All Chapters of Crown and Consequences- Falling for the hunted billionaire: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Aria’s POVThe silence of the night pressed against my chest and made your heartbeat sound like thunder in your ears. I wandered from room to room trailing my fingers along counters and walls as if the solidity could steady me but it didn’t. Every memory of last night from the encounter tormented me- the rough heat of his hands, the way he had pressed himself against me as though I were the only thing in the world worth holding… The memory of his lips on mine made my stomach twist with both shame and something more dangerous, something I couldn’t name without feeling like I was confessing to myself.I sank onto the edge of the couch, hugging my knees. My palms were slick with sweat even though it was 10 degrees. And yet, there was a war raging inside me. Desire tangled with guilt and longing with fear. I didn't know how I could even begin to process this? Did he really say he loved me? Or had I imagined it in that heat of the moment. I pressed my face into my hands. Surely, it was

Aria's Pov“Aria?”A hand waved in front of my face, snapping me back.I blinked. “Hmm?”“You zoned out,” Juno said, leaning in slightly. “You look… somewhere else. What did I lose you to?”“Oh, I’m fine, it's nothing.”She frowned. “Aria, don’t do that. Don’t shut me out. I’m asking because…” Her voice softened. “Because I know you. And I know when you go quiet, it’s never for a good reason.”I pressed my lips together, trying to hold back the frustration bubbling beneath my ribs.“Juno, please,” I said quietly. “Don’t push.”Her mouth opened like she wanted to argue but she closed it again. Then she lifted her hands in surrender and nodded once.“Okay,” she murmured. “I’ll behave.”Gratitude swelled in my chest and I took a deep breath, reached across the table, and slowly took her hand in my palms. “Actually… I think I haven't told you just how grateful I am to you.” I said, voice cracking slightly. “You have no idea…”Tears welled up in my eyes and I looked down at our joined h

Rico's PovI followed, keeping a steady pace and letting the corners of my mouth twitch slightly despite myself. Her annoyance, the faint flush on her cheeks and the way she kept her chin high while trying to look in control made a rush of warmth coil tight in my chest. I felt a constant need to laugh. We moved toward the counter, and I watched her adjust the items on the conveyor with the same precision she seemed to carry in everything. She reached for her purse and began to pull out her card.“There is no need,” I said, letting my voice cut through her motions.Aria froze, a frown tugging at her features. “I don’t need you paying my bills, Rico. I can handle it.”“I didn’t say you couldn’t,” I replied evenly.“Then why shouldn’t I?” she asked, eyes narrowing slightly, her jaw set tight.Before I could respond, the lady from earlier leaned forward, her eyes bright as if she were about to spill a secret. “Ma’am, don’t you know? Mr. Zane owns this mall.”Aria and Juno turned sharply,

Aria’s POV Juno sat beside me, fingers fumbling with the strap of her purse. Her silence only made my pulse pound harder, like it was trying to break out through my neck.“Aria… can you calm down a little?” Juno finally said in her soft persuasive voice. I turned to her so fast she flinched. “Don’t tell me to calm down.”“I’m not trying to upset you,” she whispered. “I just think maybe you’re reading too much into what happened. Rico didn’t mean…”“Are you serious right now?” My voice cracked. “Why would a man be that possessive over someone he isn't married to? It’s bad enough he thinks he can dictate what I do, now he’s involving you too? Look, even if I am his wife I won't take that shit.”Juno blinked. “But I already told you that I’m not upset.”She opened her mouth, closed it again. “You can be mad at me for this thing, I know he's a pain in the ass but if I am going to judged based off only what he did today, he’s not that bad.”“Okay. Okay, Juno if you think so, it's fine.

Aria's PovI woke slowly, the shadows in my room stretching across the floor. My body ached from the dream and my chest rose and fell in ragged bursts as my heart thudded in my ears. The silence in the room felt almost suffocating, like it had been waiting for me to wake just to judge me. I blinked several times reminding myself that nothing could hurt me here cause I was safe.As I stirred, I caught a figure on the couch across from me. Rico was still sitting on the couch. My stomach lurched and my body froze as I remembered me asking him to stay. I wanted to curl into myself, disappear under the blanket, throw my hands over my face and push him away but my limbs wouldn’t move fast enough. “What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice tighter than I meant for it to be. “Relax,” he said quietly. His voice was low and roughly layered with sleep and worry and somehow it pierced through my panic. “It’s just me. You asked me to stay, remember?”I clenched my fists in the sheets, feel