I called Ethan immediately, my heart racing with anticipation. "Hello, Ethan. What's going on? Why did you text me about Gabriela?"Ethan burst out laughing. "Oh, my ex-wife calls me again. What do I owe this pleasure? Do you miss me, or is it just about your stepdaughter?"I rolled my eyes. "Don't be stupid, Ethan. If there's one thing I hate, it's you. Love doesn't even come near it."Ethan chuckled. "Oh, please, Aria. Stop being tough. We both know you miss me. I could marry you again in a second if you just say the word."I felt a wave of disgust. "You're unbelievable, Ethan. I thought you'd be married by now, or at least engaged. Why are you still bothering me?"Ethan's tone turned serious. "Because you married my rival, Julian. That's what I don't like. You need to find your way back to me, or you'll never see Gabriela again."My eyes narrowed. "If you have Gabriela, put her on the phone."Ethan laughed. "What would that gain me? I could just help you find her... if you come bac
Days turned into an agonizing wait, with no sign of Gabriela. Julian's frustration grew, and he became increasingly disorganized. He lashed out at everyone, including me.I'd never seen him like this before. His usual composure was gone, replaced by a desperate, angry man.I couldn't blame him, though. I was a mess too. Without Gabriela, everything felt off. My mom, who'd grown to love Gabriela like her own granddaughter, was worried sick.As we sat at the kitchen island, my mom tried to reassure me. "Have faith, Aria. Gabriela will be found soon."Just then, one of Julian's private investigators burst into the kitchen, looking like he had news.I immediately followed him upstairs to Julian's study, leaving my mom behind. "Mom, don't worry, I'll get back to you. Let me see what's going on."In the study, the investigator was explaining his findings. "I haven't found Gabriela yet, but I've discovered a link between Vanessa, Clara, and Ethan."My eyes widened as the pieces fell into pla
I sat on the bathroom floor, the positive pregnancy test still trembling in my hand. My heart trembled. This was not the time for this.. I couldn’t be excited, I couldn’t feel the joy that should come with creating life. All I felt was fear. Fear of Julian’s reaction, fear of what will happen to the baby in a world where its father has so many enemies. Fear for missing Gabriella.I strolled around the quiet mansion like I normally do if I’m trying to relax. Julian had left earlier without informing me as he has always done since the kidnap of Gabriella hadn’t told him. I placed my hand on my belly. I couldn’t tell him about this pregnancy. At least not yet.“We agreed that there would be no kids in this relationship. Damn I messed up.” I muttered to myself. I wasn’t even sure if Julian still had any proper kind of affection for me anymore. With this whole Gabriella thing he has been a bit hostile. This couldn’t be more wrong timing. I stayed deep in thought until I fell asleep on t
On a sunny Thursday, my mom and I sat by the garden, not saying anything but enjoying each other’s company.When I noticed someone running out from the front door, it was Julian. I got up immediately, my mom trailing after me.“They found her, they’re on their way here. They’re bringing Gabrielle home” he said joyfully.I immediately followed him, A black SUV made its way into the estate The moment the door opened and she ran into my arms, Her face was streaked with dirt. Her hair tangled. She clung to me so tight it hurt. I didn’t let go.Julian stood behind her, his expression unreadable. “One of our team members found her in a locked bedroom in an abandoned lodge two towns over. No one else was there. She’d been alone” One security personnel said. Julian nodded tightly. He watched me wrap my arms around her. His jaw was tight. His fists, tighter.I carried her to the couch, brushing the hair out of her face. “Are you hurt?”She shook her head, then looked up at me with wide e
Julian’s paranoia was increasing.He oversaw the locking of the gate , and sometimes locked it himself. Everyday there was a new guard he hired.. He did a never ending vetting of the security guards. He watched the security cameras, sometimes deep into the night.“You don’t have to do this, Julian. You’re overworking yourself. With this, your business and political career, you’ll most likely run mad,” I said.He remained stoic. “I already failed once.”“She’s home.”“And she still wakes up crying. You think I don’t hear her? You think I don’t know the reason you have those bags under your eyes is because you stay awake at night comforting her!?.”I sat beside him. “I don’t mind doing that, you should rest, Julian. You’re not a god, Julian. You can’t control everything.”He looked at me. “No. But I can control this house.”I was tired at this point.The next night, I saw reason to agree with Julian’s protectiveness.It was in the night time when I heard some noise, I went out to check
Aria's POV My eyes zoned in on my laptop screen as I searched for a hall to celebrate my fourth anniversary with my husband, Ethan . Next, tomorrow was the set date. I had already hired the best caterer in the state and one of the most famous bartenders. It was guaranteed to be spot on. “Perfect,” I muttered, saving a picture of the hall for reference later. Ethan and I always celebrated our marriage anniversary with a huge banquet, and this year, it was no different. Every single social elite in town would attend, so I had to make sure everything was prim and proper. The unmistakable perch of Louisa's heels on the tiles drew closer as she approached the dining room with her mom sauntering behind. The smug look on their face was seen beneath the white chandelier. “Sign it bitch.” Louisa slammed the brown envelope on the white marble table, the thud snapping my thoughts out of my head. My neck craned and my eyes flickered between the envelope, Louisa, and Tracy. “Wha
Aria's POV The cold early morning wind brushed lightly against my skin, setting goosebumps in its wake. “St Peter's Avenue,” I muttered to the taxi driver as soon as I got in. I rubbed my palm on my arms, to warm myself up a little as my mind drifted to last night's events. I refused to follow Julian home, so he lodged me in a hotel. Not just any hotel, The Chivalry, is the biggest five-star hotel in New York. It could be far-fetched to say he was God sent since he did nothing with me except try everything. But I was still grateful that I found where to sleep. My mind drifted as flashes of our conversation trickled into my brain. “You’re stunningly beautiful. You know that?” His hot breath fanned against my ear as he gripped my waist from behind. Our gazes locked on the dressing mirror I was standing in front of. We were alone in the hotel room, and while I was still in despair from the rapid turn of events that night, something about his stare ignited a flame in me. I wasn't
Aria's POV . . My throat bobbed as the horrific sight filled my eyes. I turned to the woman. “I’m sorry. I can’t.” I shook my head. There’s no way I could take part in such a horrible act. About to move, when the woman blocked the exit, planting her hands on the doorframe. “Where the hell do you think you are going?” A thick frown burnt on her face. “You’re going anywhere until your job here is done,” she snarled. “Who?” I folded my arms, my voice barely thriving beneath the loud music. “Barley, Alvero,” The woman yelled. Two burly men clad in black polo shirts and trousers began approaching us. The stare in their eyes was as threatening as the tattoo that crawled up their neck. My heart thudded in my ears, drowning out the loud music and my hands clammed. I shoved the woman aside. Weaving my way through the crowd, I scurried towards the exit of the club. The men trailed right behind me like a predator marking its prey. I burst out of the club through the door and
Julian’s paranoia was increasing.He oversaw the locking of the gate , and sometimes locked it himself. Everyday there was a new guard he hired.. He did a never ending vetting of the security guards. He watched the security cameras, sometimes deep into the night.“You don’t have to do this, Julian. You’re overworking yourself. With this, your business and political career, you’ll most likely run mad,” I said.He remained stoic. “I already failed once.”“She’s home.”“And she still wakes up crying. You think I don’t hear her? You think I don’t know the reason you have those bags under your eyes is because you stay awake at night comforting her!?.”I sat beside him. “I don’t mind doing that, you should rest, Julian. You’re not a god, Julian. You can’t control everything.”He looked at me. “No. But I can control this house.”I was tired at this point.The next night, I saw reason to agree with Julian’s protectiveness.It was in the night time when I heard some noise, I went out to check
On a sunny Thursday, my mom and I sat by the garden, not saying anything but enjoying each other’s company.When I noticed someone running out from the front door, it was Julian. I got up immediately, my mom trailing after me.“They found her, they’re on their way here. They’re bringing Gabrielle home” he said joyfully.I immediately followed him, A black SUV made its way into the estate The moment the door opened and she ran into my arms, Her face was streaked with dirt. Her hair tangled. She clung to me so tight it hurt. I didn’t let go.Julian stood behind her, his expression unreadable. “One of our team members found her in a locked bedroom in an abandoned lodge two towns over. No one else was there. She’d been alone” One security personnel said. Julian nodded tightly. He watched me wrap my arms around her. His jaw was tight. His fists, tighter.I carried her to the couch, brushing the hair out of her face. “Are you hurt?”She shook her head, then looked up at me with wide e
I sat on the bathroom floor, the positive pregnancy test still trembling in my hand. My heart trembled. This was not the time for this.. I couldn’t be excited, I couldn’t feel the joy that should come with creating life. All I felt was fear. Fear of Julian’s reaction, fear of what will happen to the baby in a world where its father has so many enemies. Fear for missing Gabriella.I strolled around the quiet mansion like I normally do if I’m trying to relax. Julian had left earlier without informing me as he has always done since the kidnap of Gabriella hadn’t told him. I placed my hand on my belly. I couldn’t tell him about this pregnancy. At least not yet.“We agreed that there would be no kids in this relationship. Damn I messed up.” I muttered to myself. I wasn’t even sure if Julian still had any proper kind of affection for me anymore. With this whole Gabriella thing he has been a bit hostile. This couldn’t be more wrong timing. I stayed deep in thought until I fell asleep on t
Days turned into an agonizing wait, with no sign of Gabriela. Julian's frustration grew, and he became increasingly disorganized. He lashed out at everyone, including me.I'd never seen him like this before. His usual composure was gone, replaced by a desperate, angry man.I couldn't blame him, though. I was a mess too. Without Gabriela, everything felt off. My mom, who'd grown to love Gabriela like her own granddaughter, was worried sick.As we sat at the kitchen island, my mom tried to reassure me. "Have faith, Aria. Gabriela will be found soon."Just then, one of Julian's private investigators burst into the kitchen, looking like he had news.I immediately followed him upstairs to Julian's study, leaving my mom behind. "Mom, don't worry, I'll get back to you. Let me see what's going on."In the study, the investigator was explaining his findings. "I haven't found Gabriela yet, but I've discovered a link between Vanessa, Clara, and Ethan."My eyes widened as the pieces fell into pla
I called Ethan immediately, my heart racing with anticipation. "Hello, Ethan. What's going on? Why did you text me about Gabriela?"Ethan burst out laughing. "Oh, my ex-wife calls me again. What do I owe this pleasure? Do you miss me, or is it just about your stepdaughter?"I rolled my eyes. "Don't be stupid, Ethan. If there's one thing I hate, it's you. Love doesn't even come near it."Ethan chuckled. "Oh, please, Aria. Stop being tough. We both know you miss me. I could marry you again in a second if you just say the word."I felt a wave of disgust. "You're unbelievable, Ethan. I thought you'd be married by now, or at least engaged. Why are you still bothering me?"Ethan's tone turned serious. "Because you married my rival, Julian. That's what I don't like. You need to find your way back to me, or you'll never see Gabriela again."My eyes narrowed. "If you have Gabriela, put her on the phone."Ethan laughed. "What would that gain me? I could just help you find her... if you come bac
I tried to brush off Julian's cold behavior, focusing on getting ready for the public outing. I dressed in my best, did my makeup, and held Gabriela's hand as we waited for Julian in the sitting room. Julian finally emerged from his study, his expression still tense. We exchanged minimal small talk as we got into the car. "You look good." "Thanks, Julian," I replied, trying to sound cheerful despite the tension between us. "You look pretty great yourself." Gabriela, sensing the awkwardness, piped up, "Daddy, where are we going?" "We're going to a big event, sweetie," Julian explained, forcing a smile. "Lots of people will be there, and we need to show them what a great family we are." As we got into the car, the silence was palpable. Gabriela's occasional questions broke the silence, but the tension between Julian and me was unmistakable. When we arrived at the event, Julian transformed into a charming politician. "Smile, everyone!" he whispered, holding my hand and Gabriela'
I was taken aback when Gabriela asked, "Did my mom ask about me?" Her voice was laced with a mix of sadness and longing.I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. "No, Gabriela, I haven't spoken to her yet. But I'll try to reach out to her, okay?"Gabriela's eyes welled up with tears, and she whispered, "Please tell her I want to see her."My heart went out to this little girl, and I knew I had to make it happen. "I'll find a way, Gabriela. I promise. But I have to warn you, your dad might not be okay with it."Gabriela's face fell, but I quickly reassured her, "Don't worry, I'll figure something out. You will see your mom, okay?"Gabriela nodded, and we shared a hug.Fast-forward to my visit to the mental asylum, I was surprised to find Lauren looking more cognizant and better than I expected. She didn't seem like someone who belonged in a mental asylum.I explained to Lauren that Gabriela wanted to see her, but Lauren was adamant, "I don't want to see her. She's a reminder of my past w
I stormed into Julian's room, my heart racing with every step. "Julian, we need to talk," I said, my voice firm but laced with a hint of desperation.Julian looked up from his book, a mixture of curiosity and concern etched on his face. "What's wrong, Aria?"I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. "I found out about Lauren," I said, my eyes locked on his. "Your ex-wife, Gabriela's mother. She's been in a mental asylum, Julian. How could you keep this from me?"Julian's expression changed, a hint of guilt flashing across his face. "Aria, I—""No, Julian, don't try to justify it," I cut him off, my voice rising. "How could you keep this from me? Didn't you think I had the right to know?"Julian sighed, rubbing his temples. "Aria, Lauren...she just started to unravel, okay? She became paranoid, delusional...it was like she lost herself."I shook my head, my mind racing with the implications. "She didn't just lose herself, Julian. Something pushed her to that point. And I think
Who was behind this message?, and what did they mean by saying that Gabriella's mother had gone mad?Thinking of the mother of the girl I call daughter, going mad was not a particularly pretty picture in my head.“Why has Julian not deemed it fit to talk about this?” I asked myself.I decided to hire a private investigator to look into the matter. I couldn't just sit back and do nothing, not when my own sanity was being questioned.As I waited for the PI to get back to me, I tried to go about my daily routine as normally as possible. But it was hard to pretend that everything was fine when I was secretly seething with anxiety.Julian noticed that I was on edge, but I brushed it off, telling him that I was just stressed about some work-related issues."You're working too hard, Aria, have you been painting all night again?" he said, concern etched on his face. "You need to take it easy."I forced a smile, trying to reassure him. "I'm fine, Julian. Really."But the truth was, I was far f