Aria’s POV
Damien threw his body over mine, pushing behind a pillar. Guards tackled other people to the ground. Vivian dove through the doors just as the package exploded.
Not a big explosion. More like a loud pop and a burst of red powder.
We all stood slowly, covered in red dust, ears ringing.
Not a bomb, it was a paint bomb.
And attached to the remains of the package was a note in large, bold letters:
BOOM. Next ti it won’t be paint. Get comfortable, Aria. This is just the beginning. -M
I stood there, covered in red powder, shaking.
Marcus hadn’t just breached our security again. He’d done it in broad daylight, in front of dozens of witnesses, in one of the most secure buildings in the city.
He was showing us that nowhere was safe.
That he could get to us anywhere, anyti.
And next ti, the bomb would be real.
Damien pulled into his arms, both of us trembling.
"We end this," he said into my hair. "Soon, we end this once and for all."
I nodded against his chest, unable to speak because I knew he was right. Soon, we’d hunt down Marcus Blackwood and finish this nightmare.
But first, we had to survive tonight.
And as I looked at the red paint splattered across the pristine lobby, like blood, like a warning.
I wasn’t sure any of us would make it out of this alive.
One Week Later
The Monroe Global boardroom was packed. Every seat filled, executives whispering as tension filled the room. I stood at the head of the table, reviewing my notes one final ti. Today wasn’t just another board eting.
Today was judgnt day.
"Let’s begin." I looked around the room. "First order of business—the acquisition of Monroe Industries’ remaining assets."
Murmurs rippled through the room. Monroe Industries—my parents’ failing company, the one I’d been sacrificed to save. The company that had once been worth millions was now a shell, and I’d been quietly buying up every piece of it.
The boardroom doors burst open.
My father strode in like he owned the place, Eleanor trailing behind him in her designer suit and pearls. Both looked immaculate, confident, entitled.
"Aria." Charles’s voice bood across the room. "We need to talk about the Monroe Industries buyout."
"Mr. Monroe." I didn’t stand. "This is a private board eting. You’re not on the board."
"That’s my company you’re discussing!" He slamd papers on the table. "I built Monroe Industries from the ground up!"
"And ran it into the ground just as thoroughly," I said calmly. "Which is why Monroe Global acquired it three weeks ago. As outlined in the purchase agreent you signed."
His face reddened. "You can’t just"
"Actually, I can." I gestured to my lawyer. "Jas, would you explain to Mr. Monroe the terms of the acquisition?"
Jas stood, adjusting his glasses. "Mr. Monroe, when Monroe Industries filed for bankruptcy protection, Monroe Global purchased all assets, intellectual property, and remaining contracts. As part of the agreent, you retained a small percentage of non-voting shares in the acquired entity."
"Those shares are worth millions!" Charles sputtered.
"On paper, yes." I smiled coldly. "In reality? They’re worth whatever the parent company—my company—decides they’re worth. Which, as of this morning’s restructuring, is nothing."
"You can’t do this"
"I already have." I nodded to Jas again. "Show him."
Jas pulled up docunts on the screen. "Last week, Monroe Global restructured all acquired assets. The non-voting shares held by forr Monroe Industries leadership carry no dividend rights, no liquidation preferences, and no conversion rights. They’re essentially ceremonial."
Charles’s face went from red to purple. "You conniving little"
"Careful." My voice went cold. "That’s your daughter you’re speaking to. Though you’ve never really treated like one."
"Aria, please." Eleanor stepped forward, her mask of composure cracking. "Your father didn’t an"
"Oh, he ant it." I stood now, commanding the room. "Just like he ant it when he forced into a contract marriage to save Monroe Industries. Just like he ant it when he sided with Vivian. Just like he ant it when he threw out pregnant with nothing."
Silence fell across the boardroom.
"But here’s what you don’t know, Charles." I pulled out my own docunts. "For the past year, I’ve been quietly buying up all your personal debts. The mortgage on your house. Your country club mbership. Your car loans. Your credit cards. Every single thing you owe money on."
His face went white. "What?"
"I own you." I slid the papers across the table. "Every asset you have is collateralized against debts I now hold. Which ans with one signature, I can take everything."
"You wouldn’t"
"Wouldn’t I?" I leaned forward. "You took everything from . My ho, my family, my dignity. You threw away like garbage. Now I’m returning the favor."
"Aria, please." Eleanor’s voice shook. "We’re your parents."
"No." I looked at her. "Parents love their children. Protect them. Support them. You used as a bargaining chip and discarded when I was no longer useful."
"We made mistakes"
"Mistakes?" I laughed bitterly. "Letting go hungry would be a mistake. Forgetting my birthday would be a mistake. What you did was deliberate, calculated cruelty."
"We were trying to save the family business!" Charles protested.
"By sacrificing ?" I shook my head. "And now that family business belongs to Monroe Global. You have nothing left except the debts I own."
"Then take it all," Eleanor said desperately. "Take Monroe Industries. Just don’t take our ho."
"Why not?" I circled the table toward them. "You took mine. Rember that day, Mother? When you told to leave and not co back? When it was raining and I was pregnant and you closed the door in my face?"
Eleanor’s eyes filled with tears. "I was angry"
"You were cruel." I stopped in front of her. "And now you want rcy? You want to be a bigger person?"
"We’re begging you." Charles actually got down on one knee. "Please, Aria. We’ll do anything."
The sight of my father kneeling should have felt triumphant. Should have felt like justice. Instead, it just felt empty.
"Get up," I said quietly. "You’re embarrassing yourself."
He stood slowly, his pride clearly wounded.
"I’m not taking your house," I continued. "But I am taking control of all your assets. You’ll have a monthly allowance—enough to live comfortably but not lavishly. You’ll answer at every expense. And you’ll sign over all remaining interest in Monroe Industries permanently."
"That’s"
"Generous," I cut him off. "Considering what you did to . You should be thanking for not leaving you on the street like you left ."
Charles looked at Eleanor, who nodded reluctantly.
"Fine." He spat the word. "We accept your terms."
"Good." I signaled security. "These gentlen will escort you out. My lawyer will be in touch with the paperwork."
"Aria" Eleanor reached for .
I stepped back. "Don’t. Don’t touch . Don’t call . Don’t show up at my ho. You wanted gone years ago? Consider yourselves gone now."
Security took their arms and led them toward the door.
"You’ll regret this!" Charles shouted back. "Mark my words, you’ll regret treating us this way!"
"I regret many things," I said coldly. "But this isn’t one of them."
The doors closed behind them. I stood there, chest heaving, hands shaking as the board erupted in whispers.
"The eting is adjourned," I said. "Everyone out. Now."
They filed out quickly, clearly not wanting to be on the receiving end of my wrath. When the room was empty, I collapsed into my chair and let out a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding.
Revenge should feel better than this. It should feel satisfying, complete, like justice served. Instead, I just felt tired.
A knock on the door interrupted my thought.
"Co in," I called without looking up.
"Aria." Eleanor’s voice.
I raised my head. She stood in the doorway, alone, mascara streaked down her face.
"I told security to escort you out," I said flatly.
"I bribed them." She moved into the room slowly. "Two minutes. That’s all I’m asking."
"You have one."
She ca closer, wringing her hands. "I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness. I know what we did was unforgivable. But I need you to know—I regret it. Every day, I regret it."
"Good."
"When I saw you looking so successful and strong" Her voice broke. "I realized what I’d lost. Not just my daughter, but my grandson. A chance to be a grandmother, a chance to fix my mistakes."
"So mistakes can’t be fixed."
"I know." She wiped her eyes. "But I’m asking anyway. Please, Aria. Let et Noah, let be part of your life again."
I stood, moving around the table until we were face to face.
"Do you rember when I begged you?" I asked quietly. "Few years ago, standing in the rain outside your house? I begged you to let in, to help , to choose over Vivian for once in my life?"
She nodded, tears streaming.
"Do you rember what you said?" I continued. "You said, ’You made your bed, now lie in it.’ And you closed the door. In the rain. While I was pregnant."
"Aria"
"Now you’re begging ." I smiled without warmth. "And I’m going to say the sa thing you said to . You made your bed, Eleanor, now lie in it."
"Please"
"Get out." I pointed to the door. "Before I change my mind about the allowance."
She stood there for a mont, broken and sobbing.Then she left.I waited until her footsteps faded before I let myself feel anything. The anger ca first. Hot and consuming, making my hands shake and my vision blur.
Then the grief. For the mother I’d wanted, the family I’d dread of, the relationships that could never be fixed. Finally, the emptiness. The hollow feeling of winning a battle that cost too much.
I was pulling myself together when the doors burst open again. Vivian stord in, her face twisted with fury.
"You think you’ve won?" She slamd her hands on the table. "You think humiliating our parents makes you powerful?"
"Get out, Vivian." I was too tired for this.
"No." She moved closer. "You need to hear this. You’re not the victim anymore, Aria. You’re the villain. Taking everything from people who gave you life"
"People who threw away!" I shouted. "People who chose you over every single ti!"
"Because you were never enough!" She shouted back. "Never pretty enough, never charming enough, never the daughter they wanted!"
The words hit
"At least I’m honest about it," Vivian continued. "At least I don’t pretend to be noble while destroying people."
"I’m not destroying anyone. I’m protecting myself."
"By crushing them?" She laughed harshly. "You’re just like them now. Cold, calculating, cruel."
"If that’s what it takes to survive, then yes." I t her eyes. "You all made this way. You broke and then acted surprised when I ca back sharper."
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