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Chapter 40 - Meeting Catherine Holt

last update publish date: 2025-11-11 21:02:46

Damien’s POV

Meeting Aria’s mother forces me to face the humanity of the people I tried to destroy.

Aria has already gone inside the hospital room to hasten her father’s transfer. I’m about to enter my car when I see her—Catherine Holt—walking straight toward me.

She looks smaller. The harsh hospital lights wash the color from her skin, but she still holds herself tall. Her nurse’s uniform is pressed and clean, though the fabric has thinned from too many washes. Her hair is pulled back in a sim
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