?” I asked calmly.She turned slightly, confused. “Reacting to what?”I glanced at her. “Courtney.”Her expression changed just a little, like she had expected the question but didn’t want to answer it.“I already handled it,” she said softly.“That’s not what I mean,” I replied.Silence stretched between us for a moment before I added, “I saw her car leave the school area earlier.”Her eyes shifted toward me briefly, then away again.So she knew.
The moment I stepped out of the restaurant, I spotted him immediately. Aiden was leaning casually against the car like he had all the time in the world, except I knew better—Aiden Smith didn’t do “casual.” He straightened the second his eyes landed on me and walked toward me without hesitation. Fast. Direct. Intentional. “Hi,” I said awkwardly, adjusting my bag strap, but he didn’t respond. Instead, his hand reached for mine and, before I could even process it, he held it. I froze instantly. My fingers stiffened in his grip as my brain struggled to catch up with what was happening. Aiden was holding my hand. Publicly. Casually. Like it was the most natural thing in the world. My heart did something strange in my chest. “W-what are you doing?” I asked under my breath, still staring at our joined hands. “Leaving,” he said simply, as if that explained everything. It didn’t. Before I could respond, the restaurant door opened behind me and Chloe stepped out, stretching lightly befo
The moment she spoke, something in me tightened. Her voice was smooth, but her eyes were not. They were sharp—too sharp. Like she had already decided something about. I sat up slightly, studying her properly now. She looked familiar. And then it clicked. "It's you" my face dropped Courtney Yates. The same woman from the house who had looked at me like I didn’t belong. My grip on my cutlery tightened slightly. Chloe, sensing the shift in atmosphere, leaned forward. “Can we help you?” she asked politely, though her tone carried caution. Courtney ignored her. Her attention stayed locked on me. “So,” she said slowly, pulling out the empty chair without asking, “this is where you hide when you’re not playing house.” My jaw tightened. “I’m not hiding,” I replied evenly. Her lips curved into a small, amused smile. “Interesting,” she said. “You sound more confident than I expected.” Chloe glanced between us, completely irritated. Chloe said firmly, “ This is a private lun
The moment I saw him, everything else faded.My father stood just beyond the school entrance, dressed sharply as always, his presence impossible to ignore. Students slowed down as they passed him, some whispering, others just staring.But I didn’t care about any of that.“Father!” I called out before I could stop myself.And I ran.My steps quickened, my heart doing something strange in my chest—something warm, something I hadn’t felt in a long time.I reached him in seconds and wrapped my arms around him tightly.For a moment, he didn’t move.Then slowly, he placed his hand on my head and patted it gently.A small gesture.But it meant everything.“You’ve grown thinner,” he said immediately, his voice calm but firm.I pulled back slightly, smiling.“I’ve just been busy with school.”His eyes studied me carefully, like he was checking for something beyond my words.Then he sighed.“I’m not happy you’re no longer living at home,” he said.My smile softened.“I know,” I replied quietly.
The ever heavily dressed Mrs Young stood at the grand entrance of her home, welcoming guests with a shiny, overly rehearsed smile. She was glammed to the nines, sparkling from head to toe like someone who had just been plucked out of a reality show and placed on a red carpet. Her gown was layered w
Aiden was dumbstruck, frozen in a rare moment of disbelief as the weight of the truth settled heavily on his shoulders. He blamed himself entirely—blamed his arrogance, his calm confidence, his underestimation of the Shadows. For years, they had preferred silence. They lurked in darkness, observing
Before the shock from Arianna’s call could fully settle in, Aiden shifted into saviour mode with a level of sharpness that would intimidate most grown men. His heart was still reacting to her unexpected voice—soft, breathy, almost trembling—yet his mind had already begun working, dissecting her wor
It was the morning of Arianna’s eighteenth birthday, and it felt as though the heavens themselves understood the weight of the day. The sun rose with unusual brilliance, casting streaks of gold across the Young family estate. The sky was clear—blue and endless—while a gentle breeze drifted through







