All Chapters of THE FALL OF ARIA DONOVAN: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

I tasted metal before I felt the sting fade. The sound of the slap still rang in my ears as I steadied myself, my heels scraping softly against the floor. My right palm pressed firmly against my burning cheek while my chest rose and fell too fast. Every eye in the office was on me. I could feel it. The shock. The hunger for drama. The fear of saying the wrong thing.I lifted my head slowly.Vanessa stood there breathing hard, eyes blazing with a kind of reckless pride, as if she had just claimed a victory. I straightened my back, ignored the tremor in my knees, and raised my other hand. My finger pointed directly at her face, stopping inches away from her.“Do not,” I said quietly, my voice shaking but clear, “do not ever think you can touch me again.”A murmur rippled through the room.“Did she just threaten her?” someone whispered.“I am warning you,” I continued, locking eyes with Vanessa. “You have no idea who you are standing in front of. Do not underestimate me.”Vanessa blinked

I stood in front of Rowan’s office door for a second longer than necessary, my fingers curled lightly at my side. The sting on my cheek had faded into a dull heat, but the humiliation of what had just happened outside still clung to me. I knocked once and heard his calm voice.“Sit down, Amelia.”That was the first thing Rowan said the moment I stepped into his office.I closed the door quietly behind me and walked toward the chair he indicated. I sat with controlled grace, my back straight, my hands resting lightly on my lap. My cheek still burned from the slap, but I refused to let it show in my posture or my voice.“Thank you, sir,” I said calmly.Rowan leaned back slightly, his hands lifting, his fingers resting along the line of his jaw as his eyes traced my face. He did not look away. Not even for a second.The silence stretched, heavy and uncomfortable. My chest tightened. I hated how exposed I felt under his gaze. I was furious at Vanessa, furious at Ethan, furious at the enti

~ARIA'S POV~“Get yourself together, Aria. You are not a teenager waiting for a date.”The words came out of my mouth before I could stop them, soft but firm, as I stood in front of the mirror with a towel wrapped around my chest. My reflection stared back at me, eyes steady, lips slightly parted like I was waiting for an answer from myself. I had not given Rowan a response. Not yes. Not no. Yet deep down, I knew he would still show up at seven. And that knowledge alone was enough to make my chest feel tight.I stepped fully into my room, the warmth from my bath still clinging to my skin. My hair was damp, dark strands resting against my shoulders, droplets sliding slowly down my back. I closed the door behind me and leaned my back against it for a moment.Why does this feel like a big dealWhy are you overthinking thisIt is just RowanJust your managerJust someone who insists too muchI moved away from the door and walked toward my closet. I opened it slowly, like I was afraid the

~ETHAN'S POV~“Pull yourself together,” he muttered under his breath. “You are the CEO. Act like one.”His hands were trembling. Not slightly. Not subtly. They were shaking in a way that made his chest tighten even more. The news from the night before had not slowed down. If anything, it had grown louder. Every headline felt like a finger pointing directly at him.He ran a hand through his hair and paced the room.“What if they know?” he whispered to himself. “What if someone talks?”His breathing grew uneven. The walls felt closer than they were. He suddenly stopped and turned sharply toward his bedside drawer. He pulled it open and took out a small container of pills. His fingers fumbled with the lid.“Just to calm down,” he told himself. “Just to steady your nerves.”He poured some into his palm. Then added more. Almost a handful. Without thinking twice, he tossed them into his mouth and grabbed the glass of water beside the bed. He swallowed hard, the pills scraping his throat on

Ethan’s hands trembled as he grabbed his phone from the desk.“No, no, no,” he muttered under his breath. “This cannot be happening.”Through the glass walls of his office, he could see employees gathering near the lobby. His throat felt dry.He quickly dialed Victor’s number.“Pick up,” he whispered. “Pick up.”After a few rings, the call connected.Victor’s voice came through thick and sleepy. “Ethan… "“They are here,” Ethan blurted out.A pause. “Who is here?”“The police. Right in front of the company. I can see them from my window.”There was rustling on Victor’s end, as if he had suddenly sat upright. “Calm down,” Victor said, his voice sharpening slightly. “Have they entered yet?”“I do not know. They are downstairs. Employees are staring like I am some criminal.”“Listen to me carefully,” Victor said firmly. “Do not panic. Panic makes you look guilty.”“They are going to question me,” Ethan said, pacing now. “What if they have evidence? What if someone talked?”Victor exhaled