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, debt ratios.
“See this?” I pointed to a highlighted section. “These are all the shares of Monroe Enterprises that have been quietly purchased over the last six months. Anonymous buyers through shell corporations. Want to guess who owns those shells p>
His face went white. “You p>
“Me.” I smiled, cold and satisfied. “I own forty-two percent of your company, Dad. And I’ve been buying up your debt, calling in loans, pressuring investors. That’s why your stock is crashing. That’s why you’re desperate p>
“You’re destroying your own family.” His voice shook. “Your own blood p>
“No.” I stood up, walking around the desk to face him directly. “I’m destroying the people who destroyed me. There’s a difference p>
“Aria, please.” He grabbed my arm. “I know I made mistakes. I know I wasn’t the father you needed. But don’t do this. Don’t take everything I built p>
I looked down at his hand on my arm, then back up at his face. “You should have thought about that before you threw me out pregnant. Before you chose Vivian over me every single day of my life. Before you made me feel like I was nothing p>
I pulled my arm free. “Now you get to know how that feels p>
“I’m begging you.” Tears actually welled in his eyes. “Please. I’ll lose everything p>
“Good.” I walked back to my desk. “Jennifer will show you out p>
“Aria”
“Get out.” I didn’t raise my voice, didn’t need to. “Get out of my office, out of my building, and out of my life. And if you ever threaten me or Noah again, I’ll finish what I started. I’ll take every last penny you have and leave you with nothing p>
He stared at me, seeming to see me for the first time. Not as his disappointing second daughter, but as the powerful woman I’d become.
“You’ve changed,” he said quietly.
“No.” I met his eyes. “I was always this strong, you just never bothered to notice p>
He turned and walked out. His shoulders slumped, his steps heavy.
I watched him go and felt… nothing. No satisfaction, no guilt. Just a strange emptiness where fatherly love should have lived.
Olivia whistled low. “That was brutal p>
“It needed to be said.” I closed the file. “He needed to understand what he lost p>
“Do you really own forty-two percent of his company p>
“Forty-five percent as of this morning.” I smiled grimly. “By next month, I’ll own controlling interest. Then I’ll dissolve it, sell off the assets, and scatter whatever’s left to the winds p>
“Aria.” Olivia’s voice held a note of concern. “Are you sure about this? Revenge is one thing, but completely destroying your father’s legacy”
“He destroyed mine.” I cut her off. “He destroyed the little girl who wanted nothing more than to make her father proud. Who worked twice as hard as Vivian for half the recognition. Who believed that if she was just good enough, smart enough, useful enough, maybe he’d love her p>
My voice cracked. “He killed that girl. So yes, I’m sure. I’m going to take everything he has, and I’m going to sleep just fine doing it p>
My phone rang. Damien’s name flashed on the screen.
I almost didn’t answer. But curiosity—or maybe something else—made me pick up.
“What?” My tone was sharper than intended.
“Are you okay?” His voice was tight with concern. “I just got word your father showed up at your office p>
“I’m fine. How did you know about that p>
“I have security monitoring anyone who gets near you and Noah.” He didn’t sound apologetic. “After Marcus, I’m not taking chances p>
“You’re spying on me p>
“I’m protecting you. There’s a difference p>
“No, there isn’t.” I rubbed my temples. “Damien, you can’t just”
“Yes, I can.” His voice hardened. “Someone threatened our son today. Someone is still out there planning to hurt you. So yes, I’m going to know everyone who comes near you until Marcus is caught p>
“Someone threatened Noah?” My blood went cold. “Who p>
“Vivian, sent you a text about an hour ago p>
“How do you know about that p>
“Because I’m monitoring your communications for threats.” He said it like it was obvious. “My security team flagged it immediately. I’ve already had my lawyers file for a restraining order p>
“I filed my own restraining order p>
“Then she’ll have two.” He paused. “Aria, I know you’re angry about the surveillance. But please understand—I can’t lose you again. I can’t lose Noah. So if that means crossing some boundaries to keep you safe, I’ll cross them p>
I wanted to be angry. Should be furious at the invasion of privacy.
But part of me—the part that had been terrified when Noah was taken—understood. Because I’d do the same thing if I could. Would cross any line, break any rule, to keep my son safe.
“Fine,” I said finally. “But only until Marcus is caught. After that, the surveillance stops p>
“Agreed.” Relief flooded his voice. “Thank you p>
“Don’t thank me. Just catch your psychotic brother so we can go back to normal boundaries p>
“Aria?” He hesitated. “About the press conference”
“Don’t.” I closed my eyes. “I can’t talk about that right now p>
“When can we talk about it p>
“I don’t know, maybe never p>
“That’s not fair.” His voice roughened with frustration. “I laid myself bare in front of the entire world. The least you can do is acknowledge it p>
“I heard you.” My grip tightened on the phone. “I heard every word. But hearing it doesn’t mean I’m ready to respond to it p>
“So what, I’m just supposed to wait indefinitely while you decide if I’m worth a second chance p>
“Yes.” The word came out hard. “That’s exactly what you’re supposed to do. Because that’s what I did for a year of our courtship. I waited for you to see me, to care about me, to treat me like I mattered. And you never did p>
Silence stretched between us.
“You’re right,” he said finally. “I’m sorry, take all the time you need p>
“I’m having dinner with Lucas Hayes tonight.” I don’t know why I told him. Maybe to hurt him, maybe to test him.
The silence that followed was arctic.
“Business or personal?” His voice was carefully controlled.
“Does it matter p>
“Yes.” The control cracked. “It matters a lot p>
“Business.” I relented slightly. “He has a proposition for Monroe Global p>
“At Marcello’s? That’s a romantic restaurant, Aria. Not a business venue p>
“Maybe he wants to mix business with pleasure.” I replied with a smug smile.
“Aria.” My name came out strangled. “Please tell me you’re not”
“Not what? Moving on? Finding someone who didn’t throw me out pregnant? Someone who treats me with respect from the beginning p>
“Someone who isn’t me.” The pain in his voice was palpable.
“Yes,” I said softly. “Someone who isn’t you p>
“Do you have feelings for him p>
I thought about Lucas. About his easy smile and uncomplicated affection. About how simple things would be if I could just fall for someone safe.
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “But I’m going to find out p>
“Aria, wait”
I hung up.
Olivia stared at me. “That was cruel p>
“Good.” I grabbed my tablet. “He deserves a little cruelty after what he put me through p>
“But do you deserve to torture yourself by going on a date you don’t actually want?” She stood up. “Because that’s what you’re doing. Using Lucas to hurt Damien, which means you still care about Damien’s feelings. Which means you’re not nearly as over him as you want to be p>
I hated how right she was.
“I need to get ready.” I headed for my private office. “Dinner’s at seven p>
“Aria.” Olivia caught my arm. “Just… be careful. With Lucas, with Damien, with your own heart. You’ve been through enough p>
“I know what I’m doing p>
“Do you?” She searched my face. “Because from where I’m standing, you’re a woman caught between the man who destroyed her and the man who could save her. And you’re so busy trying to prove you don’t need either of them that you’re not letting yourself want anything p>
“Maybe I don’t want anything except to keep Noah safe and build my empire p>
“Maybe.” She let me go. “Or maybe you’re just scared to admit you still love Damien, even after everything p>
I walked away without responding.
Because she was right, and I wasn’t ready to face it.
Later That Evening
Marcello’s was exactly as romantic as Damien had warned. Soft lighting, intimate booths, a string quartet playing in the corner. The kind of place where marriage proposals happened and anniversaries were celebrated.
Not the kind of place for a business dinner.
Lucas stood when I arrived, his smile warm and genuine. He wore a navy suit that brought out his eyes, his hair styled perfectly.
He was handsome. Successful. Kind. Everything Damien wasn’t years ago.
So why did my chest ache when he pulled out my chair?
“Aria.” He sat across from me. “You look stunning p>
“Thank you.” I’d chosen a deep blue dress—elegant but professional. “You said you had a business proposition p>
“I do.” He poured us both wine. “But I’d like to start with honesty, if that’s okay p>
Warning bells rang in my head. “Okay p>
“This isn’t just a business dinner.” He met my eyes. “I mean, yes, I do have a legitimate partnership proposal. But that’s not the only reason I asked you here p>
My stomach sank. “Lucas”