MasukARIA - SIX WEEKS LATERThe video conference for Vivienne and Marcus's trial is set up in Dante's office.Morrison's face appears on screen, looking very professional and composed. "Mrs. Ashford, can you hear me clearly?""Yes, perfectly.""Good. The judge has approved your remote testimony given the circumstances. You'll be under oath, so everything you say is legally binding. Are you ready?"I look at Dante, who's standing just off-camera with our baby sleeping in his arms. He nods in encouragement."I'm ready."Morrison's image is replaced by the courtroom. I can see the judge, the jury, the prosecutor. And at the defense table...is Vivienne and Marcus, both in prison jumpsuits, both looking older and harder than I remember.Vivienne's eyes find the camera immediately. She starts to stand, but a guard pushes her back down."Mrs. Ashford," the prosecutor begins, "please state your relationship to the defendants.""Vivienne Sinclair is my twin sister. Marcus Kane is my former fiancé."
DANTEThree weeks later, at 3 AM, Aria wakes me."Dante.""Hmm?""I think my water just broke."I'm instantly awake. "You think or you know?""I know. The bed is wet and I'm having contractions." Her voice is remarkably calm. "I think the baby is coming."I'm on my feet, pulling on clothes, already calling Dr. Mara. "How far apart are the contractions?""Maybe ten minutes? They started about an hour ago but I thought it was just Braxton Hicks." She winces. "Okay, that one was stronger."Dr. Mara arrives within twenty minutes, her team following with so many equipment. They've been on standby for weeks, ready for exactly this moment."Let's check your progress," Dr. Mara says calmly, helping Aria onto the bed we've converted into a delivery space.I hold Aria's hand while Dr. Mara examines her."You're at four centimeters," Dr. Mara announces. "Still early labor, but progressing well. Could be hours still, so let's get you comfortable."The next six hours are a blur of contractions, br
ARIATwo weeks later we leave for a private island in the Seychelles that Dante purchased specifically for this trip.
DANTEI leave Aria in the safe room, the heavy steel door sealing behind me with a definitive click.Dmitri meets me at the top of the basement stairs, his weapon drawn, with grim expression."Status?" I ask quietly."They're at the eastern perimeter fence. Katya has eyes on them from the roof, it is definitely Marcus and Vivienne. They're carrying something, that looks like bolt cutters and a bag." He shows me the thermal feed on his tablet, showing two heat signatures, moving slowly along the fence line. "They're looking for the weakest entry point.""Which doesn't exist. Every inch of this property is reinforced and monitored." I move to the window, staying back from the glass. "How long until Viktor's team arrives?""Ninety seconds. NYPD is three minutes behind them.""Tell Katya not to engage yet. I want them inside the perimeter."Dmitri's eyebrow rises. "Boss?""They're trespassing on my property with intent to harm. Once they cross that fence, I have legal justification for wh
ARIAI'm dreaming about the baby when my phone jolts me awake.The clock shows 2:47 AM.Dante is already reaching for his phone...Viktor calling at this hour means emergency."What?" Dante's voice is sharp, alert.I can hear Viktor's voice through the speaker, very urgent and tense. "Boss, we have a situation. Vivienne escaped custody."My blood runs cold."What do you mean escaped? She's in county jail...""She was being transferred to a medical facility for a psychiatric evaluation. The transport van was ambushed on the highway. Two guards got injured, and Vivienne missing." Viktor's typing rapidly in the background. "NYPD has issued an APB, but boss, she's been gone for three hours already. She could be anywhere."Dante is already out of bed, pulling on clothes. "When were we going to be notified?""Prison didn't want to admit they lost a high-profile prisoner. We only found out because I have an alert on her file." There is more typing on his end."I'm pulling traffic cameras now,
ARIAOutside the courthouse, the media is waiting."Mrs. Ashford, how do you feel about the judge's decision?""Are you satisfied with bail being denied?""Do you have any message for your sister?"I stop, with Dante beside me. Morrison shakes her head slightly...we're not supposed to speak to the press.But I need to say this. Need people to hear it."My sister Vivienne made choices," I say clearly. "She chose jealousy over love. She chose violence over family. She chose to try to kill me rather than accept that our lives went in different directions. Those were her choices, not mine. And now she's facing the consequences of those choices.""Do you forgive her?""No. And I don't plan to. Forgiveness is for people who are sorry for what they did, not people who are sorry they got caught." I meet the camera directly. "Vivienne isn't sorry she tried to hurt me. She's sorry it didn't work and now she's in jail. Those are very different things.""Mrs. Ashford, one more question...""That'
ARIAI wake to sunlight streaming through floor-to-ceiling windows and the disorienting realization that I’m in a bed that costs more than most people’s cars.
DANTEI am in a routine board meeting. But my mind keeps drifting to Aria, sitting in the office next to mine.She looked so fierce this morning. But I saw the fear beneath it.Going to war is terrifying, even when you know you’re going to win.“Dante?” Liam’s voice cuts through my thoughts. “Your
ARIAThe rest of the morning passes in a blur of HR paperwork, IT setup, and Lily bringing me up to speed on my new role. It’s overwhelming and exciting and terrifying all at once.But mostly, it’s vindicating.I’m sitting at my new desk when my office door opens and a woman I don’t recognize walks
ARIAI walked into Dante’s study, and the door clicked shut behind me. Suddenly, I was alone with my phone and increasingly frantic voicemails from Paige while bein







