81. A BIG CHOICE TO MAKE; CASPIAN OR REED?

ARIACaspian’s fingers tightened around my waist when I tried to move away, and it made the moment even more awkward. He glared at Reed, then narrowed his eyes at me. “Who is this man, Doll?” I looked between the two of them, grateful when Meredith stepped in right on time.“Welcome Mr. Reed, we weren't expecting you today.” She flashed him a big smile, taking Nylah from him. Reed’s gaze didn't swivel from Caspian’s arm around my waist. “I had a free hour at the hospital. Seems it was a bad idea to decide to spend it here.” He lifted his eyes to mine. “Aria? You didn't answer me.” The air was electric and taut. A blunt butter knife could cut smoothly through the tension. Meredith took one look at my face and took Nylah and Lark’s hand. She herded them out of the room, promising them ice cream and pie.Once she closed the door behind them, I straightened my shoulders and stepped out of Caspian’s arms. I'd kept my cool, because I didn't want to worry my children again. Both Caspi

Last Updated : 2025-06-02

82. REED'S DESIRE, MY AVERSION

ARIAMy stomach caved in on itself. I met Reed’s eyes, drawn in by the fire in them. His fingers lifted onto my cheeks and grazed my lips. Reed’s hand cupped the side of my face before I had time to move back. His eyes searched mine. They were heavy, and bright but he didn't rush. It was as though despite my words, he knew I wouldn’t stop him. I didn’t. I should have, but I didn’t, so he leaned in and kissed me.His lips were soft and warm, tasting faintly of wine and the grapes he’d just eaten. My heart twisted as heat flared along my skin, hollowing my stomach.I kissed him back, because I wanted to feel something. I wanted to know if maybe I had just imagined the difference, if maybe this thing with Caspian wasn’t real. But the longer the kiss went on, the more the answer solidified inside me. It wasn’t the same. My stomach didn’t flip. My knees didn’t go weak. I didn’t ache to be closer the way I did when Caspian touched me. My skin didn't burn like it would explode if he di

Last Updated : 2025-06-02

83. BACK TO WORK

ARIA“Miss Aria?” Darion’s surprise wasn't completely unexpected to me. I’d have been surprised if he wasn't.“Can you get me one?” I asked, walking to the window and pulling the blinds back. “I can get you one, but I'm tempted to ask; why do you need it? What do you need it for?” Darion insisted, the tone of his voice stringent and worried. “I can't tell you why, but I promise it's for a good cause. I need it in two days.” I said. Darion tried to question me some more, but I insisted I couldn't tell him, until he agreed to get the gun. I showered and dressed for bed.I had no idea why Ivan had escalated the way he did, and it was really not a concern to me. What I did know was that if Caspian had left him alive, then I was going to kill him.I fell asleep after Meredith left. My dreams were choppy, broken by reel-like flashes of what had happened in Ivan’s car.I woke up gasping for air at dawn. I got out of bed and slipped out my door.I sat with the children, who had woken by th

Last Updated : 2025-06-03

84. TALIA KNOWS!

ARIATalia ignored Analide. Her eyes were beady and sharp like claws. “What? Are you surprised to see me? Did you think you could take my job away?” “Talia…please back off.” I backed away from her.I didn't have the time nor energy to waste on confrontations with a petty person like Talia. She had no reason to fight me, after all she only reaped what she had sown but when did that ever stop her? “Why? You're worried about me now?” She hissed, stepping into my personal space again. Analide stepped in front of her. “Back off, girl. I'm not Aria, and I won't repeat myself twice.” Talia stopped and laughed. She pulled her phone from her pants pocket and shoved it in Analide’s face.“Look at where you live. It's a God forsaken hell hole. You have no reason to stand in the same room with me much less speak to me that way!” Talia shouted in Analide’s face, spit flying from her lips.The house on the screen was an apartment building. It was wedged between two bigger buildings and looked t

Last Updated : 2025-06-03

85. BALANCING THE SCALES

CASPIANAria stared at me like I’d lost my mind. She repeated her earlier words like she really didn't believe me. “You wouldn’t dare.”I didn’t blink. I knew I would dare. I would do it if I had to. “Try me.”Every inch of her trembled with fury and pride, two things she wore like perfume. But she wasn’t calling my bluff. She knew I meant it now. She understood. Her fingers curled tighter around the strap of her bag, jaw clenched so tight I could see the muscle tick. “Fine,” she muttered, lifting her chin. “I’ll go to lunch.”I nodded, moving. “Good. Let's go. I’ll make sure you don’t come back from it.”She rolled her eyes and tried to push past me. “You’re not my keeper. I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself.” “Maybe not,” I said, falling in step beside her. “But I’m coming with you.”She glared at me, licking her lips which shot tendrils of lust stirring in my stomach. I forcefully reminded myself she was fragile. “Why?”“We need to talk, remember?” I arched my brow. “Y

Last Updated : 2025-06-04

86. RUBBING MY CRUMBS IN MY FACE?

ARIAI didn't!” I didn't mean to snap the words, but I did. They pushed out between my teeth and sat between us, simmering.“I didn’t choose Reed over you.” I stared across the table, my voice flat and dead because I was fucking tired of the argument already. “You were pig-headed. You wouldn’t even listen. You just walked away like you knew everything. I can't believe I have to say this, but you don't!” Caspian didn’t flinch. He just leaned back in his seat, one brow raised like he was waiting for me to get to the end of my sentence. The indolent expression on his face pissed me off even more.“You don’t get to rewrite what happened,” I added. “You decided for me. You assumed and judged and ran off before I said a word.”His jaw ticked, a muscle in his temple twitching. “I saw enough to know what your choice was going to be, Aria. I am a man…”“You saw what you wanted to see.”I felt the guilt crawling under my skin, after all I had allowed Reed to kiss me, and even for a moment en