Ariana’s POV

Two weeks have been that long since Dante took control of everything, and Melissa and Ricardo were arrested.

Since the company was saved. Since my mother got out of the hospital.

Two weeks of chaos and calm all mixed together.

Dante had made it his mission to win me back.

Every day, he sent flowers.

Red roses.

My favorite. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Every day, he sent notes with little handwritten notes that said things like "I’m sorry," "I love you," and "I’m not giving up."

Every day he called, and I didn’t always answer, but he kept calling.

He was persistent.

He was patient.

He was everything he used to be before the accident, before Melissa, and before everything fell apart.

He let me have the kids.

For the meantime, he said.

Until we figured things out.

Until I was ready to talk.

Until I was ready to forgive him, the kids were staying with me at Ares’s house, all of them. My house was chaos, but it was good chaos. It was healing chaos.

I was in the kitchen with the twins. They were sitting at the counter, coloring. Their tongues were sticking out.

Their crayons were everywhere.

They were making a mess while I tried to cook something for them.

A smile spread across my lips. I love this. How everything was falling into place... it was something I longed for.

"Mum."

Sophia’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I blinked and looked at her. She was holding up her drawing, which was a picture of our family, including me. Her. Isabella. Leo. Asher. Alan. And Dante.

"What baby?" I asked.

Sophia pointed at the back door. "Aunt Sarah has been calling you. Your phone is ringing. Again, for like the tenth time."

I looked at my phone.

It was on the counter.

The screen was lit up.

Sarah was calling. I had missed three calls from her already. I had been so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t hear it.

I picked up the phone and answered. "Sarah? What’s wrong?"

Her voice was shaky, out of breath, and crying. "Ariana, thank God. Thank God you picked up. I need you. I need you to come. Please. Please come."

My heart started pounding. "Sarah, what’s happening? Where are you? Are you okay?"

She was crying harder now. "I’ll send you my location immediately, I can’t... I can’t do this alone. Please, Ariana. I need you. I need you here."

"I’m coming," I said. "I’m leaving right now. Just stay where you are. Don’t move. I’ll be there as soon as I can."

Sarah was still crying. "Please hurry, I’ll share my location. Just... just get here, please."

The line went dead as I stared at my phone. My hands were shaking. What was happening? What was wrong with Sarah? Why was she crying?

Why can’t things just be normal in our lives.

Sophia tugged on my shirt. "Mommy? What’s wrong? Is Aunt Sarah okay?"

I looked down at her worried face and big eyes. I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself.

I couldn’t panic, at least not in front of them.

"Aunt Sarah needs me," I said. "I have to go. I’ll be back soon. I promise."

Isabella grabbed my hand. "Can we come?"

I shook my head. "Not this time, baby. You stay here with your brothers. I’ll be back before you know it."

I grabbed my keys and my purse. I ran to the door.

I ran out the door and got in the car, starting the engine, my phone buzzed a text from Sarah, her location.

What is the problem now?

What could have made Sarah cry?

I just hope she’s okay.

I drove fast, too fast, as my mind kept running wild, wondering what could have possibly gone wrong.

I followed the GPS to the location, hoping she’d be fine by the time I got there.

The GPS said I was there. I parked the car and got out. The place was too dark. There were no lights, no buildings, just trees and grass.

I hesitated with my heart pounding. My instincts were screaming.

Something was wrong.

Something was off.

But Sarah needed me. I took a breath and walked down the path.

The darkness swallowed me.

Then the lights turned on.

Bright blinding light, I covered my eye and stumbled back with my heart racing.

What was happening? What was this?

Projectors.

Big screens.

Images started popping up.

Pictures of old pictures of Dante and me.

There we were.

At a party years ago, his arm was around my waist.

My head was on his shoulder.

We looked happy.

Another picture.

Our first date.

Another picture.

Our wedding

The pictures kept coming nonstop.

Tears spilled down my cheeks. I couldn’t stop them; they poured like rain, hot, heavy, and unstoppable. My hand went to my mouth as I tried to hold in the sob.

I couldn’t.

The pictures kept coming.

Kept flashing.

Kept reminding me of everything I had lost.

Everything I had loved.

Everything I had forgotten.

Then the pictures stopped.

The screens went dark.

The garden was quiet.

The only sound was my crying, and the only light was the moon.

And then I saw him.