A threat that follows.

Ariana’s POV. “Rina?” I whispered into the phone, my voice breaking the silence that stretched too long.Nothing.My chest tightened. “Rina, are you still there? Please—say something.”Then, like a gunshot, her voice erupted through the line. “What the hell did you just say to me?”I winced, pulling the phone back slightly. “I—I told you. I slept with him.”“With Jaxon Devereaux?” she shouted. “Ariana, how the hell did you even meet him? People like him don’t just stroll into your life. They don’t walk into supermarkets or coffee shops. So explain it to me. How did you even cross paths with him, let alone—” her voice went sharper. “—end up in his bed?”I closed my eyes, trying not to raise my voice at her. We are not best of friends, in fact we stopped talking ever since we left high school, but I still expected better from her. I know people change but does she really think I have gone wide enough to sleep with anything that is within my reach. “Tell me,” she shouted again. “How t

Last Updated : 2025-12-06

A billion and a blow

Jaxon’s POVThe second I walked into the hall, the whole place shifted. I didn’t need to announce myself—my name did the work. Heads turned, voices hushed, and then like clockwork, they started closing in.“Mr. Devereaux, such an honor.”“You have no idea how long I’ve waited to meet you.”“You’re the reason tonight even matters.”Flattery. Empty, desperate flattery. These people wanted to be near me, to leech off my presence like it was currency. These fools think my gaze would somehow mint their worth— and it kinda does. I let them orbit me for a while, watching their fake smiles and greedy eyes. This was a situation I despised but this is a price you pay when you let someone like Tom Miller drag you to one of his parties.“When I heard that Tom managed to drag you to his party, I was shocked,” one said, raising his glass towards me. “You are the only reason I came here.”And I will be the only reason you never want to work with the Devereaux's if Tom screws up. Then Tom finally a

Last Updated : 2025-12-06

When the devil wakes.

Ariana’s POVI froze. My feet locked to the floor, my breath caught like a bird tangled in a net. Jaxon Devereaux stood at the bottom of the stairs, bare, careless, as if shame had no meaning in his vocabulary. I couldn’t look away— I swear I tried not to look down but it was almost impossible. Every instinct screamed at me to run, but something inside me whispered—if I moved or took my eyes off him for even a second he was going to kill me, he’d kill me before I reached the top step.His lips parted, his voice deep and cold. “What.”Just one word, and it was enough to make me remember how to run. My pulse spiked. I bolted, rushing up the stairs two at a time, heart pounding so violently it hurt. My hand slammed the door shut behind me. The sound echoed through the hall like a gunshot.I pressed my back to the door, my eyes squeezed tight as I muttered a silent but desperate prayer. God, please… Please keep me safe. Just this night.Then my gaze landed on my phone lying on the dress

Last Updated : 2025-12-29

The box of dignity.

Ariana’s POVFor the next few days, I became a ghost in that house. I cleaned his room before he woke up. I served his meals without looking at him. If he entered a room, I found a reason to leave it. I did everything fast, quiet, and invisible. But Jaxon… he was intentionally a pain in the ass. Every morning I felt his eyes on me, burning holes through my back. He never said much, he just watched me, and if I'm lucky, he ignores me. That day, I was in the hallway dusting the shelves when his voice cut through the silence.“Ariana.”My heart dropped into my stomach.I turned slowly. He stood near the stairs, holding a small box in his hand. It was black, expensive looking box. “Take this,” he said, holding it out.I walked closer and took it with shaking hands. It was heavier than I expected.“What… what do you want me to do with this?” I asked.His lips curled in that lazy, cruel way. “I want you to treat what’s inside very carefully,” he said. Then he added in a mocking tone, “Ma

Last Updated : 2026-01-05

When lies start to crumple

Ariana’s POV. I left the house like someone was chasing me.My hands were shaking as I slammed the door behind me. I didn’t even tell the butler that I was going out. My mind went completely blank except for one panicked question — what was my mother doing here?I didn’t even know how to feel — happy, scared, angry, all mixed together.I took the butler's car without asking. Getting a taxi here was as good as looking for a needle in a haystack. So… I'm sure the butler wouldn't mind. I finally got to the bus station. The place was crowded and lousy. My eyes kept scanning the crowd, it wasn’t till i saw her, that i let out a sigh of relief. She stood near the entrance with her small brown bag, wearing the same blue sweater she always wore at home. When her eyes found mine, her face lit up like the sun.“Ariana!” she called.I ran into her arms before I could stop myself.“My baby,” she whispered, holding my face. “Look at you. You’ve lost weight.”“Lost weight?” I laughed, checking

Last Updated : 2026-01-06

Power wears a smile.

JAXON’S POV. I was driving through the neighbourhood when I saw the butler’s car parked in front of the café, which was strange because he was too old to drive and usually left it in the garage.Out of curiosity, I parked behind the car, just in time to see Ariana and a woman step out. I stared at the woman for a while before realization hit me. It was her mother. A slow smile curved across my lips as a mischievous plan began to take shape in my mind.I waited patiently until they were already inside the café before following them.I did not go straight to their table. I stood near the counter, pretending to look at the menu while I watched them from a distance.Ariana was talking slowly like she was scared that the world would collapse if it heard what she had to say. When I was sure they had settled, I walked over.“Excuse me?” Both of them turned.Ariana’s face drained of color. Her mouth opened slightly, like she wanted to scream but no sound came out.The woman’s face lit up

Last Updated : 2026-01-20