Aria POV
Between drifting in and out of consciousness, memories surfaced like broken snapshots, each one hurting more than the last.
I remember the day I quit my job to work at Julian’s company. I remembered walking into his office for the interview. He looked so tall, broad-shouldered. He wore a black suit that made him look even more professional. My heart raced seeing him sitting behind his desk. I had loved him since college, even though he never noticed me. To him, I was just another candidate.
“Miss Vale, your CV looks impressive,” he’d said that day. Then he paused, studying me. “What if I have a better offer than this job for you?”
My eyes widened in confusion. “What would that be?”
He walked toward me and gestured for me to sit down. He cleared his throat. “My board wants me
