Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 21 - Chapitre 30

The sound of the bathroom door clicking shut echoed in Aria’s ears. She lay back in the tub, warm water lapping against her skin, trying to catch her breath. Her body still trembled from the intensity of what had just happened. Her thoughts were a mess, half shame, half desire. She hated how he made her feel, hated that a part of her was starting to crave it. This wasn’t supposed to happen... she whispered to herself. He’s cold, cruel, and married me for his own reasons. I shouldn’t want him. But even as she told herself that, her body betrayed her. Every kiss, every touch, every filthy whisper, it had all been burned into her skin. Aria splashed her face with water, trying to shake it off. She couldn’t afford to lose herself, not in this house, not around Damian. She stepped out of the tub, dried herself, and threw on a loose robe. When she opened the door, the room was empty. Damian was gone again, just like he always did, appearing out of nowhere, igniting her world, then d

Lyla's Pov "But how did Aria end up as Uncle's wife?" Lyla asked curiously, twirling a strand of her hair. Marco, lying lazily on his bed, shrugged. "She probably seduced him or something, I don't know. But I do know my dad doesn't love her. Just few days after our engagement ended, she threw herself on my dad." "Really? Hmm, that's surprising, i mean Aria doesn't seem like such a person to me though" Lyla said, raising an eyebrow. She stood up and straightened her dress. "Anyway, I have an important call to make. I'll see you later." Without waiting for a reply, she walked out of Marco's room, her heels clicking softly against the marble floor. As she moved through the hallway, her mind raced. So Aria is Marco’s ex-fiancée, but now she's married to Don? Lyla thought, frowning slightly. Something doesn't add up. Aria doesn’t seem like a shrewd person to me... I'd better ask her directly. Lyla made her way to Aria and Damian’s room and knocked lightly on the door. A few seconds l

Aria's heart pounded in her chest as Damian stood behind her, whip in hand. The cool metal of the handcuffs dug into her skin, and for the first time, she wasn't sure if his rage was part of a twisted game or something far more dangerous. Damian’s voice was calm. Too calm. “I’ll ask you once, Aria. Did anything happen between you and Marco?” Aria’s breath hitched. He knows…? “No,” she said firmly. “Nothing happened.” Damian swung the whip down, not on her skin, but beside her on the table. The crack echoed through the study. “Wrong answer.” “I’m telling the truth!” she snapped, twisting in the cuffs. “There’s nothing between us!” His eyes darkened as he walked to face her, crouching to her level. “I can see it in your eyes. You’re lying to me.” “I’m not!” she screamed, tears brimming now, out of frustration, not fear. “You want me to be guilty so badly you’re imagining things!” He stared at her for a long moment, expression unreadable. Then… he smirked. “Marco came close t

The bedroom door slammed shut with a deafening BANG. The sound echoed through the room like a gunshot. Damian shoved Aria inside with such force that she stumbled and nearly hit the bedpost. Her soaked clothes clung to her skin, dripping onto the expensive floorboards. Her hair was plastered to her cheeks, her lips trembling from the cold. But it wasn’t just the freezing water that made her shiver, it was the man standing before her. “What the hell do you think you were doing in that kitchen?” Damian growled, his voice low and venomous. Aria turned to face him, her arms tightly wrapped around herself. “I wasn’t doing anything wrong. I told you, I was choking and he helped me. That’s it.” “You think I’m an idiot?” Damian hissed, advancing. “You think I can’t see what’s happening right under my nose?” “I’m telling the truth!” Aria cried. “Why can’t you just believe me?” “Because you looked comfortable!” he roared. “You looked like you belonged with him. Laughing. Smiling. Letting

Aria paused at the end of the hallway, her steps faltering when she caught sight of someone slipping out of Damian’s study. The door shut with a soft click, but not before she saw Lyla stepping into the corridor, her head slightly bowed, her fingers smoothing down her dress as though steadying herself. Aria’s brows furrowed. What was Lyla doing in Damian’s study? At this hour? And without knocking? She stayed hidden, her back pressed against the wall just out of sight. Lyla didn’t notice her. She walked away with calm, deliberate steps, but there was something... off about her expression. She wasn’t distressed or tearful. If anything, she looked satisfied, almost smug. Aria’s stomach twisted uneasily. A minute passed. Then another. She didn’t know whether to confront her or brush it off. But deep inside, a cold seed of suspicion had already taken root. Drawing a deep breath, Aria stepped forward. Her feet moved toward the study almost without thought. Maybe it was instinct