All Chapters of Twisted Obsession: The Billionaires Virgin Bride: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

ARIAThe Tribune interview takes place over three days.Sarah Martinez, the feature writer assigned to our story, is relentless. She asks about everything, how Dante and I met, why we married so quickly, my relationship with Marcus, the affair with Vivienne, my family's financial troubles, the estate distribution, all of it.At first, I'm defensive. These are painful memories, private moments I've never shared with anyone outside our inner circle. But Sarah isn't looking for gossip, she's looking for truth. And the more we talk, the more I realize that telling our story, owning our narrative, is actually empowering."Walk me through the night you met," Sarah says during our second session. We're in the penthouse living room, her recorder on the coffee table between us. "The gala. What made that night different?" We had said we met at a gala not at the club and thankfully the club belongs to Dante and the video feed of our meeting is long gone.I glance at Dante, who nods encouragement

DANTEThe Tribune story came out on Sunday morning.The headline: "Heiress, Billionaire, and the Family That Wanted Her Dead: The True Story of Aria and Dante Ashford."Sarah Martinez didn't hold back. She included everything: the timeline of our relationship, the evidence of the assassination plot, Emma's lies to the journalist, the family's financial desperation. She interviewed law enforcement sources who confirmed the investigation. She talked to people who'd known Aria before and after our marriage, who testified that she was happier now, more confident, more herself.And she included quotes from Emma and James, who'd apparently agreed to on-record interviews before realizing how damning their own words would sound in context.Emma: "Aria has always been selfish, putting her own interests above family. We were hoping marriage would mature her, make her more generous. Instead, she married someone who encourages her worst impulses."The article notes immediately after: Emma Sinclai

ARIA "You know what they're doing.""Of course I know. Vivienne just handed us Emma as a scapegoat. They're going to pile every crime onto her, claim she was mentally unstable and acting alone, and try to walk away clean." I smile without humor. "Emma becomes the crazy cousin who masterminded everything while the rest of them were innocent bystanders.""And you're going to let them think it worked.""I'm going to let them commit to the strategy. Let them go on record blaming Emma for everything. I want them to relax, thinking they've found their escape route." My voice hardens. "And then we'll prove that Emma wasn't acting alone, that she couldn't have coordinated the assassination plot by herself, that every single one of them was involved."Dante studies my face, and pride flickers in his eyes. "You're setting a trap.""They set one for Emma. I'm just... expanding it." I pull up my phone, texting Viktor: *Don't hospitalize Emma yet. I want to surveil her for 48 hours first. Let's s

ARIAThe next day after Emma was comitted to psych eval my phone rings with Uncle Richard call.I let it go to voicemail, then listen as his voice fills my office."Aria, sweetheart, I wanted you to hear this from the family first. Your cousin Emma's been hospitalized. We're all so worried about her...she's been struggling with mental health issues for months, apparently. None of us realized how bad it had gotten until Vivienne reached out. Anyway, I just wanted you to know that we're taking care of her, making sure she gets the help she needs. Call me back when you can."The false concern in his voice makes my stomach turn."He's really committing to it, he wants to play the card of them caring for Emma and asking Vivenne to take care of her" Dante observes from beside me."They all are." I pull up the text messages flooding my phone and showed it to him. My mother, Vivienne, even James...all expressing concern for "poor Emma" and her "mental health crisis."Not one of them mentions

ARIAI wake up late the next morning to find Dante already gone from bed.The house is quiet except for ocean sounds drifting through open windows. For a moment, I forgot where I am, and why we're here. Then reality settles back in like an uncomfortable weight.I should probably feel worse about that than I do.I find Dante on the terrace, with coffee in his hand, staring at the ocean. He doesn't turn when I join him, he just shifts slightly to make room."Dmitri made breakfast," he says. "It's in the kitchen.""I'm not hungry." I take the second coffee mug he's poured, wrapping my hands around the warmth. "Have you heard anything? From Morrison or Viktor?""Morrison confirmed that all four are still in custody. Bail hearings are Monday afternoon after the arraignment." He finally looks at me. "Viktor's still tracking Torres. Although he finds no movement toward us.""Good." I sip the coffee, tasting nothing. "What time do we need to leave tomorrow?""Early. Court is at ten." He pause