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 Wife to Revenge Queen”
But my favorite—the one that made my lips twitch despite everything—was from a gossip blog known for savage commentary:
Vivian Monroe: The Other Woman Nobody Wanted
I clicked on it, skimming the brutal takedown. They’d found photos of Vivian from the wedding years ago, her smug smile as she’d stood beside Damien. Contrasted them with recent paparazzi shots where she looked haggard and desperate.
The comments section was vicious.
“Imagine stealing your sister’s husband and he STILL doesn’t want you”
“Vivian really thought she won lmaooooo”
“The way Damien looked at Aria in that press conference vs how he never looked at Vivian… that’s the difference between love and a mistake”
I should feel guilty for enjoying this. Should be above petty satisfaction at watching my sister get dragged through the mud by strangers.
But I wasn’t above it, not even close.
“Someone’s enjoying themselves.” Olivia walked in, carrying two coffee cups.
She set one in front of me and sat down across the table.
“Let me guess.” She grinned. “Reading about Vivian’s public humiliation p>
“Is it that obvious?” I took a sip of the coffee—perfect, as always.
Olivia knew exactly how I liked it after years of friendship.
“You have that look.” She gestured at my face. “That tiny, satisfied smile you get when karma comes around. It’s very specific p>
“She deserves worse than online comments.” I closed the tablet. “But I’ll take what I can get p>
“The press is destroying her.” Olivia pulled up something on her phone. “Look at this interview from this morning p>
She turned the screen toward me. It was a video from a morning talk show. The host, a woman in her fifties with sharp eyes and perfect hair, sat across from a panel of relationship experts.
“Let’s talk about Vivian Monroe,” the host said. “Because I think she represents something we all need to discuss—women who betray other women for men who don’t even want them p>
One of the panelists, a therapist, nodded vigorously. “It’s a tale as old as time. The ’other woman’ who thinks she’s won when she gets the man, only to realize she’s gotten nothing but a man who doesn’t respect women. Damien Blackwood showed his character when he entertained Vivian’s advances while married. And Vivian showed hers when she pursued her sister’s husband p>
“But here’s the thing,” another panelist jumped in. “Three years later, we see who actually won. Aria built an empire while Vivian p>
She gestured vaguely. “What has Vivian done? Besides desperately try to stay relevant by clinging to a family name she helped destroy p>
I stopped the video. “That’s actually pretty satisfying p>
“It gets better.” Olivia scrolled through her phone. “Monroe Global’s stock jumped fifteen percent this morning. Investors are calling you ’the comeback story of the decade.’ Meanwhile, your father’s company lost half its value overnight p>
“Good.” I felt no sympathy. “Charles Monroe deserves to lose everything p>
My phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number.
You think you’ve won? You think destroying me in the press makes you better than me? You’re still the same pathetic little sister who was never good enough.
Vivian. Of course.
I showed Olivia the text as she rolled her eyes.
“Block her.” Olivia set down her coffee. “She’s not worth your energy p>
“I want to see what she says.” I typed back.
At least I didn’t have to sleep with my sister’s husband to feel valuable. How’s that working out for you, by the way? Still can’t get him to commit?
The response came immediately.
He loved me. He chose me over you.
I laughed out loud. Actually laughed.
He didn’t choose you, Vivian. He used you because you were convenient and stupid enough to think it meant something. But when it mattered, when he had to choose, he didn’t pick you. He’s not picking you now. He never will.
Three dots appeared, disappeared, appeared again. Then:
I’ll destroy you for this. You and your bastard son.
Anger flooded my veins. She could threaten me all she wanted, but bringing Noah into it crossed a line.
I stood up, my chair scraping against the floor. “I need to make a call p>
“Aria?” Olivia’s voice followed me as I walked to the window. “What did she say p>
“She threatened Noah.” I pulled up my lawyer’s number. “I want a restraining order filed within the hour p>
“Already on it.” My lawyer, David, answered on the first ring. “Saw the text—your phone’s being monitored for threats per your security protocol. I’ll have the paperwork filed by noon p>
“Make it ironclad.” I watched the city below, all those people going about their lives with no idea how close violence always lurked. “If she comes within a hundred feet of my son, I want her arrested immediately p>
“Consider it done.” He paused. “Aria, there’s something else. Your father’s been trying to reach you. Called my office six times this morning p>
“Tell him to go to hell p>
“He says he needs to speak with you about family business. Claims it’s urgent p>
“Everything’s urgent with Charles when he needs money.” I rubbed my temples. “What does he want p>
“He wouldn’t say, but he sounded desperate p>
“Let him be desperate.” I ended the call and turned back to Olivia. “Any other good news p>
“Actually, yes.” She pulled up an email on her tablet. “Lucas Hayes wants to meet. Says he has a business proposition that would benefit Monroe Global p>
Lucas, the golden-retriever tech mogul who’d been nothing but kind and supportive since I’d returned to Ravenwood. Who looked at me like I was extraordinary but never pushed, never demanded more than I could give.
The safe choice, the uncomplicated choice.
“When?” I asked.
“Tonight, dinner at Marcello’s.” Olivia watched me carefully. “Are you going to go p>
“Why wouldn’t I p>
“Because Damien just declared his love on international television and you’re still processing that?” She raised an eyebrow. “Because going to dinner with Lucas sends a message p>
“Good.” I picked up my tablet. “Maybe I want to send a message. Maybe I want Damien to know I have options p>
“Or maybe you want to make him jealous.” Olivia’s voice softened. “Which is fine, by the way. After what he did, he deserves a little jealousy. But don’t use Lucas to hurt Damien. That’s not fair to Lucas p>
She was right. Lucas deserved better than being a pawn in my complicated feelings about my ex-husband.
But I was also curious about his business proposition. Monroe Global could always use strong partnerships, and Lucas’s tech empire complemented my investment portfolio perfectly.
“It’s just dinner.” I grabbed my phone. “Business dinner. Nothing more p>
“Sure it is.” Olivia smirked. “That’s why you’re already thinking about what to wear p>
I threw a pen at her. She caught it, laughing.
My office door burst open. My assistant, Jennifer, stood there, her face pale.
“Ms. Monroe, there’s someone here to see you.” She looked terrified. “Your father. He’s demanding to speak with you, and he won’t leave p>
Perfect. Just what I needed.
“Send him in.” I straightened my shoulders. “Let’s get this over with p>
Jennifer disappeared. A moment later, Charles Monroe walked into my conference room like he owned it.
He looked older than I remembered. Grayer, thinner, with lines around his mouth that hadn’t been there the last time I saw him. His suit was expensive but wrinkled, his tie slightly askew.
The great Charles Monroe, brought low.
“Aria.” He smiled, all false warmth. “You look wonderful. Success suits you p>
“What do you want?” I didn’t offer him a seat. “I’m busy p>
“Is that any way to greet your father?” He moved closer, his smile slipping. “After everything I did for you”
“Everything you did for me?” The words exploded out. “You forced me into a marriage with a man who hated me. You stood by while Vivian betrayed me. You threw me out pregnant and penniless. So please, Dad, tell me exactly what you did for me besides make my life hell p>
His face flushed. “I gave you opportunities you never would have had otherwise. That marriage opened doors”
“It destroyed me p>
“It made you stronger.” He gestured around the room. “Look at what you built, you should be thanking me p>
I laughed, sharp and bitter. “Thanking you? For abandoning me? For choosing Vivian over me my entire life? For treating me like a commodity to be sold to the highest bidder p>
“I did what was best for the family business.” His voice rose. “Someone had to make the hard choices p>
“The hard choices?” I stepped closer, my voice dropping to something dangerous. “The hard choice was telling me I wasn’t good enough. That Vivian was prettier, smarter, more valuable. The hard choice was making me believe I was worthless unless I could be useful to you p>
“Aria”
“I’m not finished.” I cut him off. “You want to know why you’re really here? It’s not to reconnect. It’s not because you miss me or care about Noah. It’s because your company is failing and you need money. That’s all you’ve ever wanted from me—money, connections, usefulness p>
His jaw tightened. “You’re my daughter”