Aria's POV
Kane's gaze cut through me like shards of ice. Instinctively, I clenched the hem of my shirt.
His eyes were unreadable—an intense storm of emotion I couldn't decipher.
Was it anger? Disappointment? Or... worry?
"Ka—" My lips trembled, the name catching on the tip of my tongue.
I wanted to tell him what Gabriella had done, to pour out the bitterness I'd been choking on today. I wanted to ask him why he always pulled me close, only to shove me away.
But in the end, none of it came out.
Because what I feared most was not his anger—but his indifference.
A tense silence settled in until the sleazy men around us suddenly seemed to realize just who was standing in front of them.
Their faces paled.
"Mr. Wolfe!" the fat one croaked, his voice thick with panic and cheap liquor. "We didn't know she was with you—"
"Leave," Kane said, without even glancing at him. The single
Aria's POV"I…" The words stuck in my throat as my fingers unconsciously clenched the fabric of his shirt.I wanted to say something—anything—but my thoughts were a tangled mess.How could I explain feelings I didn't even understand myself?How could I tell him that someone else might've taken root in my heart—the very man I should've hated most?"It's okay. You don't need to say anything."Chad gently stroked my hair, his voice calm and steady. "I'm not in a rush. We've got all the time in the world."I looked at him, feeling the warmth of his fingertips—just like before.Back then, he used to paint pictures of our future with such ease, and I believed every word he said.But now…That perfect trust we once had had been cracked, and those cracks felt unbearably sharp.Maybe it's because things were once too perfect, that any imperfection now feels impossible to ignore.It wasn't his fault. And maybe not mine, either.Maybe this world is just... unfair."Thank you," I whispered at las
Aria's POVThe sight of Chad standing by my father's bedside made me freeze.He looked thinner, but those gentle eyes hadn't changed.For a moment, it almost felt like nothing had happened—that we were back to where we'd started."Aria…" He stepped toward me, voice careful, almost hesitant. "I just got back from my assignment. Are you… okay?"So he knew. About that night."I'm fine." I forced a polite smile, my fingers unconsciously twisting the strap of my purse.The smile was cordial—but distant enough to draw a line.Chad didn't press.I turned to my father. "Dr. Harlan said you're good to be discharged. I came to get the paperwork done.""Finally! I can't wait to go home." Dad's voice was full of excitement.Once the discharge papers were signed and everything was arranged, I returned to help Dad pack.Chad stayed to lend a hand, and before I could object, he came home with us.At the house, I helped Dad get settled in, then handed Chad a pair of slippers before ducking into the k
Aria's POVThe rain began to fall just as the taxi pulled up in front of the villa.I stood beneath the porch, water dripping from the ends of my soaked hair. I didn't bother to wipe it away.The house was pitch black inside. Silent. So quiet I could hear the thud of my own heartbeat.Kane still wasn't home.I dragged myself upstairs, peeled off my damp coat, and collapsed onto the bed. The sheets still held the faint trace of his cologne—crisp, masculine, familiar.I buried my face into the pillow, inhaling deeply, as if breathing him in could somehow trick me into believing he was still here.In the darkness, my phone lit up. My contacts list hovered on the "K" section. My thumb paused over his name, trembling.I didn't press it."God, what am I doing…" I muttered, tossing the phone aside with a bitter laugh. He left without a word, and yet, I'm always the one who breaks first.This night, I couldn't sleep. Again.In the haze between waking and dreaming, I thought I heard the front
Aria's POVI followed behind Flora, clutching the cardboard box in my arms as we walked through the long hallway.I could feel the eyes on me from every direction—some were whispering, others didn't even bother hiding their stares."This is Aria Vale. She'll be working in your department this month." Flora introduced me with a practiced tone before quickly turning on her heel and walking away.The department supervisor who had been smiling stiffly dropped the act the moment she left.Without saying a word, he walked off, leaving me standing there like a misplaced object.The edge of the box dug painfully into my arms. The entire floor seemed to freeze.Everyone kept their heads down, immersed in their work, unwilling to spare me even a glance.The silence was suffocating. I took a deep breath, gathered what was left of my courage, and knocked on the supervisor's office door."Excuse me… Could you tell me where my desk is?"He didn't even look up. His fingers clattered across the keybo
Aria's POVAfter breakfast, I headed out. Standing at the doorway, my eyes instinctively drifted toward the garage.That black car of his was always parked there at this hour.Now the empty driveway felt like it was mocking me.With no other choice, I called for a ride to the office.As soon as the elevator doors opened on the top floor, Flora rushed toward me.She touched my shoulder lightly and lowered her voice. "Mr. Wolfe and Mr. Baron have left the country. They'll be gone for at least a month."My heart sank.A business trip? Just like that?Or was he simply avoiding me?Flora gave me a pointed look. "Ms. Jepson is in charge while he's away… and she wants to see you. Immediately."I forced a small, grateful smile. "Thanks."Once inside my office, I closed the door behind me, leaning back against the cold surface.I could still feel last night—his silence, his steady breathing, his warmth…And now he was just gone, leaving me alone to face Gabriella?Kane… is this your choice?To
Aria's POVThe moment I opened the front door, I saw them—those familiar black leather shoes. My heart skipped a beat.He was home.The entire villa was deathly quiet, not even a single servant in sight.The only sound came from the steady tick of the grandfather clock echoing through the empty hall.I tiptoed forward and accidentally kicked something hard.Looking down, I saw shattered glass—what was left of a broken liquor bottle.Kane had been drinking.And clearly, he'd been angry.I stood in the living room, my legs suddenly heavy as lead.A flood of memories surged back—the sting of the whip, the cold detachment in his eyes, the wall lined with his twisted collection of "toys."I instinctively stepped back, only to bump into the edge of the coffee table behind me.No. I couldn't run. There was no escape—not without consequences far worse.Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to head to the bedroom.Under the dim glow of the bedside lamp, Kane lay on his side with his back to th