All Chapters of Ties That Bind: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

PIPER’S POVI was enjoying our quiet morning together, sipping my coffee and watching Rowan as he checked his phone. Suddenly, his expression changed, and he looked at the screen with a serious look."Who is it?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.Rowan hesitated for a moment before responding. "Just a business meeting," he said, his tone neutral.I raised an eyebrow, wondering who this business meeting was with. But Rowan didn't elaborate, instead putting his phone away and focusing on me."I have a personal meeting I need to take care of by 10 am," he said, his tone casual.I looked at him, feeling a hint of curiosity. Who could he be meeting that was so important? But Rowan's expression was neutral, and he didn't offer any more information.I nodded, deciding not to pry. "Okay, I'll let you get to it," I said, smiling at him.Rowan smiled back, but I could sense a slight tension in his body. I wondered what this meeting was about, but I didn't push the issue. Instead, I l

AURORA’S POVI watched with a mix of satisfaction and anticipation as Rowan's expression transformed from confidence to shock and confusion. The files and photos had clearly caught him off guard."What do you want, Aurora?" he asked, his voice laced with a hint of desperation.I smiled, feeling a sense of power wash over me. "Just like before," I said, my voice calm and collected. "You'll do what I want, or else."Rowan's eyes narrowed, and he tried to negotiate. "Aurora, let's talk about this. I'm sure we can work something out."But I cut him off, my smile growing wider. "Don't bother trying to sweet-talk your way out of this, Rowan. I've already made sure that those files are safe. I have extra copies, and I won't hesitate to use them."Rowan's face fell, and I could see the realization dawning on him that he was trapped. "You wouldn't dare," he growled, but I just laughed."Oh, I would," I said, my voice dripping with conviction. "And I'll send them to your wife if you don't compl

PIPER’S POVI couldn’t sleep that night.Not because of the usual reasons , the restlessness of being trapped in a marriage I never asked for, or the endless parade of Archer Corp expectations — but because of Rowan.His question still echoed in my head. What’s the saddest day of your life?Why would he even care? Rowan Archer doesn’t do personal things. He doesn’t sit down and ask you about your pain like he’s… trying to understand it. He’s the man who keeps his suit pressed even in a storm and his eyes colder than the ice in his scotch. So why now? Why tonight?Was he trying to get close to me? Or was this just some twisted curiosity — wanting to know how deep my scars go without showing me his?The way he’d listened when I told him about my friend… about that accident… It was unsettling. No interruptions, no smirk, no sarcastic jab. Just silence, like he was storing every word away for later.I rolled over in bed, hugging the pillow, staring at the ceiling. Part of me wanted to be

PIPER’S POV“Oh this guy, he is always saying it's business but why is his face twisting like that ????” I asked myself.My phone rang too , it was Lucia, obviously not a threat to him but I needed to make him feel how he made me feel.I sat in stunned silence, my mind reeling from the conversation with Rowan. He needed to catch up with something? It seemed like a flimsy excuse, and I couldn't help but wonder what was really going on. In my head, I was already listing all the people who seemed to be pulling him away from me. Was it Aurora? Cause she seemed to have been trouble these days, or his mysterious meetings? and now this unknown thing he needed to attend to. It felt like everyone was getting a piece of him except me.But I decided to say nothing. "Ok," I replied, trying to sound nonchalant despite the twist in my heart. I didn't want to seem clingy or possessive, even though that's exactly how I felt.Rowan's face showed a flicker of surprise. "Just ok?" he asked, his eyes n

ROWAN’S POVMy eyes cracked open, just enough to catch fragments of light and movement. Everything was slow, dreamlike — except for the thudding in my chest.My body was still heavy, sluggish, like I was wading through wet cement. I could barely lift my head.Aurora stood near the bed, shrugging off her outer clothing. The silk slid from her shoulders pooled on the floor, leaving only a thin layer underneath — something softer, clinging to her curves.I tried to speak, but it came out as a hoarse whisper. “Aurora…”She didn’t answer.Then — a sharp sting in my arm. Quick, precise. My eyes darted to the source, and I saw it — a syringe, the metallic glint under the low light.The burn spread almost instantly, heat unfurling beneath my skin. My pulse kicked faster, not from fear alone but from something else — something chemical, wrong, invasive.I knew the sensation. Not from experience, but from whispered rumors and ugly stories. An aphrodisiac. A potent one.No.The awareness in my