LOGINThank you so much for reading up to this chapter đ Your support means the world to me.
If youâre enjoying Aria and Damianâs story, or Zara and jaxon's turn of event,đ then don't forget to subscribe so you donât miss the next update. Every subscription helps this book grow and motivates me to write and come up with more twists, drama, and romance for you. Stay tunedâthings are just getting started đ„ With love, EvieLuxe đâI know itâs here.âAria yanked another drawer open, files shifting and scattering across the desk as frustration built in her chest.âAria?âZara stepped into the office and stopped immediately at the sight before her.Folders were spread across the floor. Papers covered the couch and coffee table. Even the shelves had been half-emptied.âWhat happened?â Zara asked, shutting the door behind her. âWhy is your office scattered like this?ââI canât find it,â Aria muttered, barely looking up as she searched through another stack.âFind what?âAria let out a frustrated breath and straightened suddenly. âOh my God. Zara, help me check your office too.âZara walked closer quickly. âWait. Calm down first and tell me what youâre looking for.âAria pressed both palms against the desk, trying to steady herself.âThe company file,â she said. âThe confidential one.âZara frowned. âWhat co
Mira unfolded the letter slowly, her fingers trembling slightly against the paper.Her grandmotherâs handwriting was elegantShe swallowed before reading.âIf you are reading this letter, then it means I am goneâŠâMiraâs chest tightened immediately.âAnd it also means you found your way back to your sisterâŠâHer eyes moved faster over the words.âI am sorryâŠâThe apology hit harder than she expected.âI tried to stop your mother from taking you away from us, but I failed. That is a regret I carried for many yearsâŠâMira lowered herself slowly onto the couch again.âI made this arrangement because I wanted to leave something behind for you. Not out of guilt alone, but because you are my granddaughter, and you deserved to have a place in this family...âTears blurred her vision.âLove Aria as much as you can. She suffered too. And I hope she loves you just as deeply in returnâŠâMira pressed her lips together tightly.âThe thirty-five percent shares are my gift to you for all the years w
âWhere are Damian and Jaxon?â Aria asked, pacing just outside the conference room doors. âTheyâre supposed to be here by now.â âTheyâll be here,â Zara said, her voice steady even though she kept glancing toward the hallway. âRelax. They wonât miss this.â Aria stopped pacing for a second, then resumed again, her heels clicking lightly against the polished floor. Inside the conference room, the low hum of voices and camera adjustments filtered through the doors. The press and the board were already seated, waiting. Mira stood a little to the side, quiet, watching everything with a composed expression. Two minutes later, Aria finally saw them. Damian and Jaxon walked down the hallway, both focused, both moving with purpose. Relief washed over Ariaâs face. Damian reached her first. He didnât say anything immediately. He just pulled her closer, his hand sliding up her arm before he kissed her softly. âBreathe,â he murmured against her lips. âEverything will be fine.â Aria
âWhy donât you know the date?âCelesteâs voice cut sharply through the room as she paced back and forth, her heels clicking against the tiled floor.Mira leaned against the counter, arms folded, watching her without much reaction. âBecause I wasnât told.âCeleste stopped abruptly. âAnd you didnât think to ask?âMira sighed. âIt didnât seem necessary.ââNot necessary?â Celeste let out a dry laugh. âYour job is simple, Mira. Get close to them. Make them trust you. Get information.ââI donât need to get close to all of them,â Mira shot back, her tone tightening. âMy priority is Aria. Iâm here for my shares. Thatâs it.âCelesteâs eyes narrowed. âYouâve gone soft.ââItâs not about being soft,â Mira replied. âI just want what belongs to me. Iâm not here to play family with them.âCeleste tilted her head slightly. âAnd you believe everything Aria told you? That your grandmother just handed over seventy percent of the company to her like that?âMira hesitated for a second. âItâs what I was to
âWhy didnât you wait for me?âAria met his eyes through the mirror as Damianâs arms slipped around her waist from behind. His lips brushed her shoulder, then her neck, slow and lingering. He leaned in closer, inhaling deeply, his breath warm against her skin.Her hair was still damp, falling over her shoulders in soft waves.âYou smell like lilies,â he murmured, his voice low, almost teasing. âI like it.âAria let out a soft laugh, tilting her head slightly to give him better access. âI didnât know you wouldnât stay that long in your study.ââHmm,â he hummed, pressing a light kiss just below her ear. âI just made a few calls.âShe turned in his arms, smiling up at him. âI figured.âHis lips found hers, a slow, familiar kiss that carried the ease of something steady and lived in. He lingered there for a moment before pulling back, his hand brushing lightly along her cheek.âIâll take a quick shower,â he said.Aria nodded and turned back to the mirror, picking up the hairdryer again. Th
âTalk to me,â Damian said as soon as they stepped out of the car and into the house.Aria barely had time to take in the quiet of the living room before his hand found her waist, pulling her gently toward him. His other hand came up to her face, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear.âThe press,â she said, exhaling. âI hate being on the news.ââI know,â he replied, his voice calm but firm. âIâve already started handling it.âShe nodded, but her expression remained tense.âThereâs something else,â he added.Aria looked up at him. âWhat?ââMira.âHer body stiffened almost instantly.Damian noticed.âI donât understand her,â he continued. âHer story doesnât add up. Every time we try to ask about her past, she dodges it. Itâs like sheâs hiding something.âAria pulled away slightly, her brows drawing together. âShe just got back, Damian.ââThat doesnât explain the secrecy.ââSheâs not used to us,â Aria said, her tone sharpening. âSheâs been on her own. She doesnât know anybody her
Jaxon stayed seated beside Zaraâs bed, his fingers loosely wrapped around hers. For a while, neither of them spoke. The silence wasnât uncomfortable. It was the kind that settled after chaos, heavy but calm, like the aftermath of a storm.Zara was the first to break it.âWhat about Commander Reaves
Zara slowly opened her eyes, and the first thing she became aware of was the steady beeping of a machine somewhere close by. The sound was rhythmic, constant, and irritatingly loud. For a moment, she simply lay there, confused, her mind sluggish and heavy, struggling to understand where she was and
Zara slowed the car to a crawl as she turned off the main road, following the location sent to her. The place looked abandonedâbroken concrete, rusted sheets of metal, and what might have been an unfinished warehouse sat there. Nothing about the area looked active. Nothing looked like a hideout. N
Damian went straight to where Aria was sitting the moment he walked into the living room. He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss on her forehead.Aria turned slightly toward the woman beside her.âDamian, this is Clara, my closest friend from uni. Clara, this is Damian⊠my husband.âClara stood an







