Ayden knew Arya was right about seeking help from her brother. What he didn't like was how she exposed herself in a way that put her in danger. That was something she didn't measure, and he didn't understand why."I understand that you've taken care of yourself for most of your life. But you're not alone anymore, Arya. I'm here for you, and even if I have to deploy a whole army to protect you, I will," Ayden declared without worrying about her contradicting him. "You're important to me, and if you want to get angry, go ahead. I won't feel bad about taking care of you."In that moment, Arya felt guilty. It was true that she had only tried to help, but she hadn't assessed the risk properly. Slowly, she reached out and took Ayden's hand, surprising him."I'm sorry, I promise to call you next time I come," she explained, and even so, Ayden furrowed his brow upon hearing her."Because you caring about me and putting an army at my disposal won't stop me from doing what I want to do.""This
Arya began to feel anxious, unable to understand why Robin wasn't answering her calls."Call Henry again," she requested, taking her phone and redialing her friend.It went straight to voicemail."Tell me the car has a GPS tracker," I said to Ayden, who was frantically speaking with Henry."It does, but it's been deactivated since he left Rikers; the last point is when he arrived in New York," John clarified.Minutes turned into hours, and hours felt like an eternity.Detective Robin had already arrived and was compiling a general report for everyone. He interviewed them all, but mainly focused on Arya."Why did you go to Rikers?" he inquired, clearly annoyed. "I told you to stay calm and take precautions. Going to Rikers was just exposing yourself.""I'm sorry; I wanted to talk to my brother. I wanted to make sure he wasn't responsible," she confessed, feeling guilty."Don't worry, dear... let's hope Robin turns up soon," Ayden declared, and I wanted to believe him.I walked back to
As night fell, Arya returned to Ayden's bedroom. She mentally scolded herself for this situation. She didn't want to be there, didn't want to tempt fate and risk everything falling apart. But at the same time, she didn't want to pull away. She needed it, as much as fire needs heat."Do you think Robin is as okay as he says he is?" Ayden inquired as he took his pajamas."I don't know, but I want to believe he is," she replied, sitting on the edge of the bed. "This day has been a constant back-and-forth. I just want to take a shower, lie down, and sleep. My back is killing me."Ayden gave her a smile that barely reached his eyes and offered her the bathroom first."Go ahead then, so you can rest," he suggested, and she immediately got up."Thank you," she said as she entered the shower with only a bathrobe in hand.Arya undressed with the door locked, turned on the shower, and adjusted it to hot water before stepping in. The water gradually warmed her reddened skin. It felt pleasant, an
Arya was ecstatic. Feeling the magical sensation of her first orgasm (one that didn't involve a device or her hand) was something magical and evolutionary. She wanted more, without a doubt. She wanted more of him at this moment and always.Ayden stopped his movements as soon as he felt that she had finished. Arya was in limbo, unsure whether to continue down that path or stop altogether, just like him. Suddenly, everything became uncomfortable and tense."I think I still have soap on my body," the millionaire whispered, stepping back under the shower.At this moment, it didn't matter that the water was running, although Ayden maintained a water recycling system, something Arya was unaware of.She took the shampoo and applied some to her palm, starting to massage her scalp behind Ayden. Without saying a word, she studied the man who owned her passions. He was tall, muscular, strong, as hard as a rock, yet soft at the same time.She couldn't help but wonder what it would feel like to be
The lovers awoke, entwined in each other's arms. Arya hugged Ayden by the chest and had one leg draped over his. Skin to skin, bare of both body and soul. A knock at the door roused them. Arya stretched, but Ayden's warmth was more comfortable for her."Who is it?" she asked when the knocking resumed."Wake up, sleepyhead, we have to work, we're running late," Robin exclaimed from the other side of the door.Arya jumped out of bed, quickly wrapping herself in a sheet."Where are you going?" Ayden inquired, trying to reach her as she passed by him."To work, it's late, we overslept," Arya clarified, adjusting the sheet to ensure nothing was exposed."Are you going dressed like that? Because if you are, I think I'll schedule a consultation," Ayden joked, sitting on the edge of the bed completely naked."No, I'm going to my room to change," she replied and approached him, giving him a kiss on the lips. "Last night was one of the best nights of my life," Arya declared, still kissing him.
Everyone hurried straight to the hospital. No one stopped to ask what they were doing; they just went.Aryehn's temperature had already been stabilized. Arya carried him wrapped in a towel, with just enough heating to maintain a warm flow for him. Robin had called the clinic and informed them of their arrival.When they reached the emergency room, the medical team was already waiting for them. Arya had changed quickly and, as expected, entered with Robin to have her son examined."He has a throat infection, Arya," Robin informs her. "Please take these samples, and make sure the results are expedited," he requests from the nurse on duty.Arya did not let go of her son."Arya, you need to put him on the bed; you know your warmth might raise his temperature again," Robin reminded her."I know, but I don't want to leave him," she said in a trembling voice. "Just look at him, he's weak, he's... unwell. It's my fault; I shouldn't have overlooked his room. Neither last night nor today. I'm a
"You knew it wasn't anything serious," Robin tells his friend after two days of hospitalization. "You have nothing to worry about. Aryehn is out of danger, and the fever is under control."Arya gets up and hugs him."I know, it's just that I worried. Now I feel stupid for overreacting," she says, returning to her seat next to her son.Ayden had returned to his office; he had many matters to attend to, especially since his father had passed away. He now had complete control of the entire company, and even though he had trusted people working under him, they didn't get involved in his personal life.If everyone knew one thing, it was that Ayden Emory was a good boss, one of the best, but he was terrible at emotional relationships with anyone around him. "An emotional paralytic," his psychiatrist diagnosed him, along with many others who knew him.But he didn't care. It was true that he couldn't process emotions the same way others did, but as long as Arya knew it, he was fine. She knew
Arya screams at the top of her lungs. She had turned to see who the young woman was who had just left when the car exploded. The police started to mobilize, and Gabriel and Arya were dragged to a safe place while the fire was being brought under control. Fortunately, the fire station was just around the corner, so they arrived promptly."Good Lord, this is horrifying!" Arya exclaims. "She was just a girl, dear God!""Calm down, Arya," he requests, disturbed by the situation. He feels a tightness in his chest; it was Lily, and he knew very well that she was no girl."Let me make a few calls, and I'll be back; don't move," Gabriel says.Gabriel steps away from where she is and takes out his phone with the intention of calling his partners. He informs them of what happened, and they know there will be an investigation. Now more than ever, he is convinced that this is something personal against the Emorys, and they don't want the killer to be found at any cost.The murder of Gerard Emory