A Bad Day Gets Worse?

CHAPTER 1Ariana's POVBeing twenty-one and having this much on my mind was frustrating. Between college assignments, my part-time job and making sure my Mom never had to worry about the bill, there was barely any time left to breathe.And somehow, today had managed to make everything worse.I sat silently in the passenger seat of Lily's car, I replayed everything that had happened today and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stop thinking about it.Then there was the text message I had received.It's over between us. — EthanA bitter laugh escaped my lips.Over?The nerve.Earlier today, I had gone to Ethan's apartment to surprise him after class.But instead of meeting my charming boyfriend, I had walked into his bedroom and found him tangled in the sheets with a blonde.Now, as if that wasn't enough, he had no guilt."You've been acting like a grandma," he said"I have needs, Ariana."His words hurt almost as much as what I had seen.I had walked out of his apartment with tears

Last Updated : 2026-08-29

Underneath the Mask

CHAPTER 2Ariana's POVWe got back to our apartment just before sunset, and the place immediately turned into chaos. Lily rushed from one room to another with her makeup bag in one hand and a pair of heels in the other, while I stood in the middle of the living room, wondering how I had let her drag me into all this."Ariana!" she called from her bedroom. "You better not be thinking about backing out now!""I already said I would come." I screamed back at her"Good," she replied.I headed straight for the bathroom and took a quick shower. After drying off, I slipped into the black satin gown and carefully applied a light layer of makeup.My hair......however, was a different story.According to Lily, hairstyling was her "greatest talent," and I was forbidden from doing it myself.Few minutes later, Lily walked in dressed and looking stunning with her makeup and hair done to perfection.She fixed my long brown hair into a loose bun, leaving a few soft strands to frame my face. "Perfect

Last Updated : 2026-08-29

It was him

CHAPTER 3Ariana's POVI instinctively held my breath the moment I saw his face.There was something about him that I couldn't place my hand on....It made my pulse quicken.Still unaware of my presence noticing me, he reached up and loosened his bow tie before shrugging off his suit jacket and draping it neatly over the back of a chair.He ran a hand through his dark hair and let out a quiet sigh of exhaustionI remained frozen behind the clothing rack, I didn't dare move.Please don't find me, I prayed silentlyHe sank onto the leather sofa, and the room fell silent then after a moment, he reached for a cigarette, lit it, and leaned back, exhaling slowly.The faint scent of tobacco drifted through the room invading my nostrils. My began to ache from standing in the same position. Hoping to shift my weight without making a sound, I carefully took a small step backward.Then, my heel brushed against something on the floor.Clink.An empty ashtray rolled across the polished floor befo

Last Updated : 2026-08-30

Champagne and Secrets

Chapter 4Ariana's POVThe rest of the evening passed in a blur. Between the orchestra's soft melodies and endless conversations time went by so fast Guests were drifting from one dance to another and Somewhere along the way, I had accepted a glass of champagne. Then another And another I wasn't drunk… But I definitely wasn't very sober either. A pleasant warmth spread through my body, making everything around me seem a little brighter. Even the ballroom, which had overwhelmed me when I first arrived, now felt strangely inviting. Lily… On the other hand, had disappeared at least five times to greet relatives, business partners And people whose names I couldn't possibly remember. I lost count of how many times she apologized for leaving me alone. "I promise" she would say before vanishing into another conversation, "this is the last one" It never was. So, with a half-empty champagne glass in hand, I wandered toward the quieter side of the ballroom, hoping to escape the

Last Updated : 2026-08-31

A Secret Between Us

Chapter 5 Ariana's POV"Ariana" Lily's voice echoed through the garden like a bucket of ice water, snapping every nerve in my body awake. He pulled away instantly, his breathing just as uneven as mine. For a second, neither of us moved. My heart pounded wildly against my ribs, the warmth of his body still lingering against mine. Oh my God... What have I done? "Ariana!" Lily called again, her voice sounded closer this time. Panic seized me completely I quickly stepped away from Damien, smoothing the wrinkles in my dress with trembling hands. My fingers instinctively touched my lips before I forced them back to my side. I couldn't let her see me like this. Not with him Not with her brother. Damien straightened his jacket with unexpected calmness, though the tightness in his jaw betrayed him. His eyes met mine briefly. "Go," he said quietly…..I nodded without trusting myself to speak. Turning on my jittery legs, I hurried back towards the ballroom, desperately trying to st

Last Updated : 2026-09-01

It Wasn't Over

Chapter 6Ariana's POVI woke up with a banging headache, the kind that came from staying up too late studying or spending hours on screenIt felt like punishment.I groaned and pulled the blanket over my head, hoping the darkness would stop my eyes from the continuous pounding….For a few seconds, I couldn't fathom why my chest felt so heavy.Then I remembered the terraceI remembered Damien, and my eyes flew open."Oh, God" I murmured, sitting upright so quickly that the room spun.I pressed my palms against my temples and squeezed my eyes shut, replaying everything that might have happened.It was a mistake.A stupid mistake,One caused by too much champagneNothing more.I climbed out of bed and headed towards the bathroom.The apartment was unusually quiet, so Lily was probably still asleep.I turned on the tap and splashed cold water over my face.When I finally looked into the mirror, I barely recognized myselfDark circles sat beneath my eyesmy hair was a complete mess."Get

Last Updated : 2026-09-03