CHAPTER 63

Sleep was impossible after everything I found out.

I stayed in my room for almost three hours trying to force my brain to calm down, but it only got worse the longer I stayed alone with my thoughts.

Aria.

The name still echoed inside my head strangely,

i hated how one conversation had managed to make my entire life feel fake.

With a frustrated sigh, I finally stood from the bed and walked out of my room quietly. The house was calmer now compared to earlier, but faint voices still carried through the hallway downstairs.

Kael’s office.

Of course.

Those people practically lived inside that office at this point.

I walked closer slowly before stopping near the half-open door.

“…the shareholders are meeting tomorrow night,” Kael’s father was saying calmly. “Our source confirmed it an hour ago.”

That immediately got my attention.

Inside the office, Kael stood near the desk while Lucian leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. Aaron was sitting lazily in one of the chairs, though the bandage visible beneath his black shirt reminded everyone he was nowhere near fully healed.

Kael’s father continued speaking. “since u guys attacked, they believe the organization died with the upper circle and Tomorrow’s meeting is to discuss rebuilding other operations privately.”

Lucian’s expression darkened instantly. “Then tomorrow ends it.”

“Yes,” their father replied calmly Completely.

For a second, nobody spoke.

The air in the room shifted heavily

Aaron broke the silence first, leaning back slightly. So basically we’re attending a murder meeting.

Lucian looked at him flatly, You’re not attending anything.

Aaron blinked once. Excuse me?

You’re still injured.

Aaron sat up straighter immediately, Interesting... Very interesting.... So now you care whether I bleed out?

Lucian’s jaw tightened slightly, Don’t start.

No, let’s actually start there, Aaron continued, voice sharper now.

Because a few days ago you were ready to shoot me yourself, but now suddenly you’re worried about my health?

“You got shot"

And?

And normal people recover before jumping back into gunfire.

Aaron stared at him for a second before laughing once without humor, Wow That almost sounded emotional.

Kael spoke before Lucian could answer

You’re not going.

Aaron looked at him immediately

Oh, not you too

You’re wounded, Kael said calmly.

That shut Aaron up for exactly two seconds.

Then—

You know what? Both of you are irritating.

Aaron, Kael warned.

“Nope” He pointed between both brothers

You don’t get to suddenly act like protective friends after years of behaving emotionally unavailable.

Lucian looked genuinely exhausted now, What does that even mean?

It means both of you need therapy and you know what's sick? You two are starting to sound alike.

Then his eyes landed on me standing near the door.

Oh good, he muttered, The emotionally confused bride is here too.

I crossed my arms immediately. “I regret coming downstairs already.”

Same, Lucian muttered.

Aaron looked deeply betrayed, You people are actually horrible Friends.

Then with one final irritated glare toward both brothers, he slammed the office door hard on his way out.

The silence afterward lasted exactly three seconds.

Then Lucian sighed, He’s still going to try following us tomorrow.

He won’t, Kael replied calmly.

You sound very confident.

I already doubled security outside his room.

That actually made me blink.

Lucian looked impressed for the first time all night. “That’s evil.”

Thank you.

I finally stepped fully into the office, You people are insane.

Kael’s eyes landed on me immediately.

And stayed there.

The room felt quieter after that for some reason.

Kael’s father noticed too, but wisely ignored it.

Instead, he motioned toward the chair Aaron abandoned. “Sit down, Aria.”

That name still did something strange to me.

But not enough to argue anymore.

I sat slowly.

Lucian pushed away from the wall slightly, You shouldn’t be awake.

I was trying to sleep before my entire existence collapsed.

Fair enough.

That came from Kael’s father this time.

Honestly?

That surprised me enough to almost laugh.

He noticed my expression slightly and shook his head once. “I’m old, not dead.”

Lucian looked offended immediately, You literally threatened someone with a knife yesterday.

They deserved it.

That’s not helping your argument.

Kael ignored both of them, still watching me carefully. You heard everything?

“i think so"

A brief silence followed.

Then I looked toward his father, You said my family was powerful.

His expression settled into something calmer. More serious.

“Yes.”

What does that actually mean?

He leaned back slightly before answering. Your family built one of the strongest private security and intelligence networks in Europe years ago. Not mafia, But powerful enough that governments respected them and dangerous people feared them.

I frowned slightly.

And the organization wanted control of that?

“Yes.”

Lucian crossed his arms again, Then why fake her death instead of using her?

Kael’s father went quiet for a second before answering calmly.

Because they wanted no one looking for her ever again.

The room fell silent.

They planned to do the same thing with Kael eventually, he continued. "But they ran out of time.”

Aaron’s voice suddenly came from outside the office, "Because she got punished the day Kael escaped.

Everyone looked toward the still slightly open door.

Aaron leaned against it casually with his arms crossed.

Apparently he came back.

Lucian stared at him flatly. “I thought you left.”

I did dramatically leave, but then I got hungry.

Nobody looked surprised.

Aaron looked toward me then, and for once his expression carried less humor than usual.

She helped Kael once when they were kids, he said quietly. The organization found out, So while Kael and the other children got rescued…..

His jaw tightened slightly.

“She got locked away as punishment.”

The room became painfully quiet after that.

I looked down slowly at my hands.

Something heavy settled inside my chest.

Kael’s father nodded once

By the time we realized another child remained inside, it was already too late.

Kael’s expression darkened immediately.

“You never told me that part.”

You were fourteen years old and barely surviving your own trauma.

Kael looked away slightly after that.

Lucian noticed immediately but said nothing.

Then their father straightened slightly. “Tomorrow night ends everything. The remaining shareholders disappear, and this organization dies permanently.”

No one argued with him.

Because everyone in the room knew he meant every word.

Lucian finally pushed away from the wall fully. “I’ll prepare the men.

Kael nodded once. “I’ll handle weapons and routes.

Their father looked toward both sons, No mistakes tomorrow.

There won’t be.

Lucian glanced toward me briefly before heading for the door, Try sleeping this time.

I snorted softly. “No promises.”

Aaron moved aside for him dramatically.

Look at us, Family bonding.

Lucian walked past him without reacting.

Then Kael’s father followed next, pausing briefly beside me.

You’ll meet your family soon, he said quietly. “After tomorrow.”

My chest tightened slightly.

I nodded once.

He left.

Aaron remained standing at the doorway awkwardly for once.

Then he pointed toward me and Kael. Please don’t emotionally stare at each other all night. It’s disturbing.

Kael looked exhausted. “Leave.”

Aaron grinned slightly. Goodnight, future husband.

“Aaron.”

He disappeared laughing before Kael could throw something at him.

Then suddenly—

It was quiet,

Just me and Kael inside the office.

Neither of us spoke immediately.

Kael walked around the desk slowly before stopping in front of me,

Close enough that my heartbeat immediately betrayed me.

Annoying.

His eyes stayed on mine as he spoke quietly. “I know everything isn’t okay right now.”

That was probably the understatement of the century.

But after tomorrow, he continued calmly, “you’ll finally meet your parents and brothers.”

Something emotional tightened painfully inside my chest again.

Kael noticed instantly.

“And if you decide to leave with them after this ends…” his voice lowered slightly, I won’t stop you.

That surprised me enough to look at him properly.

Because Kael controlling everything was normal.

Kael letting go?

that was terrifyingly sincere.

For a second neither of us moved.

Then he stepped even closer.

One hand sliding against my waist slowly.

You should go to bed, he murmured

I probably should.

Neither of us moved

His eyes dropped briefly to my mouth before lifting back to mine.

Then without another word—

he kissed me

Like he was tired of holding himself back.

My breath caught instantly as his hand tightened slightly against my waist, pulling me closer against him.

The kiss deepened almost immediately.

I grabbed the front of his shirt without realizing it.

Kael made a low sound against my mouth before kissing me even harder.

And honestly?

That should have annoyed me.

Instead it completely ruined my ability to think.

When he finally pulled back slightly, both of us were breathing harder now.

His forehead rested briefly against mine.

Then he pressed one softer kiss against my forehead carefully.

Go to bed, Aria.