บททั้งหมดของ The Night My Best-Friend Ruined Me: บทที่ 31 - บทที่ 40

Aria’s POVI practically ran toward the back of the estate, my heels sinking into the grass with every desperate step. I didn’t really care who saw me. I didn’t care if I looked unprofessional or if I was ruining Blackwood's stupid aesthetic.Lydia’s words were playing on a loop in my head. Beggar in silk. College fling. Payout. Then that kiss. The way she had claimed him right in front of the world, knowing I was watching. It felt like my lungs had been filled with concrete.I found a quiet corner near the tall hedges, far enough away from the music and the clinking of champagne glasses. My hands were shaking so hard I almost dropped my phone as I scrolled for Julian’s name.He picked up on the second ring."Aria? Are you okay? You’re supposed to be—"I didn't even let him finish. The second I heard his voice, the dam broke. I let out a jagged, broken sob, leaning my forehead against the cold stone of a decorative pillar."Aria? Aria, talk to me. Baby, what happened?"I couldn't

Adrian’s POVI stood there on the cold pavement, acting like I was calm, but inside, I was a total wreck.Aria had left with that lap dog of hers. The fact that she let him hold her wasn't even what made my blood boil; it was the look in her eyes. She looked empty. Like a walking corpse held together by nothing but Julian’s hand on her waist.I almost shoved him out of the way right there. I wanted to hold her, to pin her down and demand the names of everyone who’d touched her today, but I already knew the answer. I knew the only people in that tent who hated her enough to make her look like that.Anger shot through me, hot and sharp. Without a word, I got into my car and tore out of the club. My grip on the steering wheel was so tight it’s a miracle it didn't snap. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her pale face, and it made me want to burn everything down.Fifteen minutes later, I screeched to a halt at the estate. I tossed my keys to the guard and stormed inside.“Adrian!” Lydia g

Adrian’s POVThe digital clock on my dashboard flickered to 3:30 AM.The city was dead, but my brain was on fire. I couldn't stop thinking about what Julian said. Buying her life. Again. The thought of Veronica standing over Aria with a check like she was an item on a clearance rack made me want to rip the world apart.But more than that, I was terrified. If my father pushed that patent through on Monday, he wouldn’t just own the cure. He’d own her. He’d have the legal right to strip her of the research, kick her out of the lab, and bury her name forever.I wasn't going to let that happen. And this isn't even because of our history. I'd do the same if it were an innocent....random employee. I'll just let myself believe that. I pulled up to the Blackwood Biotech headquarters. The glass building looked like a giant tomb in the moonlight.I didn't use the main entrance. I used the service elevator, swiping my executive card through the reader. The light blinked green, and the doors sl

Aria’s POVI took in the view of the beautiful scenery and... I hated it. Don't get me wrong. The whole place was beautiful and all that, but who cares about the beauty of anything if peace doesn't even come with it?For all I cared at that moment, I just fucking wanted to go home. Being anywhere near these people is... I don't even know. But it makes me so nauseous, it's hard to breathe. Call me paranoid, but I'm solid on the fact that my child isn't safe as long as Adrian and Victoria are here. Every time I see the blue of the ocean, it just reminds me of Adrian’s eyes, and every time I feel the sun, I think about how much I want to hide in the dark until this is all over."Mama! Look! The floor is made of water!"Leo was practically screaming with joy. He was running across the glass panels in the living room, staring at the fish swimming underneath our feet. To him, this was the coolest thing that had ever happened. He failed to see the vipers in the other villas. He didn't know

Aria’s POVI leaned back in the deck chair, the warm evening breeze brushing my skin, and took a sip of my cocktail. It was something fruity and light, the kind that went down easy without making my head spin. Julian sat next to me, his feet propped up on the railing, holding a beer. We were finally alone after putting Leo to bed, and for the first time in weeks, I felt a flicker of peace settle over me. No audit papers staring me down, no cryptic emails from lawyers, no constant knot in my stomach wondering if Adrian would show up unannounced. Just us, the sound of waves lapping below, and a moment to breathe.Julian grinned at me, that mischievous look he got when he was about to bring up something silly. "Remember that time in Seattle, when we were at that coffee shop and you tried to order a latte with, what was it, 'extra foam but not too foamy'?"I snorted, nearly spilling my drink. "Oh God, and the barista just stared at me like I'd asked for unicorn milk. Then you jumped in wi