All Chapters of Wingless: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

12. The Shameful Whispers“You’re not my type—fat, clumsy, and a goddamn mess,” Arthur said, and instead of stopping, he stepped closer.His voice dropped. “Let’s be honest, Ximara. You’re inexperienced. You don’t belong in my world. You walk into places like you think you deserve space, attention—like someone like me would ever look twice.” His eyes swept over me with open disdain. “I have a career. A reputation. Standards. And you don’t meet any of them.”Each word landed straight to my heart, damaging all the confidence I had built before coming to Argentina.“You’re chasing something that was never real,” he continued. “You read into things because you wanted to feel special. But you’re not. You’re just another desperate girl who mistook kindness for interest.”I tried to speak. My throat locked.“Arthur, you can’t—” My voice came out broken, barely there.He cut me off with a dismissive flick of his hand. “I have a press meet to finish.”And just like that, he turned away and wal

14. The ChangeThird Person's POVXimara’s parents stood in the middle of the room.Carin Adler had her arms crossed tight over her chest, lips pressed into that familiar, sharp line. Her blonde hair was pulled back so severely that it made her expression look even harder. Ryan Adler loomed beside her, tall and rigid, his face flushed with barely contained anger.Alister stood opposite them, his fists clenched at his sides, white hair mussed from running his hands through it in frustration.Seeing them there—her parents, inside Ali’s home—hit Ximara. They hadn’t set foot here in years. This was Aliter’s space. Her safe place. And they’d invaded it without a second thought.Her parents’ eyes locked onto her, cold and assessing.“What are you doing here?” Ximara asked, her voice shaking despite her effort to steady it. Her fingers curled into the edge of her jacket as the room seemed to close in.Carin stepped forward first, heels clicking sharply against the floor. “We saw the news,” s

16. Alister's ConfrontationXimara's POVThe apartment door closed softly behind me, my heels clicked unevenly against the hardwood as I stepped inside, and my head buzzed with vodka and exhaustion. I hadn't even finished taking off my jacket when Alister's voice broke through the room.“Mara. You need to stop this.” I froze.Alister stood near the couch, arms crossed, white hair catching the light from the lamp. His face was tight, not quite angry, but disappointed, which hurts more. My stomach twisted. I knew this conversation was coming. I just hoped I could outrun it for a little longer.“Stop what?” I tried to strike a casual tone that didn't quite work.He stepped closer, eyes narrowed. “Don’t play dumb. This is not who you are."I sighed, gripping the zipper as if it could support me. “I’m just going out. "That is all.""That's not all," he stated. His voice was quiet, but it was powerful. "If you wanted to change because it made you feel stronger, I'd support you wholeheartedl

18. ChasedXimara's POVAs I stood there, the gym lights felt harsh, and my breath caught when I saw Mr. Z.Muscle Pages was the last place I expected to find him. His gray-blue eyes were fixed on the barbell as he effortlessly lifted it, and his scarred face was clearly visible. I had prepared myself for anything that would connect him to that evening at Z-Fire, be it recognition or a glimmer of acknowledgment. He had called me Peaches. To the kiss that had become an indelible part of my memory.However, his eyes were blank as they swept over me.As if I were just another stranger dressed for a workout.I briefly believed I caught a glimpse of something—a clue that he recognized me—but it vanished almost immediately, making me feel stupid for holding out hope. He went back to adjusting the weights.It should not have hurt so much.Z was just a man. Just one night. One moment. But he was the first person in a long time to call me beautiful without judging me. That mattered more than I

20. Zeph Aldrich Curran Third Person's POVZeph Aldrich Curran wasn’t the kind of man splashed across tabloids or chased for his looks. But in the ruthless world of business, his name was a Titan.An aeronautical engineer who had established ZAC Innovations as one of New York's leading aerospace companies. What started as nothing has grown into something massive, affecting real estate, stocks, and even nightlife. Z-Fire belonged to him. The same place where he first met Ximara Lyris Adler.He built everything he owned himself. There was no one to support him.And he kept it that way, silent, controlled, and out of reach. Fame never interested him. It came with attention, which meant exposure. Zeph preferred to operate in places where no one could reach him.His life was a machine: never-ending meetings, intricate designs, and calculated growth. Every day was a conscious effort to escape the void that was in his chest, a scar deeper than the ones that crisscrossed his torso and face.