Chapter 150 Aria pov I kissed him hard, crashing my mouth against his like I’d been starving for it. Damien made a low, startled sound in the back of his throat—half surprise, half hunger—before his control snapped and he kissed me back with equal force. My hands moved on instinct,
Chapter 149 Aria pov “He was here?” She pulled back, eyes wide. “What did he say p> “That you’re incredible and brilliant and make him want to be better.” I grinned at her blush. “And that he’s never felt this way about anyone. Liv, he’s serious about you p> “I
Chapter 148 Aria’s POV – Lucas entered looking different somehow. Lighter. His usual confident swagger was there, but there was something softer in his expression, something almost—happy. “Aria.” He smiled, and it reached his eyes. “Thank you for seeing me p> “Sit.” I gestured to the chair across from my
Chapter 147 Aria pov “I’ll never stop fighting for us.” His eyes were fierce. “Never stop choosing you. Never stop being grateful that you gave me another chance p> The intensity was building between us, that magnetic pull that always seemed to exist. But then our food arrived, breaking the
Chapter 146 Aria pov Then it was just us, standing in the hallway like awkward teenagers. “So,” I said. “So,” he echoed. “Ready p> “As I’ll ever be.” I grabbed my purse, suddenly nervous all over again. “Where are we going p> “You’ll see.” He offered his arm, and I
Chapter 145 Aria’s POV – One Week Later “Absolutely not.” I crossed my arms, watching Damien hold up yet another ridiculously expensive necklace. “We’re supposed to be dating like normal people, not like a billionaire trying to buy his way into my pants p> “But you’d look stunning in diamonds.”
Chapter 144 Damien pov I couldn’t help it—I laughed too, low and rough, the sound rumbling in my chest as I leaned down to brush my mouth against hers. “Maybe I did,” I murmured against her lips, letting the vibrating tip hover just above her skin, teasing without touching yet.
Chapter 143 Damien pov “Yes.” I looked down at our joined hands. “And Aria, I can’t take that back. Can’t undo the damage I did. But I need you to know—every cruel word I said, every horrible thing I accused you of—it was all a lie. A desperate, cowardly lie
Chapter 142 Aria’s POV – Few Days Later “Mama, are you nervous?” Noah asked, watching me stare at my reflection in the mirror. “A little,” I admitted. “Daddy and I are having an important talk tonight p> “About the wedding?” He bounced on my bed. “Are you gonna pick the
Chapter 141 Aria pov “That I’ve been waiting.” He took both my hands. “Waiting for the perfect moment. Waiting for everything to be settled. Waiting for—I don’t know. Permission to be happy. But Aria, life doesn’t wait. Marcus proved that. Vivian proved that. Any day could be our last, and
Chapter 140 Aria’s POV – Few Days Later The penthouse felt different now. Brighter somehow, despite the gray November sky beyond the windows. Maybe it was Noah’s laughter as he built another elaborate dinosaur fortress. Maybe it was the way Damien hummed while making coffee, content and present instead of
Chapter 139 Aria pov “Come with me.” Damien helped me stand. “I’ll drive carefully. We’ll be back before the doctors even notice you’re gone p> “That’s a terrible idea,” I said. “And yet you’re already putting on your shoes,” he observed with a smile. “Fine.” I grabbed my jacket. “But
Chapter 138 Damien pov “We do,” I agreed. “And Aria? I know you don’t have to say it back and that’s okay. I don’t need you to say it until you’re ready” “Damien.” She cut me off. “In that warehouse, when Marcus had the gun to my head, you know
Chapter 137 Aria’s POV “You know what’s funny?” Marcus kept the gun trained on me but didn’t pull the trigger. “You should have stayed away from Damien, after he treated you like trash yet you still went back to him, what a fool you are p> “He was wrong,” I
Chapter 136 Aria pov “Non-negotiable,” he said, echoing my words. “You want partnership? This is a partnership. You don’t get to protect me by keeping me away p> I studied his face—the determination, the fear, the absolute refusal to back down. “Okay,” I said softly. “Together p> “Together,” he agreed.
Chapter 135 Aria’s POV But as Noah ran over to show me his LEGO spaceship, chattering excitedly about family dinner and could we invite Richards because he was nice, I pushed aside the fear as my phone buzzed one more time. Margaret. “Vivian turned herself in. The DA accepted the
Chapter 134 Aria pov “Please!” She fell to her knees. “Please, I’m begging you. I know I don’t deserve mercy. I know I’ve done terrible things. But Aria” Her voice cracked. “You’re my sister, my only sister. Please don’t let them send me to prison p> I looked down at
Chapter 133 Aria pov And Olivia’s: Forgiveness is for you, not her. And Damien’s: You’re better than the revenge game. “Damn it,” I muttered. Before I could second-guess myself, I replied to Margaret. Don’t take any additional action. I’ll handle this personally. —Aria Then I did something either incredibly brave
Chapter 132 Aria’s POV – Few Days Later “Mama, did Aunt Vivian ever say sorry p> Noah’s question came out of nowhere during breakfast, his spoon paused halfway to his mouth, milk dripping back into his cereal bowl. I exchanged a glance with Damien, who’d frozen mid-sip of his coffee.
Chapter 131 Aria pov His voice was gentle. “You’re supposed to remember who you are. The woman who built an empire to provide for her son. Who faced down enemies with grace and strategy instead of cruelty. Who taught me that revenge isn’t the same as justice. That woman, He