Chapter 1
Aria's life was a delicate balance between beauty and isolation. Her room, large and opulent, could have belonged to a princess, but to her, it was a gilded cage. The light, soft and warm, filtered in through the grand windows, but the world beyond was just an illusion — a world she was barred from.
She stood by the window, gazing out at the sprawling city below, but her vision was clouded by the iron bars of her own prison. The buildings in the distance seemed so close, so full of life, yet she couldn't touch them. She couldn't even step outside the mansion's grounds unless absolutely necessary.
Her parents — or rather, the shadow of them — had hidden her away long ago, a prisoner to their whims, their rules. The mansion, grand and opulent as it was, became her cage. She was only allowed to leave her room for three places: the kitchen, the parlor, and her private studio. Everything beyond those walls was forbidden, an unreachable world of constant whispers and half-lives.
The kitchen, despite being one of her most sacred spaces, was not hers alone. Aria would enter, greeted by the staff — a team of maids who were kind but formal. They moved swiftly, preparing meals with precision, never daring to speak unless spoken to. Aria could never be alone here, the housemaids a constant presence, serving her meals with perfect politeness. The faint smell of fresh pastries and the rich scent of coffee filled the air, but it never felt like home. It was as if the kitchen, though warm with activity, was another reminder of the control her parents had over every aspect of her life.
Her best friend, Madison, visited when she could, but Aria knew better than to expect her every day. Madison was busy with school and her own life, a life that seemed so free in comparison to Aria's own locked existence. Aria cherished the time they spent together — Madison's laughter, the warmth of her presence — but it was always fleeting. Once she left, Aria was alone again.
The silence in the mansion was deafening. She wandered from her room to her studio, the long hallways filled with portraits of her ancestors. Their painted eyes seemed to follow her as she moved, silent witnesses to her confinement. No one ever visited except for the staff, who didn't dare to speak to her. Even the servants, who moved like shadows in the mansion, never made eye contact.
Sometimes, Aria would sketch the world she couldn't have — people in parks, couples holding hands, children playing in the streets. She longed for those simple things, but they were as far from her reach as the stars.
Today, she sat before her easel again, a charcoal sketch of the city skyline in front of her. Her fingers, deft and practiced, worked swiftly, capturing the image of the life she would never know. But even as she drew, she felt the weight of her isolation pressing down on her. Every stroke of the pencil was a reminder of how far away freedom felt.
She sighed, putting the pencil down, her hand aching from the hours of work. The silence that filled the room seemed to deepen, heavy and suffocating. She longed for something to break it, for something to give her a reason to keep going. But the mansion remained silent, unyielding. Her thoughts drifted again to Madison… Is she still coming… she is late today…muttering under her breath
And so, she sat in the silence, the weight of her loneliness almost
_______
Aria's afternoon had turned into another quiet stretch of hours. She sat in her studio, a space she'd come to cherish, surrounded by her sketches and unfinished works. She was lost in the delicate strokes of her pencil when the doorbell rang, cutting through the silence of the mansion. Her heart skipped a beat. It had to be Madison.
As soon as the door opened, Madison's voice rang out with that familiar, warm cheerfulness that always seemed to fill the air.
"Guess who's here with cakes, tea, and all things sweet?" Madison's voice echoed from the hallway.
Aria put down her pencil with a smile, already knowing who it was. She rose from her seat, brushing the stray strands of hair from her face as she walked to greet her friend.
Madison stepped inside with a flourish, a small bakery box in her hands. She was bundled in a soft cardigan, her long hair falling in loose waves over her shoulders, and her cheeks flushed with the cold air outside. She grinned at Aria as she set the box on the desk, her playful energy filling the room.
"I know, I know, I'm a bit late today, but I come bearing good things!" Madison said, opening the box to reveal several neatly decorated cupcakes and a couple of small cakes. The sweet scent instantly filled the room.
Aria couldn't help but laugh. "You're a lifesaver, Maddie," she said, her tone warm but laced with a tinge of sadness. "It's the little things like this that make being trapped in this house bearable."
Madison's face softened, her smile fading slightly as she looked at Aria. She crossed the room and gently took Aria's hands into hers, squeezing them. "I'm sorry, Aria. I know it's not fair. I don't get why they keep you locked away like this. You should be out there, living your life." Her voice wavered with concern.
Aria pulled her hands back with a soft sigh, sitting back on the chair. "It's not something I can change. You know how it is. Mom and Dad have their reasons." Her eyes flickered toward the window, as if the world beyond the glass could offer her some kind of escape, but it was always just out of reach.
Madison frowned. "You know, sometimes I wish I could just take you away from here for a while. We could go on a spontaneous trip — just the two of us. A weekend in the city, maybe. Something that feels real."
Aria smiled faintly at the thought. "I'd love that. A weekend in the city sounds like a dream… but you know I can't leave this place."
"I hate that," Madison muttered. "I hate how your parents treat you like this perfect porcelain doll they can hide away. You deserve so much more than this."
Aria nodded, her eyes shining with unshed tears that she quickly blinked away. She was used to this by now, but the loneliness still stung, deep and raw. "It's just… everything is so out of my control. I can't even step outside unless they say it's okay."
Madison chewed on her bottom lip, then grabbed a cupcake and tossed it toward Aria. "Okay, enough of this sad talk. Let's eat. If we keep going like this, I'll cry, and then I'll really need another cupcake. I'm pretty sure that's how we're supposed to do this." She winked, trying to lighten the mood.
Aria laughed, feeling a little lighter as she picked up the cupcake and took a bite. "You're ridiculous, but that's why I love you."
Madison grinned. "Don't mention it. That's what best friends are for." She plopped herself down on the nearby couch, picking up her own cupcake. "I swear, if we ever get out of here, I'll take you on a road trip that will make you forget all about this mansion."
Aria felt the weight in her chest ease just a bit, the presence of her friend making it all feel a little more bearable. "I'd like that, Maddie. A lot."
They spent the next few hours chatting about everything and nothing — from their favorite artists to what Madison had been studying for school. It was comforting, distracting. The laughter they shared, though fleeting, was like a balm for the deep, empty silence that had been Aria's constant companion for so long.
⸻
Cassian and Jaxon: A Day at the Office
Meanwhile, across the city, Cassian Cole's arrival at his corporate empire was as cold and calculated as always. The black SUV that had brought him to the towering skyscraper pulled away quietly, leaving behind nothing but the sound of the morning traffic. His sharp footsteps echoed in the lobby as he made his way toward the elevator, flanked by his ever-watchful bodyguard.
Inside the elevator, Cassian's face was an emotionless mask — not a hint of warmth or interest for anything outside his mind. His thoughts were already racing through business deals, mergers, and everything in between. When the elevator doors opened on his floor, he stepped out, unfazed by the bustling energy of the building, the hum of the employees hard at work.
As usual, the staff knew better than to greet him — and for good reason. His reputation preceded him. He was the king of this corporate jungle, feared and respected by all. But there was one person who could get away with more than the others.
Cassian's office was just ahead, the door slightly ajar, and as he pushed it open, the scene before him was a familiar one. Jaxon, his best friend and partner in crime, lounged casually in the chair behind his desk, feet kicked up. His mischievous grin was already plastered on his face.
"Hey, dude… you came a bit late," Jaxon said with a teasing lilt to his voice, his smirk barely hiding the amusement in his eyes.
Cassian didn't even acknowledge the comment. He shut the door behind him with a soft click, walking to his desk and letting the weight of his suit jacket fall off his shoulders.
"Am going to make sure I sack the secretary who allowed you in without my consent," Cassian said flatly, but the faintest hint of a smile tugged at his lips.
Jaxon raised an eyebrow, clearly unbothered. "They know better than to keep me at the reception desk, bro. You might have a company to run, but I've got my own ways of making things happen."
"Don't get too comfortable, Jax," Cassian warned, though there was no real bite to it. "Next time, I'll have you thrown out with security."
Jaxon chuckled, taking a long sip from his glass. "Yeah, yeah. Keep pretending you run everything, big guy. We both know I'm your favorite headache."
Cassian looked at him with a deadpan stare. "I'll be sure to remind them who's in charge around here."
Jaxon grinned, leaning back in the chair. "Yeah, yeah. Smirking mischievously….
"I swear, you're lucky I need you around," Cassian muttered as he sat behind his desk, settling into the rhythm of their banter.
Jaxon threw his feet back up onto the desk, swirling his glass of whiskey. "I'm not lucky, man. I'm essential." He took a sip. "Now, enough about me. You've got a meeting in fifteen, right? What's the latest on the deal with that new tech company?"
Cassian's mind shifted gears, pulling away from the easy camaraderie and back into business mode. "We're closing in on it. But it's tricky. They want too much control. I'll handle it." His voice hardened, shifting to the sharp, calculating tone that Jaxon knew all too well.
Jaxon nodded, acknowledging the shift. "Well, I'll be here when you need to vent. Just don't forget the people who made you, bro."
Cassian paused, looking at his best friend. There was a rare softness in his eyes — something Jaxon saw only in private moments like these. "I won't," he said quietly, before diving back into the business at hand.