Chapter 165
Aria’s POV
That night, I was half-asleep when Damian’s phone started buzzing.
Again. And again. And again.
I groaned, rolling over and nudging him with my elbow. “Damian… your phone p>
He didn’t move at first. His arm was still wrapped around my waist, holding me against him like he was afraid I’d disappear if he let go.
Finally, with a low growl of annoyance, he reached over and grabbed his phone from the nightstand.
I heard him silence it.
“Shouldn’t you check that?” I mumbled, my eyes still closed. “What if it’s important p>
“It’s not,” he muttered, tossing the phone aside. His arm tightened around me again, pulling me back against his chest. “Go to sleep p>
His voice was rough, commanding, and I was too tired to argue.
So I did.
The next morning, I woke up alone.
I blinked groggily, reaching out across the bed. The sheets on Damian’s side were cold.
I sat up, rubbing my eyes, and grabbed my phone from the nightstand.
Seventeen missed messages.
Most of them were from Jennifer, all saying the same thing.
*Check the group chat p>
*Aria, are you seeing this p>
*The Crane deal might be falling apart p>
I frowned, scrolling through the work chat. Everyone was talking about Riverside Pack suddenly pulling out of negotiations.
There were rumors that the entire partnership was going to collapse.
Before I could process that, a news alert popped up on my screen.
**Breaking: Vanessa Crane Hospitalized After Suicide Attempt p>
My blood ran cold.
I clicked on the article, my hands trembling.
The headline was sensational, but the details were sparse. Vanessa had been found unconscious in her hotel room late last night. She’d been rushed to the hospital and was now stable, but the incident had already gone viral.
The comments section was flooded with speculation. People were pulling up old photos of Vanessa from her brief stint as a commercial model, back when she was younger. There were rumors about a toxic relationship, about heartbreak, about a man who’d destroyed her.
I felt sick.
“Damian,” I whispered, even though I knew he wasn’t there.
I threw on the first clothes I could find and hurried out of the bedroom.
Damian was sitting on the couch in the living room, his back rigid, his phone in his hands. He looked like he hadn’t slept.
“Damian,” I said, my voice shaking. “Vanessa—she tried to p>
“I know,” he said quietly, not looking up.
I stopped in front of him, my heart pounding.
“Should we… should we go see her?” I asked carefully.
He shook his head. “I already called. She’s stable. Her family’s with her p>
I hesitated, biting my lip.
“If this is because of me,” I said softly, “you don’t have to feel guilty. I know how much the Crane family means to you. I won’t hold it against you if you p>
“Aria p>
He finally looked up at me, and the expression on his face stopped me cold.
“Vanessa can do whatever she wants,” he said, his voice low and steady. “It won’t change anything. Not between us. Not ever p>
He paused, his jaw tightening.
“But I need you to know something,” he continued. “You’re not the reason I feel like this p>
I frowned, confused. “Then what p>
“I’m wondering if you think I’m heartless,” he said quietly.
My breath caught.
For a moment, I just stared at him.
Because that was it, wasn’t it? The real reason he looked so tense. So conflicted.
He wasn’t worried about Vanessa. He was worried about *me*. About what I thought of him.
“Damian,” I said softly, moving to sit beside him on the couch. I reached out, cupping his face in my hands, forcing him to look at me.
“You’re not heartless,” I said firmly. “You’re clear about your boundaries. And that’s not the same thing p>
His eyes searched mine, like he was trying to find proof that I meant it.
“You know staying away from Vanessa is the kindest thing you can do for her,” I continued. “Giving her false hope would be cruel. And you’re not cruel p>
I leaned closer, my voice softening.
“As long as you believe you’re doing the right thing,” I murmured, “you don’t need anyone else’s approval. Not even mine p>
For a long moment, he didn’t move.
Then, slowly, his expression shifted. The tension in his shoulders eased. The storm in his eyes cleared.
He pulled me into his arms, burying his face in my hair.
“You have no idea what you do to me,” he murmured.
I smiled against his chest, wrapping my arms around him.
“Good,” I whispered. “Because you do the same to me p>
We stayed like that for a while, just holding each other.
Finally, Damian pulled back slightly, his expression serious again.
“Stay away from Vanessa for now,” he said. “Her family’s going to be emotional. And the media’s going to twist everything. I don’t want you caught in the crossfire p>
I nodded. “I understand. I’ll have Jennifer send flowers and a card. That’s all I can do right now p>
He studied me for a moment, then nodded.
But even as he held me, I could see the worry in his eyes.
And I knew, without a doubt, that no matter what happened next, Damian would do everything in his power to keep me safe.
Even if it meant destroying anyone who stood in his way.