Mag-log in“Where are Damian and Jaxon?” Aria asked, pacing just outside the conference room doors. “They’re supposed to be here by now.”“They’ll be here,” Zara said, her voice steady even though she kept glancing toward the hallway. “Relax. They won’t miss this.”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 Aria’s face.Damian reached her first. He didn’t say anything immediately. He just pulled her closer, his hand sliding up her arm before he kissed her softly.“Breathe,”
“Why don’t you know the date?”Celeste’s 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. “Because I wasn’t told.”Celeste stopped abruptly. “And you didn’t think to ask?”Mira sighed. “It didn’t seem necessary.”“Not necessary?” Celeste let out a dry laugh. “Your job is simple, Mira. Get close to them. Make them trust you. Get information.”“I don’t need to get close to all of them,” Mira shot back, her tone tightening. “My priority is Aria. I’m here for my shares. That’s it.”Celeste’s eyes narrowed. “You’ve gone soft.”“It’s not about being soft,” Mira replied. “I just want what belongs to me. I’m not here to play family with them.”Celeste tilted her head slightly. “And you believe everything Aria told you? That your grandmother just handed over seventy percent of the company to her like that?”Mira hesitated for a second. “It’s what I was to
“Why didn’t you wait for me?”Aria met his eyes through the mirror as Damian’s 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.“You smell like lilies,” he murmured, his voice low, almost teasing. “I like it.”Aria let out a soft laugh, tilting her head slightly to give him better access. “I didn’t know you wouldn’t stay that long in your study.”“Hmm,” he hummed, pressing a light kiss just below her ear. “I just made a few calls.”She turned in his arms, smiling up at him. “I figured.”His 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.“I’ll take a quick shower,” he said.Aria nodded and turned back to the mirror, picking up the hairdryer again. Th
“Talk to me,” 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.“The press,” she said, exhaling. “I hate being on the news.”“I know,” he replied, his voice calm but firm. “I’ve already started handling it.”She nodded, but her expression remained tense.“There’s something else,” he added.Aria looked up at him. “What?”“Mira.”Her body stiffened almost instantly.Damian noticed.“I don’t understand her,” he continued. “Her story doesn’t add up. Every time we try to ask about her past, she dodges it. It’s like she’s hiding something.”Aria pulled away slightly, her brows drawing together. “She just got back, Damian.”“That doesn’t explain the secrecy.”“She’s not used to us,” Aria said, her tone sharpening. “She’s been on her own. She doesn’t know anybody her
Aria’s office door shut behind them, cutting off the lingering tension from outside. She didn’t say anything as she walked to her desk and sank into her chair, her movements slower than usual. Zara took the seat opposite her, watching quietly as Aria picked up her phone and failed Damian. “Hey, baby,” Damian’s voice came through, warm and relaxed. “What’s up?” Aria closed her eyes for a brief second before speaking. “Have you seen the news?” There was a slight pause on the other end. “What news?” “Someone leaked Adrian’s condition,” she said, her voice tight. “The reporters are here, Damian. At the company. They’re asking questions about the surgery… about the transplant…” “Stay where you are,” he said. “Don’t leave the building.” Aria swallowed. “Damian—” “I’ll handle it,” he cut in. “I’ll find out who leaked it, and I’ll deal with the reporters. But right now, you don’t step outside. Do you understand me?” She leaned back slightly in her chair. “I can’t just—” “Aria,” he
“How are you?” her mother asked.Zara swallowed. Her throat felt tight, like something was lodged there. “I’m okay,” she managed, her voice strained despite her effort to steady it. “How are you? And… how are you even calling me? I thought the rehab center didn’t allow patients to use phones.”There was a pause.“I got released.”Zara froze where she stood.“What?”“I got released,” her mother repeated.“How?” Zara’s voice rose before she could stop it. “When? Why?”“Just now.”Zara blinked, trying to process it. “Why were you released?”The moment the question left her mouth, she regretted it. It sounded wrong. Cold. Suspicious.But she couldn’t help it.Her mother had been in that center for so long that Zara had stopped counting the years. Stopped expecting anything to change.On the other end, her mother let out a sharp breath. “Why would you ask that?”Zara pressed her lips together.“I thought you’d be happy for me,” her mother continued, her tone edged with offense.“I am,” Zar
Clara rushed to the bed and hugged Zara gently, careful of the wires and tubes."Oh my God." She held the hand that didn’t have an IV attached to it, clutching it like she was afraid Zara might disappear if she let go.“How are you feeling? Are you okay?” she asked in a rush. “You had me worried.”
After the laughter and hooting died down, Zara said, “We are here for you, babe.”“Thanks, girls,” Clara replied, then scooped a spoonful of pasta into her mouth.“Jeez, Clara. Careful or you’re going to choke,” Aria warned.Clara rolled her eyes and kept chewing, and Zara laughed at them.The next
Chapter 73: The signalDimitri came back to Zara not long after he’d left her alone. This time, he pulled a chair and sat directly in front of her, his posture relaxed, as though they were about to have a casual conversation and not one forced by chains and fear. His eyes studied her with unsettlin
Jaxon stayed seated beside Zara’s bed, his fingers loosely wrapped around hers. For a while, neither of them spoke. The silence wasn’t 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.“What about Commander Reaves







