جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 50

ARIA POV “What do you mean she’s refusing?”My mother’s voice filled the house in the quiet morning, sharp enough to make me stop halfway down the staircase, my hand tightening slightly around the smooth wooden railing as the calm, almost lazy atmosphere turned cold in an instant.The mansion had only just begun to wake up. Sunlight streamed in through the glass windows, making everywhere look strangely bright. The house was supposed to be quiet at this time of the day. Clearly, that expectation had just been destroyed.“Madam,” one of the security men responded carefully, his tone respectful but tense in a way that immediately told me this wasn’t a normal situation, “she’s refusing to leave. She said she needs to see Mr. Bennett personally, and she insists it cannot wait.”“Refusing to leave?” my mother repeated slowly, each word filled with disbelief and irritation, like the idea itself was offensive. I've never seen my mother so livid as she was right now. “Does she have an appoi

ADRIAN POVI sat in my casino for a long time, the low hum of voices, the sharp clink of chips, and the occasional burst of laughter were loud enough for all to hear. My mind remained completely elsewhere, locked onto the events of the day. Everything about the new girl kept playing in my mind. The way she stood there, right in the middle of Bennett’s house, with so much boldness, the way she talked back at Victor's wife, the way she refused to leave. Something about it didn’t sit right with me, I knew something was definitely wrong somewhere. I leaned back slightly, my fingers resting against the arm of the chair as I let my gaze drift lazily across the casino floor, even though I wasn’t actually seeing anything in front of me, because every part of my attention was already within me, thinking of that one strange girl. “Camille Anika,” I murmured under my breath, repeating the name slowly. And the problem was that the name and face felt too familiar in a way that irritated me. I

ARIA POVThis time, I decided to sit beside Adrian at the front of the car, not at the back like I always did, like some fragile glass that has to be driven around.I sat right beside him, where I could feel him, watch him, where it won't be easy for him to ignore me.I opened the passenger door without waiting for him to, and slid into the seat like it was the most natural thing in the world, even though I know it might not end well. But fuck it. Adrian didn’t move immediately, he didn’t even look at me.His hands stayed on the wheel in that infuriating way. I know he was still mad at me, because I knew exactly what I had done.The engine started with a low hum. He still hasn't glanced at me or muttered anything to me. Even his usual Miss Bennett. I shifted slightly in my seat, crossing one leg over the other, letting the movement be noticeable, to remind him that I was there, that I wasn’t going to sit quietly and be ignored like he wanted.Still nothing, fine.“Is this how you ar

ADRIAN POVWe hadn’t even made it halfway down the road when my phone rang.The sound filled the car loudly, vibrating against the console. I didn’t plan to pick it up. Thinking it was my investigator or my men. Right beside me sat Camille, unusually quiet for once, her head slightly tilted toward the window as if she were watching the city pass by. However, something about the calmness in her demeanour told me she wasn’t as calm as she pretended to be.Then the phone rang again, and this time, I glanced down to check who it was. Lo and behold, it was Aria.My grip on the steering wheel tightened instantly.I hesitated for only a second before picking it up, bringing it to my ear without taking my eyes off the road.“What is it?” I said, my voice low, but tight.For a moment, there was nothing. Then I heard her tiny voice. “Adrian…” Her voice broke, everything in me still Ed instantly. “I...” she sniffed, and the sound alone was enough to raise a tight feeling in my chest, my inst

ARIA POV By the time the car rolled into the driveway, I was already done.The moment Adrian killed the engine, I didn’t wait for him to help me with the door. I pushed the door open and stepped out immediately, my heels hitting the ground harder than necessary as I walked toward the house like I had somewhere urgent to be, even though I didn’t.I just needed space.Because if I stayed in that car one second longer, I was going to lose whatever control I had left.“Aria,”I heard his voice behind me, but I didn’t stop, I just kept walking. “Aria.” He called again, his tone sharper. I still didn’t turn. Because if I did, I knew myself well enough to know I wasn’t going to say anything nice.The front door hadn’t even fully closed behind me before I heard his footsteps trying to catch up with me, unhurriedly, like he already knew I wasn’t going anywhere.Of course, I wasn’t. Where else would I go?I barely made it halfway across the living room before his hand wrapped around my wrist