Chapter 143
Chapter 143
Chapter 143
VENUS
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The smell of rosemary bread and freshly brewed coffee pulled me from sleep before sunlight did. For a moment-in that blur between dream and waking-I thought I was back at Gerald’s cabin. Then the weight of an arm draped across my waist, heavy and certain, reminded me: I wasn’t there. I was in Aaron’s bed.
His bed.
The memory of last night washed over me in pieces. My confession. His silence. My tears staining his shirt. His words: Take your time. I’ll wait.
The kind of patience that broke me more than any demand ever could.
I shifted, turning carefully so I could look at him. He was still asleep, his lashes casting faint shadows on his cheeks, his jaw slack in that rare, vulnerable way. He looked younger like this, less like the merciless man who ruled boardrooms and backrooms alike, and more like someone who had been holding the world on his shoulders too long.
Without thinking, I touched his hair, threading my fingers lightly through the strands. His breath deepened, and I thought he hadn’t stirred, until his hand suddenly closed around my wrist.
“Mm,” he hummed low, eyes still shut. “What are you doing, love p>
Heat rushed to my face. “Nothing p>
His lips tugged into a slow smirk, though he didn’t open his eyes. “Liar p>
I rolled mine. “You can’t even see me p>
“Don’t need to.” His grip softened, dragging my hand down until it rested against his chest. The steady, strong beat of his heart thudded beneath my palm. “You’re here. That’s enough p>
The warmth that statement left in me was dangerous. Too dangerous. So I shoved it down, rolled away, and muttered, “Breakfast smells ready p>
Rosemary was already bustling at the table when we entered the dining room. She lit up the moment she saw us together, her eyes misting with something I couldn’t name.
“Well, look at you two,” she said, hands on her hips, her smile softening her whole face. “About time p>
Aaron groaned under his breath and went straight for the coffee like he hadn’t heard her. I sat quietly, tucking my hair behind my car, but Rosemary wouldn’t let me off so easily.
“Rosemary bread because your name’s Rosemary?” I teased.
Everyone in the room paused, looking at me.
“What?” I asked meekly. “Did I say something wrong p>
20:33 Wed, Jan 14
Chapter 143
“Not at all. You just cracked a joke.” Her voice wavered.
It hit me. Weeks ago I hadn’t been able to carry a proper conversation without shutting down. And now…
“I guess I did.” My eyes met Aaron’s, and he smiled softly.
When breakfast was finished and we were gathering our coats to leave, Rosemary surprised me. She wrapped her arms around me: firm and warm, like a real mother might.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
I blinked, stunned. “For what p>
Her eyes softened, lines deepening around them as she pulled back to look at me. “It’s the first time in years he’s slept in that room p>
Something in my chest cracked.
Rosemary’s voice dropped, thick with emotion. “I thought I’d never see the day he’d let someone in again. And then you walk in… and here he is. My son, in love p>
Tears pricked my eyes, but I forced a wobbly smile. “He’s… complicated p>
She chuckled knowingly. “He always has been.” Then she pressed my hands in hers. “Don’t run, Venus. Don’t you dare run from him p>
Her words followed me out the door, echoing louder than my footsteps.
The car ride back to the penthouse was quiet. Too quiet.
Aaron sat beside me, posture rigid, his hand resting on my thigh with possessive weight. But he wasn’t talking. Not like him. Usually, silence with Aaron felt charged, purposeful. This… felt like he was hiding something.
I studied him, biting my lip. “What’s wrong p>
His eyes flicked to me, then back to the window. “Nothing p>
I narrowed mine. “You’re lying p>
“Am I?” His tone was dry, evasive.
“Yes.” I leaned closer, heart pounding. “Remember what you promised me, Aaron? No secrets p>
His jaw tightened. He said nothing.
I pressed further, whispering, “Don’t do this. Don’t shut me out p>
For a long moment, he just stared ahead, his grip on my thigh tightening almost painfully. Finally, he exhaled sharply, the sound jagged. “The lead we had on Gerald p>
20:33 Wed, Jan 14
Chapter 143
My pulse spiked instantly. “What about it p>
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“It was compromised,” he said flatly. But beneath the words, I heard the fury, the frustration he was trying to choke back. “It’s like the bastard vanished into thin air p>
My stomach dropped. Gerald. The ghost in every shadow of my life since the kidnapping. The monster whose hands I could still feel in nightmares.
I swallowed hard. “So he’s gone p>
“For now,” Aaron muttered. His hand squeezed mine, as if forcing me to anchor. “We’ll find him again. I swear it p>
Surprisingly, I didn’t spiral. My breath hitched, my chest tightened, but I wasn’t clawing for air like before. Maybe it was because Aaron’s hand was on mine. Maybe because I’d expected Gerald to be smarter than to leave easy trails.
I nodded, forcing steadiness into my voice. “He’s cunning. I knew it wouldn’t be easy p>
Aaron’s gaze whipped to me, searching, maybe even surprised. “You’re not panicking p>
I gave him a faint smile. “Not this time p>
His thumb brushed my knuckles, slow and deliberate. “Good girl p>
Three days later, Aaron told me he’d arranged it.
The meeting.
With Colton.
It was at a restaurant tucked into a quiet street. Unassuming from the outside but inside, intimate, candlelit, and-because it was Aaron-crawling with security in plain clothes. Every exit watched. Every angle covered.
My hands trembled as we walked in, but Aaron’s presence was a wall at my back, unyielding. His hand never left the small of my spine-a silent claim and a silent shield.
And then I saw him.
Colton Ashford.
He was seated at a corner table, back straight, eyes flicking up the moment we entered. My heart jolted. He wasn’t what I expected. Older than me, yes-late twenties, maybe. Broad shoulders, strong build. But his eyes… his eyes were startlingly familiar.
Brown. Just like mine.
My breath caught.
20:33 Wed, Jan 14
Chapter 143
“Venus,” Aaron murmured near my car, grounding me. “Breathe p>
I did. Barely.
B 61
We reached the table, and Colton stood. His expression faltered, something raw flickering across it before he schooled it into something steadier.
“Hi,” he said, voice low, uncertain. “You… you look just like Mom p>
I froze. Mom. The word hit like a blow.
“I” My throat closed. “I don’t know what to say p>
“That makes two of us.” His lips twitched into a nervous smile.
The awkwardness was a living thing between us, heavy and trembling.
Aaron guided me into the seat, never leaving my side. He didn’t sit across, but beside me, close enough that his arm brushed mine. His message was clear: I’m here. You’re not alone.
Colton cleared his throat and reached into his jacket. He pulled out his phone, swiped, then slid it across the table toward me. “I thought… maybe you’d want to see p>
I hesitated, then looked.
Photos.
Of a family I didn’t remember. A woman with kind eyes and tired smiles.A man who looked strict, but not cruel. And a little boy-Colton, with a mop of dark hair and a toothy grin-standing proudly beside them.
And then….me.
A little girl with tangled hair and the same Brown eyes. Laughing in one photo, clutching a stuffed bear in another.
My chest caved in.
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Ruby Walker
Ruby Walker is a rising voice in the world of romance and spicy fiction. With a gift for weaving deep emotions, sizzling chemistry, and unexpected twists, her stories are a blend of passion and drama that captivate readers from start to finish. Ruby’s writing style is bold and irresistible—perfect for those who crave intense, addictive love stories.