Se connecterXAVIER'S POV “I swear Ria will be the death of me.” Ian's voice filled the room as Reed trailed behind him, his shoulders tense the moment he noticed what he was here for. Kai escorted Reed toward the range while Ian settled into the seat beside me, letting out a heavy sigh.“I mean... how the hell does one look so innocent yet be so stubborn?”“Another argument?” I asked calmly, my eyes fixed on Reed as Kai adjusted his stance.Ian didn't answer immediately. I knew he was staring at me because I could feel his gaze burning into the side of my face.“What's with that expression?” He finally asked. “You guys had a fight or something?”I shook my head. “It's nothing.”“Xavier…”“Do you still think this is the best way to go about it?” I cut him off, watching Kai place the gun back in Reed's trembling hands.Ian went quiet.“Trust me, Xavier. I wish there were other options.”The sharp crack of gunfire echoed across the private shooting range, one shot after another, each round hitting
ARIA'S POV“Are you sure about this?” Reed asked again, his voice laced with hesitation. “He'll definitely get angry if he sees you in the kitchen when we have maids.”“Don't worry about Xavier.” I waved a dismissive hand. “I think he's used to it by now.”“It's not about…”“Get to work, Reed.”I handed him a spoon and stepped back, waiting for him to show me what he'd learned since our last session.The moment he held the spoon in his hands, I knew I was in for it.He gripped it like it was a weapon. His knuckles were white, posture stiff. Reed looked like he was preparing to fight the vegetables rather than cook them.“Reed.” I pinched the bridge of my nose. “It's a spoon, not a sword. Relax your grip.”“Sorry.” He loosened his fingers slightly. “Like this?”“Better.” I pointed at the bowl of chopped tomatoes. “Now, stir the sauce. Gently. Like you're... I don't know, stirring a potion for a love spell.”He gave me a deadpan look. “A love spell?”“It's called having fun, Reed. You s
ARIA'S POVI lay sprawled across the bed, a box of cookies balanced on my stomach, and my phone pressed to my ear as I was talking to the one person who always made sense of the chaos in my head.“I swear to God, Aria, if I have to deal with one more passive-aggressive email from my boss, I'm going to lose it.” Zara's voice crackled through the speaker. “The man literally asked me to format a report in Comic Sans. Comic Sans. I wanted to quit on the spot.”I laughed, the sound muffled by the cookie I was chewing. “But you end up doing the job, don't you?”“I had to.” She groaned. “But I made sure to CC everyone in the company so they could see his questionable taste in fonts.”A smile tugged at my lips. “That's my girl.” I sighed sharply. “God, I wish we could gossip about this over a bowl of popcorn and some drinks?”“Speaking of which…” Her voice softened. “I miss you, bestie. But Italy is too far away. How are you holding up?”I stared at the ceiling, chewing slowly. “I'm coping,
IAN'S POVI heard it. The whiz of a bullet grazed past my ear.A crack split the elevator glass. Then another. And another.I grabbed Reed and yanked him to the floor. His body hit the ground hard, but I didn't give him time to react. I was already reaching for my gun.“What the hell is going on?” Reed's wide eyes met mine.“Stay down.” I pressed him flat against the floor. “And don't move.”The glass shattered around us. Employees scattered in every direction, screaming, running, trampling each other in their panic state. Some dove behind desks. Others rushed for the stairs. A few just stood frozen, hands over their heads.The chaos lasted barely a minute.Then the elevator doors opened behind us.Men in uniforms rushed out with guns in their hands. But a few of them stood out. They moved differently, like private and well trained guards would move. Their faces were covered with black masks, and they were heavily armed.One of them crouched down in front of me. His eyes were familiar
ARIA'S POV“Did I interrupt something?” Xavier glanced between me and Reed.“No.” Reed was quick to respond. “Not at all.”“Go wait for me in the car.” Xavier handed a bag to Reed. Then he blocked my path just as I turned toward the stairs.“Move, Xavier.” My voice was cold, flat.“I want to talk.” He pulled me in, so close I felt his breath fan my face. “Whatever it is, let's talk it out.”“Don't you have somewhere to be?”“I do.” His hand found my waist. “But if it means I can put a smile on my wife's face, I don't mind being late.”Always a smooth talker.“I don't want to talk to you, Xavier.” I pushed at his chest.“Then kiss me.”His lips pressed against mine before I could blink. I hit his chest, pushed against him, and tried to shove him away. But he didn't budge. His hands cupped my face, holding me in place as his tongue swept against my lower lip.My body betrayed me once again.My hands fisted in his shirt as I kissed him back, our tongues mingling, sliding against each oth
ARIA'S POV“Reed.”I found him bent forward over the sink, his palm flat against the wall, shoulders heaving. He was throwing up like his body was trying to expel something that wouldn't leave.I rushed down the stairs and rubbed his back gently. “Are you okay?”“I'm fine.” He wiped his mouth and dropped onto the nearest chair, his face pale and clammy.“Is it something you ate?” I pressed my hand to his forehead. “You're warm. I'm going to get Xavier to…”“No.” He shook his head, his voice weak. “No, it's fine. I just need to relax a bit.”I sighed and stared at him for a moment.“How about I cook you something light to eat for breakfast?” I crouched in front of him. “And probably get you some meds.”“I can't wait for that.” He rubbed his temples. “I have to head out with him in an hour.”“With Xavier?” I checked my phone. “What if I get it ready in fifteen minutes? Something easy on your stomach.”“You don't have to…” He started, but I was already washing my hands at the sink, pulli
ARIA’S POV The loud crash from outside my door woke me from a deep sleep, making my heart leap into my throat.I groaned, blinking against the early morning light filtering through the curtains.“Isn’t it too early to piss people off?” I muttered under my breath.Dragging myself out of bed, I shuf
ARIA’S POV“I want a divorce.”Those were the first words that fell from my husband’s lips the moment I showed him the video… a proof of his balls deep in another woman's cunt.There was no apology, no remorse, not even an attempt to lie or give an excuse. Just those four words that are cold enough
ARIA’S POV “Hello, Aria, what’s up?”“I can’t reach him.” I paced back and forth across the living room, dragging my fingers through my hair for what felt like the hundredth time. “Zara, it’s almost midnight and he’s not picking my calls.”The silence of the penthouse pressed in on me, heavy and s
XAVIER’S POV“Siri, call my wife.”My phone lit up instantly, the familiar tone cutting through the quiet office as it dialled her number.My wife.The word still felt new… but not wrong in the way it used to when she still belonged to that asshole I call my brother.It had been two weeks since Ari







