Chapter 39 Damien pov “Oh God.” Aria’s voice was barely a whisper. “He was watching us. He saw us through the window, saw Noah” “Mama p> We both spun to find Noah standing in the hallway, rubbing his eyes sleepily. “What was that noise p> “Just an accident, baby,” Aria
Chapter 38 Damien POV Dinner with my son was simultaneously the best and most terrifying experience of my life. Noah was brilliant—there was no other word for it. He chattered constantly about everything from dinosaurs to space travel to why chocolate ice cream was scientifically superior to vanilla. He had
Chapter 37 Aria POV “Tall, dark hair with a scar on his cheek. He spoke to Noah briefly before the teacher noticed and intervened. He left immediately when questioned, said he’d mistaken Noah for his nephew p> Marcus. It had to be Marcus. “I’m on my way,” I said, my
Chapter 36 Aria pov “Damien.” I stood up so fast my chair scraped against the floor. “What are you doing here p> My heart hammered in my chest. The candlelight that had seemed romantic moments ago now felt harsh and exposing. I could feel the eyes of other diners turning
Chapter 35 Aria pov The morning after Damien’s visit, I woke to a text message that made my stomach tighten. Lucas Hayes: Hey Aria, hope I’m not being too forward, but I haven’t been able to stop thinking about our conversation. Would you like to have dinner this week? I
Chapter 34 Damien pov There was a long pause, and I could hear her moving around, I could hear Noah making soft sounds in the background. “I’m home now p> “I know,” I said as I pulled onto her street and found a parking spot. “I’m outside your building p>
Chapter 33 Damien pov I drove home on autopilot, my mind racing through memories I’d spent three years trying to bury in therapy sessions and work and anything that would keep me from thinking about what I’d done. I pulled into my penthouse garage and took the private elevator up
Chapter 32 “Did you kill the story?” Her voice cut through my explanation before I could start. “Yes or no p> “I’m working on it,” I said, pulling out my phone to show her Thompson’s texts. “My lawyer is handling” “That’s not good enough.” She grabbed my arm, her fingers
Chapter 31 Damien pov I sat in the car for a moment, my hands shaking against the steering wheel, my brother’s voice still echoing in my ears with all its pain and promise of destruction. Marcus was finally back after fifteen years in exile, and he’d been watching Noah. Building
Chapter 30 Damien POV The city blurred past my windows as I drove through red lights and broke every speed limit I’d ever pretended to respect. My lawyer answered on the second ring, his voice carrying that careful, measured tone he always used when he knew I was about to
Chapter 29 Aria pov “Like you,” a small smile crossed Damien’s face. “You were always asking questions p> “Don’t,” I stepped back. “Don’t act like you know me. You never bothered to try p> “I know,” his smile faded immediately. “That’s my biggest regret. I had you in my life
Chapter 28 Aria POV He was already there when I arrived, leaning against the wall outside my office building in his dark suit with his hands in his pockets, looking like he’d been waiting for hours. It was 1:30 PM. Our meeting wasn’t until two. I considered turning around, getting
Chapter 27 Aria POV The last place I wanted to be on a Thursday morning was Sunshine Preschool’s Mother and Child Day. I adjusted my sunglasses and checked my watch. Olivia had insisted I attend. “Noah deserves this,” she’d said over coffee yesterday. “Every other kid will have their mom
Chapter 26 Vivan POV She looked so happy, but how dare she be happy. And Damien… he’d been different too, until I’d gotten in his head, fed him doubts, made him question everything. Stop it, I told myself. Stop rewriting history. But I couldn’t shake the feeling, the nagging doubt
Chapter 25 Vivian POV The penthouse suite overlooked the city with floor-to-ceiling windows and marble floors—everything money could buy. Everything that should have been mine. I stood at the window with a glass of wine in my hand—red, expensive, the same color as the rage burning through my veins. My
Chapter 24 Aria POV “Am I?” I leaned my head against the window. “Because it doesn’t feel like it p> “You stood up to your parents. You’re protecting your son. You’re running a successful company.” She glanced at me. “Sounds like handling it to me p> “I don’t feel successful.”
Chapter 23 Aria POV The restaurant was called Celestine—all white tablecloths and crystal chandeliers, the kind of place where people came to be seen. I hadn’t wanted to be seen today. Olivia sat across from me, her auburn curls pulled back in a neat bun as she stabbed at her
Chapter 22 Damien pov They removed me anyway, their grips firm but not rough on my arms. Day six, I tried a different approach—waiting in the parking garage until I saw her car pull in. A sleek black Mercedes. She’d done well for herself. I approached before she could get
Chapter 21 Damien POV The elevator doors slid open on the fifty-seventh floor of Blackwood Tower, and I stepped out to find my assistant looking up from her desk, her eyes widening in surprise. “Mr. Blackwood, I wasn’t expecting—” She half-rose from her chair. “Clear my schedule for the day.”
Chapter 20 Aria POV The bathroom door was still open behind me, and the light was too bright, hurting my eyes as I caught sight of myself in the mirror across from where I stood. My reflection stared back at me—someone who pretended to have it all together but looked