Aria POV
The restaurant at the Grand was elegant.
I arrived at seven exactly, wearing a deep red dress that hugged my curves and commanded attention.
Lucas was already there, standing when he saw with a smile that reached his eyes.
"You ca." He smiled, genuine pleasure lighting up his expression as he gestured to the chair.
"You had a good proposal." I let him pull out my chair, settling into it with practiced grace. "I’m a businesswoman. I don’t ignore good opportunities."
"Of course." His eyes sparkled with amusent as he took his own seat. "Business only."
The waiter appeared with wine. Lucas ordered sothing expensive but not showy, his tone easy and confident.
We talked business for the first twenty minutes. His expansion plans. My market connections.
Lucas was smart. Really smart. And unlike most n I t, he actually listened when I spoke.
"Your take on the Asian market is spot-on," he said, leaning back in his chair with genuine respect. "Most people don’t understand the cultural differences."
"I lived there for two years," I said, taking a sip of wine. "Built half my company in Singapore."
"After you left Ravenwood."
I tensed, my shoulders stiffening. "You really do research your partners."
"I told you." Lucas’s expression turned serious, his playful deanor fading. "I know everything. Including that you have a three-year-old son nad Noah."
My blood went cold. "How"
"Public records, Aria." He held up his hands in a placating gesture, palms out. "International business registration. You listed him as dependent when you filed in Singapore." He leaned forward, his voice soft. "I’m not a threat. I’m just thorough."
I studied him, trying to read ulterior motives, searching his face for deception.
There were none that I could see.
"You’re right," I said finally, exhaling slowly. "I have a son. He’s four now, actually. And he’s none of anyone’s business."
"Understood." Lucas nodded, his expression sincere. "For what it’s worth, being a single mother while building an empire? That’s incredible."
Sothing in my chest loosened slightly, the tension easing just a fraction.
The waiter brought appetizers with practiced silence. We ate in comfortable silence for a mont.
"Can I ask you sothing?" Lucas said, setting down his fork. "Off the record?"
"That depends on the question," I replied, my guard still partially up.
"Why did you co back to Ravenwood?" He watched carefully, his gaze thoughtful. "You’d built your empire abroad. You could have stayed away forever. Why return to the place where you were hurt?"
I considered the question, swirling wine in my glass. "Because running away isn’t the sa as moving forward. I ca back on my terms. As soone they can’t dismiss or destroy."
"Revenge," Lucas said softly, understanding dawning in his eyes.
"Justice," I corrected, eting his gaze steadily.
He smiled, sothing like admiration crossing his features. "Fair enough."
We talked more over dinner. About business, yes, but also about life. Lucas’s own rise from nothing. His parents who’d died when he was young. The companies he’d built from scratch.
He was charming without being slimy. And he made laugh.
When was the last ti soone had made laugh?
"So the investor literally said his dog had better ideas?" I laughed, covering my mouth with genuine mirth.
"Swear to God." Lucas grinned, his eyes crinkling. "And then the dog walked into the room and knocked over his presentation board."
"That’s terrible," I said through my laughter.
"It was perfect." He topped off my wine with a practiced hand. "Sotis the universe tells you a deal isn’t worth it."
The restaurant was emptying out around us. We’d been talking for two hours.
"I should go," I said, glancing at my watch with reluctance. "Noah’s with the sitter, and I don’t like being out late."
"Of course." Lucas stood when I did, ever the gentleman. "Thank you for tonight. It was" He paused, searching for words. "Honestly, it was the best business dinner I’ve had in years."
" too," I admitted, surprising myself with the honesty.
We walked toward the exit together, our footsteps echoing on marble.
The lobby was mostly empty. A few late-night guests checking in.
And Damien, sitting in one of the leather chairs near the entrance, disheveled and waiting.
He stood when he saw us, his expression desperate.
Lucas noticed my sudden tension, his body shifting protectively. "Want to stay?"
"No." I touched his arm briefly, drawing strength from the contact. "I can handle this."
"I know you can." He smiled with warmth and understanding. "But the offer stands." He raised my hand to his lips and kissed it gently, his breath warm against my skin. "Goodnight, Aria. I’ll send over the contract tomorrow."
"Goodnight, Lucas," I said, my voice soft.
He walked away, nodding politely to Damien as he passed, a silent acknowledgnt between rivals.
I turned to face my ex-husband, squaring my shoulders.
Damien looked like hell. His tie was loosened, his hair disheveled from running his hands through it. His eyes were red-rimd.
"How long have you been sitting here?" I asked coldly, keeping my distance.
"Three hours." His voice was rough. "I knew you’d co back eventually."
"That’s pathetic," I said.
"I know." He took a step toward , his hands twitching at his sides. "Aria, please. Just let explain"
"Explain what?" I cut him off, my voice sharp. "That you believed lies about ? That you slept with my sister? That you told to abort our" I stopped, the words catching in my throat.
His face went white, all the blood draining from his features. "You kept the baby?"
Panic seized , cold and suffocating. I’d said too much.
"That’s none of your business," I said quickly, backing away a step.
"Aria." His voice broke on my na lacing with desperation. "Please. If you had my child"
"I don’t have anything of yours," I said. "You threw away any right to know anything about my life four years ago."
My phone buzzed in my purse. A text from my sitter: Noah’s asking for you.
Damien’s eyes flicked to my phone as I shoved it in my purse with more force than necessary.
"I’m leaving," I announced, turning toward the exit.
"Then I’ll walk you to your car," he said, following.
"No," I said firmly, spinning to face him.
"Aria" he started, reaching out.
"No, Damien." I used his first na deliberately, saw him flinch at hearing it from my lips. "You don’t get to follow . You don’t get to wait for . You don’t get anything from except what I give you in a boardroom."
"I was wrong." His hands clenched at his sides, trembling with emotion. "I was wrong about everything. Your family lied to , and I believed them because I was too much of a coward to admit I."
He stopped, the words dying on his lips.
"To admit you what?" I demanded, stepping closer despite myself.
"That I felt sothing for you," he finished quietly, the confession falling between us. "That you scared because you made feel things I’d spent my whole life trying to bury."
I laughed, harsh and bitter, the sound echoing in the empty lobby. "You felt sothing? Is that supposed to move ? You destroyed , Damien. You threw out pregnant and penniless. You told to abort your child. You chose my sister over on our wedding day."
His face crumpled, raw pain flashing across his features. "I know. God, Aria, I know. And I’ve spent every day since then trying to find you. Trying to make it right."
"So things can’t be made right." I walked past him toward the exit, my heels clicking sharply. "So things are just broken forever."
"Please." He caught my hand, his fingers warm and desperate. "Just tell —did you keep the baby?"
I looked down at his hand on mine, feeling the familiar warmth.
Part of wanted to hurt him. Wanted to tell him yes, that he had a son with his eyes, and that he’d never et him.
But Noah didn’t deserve to be a weapon.
"Goodnight, Mr. Blackwood," I said, pulling free.
I walked out into the night, the cool air hitting my flushed face.
My car pulled up imdiately. I slid into the back seat, my hands shaking uncontrollably.
"Ho, Ms. Monroe?" my driver asked, glancing at in the rearview mirror.
"Yes." My voice ca out strangled, barely above a whisper. "Ho to Noah."
As we pulled away, I looked back through the tinted window.
Damien stood in the entrance of the hotel, watching my car disappear, a solitary figure bathed in light.
His phone lit up in his hand.
A mont later, mine buzzed with insistent vibration.
We need to talk. Please.
I deleted the ssage with a sharp tap.
Then I opened my photos and looked at the one of Noah from this morning. Smiling, his ice-blue eyes bright, completely unaware his father was in the sa city.
My baby.
My secret.
"Are you alright, ma’am?" my driver asked gently, concern evident in his tone.
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