Aria comes home expecting to make things right with her longtime boyfriend but instead she gets into the wedding arrangements of her stepsister- the groom being her ex. A single agonizing night brings her into the hands of a stranger and she wakes up hoping that she will forget all. Until she goes to a job interview and discovers that the CEO is the man she slept with. Damon. Her uncle, an older and powerful person and the ex of her boyfriend. He hires her. He wants her. And he will not allow her to walk away. Their clandestine office affair becomes a scandal that everybody is talking about. Aria attempts to be tough, yet her family is attempting to manipulate her, Damon does not want to give up, and her past is ready to destroy everything. She begins to trust him just in time to be betrayed by the missing ex of Damon which also happens to look like Aria. The truth breaks her. The pregnancy, the heartbreak, the loss, the sickness... she believes that her story is finished. Until Damon returns to her life in a manner that she could never imagine- taking everything to rescue her. Now Aria has to choose whether she can love the man who replaced her once... or leave before she is hurt again. A Christmas wedding. A stolen company. The second opportunity that she did not expect. And one last turn that alters all.
Aria's POV
"Aria! Over here!"
I turned and beheld Aunt Mira waving her arms as she had a great big smile on her face. She was running my way before I could think, and threw her arms open and embraced me.
"Oh, dear," she said , cupping my face. "Look at you! You've grown so much."
"Aunt Mira, don't embarrass me."
She ignored me completely. "You have always been studying overseas. Never spent a single holiday at home. You have become a young woman before my very eyes."
"I had to complete school," I said to myself. "You know that. I couldn't just stop."
She nodded, eyes warm. "I know. Nevertheless, it is different to see you once again. You've changed so much."
We entered her car and she began to talk. I was mostly nodding and smiling and listening. Her voice was soothing, it felt peaceful and good to be home.
Few minutes later, she abruptly turned into the street that led to the cemetery. I looked at her, but I said nothing since I already knew why.
She pulled up next to the rusted gate, and I got out holding the fresh flowers which had been lying on the backseat of her car. Every stride to the grave of my mother was heavier than the previous one. It was so long since I had been here, and as I stood before her grave my chest was tight.
I got on my knees and put the flowers into position, touching my fingers against the engraved letters. "Hi, Mom," I whispered. "I'm back. For good this time. I'm sorry I stayed away so long... I hope I can make you proud."
Aunt Mira remained silent. I took a deep breath, and attempted to restrain tears. "I've missed you," I murmured. "I should've come sooner."
"You will be all right, Aria," Aunt Mira said. "You're smart, strong... like her. Your mother would be proud."
I nodded, and it felt as though some of the pain got off my chest. Then, having passed several silent moments, we returned to the car.
I shared my plans on the ride home with Aunt Mira. "I'm staying here permanently. I cannot continue staying in a foreign country. And... Caleb and I... we have been having issues. He had asked me to drop out of school and marry him, but I had to complete my education. I was too young to sacrifice my dreams. I want to be like Mom and learn about perfumes. That was always my plan."
Aunt Mira held my hand and squeezed it. "I understand, dear. I wish you all the best."
I smiled. "Thanks, Aunt Mira. I really need that."
"So... you will be attending Selene's wedding?"
"Yes," I said firmly. "I was sent an invite weeks ago."
"And... what about you and your father?" she asked cautiously.
I hesitated. "I am not sure I can remember the last time we spoke."
She gave a small nod. "Hopefully this visit will lead to a positive change."
After we got to her house, I unpacked very fast and took a long bath, in a bid to clean up the travel fatigue and the nerves. After that, I dressed up and I made up my mind to visit Caleb at his head office. I had to speak with him, to clarify things, hope that we would be able to salvage our relationship.
I arrived in the office and the receptionist stared at me. "Can I help you?" she politely asked.
"I... I must see Caleb, I said, in an attempt to appear confident.
"Do you have an appointment?" she asked.
I hesitated. "No... but it's urgent."
I was about to say more, when I saw one of his bodyguards standing near by. I knew this one.
"Hello, please I need to see Caleb, is he inside?"
I l asked rushing to him.
He looked me up and down. "Do you have an appointment?"
"No," I said, and my throat felt as dry as a cork.
"Then you can't see him." He waved toward the exit. "Security, escort her out."
I froze, humiliated. My chest tightened. I made calls to Caleb, but it was diverted to voicemail. I sent a number of messages, none of which were responded to.
I went back to the house of Aunt Mira defeated. I told her all and she listened without saying anything, just a quiet and worried look.
I went to my room to sleep but I could not forget about Caleb. My phone continued ringing in my hand and I could not pick it up. Then there was a WhatsApp message. It was my father.
"Where are you? And why is your number not going through?"
I called him quickly. "Hello father, it's Aria. I called up to tell you that I am already back.
His response was swift, stinging and outraged. "You are back in the country and forgot to inform me? Where are you?"
I lowered my voice as I answered. "I'm with Aunt Mira."
His following words sunk my chest. "I will not have a mansion when my daughter is living in a rusty apartment with the woman that advised her mother to leave me when I made a few mistakes. You are coming to me. Now."
He hung up before I could reply.
I went to Aunt Mira. "What do I do?" I asked after telling her what my father said.
"Don't worry, Aria. It's fine. My door is open at all times, if you ever want to come back. If it ever gets too much, I am one phone call away."She said.
I nodded, but I knew it was not as easy as she made it seem. I was forced to accept the fate. I had to go to my father's house for dinner and my potential move in.
The reunion was cold and awkward. I had just swallowed down a body shaming comment from Helena; when a car drove into the driveway. Selene, squealed. "My man!"
She ran to the front door to welcome her fiance. I stood there waiting, and regretting my decision of attending.
And then I saw him.
It was none other than Caleb.
Her fiancé was my Caleb!
Chapter 1 The Groom I Know
18/12/2025
Chapter 2 The Confrontation.
18/12/2025
Chapter 3 A night to forget
18/12/2025
Chapter 4 The Morning after.
18/12/2025
Chapter 5 A Face I Thought I Lost.
18/12/2025
Chapter 6 THE MAN I SHOULD NEVER SEE AGAIN
18/12/2025
Chapter 7 THE PHOTO THAT SHOULDN'T EXIST
18/12/2025
Chapter 8 THE NAME I NEVER WANTED TO HEAR AGAIN
18/12/2025
Chapter 9 THE ELEVATOR THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER MOVED
18/12/2025
Chapter 10 THE FACE THAT SHOULD NOT EXIST
18/12/2025
Chapter 11 THE MOMENT I FELT THE GROUND SHIFT
18/12/2025
Chapter 12 THE GIRL WHO WALKED OUT OF HIS PAST
18/12/2025
Chapter 13 THE WOMAN WHO SHOULD HAVE STAYED DEAD
18/12/2025
Chapter 14 THE QUIET THREAT IN HER SMILE
18/12/2025
Chapter 15 THE TRUTH I NEVER MEANT FOR HER TO HEAR
18/12/2025
Chapter 16 THE FILE WITH MY NAME ON IT
18/12/2025
Chapter 17 WHAT THE CAMERAS SAW
18/12/2025
Chapter 18 THE NAME THEY HID FROM ME
18/12/2025
Chapter 19 THE WAR SHE WOKE UP
18/12/2025
Chapter 20 THE MOMENT I STOPPED RUNNING
20/01/2026
Chapter 21 THE VERSION OF ME THEY FEARED
20/01/2026
Chapter 22 THE CHOICE I CAN NEVER TAKE BACK
20/01/2026