Chapter Eleven

Aria. 

“She knows.”. 

My thoughts were haunted by those two words, echoing in my mind. 

As I rose from the ground, I slowly pulled on the covers. Damian remained motionless with his back in place and his muscles were tightened beneath him. 

Despite my knowledge, I still had to ask the question "Who?". 

With a grimace in his eyes, he gazed over his shoulder and acknowledged "I am my mother.". 

My heart dropped. 

I asked, "What is she aware of?" with great care. 

“She knows about us. 

About you staying here. About last night.”. 

I swallowed hard. “How?”. 

"He stroked his hair with his hand. I'm not sure.". Potentially a member of the building staff. Or she had me follow.”. 

“Followed?” I repeated, eyes wide. 

He didn't answer. Which told me enough. 

I got out of bed and began to move around. "Very well." cliched. So what now? What does she want?”. 

"A meeting has been arranged for her," he said. "With both of us.". 

I stopped. “What?”. 

“She thinks you're... manipulating me. 

That you're after my money.”. 

I laughed bitterly. “That's ridiculous.”. 

Softly, he said: "She doesn't know you but she just sees what I want.". 

Looking at him, I asked what you had to say. 

Standing and bending over, he placed his hands on my back and said, "I'll tell her the truth.". That I'm with you. It remains unchangeable, regardless of what she says. 

I wanted to believe that. 

But she was powerful. She had influence, control... 

My identity was that of a girl. 

I said, "I don't want to be the cause of your family turning against you.". 

But you are not," he said. "They turned on me long ago." What followed? 

That made my chest ache. 

He stated, "I'll handle the meeting without any obligation to accompany me.". 

I shook my head. “No. She might perceive me as using you, so I must confront her. Show me that I am not afraid of her.' 

His lips shook to their core. "There's that fire I have.". 

The smile didn't hit me. My stomach was still knotted up. 

Daimon contacted his mother's assistant after breakfast, which I had barely touched, and confirmed our presence at her private estate that afternoon. 

I transitioned into the sole decent outfit I possessed, which was a basic black dress purchased for me by Damian. 

A perfectly tailored dark suit was worn by him. As I stood next to him, I felt like a shadow. 

We drove in silence. My heart sped up with every turn.'". 

The gates opened slowly as if we were entering a royal palace. 

A vast estate, with white marble flooring and opulent windows, creating an exotic garden that had the appearance of a movie. 

We were taken inside by a waitress who unlocked the door. 

And there she was. 

Dancing behind a long table, Damian's mother was dressed in an airy cream blouse and statement pearl earrings. Upon entering, she appeared unresponsive. 

Her sharp eyesight allowed her to cut through the glass as she watched us. 

“Damian,” she said coldly. “Aria.”. 

I ingested solid food and nodded respectfully. Thanks. 

We sat down, and the tension was immediate. 

She didn't waste time. 

Do you think I should trust that this relationship is genuine, she inquired. 

Damian's hand found mine beneath the table. 

"I love her," he said with sincerity. It's true, despite everything. 

The words stunned me. 

He'd never said them before. Not out loud. 

I stared at him, speechless. 

But his mother's eyes never went away.?... 

"You have feelings for her, as she stated. "How many years have you been acquainted with her?" She remarked on her affection. 

“Long enough,” he replied. 

She turned to look at me. "Aria, can you tell me what happened?". What do you do? What are your plans? Your ambitions?”. 

"I lifted my head. 'I was employed as a teacher before I lost my job.". I've been surviving. Working. Doing what I can.”. 

“It wasn't planned,” she mumbled. 

“No,” I replied. But it’s true. 

The woman's eyes shrank. "You implied you were unaware of what was happening?" she said. Were you unable to see an opening when meeting my son? 

I leaped forward. "I didn't intend to do anything about it. I didn't think he would care. But he did. He is also someone I care deeply about. Not because of his name. Or his money. He was the only one who saw me when nobody else did. 

Her lips thinned. 

"I'm sure you were strong, but I won't allow that to ruin him," she said slowly. 

"I'm not causing him any harm, but rather elevating him to his full potential," I said. 

She stood up. “When your past is revealed, you’ll find out what happens.”. 

I muttered. "What's going on?". 

She didn't answer. 

"We've reached our destination," Damian declared. 

He escorted me, his hand tightly around mine. 

Before we arrived at the car, a man emerged from the shadows. 

I stopped cold. 

Because I knew that face. 

He smiled and said, "Hello, Aria.". 

My blood ran cold. 

It was my ex. The one I'd run from. Someone who'd made my life hell. 

Standing there, he was looking straight at me. 

Aria. 

I couldn't move. 

The surrounding environment was unclear, with low voices fading into the background. ". The only thing I could see was his sharp, merciless face, which appeared to be a sign of victory and smirking. Like he still owned me. 

Dylan. 

With a wide beak, Damian turned and started walking in front of me. 

He asked, "Who are you?" without any hesitation. 

He was not the subject of Dylan's gaze. I was left in awe by his constant attention. "You didn't tell my wealthy partner, did you?". 

My stomach twisted. 

Damian looked back at me with confusion. "Are you sure?..." I asked him. 

I swallowed hard. My throat burned. My hands were shaking. “I’m your ex,” I whispered. 

Dylan chuckled. "You use the word 'ran' as though you were being pursued by someone.". 

Without pause, I snapped at you: "You were here. You're controlling me and hurting my heart every single second.". 

With his chest raised open, Damian stepped forward. "You have to leave," he said. Now.”. 

Despite everything, Dylan didn't hesitate. "Oh, I'm not here for a fight." He nodded his head. You're quite the woman. She's got a past. Messy one.”. 

"You're not allowed to talk about me," I said, stepping out now. 

Despite my voice vibrating, I stood taller. "This is no longer.”. 

Aria was muted by his softness and he stated "You never learn from your mistakes.". 

You keep running. But you leave behind parts of yourself. Are you convinced that this billionaire will love you after discovering your actions? Who you are?”. 

Damian growled. "What's the point?". 

Dylan laughed. “Ask her.”. 

After that, he turned and left as soon as possible. He had not merely cut an old wound.'". 

My arm was held tightly by Damian. "What's the issue with Aria?". 

I glanced at him. "It's not the way he described it.". 

Silently, he said, "Let me just ask you what it is.". 

I nodded. “But not here.”. 

Upon entering the car, we were met with such silence as it was like a heavy fog. My chest tightened. His eyes were on me, waiting. Not judging, just waiting. 

Upon returning to the penthouse, I found myself sitting on the couch with a pounding heart in my chest. 

"I finally realized that he wasn't just an ex and a person who was everything I had hoped to forget.". 

Damian was seated beside me. "Opening up from the beginning.". 

I lowered my head and took in the air. 

“Dylan was a person I came across when I was nineteen years old. 

He was charming and intelligent, in my opinion. He made me feel seen. "I was unaware of how quickly he was taking me into his world." I stopped, gazing down at my hands. "He separated us.". Took over my finances. Told me I was worthless without him.". Upon trying to exit, I... 

My voice cracked. 

Damian's jaw swung open, and he reached for my hand. "What did a fool do?". 

I shook my head in despair. "It's not significant.". I got out. That's what matters.”. 

He said, "The way it was put together, it seems like there's something I don't understand.". 

I hesitated. “There's one thing. One mistake I made.”. 

He waited.