ВойтиAria's POVI instinctively looked ahead when I heard his voice, my gaze drawn by the quiet reverence in his tone.Katherine's grave stood alone, a semi-circular structure covering nearly ten square meters. The black marble headstone, standing over three feet tall, held a black and white photograph that somehow seemed to shimmer with an almost ethereal clarity in the moonlight.I had, of course, heard countless stories about Katherine—the woman who had filled so many critical gaps in his life since childhood. But this was my first time seeing her face, truly seeing the woman who had shaped so much of the man I loved.The woman in the photo had shoulder-length hair and a gentle expression, yet it held a touch of profound vulnerability. Just looking at her, I felt an instinctive urge to reach out, to offer comfort."She is beautiful," I said softly, turning to look at Aiden, my voice filled with genuine admiration.Just like a mother's gentle spirit,
Aria's POVAs I sat perched on top of the cemetery wall, something about this moment felt strangely familiar. The moonlight, the darkness, even the way Aiden stood below with his arms outstretched—it triggered something deep in my memory that I couldn't quite place."Having second thoughts?" Aiden called up, a hint of teasing in his voice.I snapped back to reality and positioned myself at the edge. Without overthinking it, I pushed off and let myself fall into his waiting arms. The sensation of falling was brief—his strong arms caught me effortlessly, securing me against his chest. The familiar scent of his cologne—sandalwood with subtle hints of cedar—enveloped me immediately.I found myself staring up at his face, studying the sharp angles illuminated by moonlight. A strange feeling of déjà vu washed over me."Aiden," I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, "have we met before? Before all this, I mean?"I watch
Aria's POV"Of course," I answered without hesitation. In all the time I'd known him, I'd never seen him this subdued, this vulnerable. Whatever was going on, it was serious.The car started moving again, leaving the city lights behind as we drove further into the darkness. Twenty minutes later, we pulled over again.This time I was smarter. I peered out the window first, trying to figure out where we were before making any assumptions. But all I could see was darkness—no buildings, no signs, nothing familiar.If it had been anyone else but Aiden bringing me to a place like this, I might have been concerned for my safety. The thought made me smile a little—I trusted him completely.He turned off the engine but made no move to get out. "Today is the anniversary of Katherine's death," he said quietly. "She is my godmother."I felt a jolt run through me as I looked ahead more carefully. Finally, I recognized where we were.A cemetery. That
Aria's POVI suddenly felt a hot breath on my neck as Aiden leaned in close, his lips barely brushing my ear. "I care for Aria too," he murmured, his deep voice sending shivers down my spine. "More than anyone could possibly imagine."My ears were already tingling from Claire's open declaration, but Aiden's intimate confession made both my ears turn completely crimson. My face felt like it was on fire.I'd grown a thicker skin since our marriage began, but him saying something so bold in such a public setting still left me breathless. I shot him a sideways glance. "Are you trying to make me spontaneously combust in front of everyone?" I whispered.He chuckled softly, his eyes dancing with mischief. "Maybe. You're particularly beautiful when you blush."Across the room, Thomas Carter had already taken the stage, but my attention was completely scattered. How could I focus on anything when Aiden was standing so close, his breath warm against my neck, sending tingles across my skin? My m
Sylvia's POVI couldn't help but smile as I watched Claire with her mother. In that moment, I saw exactly where Claire had inherited her fiercely generous spirit.Once Mr. Bennett had excused himself to join his business associates, only Mrs. Bennett, Claire, and I were left in our cozy—if rather opulent—corner of the hall.I'd been quietly worried that we were keeping the Bennetts from mingling with the other guests, but the second her husband's back was turned, Mrs. Bennett let out a genuine, relieved sigh. "Finally, he's gone! A man hovering about ruins all our girl talk, doesn't it?"Claire huffed in unmistakable agreement, nodding vigorously. "Exactly! Dad's always so stiff with all that business chatter. Poor Aria could barely keep up!"Mrs. Bennett reached for my hand, her touch warm and unexpectedly maternal. "Claire calls you Aria, so I hope you won't mind if I do the same, dear? And please don't pay Mr. Bennett any mind—he's spent
Aria's POVI couldn't believe Claire remembered that incident from five years ago. It felt like such a distant memory, almost entirely faded from my mind.That day, after the competition and award ceremony, I was supposed to make a quick exit. But the organizers had insisted we record performance videos. As the reigning champion, I went first, eager to be done. I was in a hurry to leave, truly—didn't want anyone to discover the true identity behind my masked persona.Nana wanted to film me doing a short segment, so I took a jet ski to the calmer, more secluded side of the shore. Just as I finished recording, shouts pierced the twilight air from the main beach. It was sunset already, and I couldn't see clearly from that distance. But following everyone's frantic gaze, I spotted someone standing precariously on a cluster of rocks, already being swallowed by the ocean.The tide was rising fast, a relentless force, and those rocks would soon be completely submerged. Without a second thoug







