All Chapters of Reborn To Break His Heart : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

The following morning, Margaret Blackwood arrived at Aria Whitmore’s building without calling ahead. The chauffeur looked surprised when she insisted on going in alone, but Margaret ignored him. She did not want her presence softened by protocol.The lobby receptionist nearly dropped her tablet when Margaret introduced herself. “Mrs Blackwood, of course. Do you have an appointment?”“No.” Margaret’s tone left no room for negotiation. “Tell Miss Whitmore I won’t take much of her time.”The receptionist hesitated but quickly called upstairs. Within minutes, Margaret was in the private elevator, her reflection glaring back at her from polished glass.Her hands were folded neatly over her purse, but inside she carried a storm. For years, she had thought of Aria as nothing more than the girl who wasn’t good enough for her son. Too ambitious, too proud, too unwilling to bend. Yet, Ethan’s haunted eyes last night echoed in her mind.The doors opened to Aria’s floor. Margaret walked out calml

Aria’s lips still tingled.She pressed her palm to them as though she could erase the memory, erase him. But no amount of denial could change the truth. Ethan Blackwood had kissed her, and for one dangerous second, she did not stop him.Not until she remembered.Not until her body remembered the years of betrayal, the sting of headlines, and the hollow way he had left her standing in the wreckage of their love.She pushed the thought away and walked into the conference room the next morning, her heels clicking with a precision she did not feel.Ethan was already there, leaning casually against the long table, a mug of black coffee in hand. His tie was loosened, as though he was not bothered about what happened last night. His eyes looked up, steady, and unreadable.“Morning,” he said.Aria set her files on the table. “We are here to discuss the charity gala. Nothing else.”A shadow of a smile tugged at his mouth. “Of course. Strictly business.”Her fingers tightened on her pen. “Don’t

The flash of cameras still burnt in Ethan’s eyes long after the gala lights had dimmed. He watched Aria tonight, watched her own the stage, watched her silence a room of industry titans, and watched her humiliate Selena with nothing more than grace and eloquence.And he had never felt prouder. Or more broken.Ryan found him first, sitting in a shadowed corner of the gala hall when people started to leave. Ethan had loosened his tie, running a hand down his face like it might wipe away the emptiness inside him.“You look like hell,” Ryan said flatly, folding his arms.Ethan gave a humourless laugh. “Fitting, isn’t it?”Ryan didn’t smile. He dropped into the seat across from him, staring with a weight that felt heavier than any accusation. “What are you doing, Ethan?”Ethan’s jaw tightened. “What I should have done years ago. Protect and fight for her.”Ryan scoffed. “Protect her? You destroyed her. You left her when she needed you. And now? Now you sit here, drinking pity like it’s cha

The letter still trembled in Aria’s hand long after the ink had blurred from her tears. She pressed it shut quickly, not ready to face what the words might do to her resolve.If you are reading this, it means I never had the courage to say it out loud…Those words haunted her all night.By morning, her office was a battlefield of reporters, invitations, and statements to approve. She threw herself into work until Mia burst in, tablet in his hand.“Aria,” Mia said breathlessly, “you are expected at the Innovation Gala tonight. They moved the schedule forward. It’s… huge.”Aria rubbed her forehead. “The last thing I need is another room full of questions.”“That is exactly why you need to go,” Mia pressed. “If you don’t, Selena’s shadow still lingers. People need to see you standing.”Aria exhaled. She hated that Mia was right.Before she could argue further, the door opened and Ethan filled the frame. His presence still had the audacity to send her heart tumbling.“I will take her,” Et

“Wait.”The single word slipped from Aria’s lips before she could stop it. It cut through the night air like glass against stone. Ethan froze mid-step, his broad shoulders stiffening as though he were bracing for an impact.Slowly, he turned. His eyes found hers, dark and raw, stripped of every layer of arrogance he once wore like armour. For the first time in years, Aria saw the man she had fallen in love with, not the empire builder, not the ruthless CEO, but Ethan, the boy who had once stolen her heart with a smile.“You don’t get to just walk away after saying all that,” Aria said, her voice shaking despite her best attempt to steady it. “You can’t throw your love at me like a confession and then disappear into the night.”Ethan took a cautious step closer, still in disbelief. “Aria, I meant every word. But I won’t chain you to a past that already hurt you. If leaving me is what gives you peace, I’ll take it.”She caught her breath; the sincerity in his tone unsettled her, tugging