The rain returned that evening, soaking the grounds of Voss Manor in silence and storm.
But inside, everything was loud.
Aria paced the floor of the sunroom, the same questions cycling through her mind.
What did Kieran Maddox want?
Why now?
And why her?
She didn't know who to fear more the ghost of her sister's tragedy, or the shadow of Damien's past.
Her fingers rubbed her lower belly.
The baby didn't kick yet, but somehow, she felt a presence there.
And that made the fear sharper.
In the underground security room, Damien watched a wall of monitors.
He wasn't sleeping.
Not until he had answers.
"Sir," Marcus said, stepping beside him. "We've traced Kieran's payment route. Cryptocurrency. Disguised IP addresses. All signs of someone planning something big."
Damien's eyes didn't leave the screens. "He's building something."
"We think he's working with an insider from Voss Corp. Someone with access to private contracts including your prenup."
Damien cursed under his breath.
This wasn't just a vendetta.
It was a takedown.
The next morning, Aria received a letter.
A physical envelope unmarked, no return address.
Inside: a printed photo of her and Damien asleep in each other's arms.
And a note:
"Not everything that looks like love is real.
Just ask your sister. —K"
Her blood ran cold.
She hadn't cried in days. She didn't now either.
She simply folded the paper and walked straight to Damien's office.
He looked up, then saw her expression.
She tossed the photo and note on his desk. "He sent this. To me."
Damien read it quickly, then stood. "He's crossing lines now."
"He's threatening my peace, Damien. My baby."
"I know."
"No," she snapped. "You don't know. I can't keep pretending everything will fix itself. This man knows about Elena. About our contract. About us."
He stepped forward, gently taking her hands. "I won't let him get to you."
"But he already has."
Her voice cracked. "He's in my mind. And now I can't tell if I married you because I hated you or because I needed to believe someone could undo what happened to her."
Damien's hands tightened around hers. "You don't have to choose. Whatever this started as, Aria we're not pretending anymore."
She looked up at him. "Then prove it."
That afternoon, Damien took Aria to his private vault.
It was hidden beneath the east wing a room few even knew existed.
He keyed in the code, unlocked the door, and opened a drawer labeled "ELENA LAWRENCE."
Aria froze.
Inside were files, contracts, transcripts. Articles. Confidential memos. Even old voicemails.
Damien stepped back. "Everything I have. Every detail I've buried. You can read it all."
Aria's eyes brimmed. "Why are you giving this to me?"
"Because the only way forward is with truth. Even if it hurts me."
She reached for the first file, her hand trembling.
Then stopped.
"I'll read it," she said. "But later. Right now… I want to believe you."
That night, Aria fell asleep on Damien's chest, and for the first time, he felt peace.
But it wouldn't last long.
Because at 3:17 a.m., Marcus called.
"Sir. We've just intercepted a message from Kieran's team. He's planning to leak your contract and photos of Aria to the media."
Damien sat up in bed, heart pounding. "When?"
"Before sunrise."
Damien looked down at Aria, peacefully sleeping.
And he made a vow.
Kieran Maddox started this war. But I'll end it.