LOGIN~Ronald's Pov~The moment I stepped into the house, the tension followed me in like a shadow.I didn’t bother to hide it.Didn’t bother to mask the storm brewing inside my chest.The door shut harder than necessary behind me, the sound echoing faintly through the living room.My mother was still here, seated elegantly like always, as if nothing in the world could truly disturb her peace.But the moment she saw my face, her expression shifted all at once, laced with concern, curiosity and calculation.“Ronald,” she called, rising slowly to her feet. “How did it go?”I didn’t answer immediately.Instead, I loosened my tie with a sharp pull, my jaw clenched tightly as I walked past her.I didn’t need to say anything.My silence already said enough.She followed me anyway.“Did you bring her back?” she asked again, her tone firmer this time, as she kept glancing back like Aliyah would miraculously show up.Still no I didn't give her an answer.Because the truth?It only made the anger wor
~Aliyah's Pov~“I trust you, Dominic… I am so sorry I acted on impulse,” I apologized.My voice came out softer than I intended, weighed down by everything I was feeling in that moment. The words felt small compared to what had just happened, but they were all I had.“Impulse?” he repeated, his voice sharp, edged with disbelief as he stared at me.The way he looked at me made my chest tighten.“Do you know what would have happened if I didn’t barge in?” he asked, his tone rising slightly, not quite shouting but close enough to make my breath hitch. “I am worried about your safety, Aliyah, and yet… you joke with it.”Each word landed heavily, pressing down on me, making it harder to breathe.“No, I don’t…” I said quietly, my voice almost breaking as I lowered my head, unable to hold his gaze any longer. “I am really sorry.”There was a brief pause and then he commanded.“Get in the car!”The command was firm and final, leaving no room for argument.I didn’t say a word, didn’t try to ex
~Dominic's Pov~Something didn’t sit right the moment she left.It started as a small, nagging feeling in the back of my mind, subtle but persistent. The kind that didn’t shout for attention but refused to be ignored.I stood there in the hallway, unmoving, my eyes fixed on the door long after it had closed behind Aliyah. The quiet that followed felt unnatural, heavy in a way that pressed against my chest.My mind replayed the moment over and over again.The way she had rushed out was too fast, too tense, too… off.“I just need to handle something.”That was what she said, in a simple yet casual way, but the look in her eyes hadn’t matched those words, it wasn't even close. It wasn’t just urgency, it was panic, clear and unmistakable.The kind of panic that comes when something catches you off guard… when you’re forced to react before you’ve had time to think.And that alone was enough to put me on edge.I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling sharply as I turned away from the door. My
~Aliyah's Pov~My heart didn’t slow down the entire drive.If anything, it only seemed to beat faster, harder, louder with every passing second. The steady rhythm in my chest had turned into something chaotic, something relentless, as though it was trying to break free from the confines of my ribs.It only got worse.The road stretched endlessly ahead of me, but I barely registered it. My hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, knuckles pale, fingers tense, yet my mind was nowhere near the present moment.Each second that passed, Dominic’s words replayed in my head like a broken record.Over and over again.Unstoppable.Victor Hale.The name echoed in my mind, sharp and unyielding.It didn’t make sense.It couldn’t make sense.The same man who had shown me kindness.The same man who had opened his home to me without hesitation.The same man who had spoken to me gently, patiently, like I wasn’t something broken that needed fixing.The same man who had looked at me like I mattered.No
~Aliyah's Pov~The room had fallen into a strange, quiet calm after Dominic left.I sat there on the bed, still wrapped in his shirt, my thoughts tangled and restless. Everything felt like it was spinning too fast, Ronald, the fight, the scandal, the choices pressing in on me from every direction.Then I heard it.A low, soft sound drifting in from the hallway.At first, I didn’t recognize it.But then it became clearer.Dominic… was singing.I blinked in surprise.It was quiet, almost absentminded, like he didn’t even realize he was doing it. The melody was soft, steady, unexpectedly soothing. For a moment, I just sat there, listening, letting the sound settle my racing thoughts.It was such a stark contrast to everything that had happened tonight. It was gentle, calm and safe.My chest tightened slightly.I didn’t realize how much I needed that moment until it was there.The sound of footsteps approached again, and the singing stopped almost immediately.A second later, the door ope
~Dominic's Pov~She didn’t answer my question.But she didn’t need to.The silence between us said everything her words couldn’t.Who’s protecting you?Her eyes lingered on mine, wide and uncertain, like she had never really considered the answer before. And that alone did something to me, something deep, something unsettling.Because the truth was painfully obvious.No one had.Not her husband.Not my family.Not even herself.My jaw tightened slightly at the thought.I could still hear Ronald’s voice echoing in my head. The way he had spoken to her. The way he had grabbed her like she was something he owned.Something to control.My hand was still wrapped around hers, and I realized I hadn’t let go.I didn’t want to.Her fingers were cold against mine, but they slowly curled, almost unconsciously, like she was holding on just as much as I was.That small movement made something shift in my chest.I knew it.But I didn’t pull away.Instead, I exhaled slowly and guided her to sit back







