جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 80

Aria’s POVThe afternoon light in the penthouse was soft and golden. I had spent most of the day doing small things. I watered the plants. I folded the clean towels in the bathroom. I made myself a cup of tea and let it go cold on the counter. Every sound made me jump … the hum of the fridge, the distant traffic far below, my own footsteps on the marble floor.I was sitting on the couch when the front door opened and Kyle stepped inside.He looked tired. His suit jacket was slung over one shoulder. His white shirt had a small rip near the collar. But what made my heart stop was his face.There was a dark bruise forming on his left cheekbone. His bottom lip was split and swollen. A small cut above his eyebrow had dried blood at the edge.I stood up fast. “Kyle!”He closed the door behind him and tried to smile. It looked painful.“I’m fine,” he said quietly.I rushed to him. My hands reached up to touch his face, but I stopped just before I made contact. “Who hurt you? What happened

Aria’s POVThe penthouse felt warmer that evening.I was sitting on the couch with my legs tucked under me, wearing one of Kyle’s soft gray sweaters. It smelled like him. I had spent the day doing small things again … making tea, watering the plants, folding the same blanket three times. My mind kept going back to the gallery. I wanted to go back so badly it hurts.Kyle walked in from his study. He had changed into a black shirt and dark jeans. The bruises on his face were fading to yellow and purple, but they were still there. He looked at me for a long moment, his eyes soft but searching.“Aren’t we going for our journey anymore?” he asked quietly. “It would have been good for you..”I looked up at him. My fingers played with the hem of the sweater.“I… I changed my mind,” I said. “I want to stay. The team invited me to the party tomorrow night. I want to go. Just for a little while.”Kyle’s jaw tightened for half a second. His eyes went cold, then warm again so fast I almost miss

Kyle’s POVLucien leaned back in the leather chair, swirling his drink with lazy fingers. The private lounge was dim, the air thick with cigar smoke and silence. Only the two of us.“Why are you letting her go to that ball?” he asked, voice smooth but probing. “You’ve spent weeks pulling her deeper into your world. The threats worked. She’s scared. She’s dependent. She barely leaves the penthouse anymore. And now you’re handing her an invitation to step outside?”I took a slow sip of whiskey, letting the burn settle before I answered.“Because she’s starting to waver,” I said. “She’s feeling weird things. Doubting. Questioning everything. She snuck off to the gallery the other day behind my back. She’s getting restless. If I keep the leash too tight for too long, she’ll start fighting it instead of loving it. She needs a little breathing space.”Lucien’s ice-blue eyes narrowed with interest. “Breathing space. And you think giving her the ball will make her come back more willing?”

Aria’s POVThe Elite Art Benefactors Ball glittered like a dream I used to have.Crystal chandeliers cast warm light over the grand ballroom. Soft music played. Waiters moved with trays of champagne. People in elegant gowns and tuxedos laughed and talked about art, deals, and the future.I stood near the entrance on Kyle’s arm, wearing the deep burgundy gown he had chosen. It hugged my body and made my curls stand out. Kyle looked sharp in his black tuxedo, his hand resting possessively on my lower back. The bruises on his face were carefully covered, but I could still see the faint shadow if I looked closely.People noticed us immediately.“Ms. Myles! Congratulations on the award!”“Wonderful to see you back!”Cameras flashed. Reporters called my name. I smiled gracefully and answered with the poise I had practiced for years.“Thank you. The gallery has always been about bringing art to more people, and tonight is a celebration of that.”Kyle stayed right beside me, smiling politel

Third Person POV The private jet hummed smoothly through the sky.Aria sat by the window, legs tucked under her, watching the clouds drift below like soft white fields. For the first time in weeks, her mood lifted a little. She had always loved traveling. The feeling of leaving the ground, the quiet thrill of new air and new horizons. Even after everything that had happened, this small escape felt good.Kyle sat beside her, one hand resting on her thigh, thumb stroking slow circles. He had arranged the whole trip … a private coastal house, just the two of them. She turned to him with a small smile. “I missed this. Seeing new places. It feels… normal. My daddy loved traveling with me when I was younger.”Kyle leaned over and kissed her temple. “That’s why I planned it. You deserve to feel happy again.”For a few minutes, the bad feelings from the ball faded. She leaned her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes, letting the engine’s low hum relax her.Everything was going well un