LOGINPerhaps Damian was still sleeping.Lucky him. I, on the other hand, woke up with a pounding headache and the heavy realization that his unexpected visit had officially ruined my plans.I rolled off the bed, stretched, and sighed. The floor was cold beneath my feet, perfect, just like my mood.By the time I made it downstairs, the entire trio was already up. Vivian sat between them like a queen in silk pajamas, chin high, smug smile in place.Perfect little family.I was the stain on their perfect napkin.“Good morning,” I muttered, forcing a smile.“Morning,” Father replied without looking up from his newspaper. Vivian’s eyes lifted slowly, the corner of her lips twitching. “Arianna, you didn’t look like you got much sleep last night. Or perhaps… you didn’t sleep at all?”I smiled back, matching her tone. “You’re always interested in my affairs. One might think you live for me.”Her smile cracked, only for her to fix it quickly. “I just care,” she said sweetly.I bit into my toast. “
The hand tightened over my mouth from behind.Instinct took over before logic could. I bit down hard, twisted, and kicked. A muffled groan followed, low and rough, brushing against the back of my neck.“It’s just me,” a voice hissed in the dark. “You want to destroy my manhood because I didn’t let you have it?”Damian.I froze, panting, my heart slamming into my ribs. “Why would you—” I exhaled sharply, “…hold me like that?”He leaned closer, the faint scent of his soap and mint clinging to his shirt. “You can’t blame me,” he murmured. “Next time you plan on sneaking into someone’s room,” he said quietly, “don’t wait for me to fall asleep first.”“I was…” my voice faltered. “I was scared.”“Scared,” he repeated, his tone raking of disbelief and something else I couldn’t name.His eyes caught mine in the dim hall light, blue, unreadable. Then his expression shifted, suspicion etching into his jaw. “What are you doing here, Arianna? What are you hiding?”Before I could answer, the light
Father’s eyes darted from the screen, confusion twisting his features.“How… how is this possible?”I smiled to myself. This was the power of knowing the future. Now, thank me.He blinked at me, still glued to the numbers flashing in green. “The stocks are still rising, Arianna. You made me pull out early! Do you know how much I just lost?”Vivian’s face lit up with a cruel sort of glee. “Sister, why do you always have to be a jinx?”“It can’t be,” I muttered under my breath, a chill crawling down my spine.The book… did the plot change? I held my breath as the numbers ticked up… maybe I read it wrong. Maybe I was too confident. My stomach twisted.Mother turned sharply, probably to throw another insult my way, but Father’s voice cracked through the tension first.“The stocks…” his voice trembled. “They’re dropping now. Real fast.”Vivian froze, stunned. “What?” she whispered.Mother rushed to Father’s side. “It crashed,” she whispered. “It really did.”I glanced at my clock. 7:03. Ju
The silence was deafening until his voice broke through.“Who were you with last night?”I couldn’t help but smirk. The question hit like a storm.I blinked up at Damian, arms crossed, the faint scent of cologne and arrogance filling the air between us. “You’re joking, right?” His voice was tight, almost strangled.He took a step closer, the dangerous kind of slow that made my pulse twitch. “Am I?” I muttered.His frown deepened.I tilted my head, smirking. “Why don’t you try to recall?”His hand shot out, gripping my shoulders, hard. His jaw clenched. “Don’t play games with me, Arianna.”I gave a short, humorless laugh. “Let go of me, Mr. Salvatore,” I said, jerking out of his grasp. Dusting invisible dust from where his hands had rested.“Our open marriage has officially begun.”His voice dropped to a warning growl. “Don’t… test me.”I smiled, all venom and poise. “Relax. I’ll let you stew in your own frustration, jerk.”I turned on my heel and walked away, heart hammering too fast
“That’s what you think of me, right?” My voice came out sharper than I meant. He paused. “I mean, you’ve done it once why should I be surprised you’d do it again?”“Arianna…”“Jerk,” I muttered, grabbing the nearest pillow and hurling it at him. It hit his chest with a soft thud. “I was the fool for helping you.”I turned to leave, but before I could reach the door, Damian caught my wrist.“What happened?” he asked quietly.I yanked my hand free. “You tell me. You think I drugged you again? That I enjoyed watching you lose control? What else could possibly be wrong?”He sighed, running a hand through his hair, still disheveled from sleep. The veins in his arm flexed, that same arm that had bled the night before. And had run across my bare breast. For a split second, I almost softened. Almost.“I’ll get to the truth,” he said finally, voice low, unreadable.“Sure,” I scoffed. “You always do. Too bad this time the truth is staring right at your face.”He didn’t answer. He just turned
I stood there looking between the two of them.For some reason, I couldn’t name what I felt; anger, shock, maybe something deeper.Vivian’s hands scratched at her neck, a subtle move, but enough to make me pause. It was… hot? No, that couldn’t be right. But then the corner of her lips twitched in a way that didn’t quite reach her eyes. Had I imagined it?Damian staggered toward me, his steps uneven, like he was swaying on the edge of control. Vivian reached out, trying to grip his arm, but he pushed her hand away.Uh uh, I wasn’t expecting that. Arianna, we weren’t— I didn’t…” Her voice cracked, faltering. “Something’s wrong.”She broke down, tears slipping down her cheeks. “Damian, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean… I’m so hot…”If I hadn’t known better, I’d believe her act.Her voice broke, then she staggered back, eyes wide and unfocused. “I’m so hot,” she repeated, trembling.He pressed a hand to his temple, voice hoarse. “I don’t know what’s happening. I feel dizzy.”That’s when I saw it







