Chapter 79 Aria POV They absolutely were, I could feel it. “You’re ridiculous p> “You like it.” His nose traced the shell of my ear. “Admit it. You like morning Damien, he is charming p> “Morning Damien is pushy p> “Pushy, charming.Same thing.” He bit my earlobe again, a little
Chapter 78 Aria pov “That’s all I’m asking.” He pulled me into his arms. His body was solid and warm. I could smell his cologne stronger now, mixed with his natural scent. “A chance, that’s all I need p> We stood there in the middle of his living room, holding
Chapter 77 Aria POV That Evening Noah was finally asleep after three stories and two glasses of water. I closed his door quietly and headed back to the living room where Damien waited. “He’s out,” I reported, collapsing onto the couch beside him. The leather was cool against my bare
Chapter 76 Aria POV “I will.” He picked up his wine glass, the wine swirled dark and red. “Every day until you say yes p> I grabbed my own glass. It was still half full. The wine had warmed to room temperature as I headed for my room. “Goodnight, Damien
Chapter 75 Aria’s POV – That Evening He smirked behind his coffee mug. “I only speak the truth p> “Uh huh.” I tickled Noah until he squealed. “And what else does Daddy say p> “That you’re beautiful when you smile.” Noah giggled, wriggling away. “And that he’s lucky you don’t
Chapter 74 Aria POV I stepped into the hallway and froze. It wasn’t Damien. Instead, Lucas Hayes stood in my entryway, holding a bouquet of flowers, his warm smile in place. “Lucas?” I moved toward the stairs but didn’t descend. “What are you doing here p> “I saw the news.”
Chapter 73 Aria pov I watched him gather Noah’s things with surprising gentleness. This man who commanded boardrooms and destroyed competitors was carefully packing a toddler’s favorite toys. “You’re good with him.” The words slipped out. “Better than I expected p> “What did you expect?” He looked up. “That I’d
Chapter 72 Aria’s POV – Next Morning I woke to sunlight streaming through unfamiliar floor-to-ceiling windows and a moment of complete disorientation. This wasn’t my bed, it wasn’t the room I was familiar with. The mattress was too perfect, the view too breathtaking. Then it all came flooding back. Marcus.
Chapter 71 Damien pov My voice went cold. “But a year later, I overheard a phone call. Father was talking to someone about ’medication adjustments’ and ’keeping him sedated.’ I heard him say Marcus’s name p> Aria’s eyes widened. “He was alive p> “Father had him locked away in a
Chapter 70 Aria POV “We need to be together,” he said quietly. “All three of us, in one secure location p> “No.” The refusal was automatic. “Damien, that’s” “The only option.” He came around to face me. “Aria, Marcus is escalating. Today it was photographs. Tomorrow it could be an
Chapter 69 Aria’s POV – Three Days Later I was in the middle of a conference call when my phone lit up with an unknown number. Normally, I’d ignore it. But after Marcus’s text at the park, after the hidden bug, three days of looking over my shoulder and jumping
Chapter 68 ARIA’S POV “What?” Damien grabbed the phone, his face draining of color as he read. “That sick fuck p> I couldn’t breathe. My chest constricted, the room spinning. “He… he knows. He knows what we p> “Security sweeps this house daily,” Damien said, but his voice had gone
Chapter 67 Aria pov “But if they do,” I pressed on, forcing myself to meet his eyes. The hallway light cast shadows across his face. “Make sure Noah knows I loved him. That everything I did was for him p> “You’re going to tell him yourself,” he insisted, his voice
Chapter 66 Aria POV Enjoying the park? It’s a beautiful day for a family outing. Perfect last memories before tonight. Marcus. My blood ran cold. The phone’s screen blurred as my hands began to shake. I looked around wildly, scanning faces in the crowd, searching for anyone watching us. A
Chapter 65 Aria’s POV – Next Morning I woke to the sound of laughter. Not just any laughter—Noah’s delighted giggles mixed with a deeper, masculine chuckle that made my chest ache. I grabbed my robe and padded downstairs barefoot, following the sound to the kitchen. The scene that greeted me
Chapter 64 Aria pov “So were the security team Marcus got past,” Damien said coldly, his jaw clenched tight. Martha’s jaw tightened, a muscle twitching near her temple. “I’ll be in touch,” she said curtly before turning on her heel. She left, her partner following quickly behind. The house fell
Chapter 63 Aria pov “Thank you for the ride,” I said as we pulled into the circular driveway. “Aria, wait p> I paused, my hand on the door handle. “I meant what I said at the press conference.” He turned to face me fully. “Every word. And I know actions
Chapter 62 Aria pov “Let me finish.” He held up a hand. “I’ve watched you since you came back to Ravenwood. Watch you build an empire, raise an incredible son, handle crisis after crisis with grace and strength. And I’ve been in awe p> “That’s flattering, but” “I’m not finished.”
Chapter 61 Aria pov “I stopped being your daughter the day you threw me out.” I moved to my desk, pulled up a file on my computer. “Now I’m your competitor, and I’m destroying you p> I turned the screen to face him. Spreadsheets filled with data—stock prices, asset acquisitions,
Chapter 60 Aria’s POV The headlines were everywhere. I sat in Monroe Global’s conference room, my tablet displaying a dozen different news sites, all screaming variations of the same story. “ICE KING MELTS: Damien Blackwood’s Shocking Love Confession” “Billionaire CEO Gives Up Empire for Secret Son” “Aria Monroe: From Discarded