Mag-log inIAN'S POVI brought out a cigarette from its pack and lit it up, dragging the smoke deep into my lungs. The boy across from me hadn't moved. He stood with his hands clasped in front of him, eyes downcast, breathing shallow. Waiting patiently for my order.I exhaled a slow stream of smoke and looked up at him.“Come here.”He dropped to his knees and crawled towards me. His palms pressed against the cold marble, head bowed to the floor, his whole body trembling.He stopped at my feet and placed his hands on his thighs.I reached down, grabbed a fistful of his hair, and yanked his head back. His eyes met mine: wide, frightened, hungry. I blew the smoke directly into his face, but he didn't flinch, just breathed it in like it was the only air he needed.My favourite type of toys? I love them submissive, needy, eager to please, hopelessly devoted, and just a little bit obsessed.And this one was getting my attention.I wrapped my hand around his neck and crashed my lips onto his.He open
XAVIER'S POVIan leaned forward and spat out his vodka. “She wants to come to Italy? Why?”“To see her lovely husband, of course.”“Xavier.” He glared at me. “That's what she wants, Ian.” I swirled the whiskey in my glass. “She thinks Italy is romantic and Milan is a fun place to be.” I smirked. “What a coincidence, right?”“Talk her out of it.” His voice was firm. “There are many other countries that are perfect for honeymoon. I'm not ready to…”“I can't.” I dragged my hand through my hair. “I can't say no to her.”“Xavier, you're not getting it.”“No, Ian.” I set my glass down. “You're not getting it. We just settled an argument that lasted six hours. Six hours. All because I tried to talk her out of working at Weston Holdings.” I looked at him through the screen. “I'm sorry, but I can't talk her out of this one.”He opened his mouth to argue.“Listen,” I cut him off. “It's been over a month since we got married. Three years since you last saw her.” I held his gaze. “Don't you mi
ARIA'S POVAfter several attempts to get me into bed with him, each one more creative than the last, I finally escaped Xavier to take a shower and have some alone time while he worked in his office.The bathroom was warm and quiet, steam already curling up from the hot water. I turned on the shower and stepped under the spray, letting it wash away the tension from the day.I poured shampoo into my palm and worked it through my hair, massaging my scalp slowly. The smell instantly filled the air. I took my time, rinsing and repeating the whole process till I felt it was clean enough.Then I grabbed the scented soap and washed down my body.By the time I stepped out, I felt like a new person, clean and totally refreshed.With a soft towel in my hands, I dried my hair until it fell in damp waves around my shoulders. Then I pulled on a pink nightdress and padded barefoot toward the kitchen.The maids were still cleaning up from dinner, moving softly in the background. I leaned against the
ARIA'S POV“Uh oh.” Zara slid her glass away and reached for her purse. “That’s my cue to leave.”“Zara, don't you dare…”She was already standing from her seat. “You're on your own, bestie.”“ZARA!”But she was gone before Xavier even got to me.Traitor.I turned back to face Xavier, lifting my chin even as my heart pounded violently. He stopped right in front of me, close enough that I could smell his cologne. His eyes dropped to the empty shot glass on the table, then back to my face.“Alcohol.” He picked up the bottle and examined the label. “Really, Aria?”“I told you, Xavier.” I drank another shot. “I don't care what you think.”“Clearly.” He set the bottle aside and pulled out Zara’s abandoned chair, sitting across from me. His knees brushed against mine beneath the small table. “I understand that you're upset, but let's go home and talk about this.”I crossed my arms. “No.”He glanced around the lounge, at the people watching, the phones pointed in our direction, the whispers
ARIA’S POVVictor blinked. “A honeymoon?”I kept my expression smooth, even as my heart hammered against my ribs.“Why not?” I gestured vaguely, forcing confidence into my voice. “Newlyweds go on honeymoons. It's romantic. It's public. It gives the press something to talk about besides... everything else.”Xavier stared at me like I had grown a second head. Victor stared like he was trying to decide if I was brilliant or insane.I just sat there, smiling like I hadn't just thrown a grenade into the middle of the room.“Say something, Xavier. Please say something before I lose my nerve.” I thought to myself.Xavier opened his mouth, closed it, opened it again.Nothing came out.Victor was watching him now, waiting for a reaction. The silence stretched so long I almost regretted speaking.“We'll talk about it,” Xavier said finally.Victor stood abruptly, straightening his jacket with a sharp tug.“No.” His voice left no room for argument. “You'll plan it, announce it, and you'll go.”He
XAVIER'S POVThe moment I got that text from Reed, the one telling me my father was on his way to my house at Weston estate, I knew there was a problem.Victor never showed up at my house unless it was extremely important. The only times he crossed my threshold were for Christmas dinners he couldn't avoid, and the occasional emergency meeting he insisted on having away from prying eyes.This was neither of them.The plan had always been simple: make them all think I lived with Aria in the same estate as the rest of the family. The mansion was large, impressive, and believable enough.But no one knew about the penthouse. Not Dean, not Allison, not even my father. Only Ian, Reed, Aria, Rafael, and my staff. And I planned to keep it that way.The moment we arrived, Aria stepped inside first, but I took my time walking up the driveway. My eyes scanned the building, the surrounding grounds, and the guest parking lot. None of Victor's cars were in sight.Relief flooded through me so hard i
ARIA’S POV My breath caught instantly.“What?”The silence between us suddenly felt too loud.“Its been exactly fifteen years now since I've known him.” He muttered the words like they weighed something.I blinked in disbelief.“You're twenty-two. And you've known him for fifteen years?” I did the
ARIA'S POVThe sky was still dark when I crept out of my room at six in the morning. Sleep had been impossible since we came back. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Xavier on that hospital bed, pale and weak, his fingers cold around mine.I needed coffee. Strong coffee. And maybe ten minutes of si
XAVIER'S POV“Sir, you can't leave.”Reed blocked my path with his arms spread wide, standing between me and the door like a human barricade. His face was calm, but I saw the tension in his jaw.“You of all people shouldn’t do this.” I grabbed the hospital-issued shirt and yanked it over my head. “
XAVIER'S POVAfter some long days spent between those white walls, going back and forth after Ian's incident, I have come to detest hospitals. Everything about them. The smell, the lights, the way the air feels too clean and too cold at the same time, and the memories they bring.But in this situat







