LOGIN“Why don’t you know the date?”Celeste’s voice cut sharply through the room as she paced back and forth, her heels clicking against the tiled floor.Mira leaned against the counter, arms folded, watching her without much reaction. “Because I wasn’t told.”Celeste stopped abruptly. “And you didn’t think to ask?”Mira sighed. “It didn’t seem necessary.”“Not necessary?” Celeste let out a dry laugh. “Your job is simple, Mira. Get close to them. Make them trust you. Get information.”“I don’t need to get close to all of them,” Mira shot back, her tone tightening. “My priority is Aria. I’m here for my shares. That’s it.”Celeste’s eyes narrowed. “You’ve gone soft.”“It’s not about being soft,” Mira replied. “I just want what belongs to me. I’m not here to play family with them.”Celeste tilted her head slightly. “And you believe everything Aria told you? That your grandmother just handed over seventy percent of the company to her like that?”Mira hesitated for a second. “It’s what I was to
“Why didn’t you wait for me?”Aria met his eyes through the mirror as Damian’s arms slipped around her waist from behind. His lips brushed her shoulder, then her neck, slow and lingering. He leaned in closer, inhaling deeply, his breath warm against her skin.Her hair was still damp, falling over her shoulders in soft waves.“You smell like lilies,” he murmured, his voice low, almost teasing. “I like it.”Aria let out a soft laugh, tilting her head slightly to give him better access. “I didn’t know you wouldn’t stay that long in your study.”“Hmm,” he hummed, pressing a light kiss just below her ear. “I just made a few calls.”She turned in his arms, smiling up at him. “I figured.”His lips found hers, a slow, familiar kiss that carried the ease of something steady and lived in. He lingered there for a moment before pulling back, his hand brushing lightly along her cheek.“I’ll take a quick shower,” he said.Aria nodded and turned back to the mirror, picking up the hairdryer again. Th
“Talk to me,” Damian said as soon as they stepped out of the car and into the house.Aria barely had time to take in the quiet of the living room before his hand found her waist, pulling her gently toward him. His other hand came up to her face, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear.“The press,” she said, exhaling. “I hate being on the news.”“I know,” he replied, his voice calm but firm. “I’ve already started handling it.”She nodded, but her expression remained tense.“There’s something else,” he added.Aria looked up at him. “What?”“Mira.”Her body stiffened almost instantly.Damian noticed.“I don’t understand her,” he continued. “Her story doesn’t add up. Every time we try to ask about her past, she dodges it. It’s like she’s hiding something.”Aria pulled away slightly, her brows drawing together. “She just got back, Damian.”“That doesn’t explain the secrecy.”“She’s not used to us,” Aria said, her tone sharpening. “She’s been on her own. She doesn’t know anybody her
Aria’s office door shut behind them, cutting off the lingering tension from outside. She didn’t say anything as she walked to her desk and sank into her chair, her movements slower than usual. Zara took the seat opposite her, watching quietly as Aria picked up her phone and failed Damian. “Hey, baby,” Damian’s voice came through, warm and relaxed. “What’s up?” Aria closed her eyes for a brief second before speaking. “Have you seen the news?” There was a slight pause on the other end. “What news?” “Someone leaked Adrian’s condition,” she said, her voice tight. “The reporters are here, Damian. At the company. They’re asking questions about the surgery… about the transplant…” “Stay where you are,” he said. “Don’t leave the building.” Aria swallowed. “Damian—” “I’ll handle it,” he cut in. “I’ll find out who leaked it, and I’ll deal with the reporters. But right now, you don’t step outside. Do you understand me?” She leaned back slightly in her chair. “I can’t just—” “Aria,” he
“How are you?” her mother asked.Zara swallowed. Her throat felt tight, like something was lodged there. “I’m okay,” she managed, her voice strained despite her effort to steady it. “How are you? And… how are you even calling me? I thought the rehab center didn’t allow patients to use phones.”There was a pause.“I got released.”Zara froze where she stood.“What?”“I got released,” her mother repeated.“How?” Zara’s voice rose before she could stop it. “When? Why?”“Just now.”Zara blinked, trying to process it. “Why were you released?”The moment the question left her mouth, she regretted it. It sounded wrong. Cold. Suspicious.But she couldn’t help it.Her mother had been in that center for so long that Zara had stopped counting the years. Stopped expecting anything to change.On the other end, her mother let out a sharp breath. “Why would you ask that?”Zara pressed her lips together.“I thought you’d be happy for me,” her mother continued, her tone edged with offense.“I am,” Zar
Zara stepped into the company building with a smile she couldn’t hide even if she tried.“Good morning, ma’am,” the receptionist greeted, looking up from her desk.“Good morning,” Zara replied, still smiling as she walked past.The receptionist leaned forward slightly. “You look… really radiant today.”Zara paused, her smile widening. “Do I?”“Yes,” the woman nodded. “Like something really good happened.”Zara let out a soft laugh. “Something really good did happen.”“Well, whatever it is, I’m happy for you.”“Thank you,” Zara said warmly, then turned and headed toward the elevator.She pressed the button and waited, rocking slightly on her heels, still smiling to herself.The elevator doors slid open.She stepped in, then noticed someone already standing inside.“Aria—”The word left her mouth before she fully looked up.The woman turned slightly.Zara’s smile faltered for just a second.It wasn’t Aria.It was Mira.Zara recovered quickly, her smile slipping back into place. “Hey, Mi
Zara woke up slowly, dragged out of darkness by a violent throb pulsing behind her eyes. Her head was pounding, her stomach twisting with nausea. She groaned and tried to lift her hand—but it wouldn’t move.She tugged again.No movement.No sound but the scrape of rope burning against skin.She for
Zara pointed a chopstick at her. “With all the work you’ve been making me do, you better prepare to give me a two-month vacation to Greece. And you’re the one sponsoring it.”Aria nearly choked on her drink. “Why would I sponsor it?”Zara lifted up her fingers. “One, you’re a billionaire now.”“I’m
Zara didn’t remember grabbing her phone, didn’t remember pushing her chair back. She only remembered her legs trembling as she rushed out of her office. The guards outside straightened immediately, startled by her sudden appearance.“Ma’am? Is everything—” One of the guards askedShe didn’t even an
Zara gasped when she heard his voice behind her.She spun around, clutching the photo to her chest as if she had been caught stealing.“Jaxon, what are you doing here?”Jaxon stood in the doorway of the study, broad shoulders filling the frame, eyes shadowed and unreadable.“I should be asking you







