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The Weight of One Decision
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2025-11-21 19:17:29
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THE FALL OF ARIA DONOVAN Chapter Forty-Three
Applause rolled through the hall like a rising tide as the master of ceremonies stepped back from the podium.“Ladies and gentlemen,” the voice announced, warm and deliberate, “please join me as we welcome the Chief Executive Officer of Donovancorp, Mr. Ethan Cross.”The clapping grew louder. Chairs shifted. Heads turned toward the center aisle.Ethan rose from his seat with practiced ease. His smile was calm, controlled, the kind that belonged to men who had learned how to command rooms without raising their voices. He adjusted his jacket once before walking toward the podium, acknowledging the applause with a brief nod.From the corridor leading to the washroom, Aria heard it all.The sound followed her like a reminder she could not escape.She stood before the mirror, hands gripping the edge of the sink, breathing slowly beneath her nose mask. The fabric hid her expression, but it could not quiet the storm inside her. The company logo on the wall behind her felt like a ghost pressi
THE FALL OF ARIA DONOVAN Chapter Forty-Two
The low murmur inside the hall shifted the moment Vanessa walked in.It was not announced. No name was called. Yet something in the air changed instantly. Conversations softened. Heads turned. Even the servers slowed their steps as Vanessa crossed the entrance with a calm confidence that made it clear she was used to being noticed.Her dress was elegant, fitted perfectly, catching the lights without looking excessive. Her hair framed her face effortlessly, and her expression carried the ease of someone who belonged among powerful people. She did not scan the room or hesitate. She walked forward as if the night had been waiting for her.A staff member approached her quickly.“Ms Vanessa, please come with me.”Vanessa nodded and followed without question.Straight toward the VIP section.Aria felt her breath hitch.Her eyes followed every step Vanessa took, her focus narrowing until nothing else in the hall mattered. Investors sat upright as Vanessa passed. A few exchanged polite greeti
THE FALL OF ARIA DONOVAN Chapter Forty-One
The west wing felt different the moment Luca stepped inside. The air was cooler, heavier, as though the walls themselves were burdened with secrets. The faint music from the conference hall barely reached this far, reduced to a distant echo that reminded him how close celebration and corruption truly lived to each other.The door closed quietly behind him.“Timing check,” Marcus murmured through the earpiece.“Inside,” Luca replied, keeping his voice low. “No resistance.”“Good. You have limited time. Most eyes are on the ceremony. Security is light but not careless.”Luca moved forward, his steps measured. The corridor lights were dimmer here, designed more for function than comfort. Every few meters, a security camera blinked softly, but Marcus had already done his work.“Camera feeds are looping,” Marcus added. “You are invisible for now.”Luca nodded to himself. When integrity still mattered. Tonight, he returned not as an investor , but as a witness.At the end of the corridor st
THE FALL OF ARIA DONOVAN Chapter Forty
Aria’s POVAs Ethan was so eager to know who I was with that kind of weird appearance beside Rowan although my head was down, then there was an announcement which echoed in the building.“Ladies and gentlemen, kindly take your seats. The program will begin shortly.”The announcement settled over the hall like a final command. Conversations faded. Laughter softened. One by one, everyone obeyed.I lowered myself into my chair beside Rowan, smoothing my expression into something neutral. Calm. Ordinary. My heart was anything but.At the front, Ethan stood with Victor, both men glowing with anticipation. Victor adjusted his jacket and leaned toward him, his voice carrying just enough for the front row to hear.“This is our moment,” Victor said, pride thick in his tone.Ethan smiled. “Everything we planned has led to this.”I watched them, the applause already beginning to rise before anything had officially started. That applause once belonged to me. I swallowed the thought before it coul
THE FALL OF ARIA DONOVAN Chapter Thirty-Nine
~ARIA'S POV~I stood behind Rowan, my mask covering half my face, my hair pinned up the way no one at Donovan would ever expect. Still, the moment I saw Ethan’s shoulders stiffen, I panicked.He sensed something.I froze. My fingers dug into the fabric of Rowan's sleeves.“Amelia, are you alright?” he whispered, leaning slightly toward me.“Yes,” I breathed, though my voice shook. “I am fine.”But I was not fine. I was seconds away from sprinting out of the building and vanishing forever.Then Ethan turned. His eyes swept across the hall. He scanned the crowd with the precision of a hawk, searching, measuring, calculating. My heart raced so fast I feared Rowan could hear it beating.His gaze slid in my direction.No. No. Not now.I lowered my eyes, pretending to adjust the folder in my hand. Sweat pressed against the inside of my gloves. Rowan casually stepped slightly in front of me, blocking me from Ethan’s direct line of sight.“Relax,” Rowan murmured. “You look tense. Guests are n
THE FALL OF ARIA DONOVAN Chapter Thirty-Eight
I paused outside Miles’ apartment building, trying to steady my breathing. My legs ached from walking so fast and the brisk evening air had left my cheeks flushed. My mind was racing, thinking about the email notification that had popped up earlier on the phone that wasn’t mine. The one that could have revealed something I was not ready to explain. I gripped the phone tightly, feeling the weight of responsibility pressing down on me. Every step toward his apartment felt heavier than the last.I pressed the buzzer at his door, heart pounding. A few seconds later, the door swung open. Miles stood there, casual as ever, yet his blue eyes were sharp, curious. He gave me a faint smile.“Anna, you made it,” he said. “I was expecting you, I guess. Your phone is with me, right?”I nodded quickly, “Yes, yours is with me. I just wanted to swap them back before anything goes wrong.”He stepped aside to let me in, and I entered his apartment. The place was tidy, with the faint aroma of freshly br
