Chapter 53
Aria pov
I didn’t care about Marcus. Didn’t care about anything except seeing my son.
The drive to the hospital was the longest fifteen minutes of my life. Damien’s driver broke every traffic law, but it still felt too slow. I clutched Damien’s hand the entire way, both of us silent, both afraid to hope too much.
What if Noah was hurt worse than they thought? What if he was traumatized beyond repair? What if
“He’s going to be okay,” Damien said, reading my thoughts. “He’s strong just like his mother p>
We pulled up to the emergency entrance. Didn’t wait for the car to fully stop before jumping out and running inside.
“Noah Blackwood,” I gasped to the nurse at reception. “My son, he was just brought in”
“Room 3,” she said, pointing. “Second door on your right p>
We ran.
The door was already open. And there, sitting on the examination table with a female FBI agent beside him, was Noah.
My baby.
He looked so small in the oversized hospital gown they’d put him in. His curls were messy, his eyes red from crying. But he was there.m.
“Mama!” He saw me and his face crumpled. “Mama p>
I was across the room in a heartbeat, scooping him into my arms, holding him so tight he squeaked. “Baby. Oh, baby. I’m here. Mama’s here p>
“I was so scared!” He sobbed into my shoulder. “The scary man with the scary face took me and wouldn’t let me go and I called for you but you didn’t come and p>
“I know, sweetheart. I know. I’m so sorry.” Tears streamed down my face. “But you’re safe now, you are safe p>
“Is the scary man gone p>
“Yes.” I pulled back to look at him, smoothing his curls. “He’s gone. He can’t hurt you anymore p>
Noah’s eyes moved past me, landing on Damien, who stood frozen in the doorway.
“Daddy?” Noah’s voice was small, uncertain.
Damien’s face did something complicated. He took a hesitant step forward. “Hi, Noah p>
“So you really my daddy?” Noah asked. “Mama said you were away for work, but the scary man said you didn’t want me p>
“No.” Damien dropped to his knees in front of us, his eyes level with Noah’s. “No, that’s not true. I do want you. I’ve always wanted you. I was just… lost. But I’m here now. If you’ll let me be p>
Noah studied him with those ice-blue eyes—so like his father’s it was almost eerie.
“You have the same eyes as me,” Noah observed.
“I do.” Damien smiled through his tears. “We have lots of things that are the same p>
“Do you like dinosaurs p>
“I love dinosaurs p>
“What’s your favorite p>
“T-Rex,” Damien said without hesitation. “What’s yours p>
“Triceratops!” Noah bounced in my arms. “Because they have horns and they’re tough and they protect their families p>
Something in Damien’s expression broke. “That’s a very good reason p>
Noah reached out and touched Damien’s face, his small hand exploring this stranger who was his father. “You’re sad p>
“I am,” Damien admitted. “But I’m also very, very happy. Because you’re safe, and because I am happy to see you safe p>
“The scary man said you gave him all your money to get me back.” Noah’s brow furrowed. “Do you still have enough money for food? Mama says we always need money for food p>
Damien laughed—a broken, beautiful sound. “Yes, buddy. We still have enough money for food p>
“Good.” Noah nodded seriously. Then, with the mercurial mood swing only a three-year-old could manage: “Can I have McDonald’s? The scary man only gave me gross sandwiches p>
I laughed through my tears. “Yes, baby. You can have all the McDonald’s you want p>
“Can Daddy come too?” Noah asked looking between us with hope in his eyes. Damien is frozen, afraid to presume, afraid to hope.
“Yes,” I said softly, meeting Damien’s gaze over Noah’s head. “Daddy can come too p>
The smile that broke across Damien’s face was transcendent.
“Can I” He gestured awkwardly. “Can I hug you? Both of you p>
Noah answered by throwing himself at Damien, tiny arms wrapping around his father’s neck. Damien caught him, standing with Noah in his arms, and pulled me in too.
We stood there in that sterile hospital room, the three of us clinging to each other, and something fundamental shifted. The broken pieces of our family, scattered for three years, began to find their way back together.
“Excuse me?” The doctor knocked gently on the open door. “I need to do a quick examination. Make sure Noah is okay p>
“I don’t want more doctors,” Noah protested, burrowing into Damien’s shoulder.
“I’ll be right here,” Damien promised. “The whole time. I’m not going anywhere p>
“Promise p>
“I promise p>
The examination was quick. Noah was physically unharmed—bruises on his shoulders where Marcus had grabbed him, dehydration, exhaustion, but nothing permanent. The psychological impact would take longer to assess.
“I recommend a child psychologist,” the doctor said quietly to Damien and me while Noah colored on the examination table. “What he went through—the kidnapping, the fear, being separated from you—that can leave lasting trauma. The sooner we address it, the better p>
“Whatever he needs,” I said immediately.
“Anything,” Damien agreed. “Money is no object p>
The doctor nodded and left as Agent Sarah appeared in the doorway.
“I hate to interrupt,” she said, “but we need statements from both of you. And Noah, when he’s ready. Nothing too intense—just basic questions about what happened p>
“Not today.” Damien’s voice was firm. “My son has been through enough. The statements can wait p>
“Mr. Blackwood”
“They can wait.” He looked at her, and whatever she saw in his face made her back down.
“Tomorrow then. We’ll send someone by your residence p>
After she left, Damien turned to me. “Your penthouse or my house? For tonight p>
The question was loaded. Where we stayed would set the tone for everything that came next.
“My place has the broken window still,” I said slowly. “And Noah’s room is there, his toys, his things”
“I want to stay with Daddy!” Noah announced, looking up from his coloring. “He has a big house. Mama, can we stay at Daddy’s big house p>
I looked at Damien and saw the hope and fear warring in his expression. He wouldn’t push, he would accept whatever I decided.
“Okay,” I said softly. “We can stay at Daddy’s house, just for tonight p>
The relief on Damien’s face was palpable.
“Just for tonight,” I repeated, more firmly. “We’re not— This doesn’t mean”
“I know.” He held up his hands. “Separate rooms with no expectations, i just want Noah under my roof where I can protect him. Where I can keep him safe p>
Where he can make up for lost time, I didn’t add.
We were discharged an hour later. Damien had already sent his driver to pick up Noah’s favorite things from my penthouse—his stuffed rabbit, his dinosaur toys, his special blanket.
The drive to Damien’s mansion was surreal. Noah sat between us in the back seat, chattering about everything and nothing, his trauma temporarily forgotten in the comfort of having both his parents there.
“And I have a friend named Tyler at preschool, and he has a daddy too, and they go to the park on Saturdays. Can we go to the park on Saturdays? Can Daddy come p>
“Yes,” Damien said, his voice thick. “I’ll come to the park every Saturday. Every day, if you want p>
“Every day is too much,” Noah said seriously. “Mama says you have to work. But Saturdays are good p>
When we pulled up to the Blackwood mansion, Noah’s eyes went huge as he pressed his face against the window. “It looks like a castle p>
“Want to see your room?” Damien asked.
“I have a room here?” Noah’s excitement was infectious.
Damien glanced at me, uncertain. “I had it prepared, just in case. If you want to change anything”
“Let’s see it first,” I said neutrally.
We walked through the massive house—so different from my modern penthouse. Noah’s room was on the third floor, next to what I assumed was Damien’s new master suite. Damien opened the door, and I heard my sharp intake of breath.
It was perfect.
A toddler’s dream room—walls painted with a massive dinosaur mural, a bed shaped like a race car, shelves full of toys and books, even a small art station in the corner.
“You did all this?” I asked.
“I had days to imagine what my son might like,” Damien said quietly. “I wanted it ready. In case you ever… in case I ever got the chance p>
Noah was already exploring, pulling out toys, exclaiming over the dinosaurs. “Mama, look! A T-Rex like Daddy’s favorite! And a Triceratops like mine p>
“I see, baby p>
Damien showed me to the guest room next door. “You’re right here. So you can hear him if he needs you p>
“And you p>
“Two doors down, close enough to help. Far enough to give you space p>
The new guest room he gave me was beautiful—elegant and comfortable without being overbearing. Way different from the guest room i stayed with Noah.
The last time I was here, just thinking of that made me blush, as I remembered what almost happened between Damien and I, what if Noah has not interrupted. I shaked my head shoving the thought out. Someone had already brought my overnight bag from the penthouse.
“I had my housekeeper stock the bathroom with everything you might need,” Damien said, hovering in the doorway. “But if there’s anything else”