All Chapters of Her Face, My Wife's Shadow : Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Aria’s POV I adjusted the strap of my handbag as I stepped out of the terminal, my eyes scanning the unfamiliar city in Australia. The sun was warm against my skin, but it did little to calm the strange unease twisting inside my stomach. This was my first international project as an architect. This should have been exciting, exploring a new place. But still… I felt restless. "Relax." Ethan nudged my shoulders as he walked beside me, rolling his suitcase with one hand. “You look like you're about to walk into an execution, not a business meeting.” I forced a smile, facing him. “I'm not nervous.” “I'm glad the HOD permits you to come along with us to see the CEO of Sterling Holdings.” Mark chimed in as he walked beside Mila. “Yeah, I'm excited. Sterling Holdings isn't just any client.” I said. "No," Ethan agreed, removing his arms from my shoulder. “It's one of the biggest luxury development firms in the world, which is exactly why we should look confident.” I exhaled quiet

Aria's POV Where did that memory come from? I remember when I grew up in the United States. I remembered my fifth birthday party with the lopsided cake; my graduation; my dad's burial; and every detail of my life in New York from the time I was a little girl until now. So why was my brain showing me something else? Isabel? I remember the voice again. "Stop it, Aria," I told myself, standing up. I knew this job was over. There was no way I could work for a man who looked at me differently. Alexander Sterling was dangerous and obsessed. He didn't want an architect; he wanted a wife. I looked around the room, searching for a way out. The windows were huge, but when I walked over to one of the windows and looked down, my stomach dropped. We were high up, and the ground below was all jagged rocks and crashing waves. The estate was built on a cliff. There was no escaping through the window. I ran toward the door again. "Hey! Let me out!" I yelled, banging my fist against the door

Alexander's POV The four men froze, when they saw my men. They were outnumbered and outgunned. The leader looked around, his eyes wide behind his mask. He realised he had walked into a trap. One by one, the intruders let their weapons clatter onto the marble floor. My men rushed in, pinning them down and zip-tying their hands. Two of my guards grabbed Mila, pulling her away to safety. She was crying, shaking, and alive. "Aria!" Mila sobbed, running toward the stairs. Aria didn't wait. She ran down the stairs, throwing her arms around her neck. I followed slowly, my eyes locked on the captured men. I felt a sense of victory, but it wasn't over yet. My phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out, looking at the unknown number on the screen. I answered it, putting it to my ear. “Hello.” "Mr Sterling," a voice drawled. It was deep, distorted by a machine, and completely heartless. "I see you’ve captured my little foot soldiers. You can keep them or kill them if you like. I don

Aria's POV I looked from Alexander to Williams. My anger was still there, but a new fear was beginning to settle in my chest. "Alex, how sure are you that it belongs to him?" the military man asked. “Williams, I know it's him. Find a way to take down the post. I can't let more people know about Isabella," Alexander said. "What's going on here?" I asked, turning to Alexander. "Who is the boss?” Alexander didn't answer. Instead, he signalled his men to take me back to my room. The men tried to lead me away gently, but the desperation gave me strength as I pushed them aside, walking straight towards Alexander. "I’m not leaving until I get an answer.” "Isabella…" Williams intervened, his voice calm. "I am not Isabella!!" I barked at him at the moment of that name. "Alright, please calm down." Williams said, trying to soothe me. He seemed to recognise the panic in my eyes. "But think about the world out there. How will you convince them you aren't her? Let’s do this… let’s find t

Alexander’s POV My heart tightened painfully the moment I saw Aria standing only a few steps away. My mother was still there, trembling, her finger hovering near the trigger of the gun pressed to her own temple. "Get back inside the house! Right now!" I commanded loudly. But she didn't move. She stood completely still, her wide eyes locking onto the older woman who looked at her as if the devil had just crawled out from the depths of the earth. Seeing Aria in the flesh – the woman she blamed for all her misery – only fed the fire of her rage. "So… you really are alive, Isabella." She whispered, her gaze tracing Aria's features as she took a step towards her. I saw the terror wash over Aria's face. She didn't know this woman, but she knew the look of a killer. She stumbled backward, her hand clutching Mila’s arm. "W-Who are you? And… why are you holding a gun?" Aria’s voice trembled. "Don't you know that's a crime?" My mom laughed, not reaching her eyes as she aimed the gun. "A