MasukAngela's POV
When the car finally stopped, I looked out the window.
Ahead of us stood a steel gate. A white wooden sign carved in a classic style read: Carter Ranch. Wooden fences stretched wide, framing land that seemed endless as we passed through the gate.
Without looking at me, Aaron opened his door and stepped out, slamming it shut behind him.
I hurried out after him, closing the door with an irritated sigh.
“Hey, Aaron! Wait!” I called, but
Angela’s POVThe past few weeks had been insane.Beauty campaign shoots. Luxury brand deals. Back-to-back meetings.And on top of that… I was still fulfilling my contract with Aaron.Just a little longer.Once I had enough money to pay off everything I owed him…I’d end it. This year. No matter what.Lately, things between us had turned colder than ever.He didn’t talk to me anymore.I only showed up when he asked.And I hated how meaningless I felt to him.In his eyes, I was nothing more than someone he used when he wanted to.I kept telling myself I didn’t care. That it was temporary. That I just had to hold on a little longer.But every time I left his house…the pain always came with me.***I had a photoshoot today, plus a short interview with a magazine.And from the moment I woke up, something felt off.I’d already thrown up twice before Beth even arrived.Now I was in the passenger seat while she drove, and the nausea was creeping back again.She glanced at me.“You okay?”“I
Aaron’s POV“I’m sorry.”My chest tightened the moment I heard those words.“We couldn’t save your mother.”I just stood there, staring at him. Hearing it… but not really processing it.He led me into another room. My steps felt heavy, but I kept walking.We stopped.My mom was lying there. A white sheet covered her up to her chest. Her face was pale. She was still… not moving.I walked over slowly and stopped beside the bed.Staring at her.That was the moment I realized there was nothing left for me in this world.Time seemed to stop.Or maybe it kept moving, just without me in it.The police showed up.They asked me a few questions about my mom’s death.They said they hadn’t caught the person responsible yet. A hit-and-run, they called it. They just said they’d keep investigating.It didn’t
Aaron’s POVI stood there for a few seconds after her hand slipped from my arm.She was already asleep, but her words were still hanging in my head.I turned and walked out of her room, heading downstairs to mine.I stepped into the bathroom. Cold water hit me the second I turned the shower on. It should’ve been enough to clear my head, but it wasn’t.I braced both hands against the wall, lowering my head as water ran down my face and neck. But I wasn’t seeing the white tiles in front of me.I saw her.Her face.The way she looked at me.The way she said she wanted to leave without hesitation.My jaw tightened.Fuck.What the hell was I thinking?I let out a rough breath.She wants to leave.That should be a good thing.That was the plan from the start, wasn’t it?Break her. Make her give up. Make her feel what I felt back then.
Aaron’s POVAngela’s hand was already on the door handle.She pushed it open and stepped out just like that, as if she could really just walk away.As if I’d let her.I watched her for a second, my jaw tightening, the engine still running.Then I got out.“Angela.”She didn’t stop, if anything, she walked faster.I closed the distance in a few strides and grabbed her wrist.She jerked, immediately trying to pull free.“Where do you think you’re going?”“Let me go.”My grip tightened.“No."I yanked her back, shoving her until her back hit the side of the car.She shot me a sharp look, her eyes burning.“Who said you could leave?” I said, my voice low and cold.“I told you, I’ll pay you,” she shot back. “I don’t want to ruin your relationship with Lyla. T
Angela’s POVI turned away the second I saw Aaron kissing Lyla and walked straight back into the restroom.My chest tightened, my eyes burning. I gripped the edge of the sink, staring at my reflection in the mirror.Stupid.I shouldn’t have let things go this far.I knew exactly where I stood with him.I should’ve remembered that.I turned on the faucet and splashed cold water on my face, hoping it would dull the ache.It didn’t.The restroom door opened, and Beth walked in.“Well, there you are,” she said.“What's up?” I asked.She studied me for a moment. “You okay?”“Yeah.” I gave a small shrug. “Just a little dizzy. I had a bit too much to drink.”“Did you throw up again?”I shook my head. “No.”She nodded. “Come on. Let’s go back inside.”
Aaron's POVMy mind kept circling back to last night.I shouldn’t have kissed her.It had happened in a split second, my hand gripping her jaw, the look in her eyes throwing me completely off balance.Just for a moment.But that had been enough to crack every wall I’d built over the years.I let out a slow breath, my fingers tightening slightly around the pen in my hand.Then my phone buzzed, snapping me out of it.A message from Lyla.Can you come with me to the wrap party tonight?I typed back without thinking.Okay.And now I was there.A private lounge, filled with laughter and conversation.My eyes immediately found her.Angela.She was sitting a few seats away, quieter than usual. Barely talking.Lyla said something beside me. Someone else chimed in. I responded when necessary, nothing more.My attention drifted back to Angela.I watc
Angela's POVMy chest tightened when he said Lyla’s name.“Oh. That was fast.”“You needed certainty,” I continued. “Now you have it.”Silence filled the room before he finally spoke.“You sound like you’re b
Angela's POV“The contract will be sent once legal finishes the details. There will be intensive training—dialect, physical work. The schedule will be tight.”“I understand. That won’t be a problem.”Mercer nodded, then stood. I stood as we
Angela's POV“Hey, Angela. Just wanted to say hi. I heard you might be joining the Mercer project. If that happens, looks like we’ll cross paths a lot."My thumb hovered over the screen, weighing every word before I replied.I finally typed slowly.
Angela's POV"Aaron..." My voice cracked as another wave hit me stronger than the last.My breath caught before finally escaping in a shaky exhale. My knees went weak.And then…I collapsed.My body fell against his chest, gasping, trembling slightly. I c







