(Zara's Pov)

The room is pitch black and quiet. The only sound that I can hear comes from Adrian who is breathing softly and also from my heart that is beating like a drum.

Blood rushes so fast to my head and my hands tremble as I struggle to leave the bed quietly without causing him to wake up. It's a difficult task since his arm is wrapped around me possessively even as he sleeps. I slowly slide out from beneath him, while holding my breath.

When he moves, I freeze, praying he doesn't wake up. He finally settles and I let out a deep breath and immediately place my hand over my mouth to cover the sound.

Pulling out the burner phone from under the bed, I tiptoe to the bathroom and quietly shut the door. I stare at myself in the mirror, taking in my swollen lips from his rough kisses. Without wasting any more time, I twist off my wedding ring and place it on the sink.

I just ripped out my heart from my chest with that simple action but some aches are very vital to one's healing process. The vibration of my phone brings me back to the present moment.

Unknown: The car is in place. You've got five minutes.

Wiping the tears I didn't know were coming out of my eyes I pick up the phone and black jacket and make my way out of our room and out of his life. Forever.

Once I enter the hallway of the hotel, I quicken my steps but quickly come to a stop before rounding the corner as I notice Adrian's security standing at the exit of our suite floor.

"Shit. How could I have forgotten?" I wonder out loud while hiding behind a pillar.

Looking around, I take note of the fire extinguisher and fire alarm a few steps from me. I quickly grab the extinguisher and smash the glass of the alarm.

When I hear the footsteps of the guards rushing towards the sound, I cross my fingers and throw the extinguisher at the window at the end of the hall, smashing it in the process, and duck behind the pillar. Hopefully, it doesn't hit anybody.

The guards rush to the window and while they are distracted looking through it, I run towards the doors and slip through.

I don't even wait for the door to fully close behind me. I rush towards the stairs and sprint down. Halfway down, I hear Adrian's booming voice as he shouts my name in the otherwise quiet staircase.

"Zara."

My heart freezes. The echo of his voice is filled with a mixture of anger and worry.

"Shit, shit, shit." The noise and commotion must have woken him up.

"Zara," his voice booms again.

That doesn't stop me. I increase my speed and run faster in case he was chasing me. Adrenaline rushed through my body. My steps hit the stairs with force as I burst through the door. An SUV is waiting at the exit when I hurry out.

The driver leans through the window and yells, "Zara, get in, now."

I panic for a moment, not sure if I really want to go with an unknown person.

"Who sent you?" I ask, panting.

"Sir Damien."

I don't have time to be curious as Adrian's voice shouts from the window above. "ZARA."

"It's now or never." The driver urges me.

As soon as I get in, he speeds down the road and away from the hotel.

"What happens now?"

"We make your death look real."

"How? What do you mean?" I ask, my voice trembling and fear gripping me at the unknown.

The driver speeds along the road and makes a sharp turn which sends me flying to the door. The car stops and there's another car waiting. It is identical to the one they are driving.

"Get out. Leave your jacket and bracelet," the driver says as he steps out and opens my door.

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to make sure you are dead by morning. Adrian will find these things and know you didn't survive."

I get into the second car with my heart pounding in my ears. It feels like a deep hole in my chest at what I'm about to do.

Behind me, the first driver gets into his car but leaves the door open. I watch as he speeds towards a tree but just before he reaches it, he jumps out and the car collides with the tree. He quickly gets up, pours fuel on the car, then lights a match.

Flames quickly spread through the car and it feels like the old me is being burned to ashes.

"Get down," the new driver orders just as our car takes off. The car is swallowed up by the fire and seconds later, there's a boom as it explodes loudly and illuminates the night.

I try to hold in but the tears run down my face. I lean back against the seat and cry. My sobs are coming from my broken heart.

The driver looks at me through the rearview, "It was necessary. You'll be a ghost by morning. No body, just evidence."

I try to think about Adrian's reaction to the news and when he'll find my wedding ring. He's going to curse himself and lose control.

Just the way I wanted. Right?

The next morning, there's total chaos and confusion. Every news station is airing the news about my "death". Cameras flood the place where the accident took place. The car is completely burnt and unrecognizable.

"Breaking news: Heiress Zara Winterborn-Leighton suspected dead in a ghastly car accident. Body unrecovered."

I'm watching the news when I see Adrian run past the police tape and towards the wrecked car. The officers rush after him but he suddenly stops. I can barely recognize the man on the screen. His eyes are bloodshot red. They are wide open in horror as he stares at the car.

An officer walks to him, showing him something in a bag. My bracelet. "This was found inside the car."

He stares at it. At the bracelet I never took off. I watch the man I love fall to the floor while holding the bag tightly.

"No, no, no. This is not true. It's not true. Zara isn't gone." he tries to run towards the car again but the officer holds him back. He completely breaks down on the road while cameras flash everywhere.

Every news reporter is feeding off the current situation. Billionaire Adrian Leighton loses his wife in a fatal car accident two weeks after their wedding.

But that is nowhere close to the truth. Because somewhere far away in a safe house, I watch as everything unfolds. The car, my bracelet, my funeral. And above everything else, the broken face of who I believed was my soulmate.

"I'm sorry Adrian," I whisper into the quiet space.

Aria(Zara's pov)

5 years later

The doors swing open and camera flashes almost make me go blind. The attention from the crowd makes my palms sweaty. After five years of hiding and working behind the scenes, I finally returned to New York City. Straight into the lion's den.

"Breathe, breathe, breathe, Aria," I say under my breath as I try to give them a genuine smile but my nerves are killing me.

After a couple of poses, I walk through the guests dressed in designer tuxedos and gowns. People greet me and I stop to talk to some while some whisper, "That's the brain behind the glass museum project, Aria Sterling."

"She's so young and beautiful," another said.

"Any man would be lucky to have her. Beauty plus brains is a whole package," another man says. I smile as I make my way to my project coordinator, Murphy. We have worked together for the past two years and he's the best at what he does.

I pick up a glass of champagne from a server and quickly take a sip to calm myself down.

"If it isn't the most beautiful architect in Europe and now America," Murphy says while leaning on to kiss my cheek.

"I can't wait for Celia to hear that. You'd be in the dog house tonight," I teased him in return.

"Hear what?"

His wife, Celia, appears from behind me. She stops to look at me from head to toe. "Girl, you're gorgeous."

"See. She said the same thing," Murphy says.

"And you look so beautiful. Blue is definitely your color. I absolutely love your jewelry," I say while admiring her outfit.

"Thank you. Murphy got it for me." She leans in to kiss her husband on the lips. "Now what am I supposed to hear?"

"Murphy called me the most beautiful woman in Europe and America," I say while trying to hide my smile behind my glass as he sends me a death glare.

"I was just being a gentleman. And I said the most beautiful architect because when it comes to the most beautiful woman in the world, my wife takes the crown," he pulls her closer to him by her waist.

"I hope you don't extend that gentlemanly side to other women," Celia pouts.

"No, I have eyes only for my sexy wife," he kisses her neck and she smiles. His wife was a beautiful blond woman with soft eyes with a crazy side that keeps him in check. They have been married for three years and are completely in love with each other.

"Oh please guys, we are in public." I roll my eyes.

"You're just jealous. Maybe you'll find someone today," Murphy teases.

"Maybe not." I take another sip of my champagne.

I don't pay attention to them or the MC who starts talking until my name is mentioned and the room erupts in applause.

"Aria Sterling. A design visionary, sculptor of the Skyline Museum, and a woman with brains. Please join us on stage," the MC says.

I hand my glass to Celia and make my way to the stage. The room is completely silent and all eyes are on me.

I give a short speech of appreciation and explain the vision for the Skyline before exiting the stage.

I make my way to my friends, grab Celia's drink, and take a long sip.

"Are you okay? You look pale," Celia asks in concern.

"I'm fine. Just nervous. I'm not used to the attention."

"I understand. You'll be fine with time." she smiles.

Just then, a young woman approaches us. "You look stunning and I'll certainly love to interview you before you leave, if you don't mind," she smiles widely. "Oh, I'm so sorry. Excuse my manners. I'm Tasinda, an editor from the Change."

"Aria Sterling. I think I have a few minutes before I leave," I smile back.

"Great, great. I'll keep an eye out for you," she says while skipping away.

People kept approaching me all through the night and I was finally ready to leave. My face hurt from all the forced smiles I've been offering and my legs were sore from standing for too long. I just wanted to get home and cuddle with my daughter.

I was listening to the mayor's wife who kept praising me and my work, when I decided it was time to leave.

"Your work will change cities, my dear. I can't wait to see your future designs," she said as she held my hand.

I smiled genuinely this time. "Thank you, Mrs Fray. The goal is to do better in the future," I told the mayor's wife. She was a round woman with gray hair. She was so soft-spoken and I enjoyed talking to her.

After saying my goodbyes, I approach Murphy and Celia and tell them I am leaving to which they decide to accompany me outside.

Before we make it to the door, Tasinda appears from nowhere. "Hope you didn't forget about me?"

"Certainly not. Where do we go?"

"Just by the corner there," she points to a spot decorated with flowers. Just a few people were around. "For the pictures," she says.

She asks me a series of questions which I answer easily. She makes it look so easy and comfortable that I spend twenty minutes talking to her.

"You don't know how much I appreciate you making time for this. Thank you."

"Anytime. You made it so easy."

"Can I give you my card for future purposes?" She gives a cheeky smile.

"Of course."

"Thank you again. Bye"

"Can you do one more interview? I promise it won't take long. Just a reporter friend of mine," Murphy pleads.

"Sure. But I really need to leave soon." I don't know why but I was feeling anxious.

I exchange greetings with the friend and we get into it.

"The Skyline Museum is the talk of the season, Miss Sterling. Can you tell us what it's all about? What inspired you?"

Just then, my eyes find their way to the bar area. It's like a presence was calling me. It fell on a man with broad shoulders and dark hair. Like I had suddenly called out his name, he turned and I could feel my heart beat in my ears. No, it couldn't be.

Really? Could it not?

His eyes locked on mine and I could see confusion fill his eyes before his face went pale. The shock was evident on his face but I just turned back to the reporter.

"We... we wanted to bring light to a forgotten area... community... attract development and collaboration," I was stuttering like a fool.

"Do you want me to reschedule?" Murphy asked and I nodded. He spoke with his friend and came back.

 "Who is that, Aria?"

"Someone from the past. I need to go. I'll see you guys later."

I don't wait for his reply as I hurry towards the exit praying he doesn't try to find out if his eyes are seeing correctly.

I made it to the door before someone collided with me and spilled their drink on my dress.

"Zara?"

"Shit."