LOGINChapter Eighty OneJohn stared at his phone for a long moment before calling.The last few days had been enough. Enough pretending. Enough sitting in one place while money waited elsewhere. He loved his wife, he loved his child, but love had never paid bills. Love had never built anything lasting for him.Clara had money. Clara had access. Clara had weakness.That was where he always returned.He had already seen the posts. Clara everywhere on social media, standing beside the black Tesla like it was proof of victory. Smiling. Showing off designer bags. Caption after caption filled with praise from strangers. He watched every video without liking any. He never liked her posts. He never needed to. She always knew he was watching.John finished buttoning his shirt and walked into the living room.Magdalene stood near the window, gently rocking Betty in her arms. Betty was two now, not really a baby anymore, but still small enough to fit perfectly against her mother's chest. Her little f
Chapter EightyRichard Greyson sent for Damien without raising his voice.The message was simple.Come to my study.Damien knew that tone. Calm words always meant trouble. He arrived a few minutes later, jaw tight, shoulders stiff, already irritated before a single word was said.Richard stood by the window with his back turned, hands clasped behind him. He didn’t ask Damien to sit. He didn’t rush. That alone made Damien uneasy.“You bought a Tesla,” Richard said at last, still facing the window.Damien scoffed lightly. “Is that why you called me in here?”Richard turned around slowly. His face was relaxed, almost bored. “A black Tesla Model S. Seven million. Delivered to Clara’s address.”Damien shrugged. “I don’t see the problem.”Richard nodded once, as if considering that answer. “Go on.”Damien took that as permission. He always did.“She’s my fiancée. I spend my money how I want. It’s nothing new.”Richard walked back to his desk and sat down. He folded his hands neatly. “You tr
Chapter Seventy NineA black Tesla Model S rolled slowly into the wide driveway, smooth and quiet, like it already knew where it belonged.Clara saw it from the balcony.She froze for half a second. Then a smile crept to her lips.She didn’t need anyone to tell her what it was. She already knew.This was Damien’s way. Always had been.Anytime he messed up. Anytime he crossed a line. Anytime he failed to give her what she wanted emotionally, he filled the gap with something expensive. Something loud. Something that said sorry without the word ever leaving his mouth.Her stomach did that familiar flip—part thrill, part ache. The thrill because damn, who wouldn’t feel a rush seeing something like this show up for them? The ache because she knew exactly what it meant. She adjusted the silk robe around her body and took a slow breath, schooling her face before heading downstairs.By the time she reached the door, the people in charge of the delivery were already there. Two men in neat bla
Chapter Seventy EightAria’s phone rang while she was still in the kitchen.She had just lowered the heat under the pot, stirring slowly, focused on getting Damien’s dinner right the way it should be. Low salt. No oil. Everything measured. Everything careful.When she saw the caller ID, her heart lifted for a brief second.Dad.She wiped her hands on her apron quickly, already smiling as she picked it up. “Good evening, Dad,” she said softly.There was no greeting on the other end.“Are you married?” her father asked.The smile froze on her face.Her fingers tightened around the phone. The kitchen sounds faded into the background. The press conference flashed through her mind. Cameras. Damien’s voice. Her name said out loud like it belonged there.“Answer me,” her father said again, his voice sharper now. “Aria?”She swallowed. Her mouth opened, but nothing came out.“I’m coming over, Dad,” she said finally, her voice low. “I’ll explain everything.”Before he could say another word, s
Chapter Seventy Seven Clara refused to pick her phone.Damien stood in the middle of his room, staring at the screen like it had personally betrayed him. He called again. And again. The call went straight to voicemail. No ringing. No delay. Just silence and that same cold automated response.He opened her social media. Her profile picture was gone. Her highlights were gone. Her name still showed, but everything else had disappeared.Blocked.On everything.“Fuck,” he muttered, dragging a hand through his hair.His chest rose sharply, breath uneven. This wasn’t normal. Clara never blocked him. She ignored him sometimes, yes. She punished him with silence, yes. But blocking? That meant she was angry in a way gifts couldn’t easily fix.Or so he thought.“She must have seen the news,” he said to himself, pacing. “She must have.”His jaw tightened. The press conference replayed in his head. His own voice. The cameras. Aria’s name coming out of his mouth in front of the whole country. He c
Chapter Seventy Six“I know Clara is behind it, Damien. And you’ll pay for her mistakes if you keep staying quiet.”Richard’s voice was sharp, controlled, the kind that never needed shouting to make a point. He stood near the window, phone in hand, the screen still showing headlines Damien had refused to read properly.Damien leaned against the table, jaw tight. “You’re always sure. About everything.”“This isn’t a guess,” Richard said. “It’s strategy. And you’re walking straight into damage control territory whether you like it or not.”Damien scoffed. “So now I should parade my marriage for the press? Smile and lie some more?”“You’ll go before the press,” Richard said calmly, turning to face him. “And you’ll confront this issue.”“Stop it, Dad.” Damien straightened. “The media wasn’t wrong.”Richard’s brows creased. “Excuse me?”“They said Aria is temporary. That this marriage isn’t real.” Damien shrugged. “It’s not exactly a lie.”The room went quiet in a way Damien hated. Richard







