Semua Bab Her Billionaire Ex-husband's Regret : Bab 171 - Bab 180

ARIAThe air was knocked straight out of my lungs.Maybe I was even trapped in ice because I didn't even get a second to scream. Vaguely, I realized I could still hear the music from the party even underwater. I kicked hard, breathing the surface of the water, fighting my dress which wrapped around me, and tried to drag me back into the water. I could see that Zara was standing right by the edge, smiling like she had just won a prize, like she hasn't just shoved me into the cold pool.She bent, her perfect manicure resting on her knees, her eyes smug with satisfaction. “What's wrong, Aria? You didn't see that coming? Caspian isn't here to save you?” My stomach tightened with anger. For half a second, I considered walking away, and then I remembered every moment Zara has done this, every moment she had held power over me. Never again. I didn't answer her, instead, I climbed out of the pool, the water pooling around my legs. Zara’s smirk widened into a smile. “Oh, you look soaked

ARIA The first thing I felt when I woke was heat. Strong, steady heat, and the weight of an arm thrown across my waist like it owned me. It was Caspian. For a second, I just stared at him. He was asleep, bare chest rising and falling, his jaw hard even in rest. He looked like nothing could touch him. I hated that it made me feel safe. My body moved before my brain caught up. I traced a line down his chest with my fingertips. His lashes flicked up, and his grey eyes locked on mine. The kind that stripped you down even when you were already naked under the sheets. “Couldn’t sleep?” His voice was gravel, thick with sleep. “Something like that.” His hand slid from my waist to my thigh in one slow drag. That was all it took. One pull and I was under him as his mouth crushed mine. The kiss wasn’t sweet, and it wasn’t careful. It was teeth, tongue, and the sound of the headboard hitting the wall. His hands pinned mine above my head like I’d ever get away from him, and he

CASPIANXander moved closer. “What do you want to do?”“What the fuck do you think?” I asked, frowning at him. “Find Rowan. He can't get away with doing that to her.”Duke’s voice came over the line again. “Caspian, listen to me. If Rowan is involved in this, he’s desperate. That makes him dangerous.”“I’m dangerous too.” I ended the call before Duke could say more.I didn't want him to try convincing me, I wasn't going to be convinced. Xander didn’t try to stop me. He just fell in step as I headed for the elevator, my phone already in my hand, dialing Markus again.“Track every camera between that store and Rowan’s last known location. I want eyes on him in ten minutes.”“I’m working on it,” Markus said. “But if he’s switched cars again, it might take a while.”“You’ve got five minutes,” I snapped and ended the call.The elevator doors opened. I stepped in and turned to Xander. “Stay here. If anything changes with Aria, call me.”“Caspian…”“I said stay.” My tone left no room for a

CASPIAN I stood and paced to the hospital window with my arms folded and my mind all over the place. The burner phone thing had caught me completely off guard. I’d been sitting there for a while now, trying to make sense of it before she woke up. And it just didn't make any sense. I knew Aria probably had secrets. Hell, everyone did, but why would she go as far as buying a burner? That wasn’t a casual choice. She had something up her sleeve that she wasn't sharing with me. That was the kind of thing you did when you didn’t want to be traced. When you were planning something in secret. Or when you didn’t trust the people around you. I glanced back at her on the bed. She was sitting up now. Even weak, she looked stunning snuggled into her sheets, her eyes round and large in her face. She looked like she wanted to speak, and I didn’t push her. I just waited. Finally, she said. "I got the burner because I had something on Rowan. I wanted to release it without anyone know

CASPIAN I stood at the vending machine, feeding the money in as calmly as I could. A few beeps later, I took the bitter cup of coffee and took a blissful sip, two fingers pressed against my temple. I hadn’t really slept. A half-hour nap on the stiff visitor’s chair didn’t count. The nurses had come and gone through the night, checking vitals and adjusting IVs. I’d barely looked up each time, eyes always trained on her sleeping form just to make sure. Now, with the sun up and the hospital no longer quiet, I left my post and walked into her room again. Aria was awake, propped up against the pillows, her face pale but alert with her hair a tangled mess she hadn't yet remembered to care about. Even then, I thought she looked maddeningly beautiful. Some things didn’t change. She turned her head when she saw me and reached for the water on her tray. Her hand was unsteady. I took the cup from her and helped her sip. She nodded in thanks, then leaned back again with a small winc