Chapter 52 Aria POV The Blackwood Tower conference room had never felt so much like an execution chamber. Fifty reporters packed the space, cameras pointed at the podium where Damien and I would stand. The air buzzed with anticipation—vultures waiting for the carnage. “Two minutes,” Agent Sarah said quietly from
Chapter 51 Aria POV For a moment, the penthouse was completely silent. Then Damien stood abruptly, his chair toppling backward, and let out a roar of pure rage. He grabbed a lamp and hurled it across the room. It shattered against the wall. “Damien” Olivia started. “He wants me to
Chapter 50 Damien POV The screen flickered to life, and my worst nightmare materialized in high definition. Noah. My son sat in that concrete room, still clutching his rabbit, but now he wasn’t alone. Marcus stood behind him, one hand resting on Noah’s small shoulder in a gesture that would
Chapter 49 Aria POV Everyone started looking around, searching for cameras, but I knew it was useless. Marcus had been planning this for months. Years, maybe. He’d had time to plant surveillance everywhere. “We can’t send the FBI away,” Agent Sarah said firmly. “Ms. Monroe, Mr. Blackwood, I understand you’re
Chapter 48 Cut to: Marcus Blackwood’s private facility, watching the news coverage Marcus sat in his leather chair, brandy in hand, watching the television with satisfaction. The news was showing footage of Blackwood Tower, police cars and ambulances surrounding it. “Breaking news: Hostage situation at Monroe Global CEO’s residence. Details
Chapter 47 Aria POV I was in Noah’s room, helping him pick out clothes for the rest of the week, when I heard the sound. A soft click. Like a door closing. I froze, listening. The penthouse was quiet—too quiet. James had stationed guards outside, but they’d been silent for
Chapter 46 Damien POV The board room felt like an execution chamber. Twelve faces stared at me from around the mahogany table—some sympathetic, most coldly calculating. They’d seen my press conference. They’d watched me commit professional suicide on live television. And now they were here to finish the job. “Mr.
Chapter 45 Aria pov “Will be picked apart and used against me. I know.” I stood up, pacing. “But silence makes me look guilty. Like I was hiding Noah out of shame or manipulation. I need to tell my side before Damien tells his p> “What is your side?” Olivia
Chapter 44 Aria POV The elevator ride down from Damien’s penthouse felt like descending into hell. Noah was still crying softly against my shoulder, his small body trembling with fear he was too young to understand but old enough to feel. “Mama, why was that man scary?” he whispered. “Why
Chapter 43 Damien pov Marcus looked past me at Aria and Noah. “Lovely child. Those Blackwood eyes are unmistakable, aren’t they? It would be a shame if anything happened to him p> I lunged for him, but Aria’s voice stopped me. “Damien, don’t.” She had Noah pressed against her chest,
Chapter 42 Damien POV I woke to the sound of laughter—high-pitched, delighted, completely unfamiliar in my penthouse. For a moment, I lay still, disoriented, before memory crashed back. Aria. Noah. The kiss that had nearly destroyed my sanity before my son’s voice interrupted. I grabbed my phone from the nightstand.
Chapter 41 Aria pov We stared at each other across the expanse of his bedroom, both of us breathing too fast, both of us wanting something we knew we shouldn’t take. The air between us felt charged, electric. I should leave. I knew I should leave. But my feet remained
Chapter 40 Aria POV I lay awake long after Noah fell asleep, staring at the ceiling of Damien’s guest room and trying to process everything that had happened in the span of a few hours. Marcus throwing a brick through my window. Damien reading bedtime stories to our son. The
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