Chapter Two Hundred and Forty five The call started the same way most of theirs had begun lately—simple, familiar, no hesitation in picking up.Aria answered after the second ring, her voice calm when she spoke.“Hi.”Damien leaned back slightly in his chair as he heard her. “Hi.”There was a brief pause, not awkward, just natural, like they were both settling into the conversation before saying anything important.Then Aria spoke again.“My dad asked about you,” she said. “He sends his regards.”Damien’s expression softened at that immediately. He didn’t interrupt her, just listened.“He said you’ve been… consistent,” she added, like she was repeating her father’s exact words but choosing them carefully.A small breath left Damien through his nose, almost like a quiet laugh. “Consistent,” he repeated. “I’ll take that as a good thing.”“It is,” Aria replied simply.Another short silence followed, but this one carried something steadier in it. Something that didn’t need to be filled.
Last Updated : 2026-05-05 Read more