Semua Bab The Billionaire Lost His Queen: Bab 11 - Bab 20

POV: Aria The morning light filtered through the lace curtains of Grace's living room, casting soft patterns across the worn hardwood floor. Aria sat on the edge of the velvet sofa, her hands clasped tightly in her lap, watching Damien pace back and forth like a caged animal. He'd been here for an hour now, and in that hour, they'd shared everything. The recordings. The financial records. The photographs. The letter from Grace. The truth about her mother's murder. And now they were both sitting in the weight of it all, trying to figure out what came next. "We need to go to the authorities," Damien said, stopping mid-pace. "The recordings alone are enough to—" "No." Aria's voice was sharp. "Victor has people everywhere. Politicians, judges, law enforcement. If we go to the authorities now, the evidence will disappear, and Victor will know we're coming for him." Damien turned to face her, his grey eyes troubled. "Then what do you suggest?" "We need more." Aria rose from the sofa,

POV: DamienThe penthouse had never felt more like a cage.Damien stood at the floor-to-ceiling windows, watching the city lights flicker below him like a million distant stars. It was nearly midnight, and he hadn't slept in days. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Aria's face—the pain in her eyes, the distance in her voice, the way she'd pulled her hand away when he'd tried to touch her.She'd agreed to work with him. She'd agreed to bring Victor down together. But she hadn't agreed to forgive him. And he couldn't blame her.He thought about the months since the divorce. The endless nights in this empty penthouse, surrounded by memories of her. The way her scent still lingered on the pillows. The way he still reached for her in his sleep. The way he'd destroyed the best thing that had ever happened to him because he was too proud to question what he wanted to believe.His phone buzzed on the marble counter. A text message from Richard Morse."Victor knows. Someone tipped him off a

POV: AriaThe cabin erupted into chaos.One moment, Aria had been standing at the window, watching the morning light filter through the trees, her hand resting on her growing belly. The next, Damien was shouting her name, his voice sharp with urgency, and the world dissolved into motion and fear."Victor's men! They're here!"Aria grabbed the folder of evidence, shoving it into her bag while Damien raced to wake Grace. Within seconds, they were running toward the car, the engine already roaring to life as Damien slid behind the wheel."Go!" Aria shouted, her eyes fixed on the headlights emerging from the trees. "They're here!"Damien floored the accelerator, and they shot forward, gravel flying as they tore down the winding dirt road. Behind them, the black SUV emerged from the trees, its headlights cutting through the darkness like twin blades of death."Hang on," Damien said, his voice grim.He took the first turn at breakneck speed, the car skidding on the loose gravel. Aria grippe

POV: AriaThe Plaza Hotel lobby was chaos.Police officers swarmed through the grand space, their radios crackling with urgent chatter. Guests huddled in corners, their faces pale with shock. And in the center of it all, Victor Sterling was being led away in handcuffs, his eyes blazing with hatred.Aria watched him go, her body trembling with adrenaline. She'd done it. She'd actually done it. The man who'd killed her mother, destroyed her marriage, and terrorized her family was finally being taken away.But she didn't feel victorious. She felt hollow. Empty. Like she'd given everything she had and had nothing left."Aria." Damien's voice was soft, his hand on her shoulder. "Are you okay?"She turned to face him, her eyes meeting his. "I don't know. I don't know how I feel."Damien pulled her into his arms, holding her tight. "You're safe. That's all that matters."Aria leaned into him, letting herself feel the warmth of his embrace. For a moment, she forgot about everything else—the p

POV: AriaThe courtroom was everything Aria had expected—sterile, imposing, and filled with the weight of history. Wood-paneled walls rose to a vaulted ceiling, and the judge's bench loomed at the front like a throne of judgment. Spectators filled the gallery, their eyes hungry for drama, their whispers a constant hum beneath the formal proceedings.Aria sat in the front row, her hand clasped tightly in Damien's. Beside her, Grace sat with her back straight, her expression calm but watchful. And on the other side of the aisle, Vanessa Sterling sat alone, her face pale, her eyes fixed on the door where her father would soon appear.The months leading up to this moment had been a blur of preparation and anxiety. Aria had met with Margaret Chen countless times, reviewing her testimony, preparing for the cross-examination she knew was coming. She'd spent sleepless nights going over the evidence, memorizing dates and details, making sure she had every fact at her fingertips.But nothing co