Se connecterAngela's POV
"I panicked,” I said. “You showed up in the middle of the night, you looked like a burglar.”
He raised an eyebrow, his gaze sharp.
“A burglar?” His voice dropped, heavy with sarcasm. “This house has three layers of security. You really think someone could get through all that without setting off an alarm?”I clenched my jaw, heat creeping up my neck.
“Fine… maybe I overreacted. I’m sorry.&Angela’s POVI immediately hid behind one of Aaron’s other cars.Lyla smiled.Then, without hesitation, she stepped forward and hugged Aaron.And Aaron…didn’t resist.His hand lifted, returning the hug.A sharp pain shot through my chest.Lyla pulled away, said something I couldn’t hear, then turned and walked back to her car.The engine started. The headlights swept across the street, and within seconds, she was gone.Leaving Aaron standing there.***I waited until her car completely disappeared before finally stepping out of my hiding spot.The moment I got closer, Aaron’s cold gaze locked onto me.He didn’t say anything. He just turned and walked in through the side door.And I followed behind him.The second I stepped inside, his hand clamped around my wrist, yanking me hard. My body twisted, my back pressed against him.
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.”
Angela’s POV “Aaron…” The name slipped from my lips before I could stop myself. He paused mid-step. “You’ll free my dad, right?” He turned his head slightly. Just enough for me to see half his face—cold, unreadable. “Yes,” he said shortly.
Aaron's POVMy car left the US-101, merging onto a two-lane road that sloped downward toward the coast. Malibu was twenty minutes away.Then my phone vibrated on the dashboard. I answered immediately.“Yeah.”“There’s a problem,” the voice
Angela’s POVI gripped the steering wheel, panic crawling up my spine. My breathing was shallow and fast. That bastard—Ian—was really tailing me.“Shit,” I muttered under my breath.My eyes kept flicking to the rearview mirror. His car was still
Angela’s POVI sank onto the edge of the bed, my body weak. My breath caught in my chest. Everything around me felt like it had finally collapsed for good.My phone ringing snapped me out of it.Melissa.I answered.“Hello.”Her breathin







