Contract Marriage With My Billionaire Boss (Venus and Aaron) novel Chapter 222

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VENUS

The moment Dorian finished speaking, silence fell over the driveway like a dropped curtain. Cold. Heavy.

Breathless.

A warning.

A location.

A time.

Someone was moving pieces on a board we didn’t even understand.

I forced my throat to work. “There’s… something else.”

Aaron’s arms tightened around me instinctively, as if bracing for another blow. His heartbeat thudded against my shoulder-quick, erratic, violent.

Richard lifted his head, slowly, warily.

Dorian took a step closer.

Rosemary whispered, “What is it, darling?”

And I said the name I hadn’t said aloud in years.

“Gerald mentioned Andrea.”

Everything stopped.

Aaron’s entire body went still.

“I know,” I said quickly. “I know it could be nothing-he was goading me, trying to get a reaction. But he name- dropped her.” My voice shook. “We were talking and then he asked where his sister was? Gerald speaks in riddles, he wouldn’t just ask about her for no reason.”

It looked like I was grasping at straws but I had a strong feeling.

A muscle in Aaron’s jaw ticked violently.

He parted his lips.

He didn’t speak.

Richard stepped forward-then winced because of the bruising Aaron had caused-but his eyes were trained on

me with razor focus.

“Did he say it directly?” Richard asked. “Or imply it?”

“He just asked where she was. Said she hasn’t visited” My throat tightened painfully. “look, it may not look like much but I know Gerald. He wouldn’t just ask me about her for no reason.”

They tried to hide the look of pity, they thought I was just grasping at straws.

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I hated that they looked at me like that.

If they don’t I will.

I will look into Andrea Marlowe.

Gerald’s sister.

The woman who disappeared after the scandal that tore their empire apart-more than a decade ago. No sightings. No confirmed communication. No trace.

“Venus…” Aaron finally spoke, voice raw, “Andrea has been off-grid since Gerald was convicted-” He stopped himself. “She hasn’t been relevant in years. Her family is bankrupt. She shouldn’t be anywhere near you. Or Iris.”

“I know,” I whispered. “But my gut won’t let it go.”

And my gut had been right too many times to ignore.

But before anyone could respond-

A sound cut through the foyer behind us.

A small, broken sob.

Sabine.

My heart cracked clean down the middle.

I pushed up instantly-so fast the world lurched sideways.

Aaron reacted just as fast, one hand gripping my waist to steady me.

“Slow,” he murmured. “You’re still-”

“I heard Sabine,” I breathed. “I need- I need my kids.”

No one argued.

He helped me up the steps, an arm firm around my back, and the moment we crossed the threshold I saw them

My children.

My heart.

My world.

Sabine was curled against George’s side, crying silently the way children only cry when they’re past the point of loud sobs. Her small shoulders trembled. Her little fists were balled so tightly her knuckles were white.

George…

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George looked like a ghost wearing my son’s face.

His skin pale.

His lips pressed tight.

His eyes haunted-dark rims under them from too little sleep and too much fear.

No seven-year-old should have eyes like that.

No seven-year-old should have to carry the weight of wondering if his baby sister was alive.

“Sweetheart,” I whispered, my voice cracking in a way I hadn’t allowed around them before.

Both their heads snapped up.

Sabine launched herself toward me with a choked, “Ma-mama”

I staggered with the sudden weight of her, and Aaron’s hands came around me instantly, supporting me from

behind while our daughter clung to me like she was trying to climb under my skin.

“I’m here.” My voice trembled. “I’m right here, baby. I’m not leaving you.”

She buried her face in my chest, tiny hands fisting my shirt.

God.

My ribs hurt.

My stitches tugged.

My bandaged hand throbbed.

But I held her anyway.

Held her because she needed me more than my body needed rest.

Held her until her breathing finally softened.

George didn’t move.

He just stared at me.

Not meeting my eyes.

Just… staring.

“George?” I whispered.

Nothing.

He blinked once.

Twice.

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But he didn’t speak.

Wouldn’t speak.

He was holding too much inside.

He’d always been like Aaron in that way.

Quiet storms.

Dangerous when silent.

Breaking on the inside where no one could see.

I shifted Sabine carefully, lowering myself to the floor one agonizing inch at a time. Aaron knelt with me, hands bracketing my waist subtly, supporting me without making it obvious to the kids.

Sabine curled into my lap immediately, her breath still hiccuping.

I reached out a shaky hand toward George.

“Come here,” I whispered.

He flinched.

Not away.

Just… inward.

As if the invitation hurt.

His chest rose sharply. He looked down, shoulders curling like he wanted to fold in on himself.

My heart twisted so painfully I had to close my eyes.

“Georgie,” I breathed.

His chin wobbled.

But he still didn’t look at me.

“My sister’s gone,” he whispered, voice cracking. “And you were gone. And Dad was yelling outside. And-and -“His breath hitched. “Everyone keeps saying everything is fine, but I hear things. I know things. I’m not a baby.”

Oh God.

“Oh sweetheart,” I whispered, my chest shattering. “You shouldn’t have to know any of this. You shouldn’t

have to worry-

“But I do,” he whispered fiercely, still not looking at me. “Because someone has to. Because she can’t-she can’t fight people and she can’t run fast and she can’t-”

His voice broke completely.

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I couldn’t stop the tears that slipped down my face.

Aaron’s hand slid over George’s shoulder, firm and grounding. “You don’t have to protect the whole world, buddy.” His voice was soft, soft in a way few people ever heard. “That’s my job.”

George didn’t answer.

Didn’t move.

Didn’t breathe.

But his lower lip trembled.

Just once.

Then-

Aaron’s phone rang.

Shrill.

Sharp.

Urgent.

He stiffened.

Looked at the screen.

His breath… changed.

Connor.

He stood slowly, answering the call.

Silence.

Then:

“I’ll be there immediately.”

My stomach lurched.

“Aaron?” My voice scraped out.

He looked at me-eyes dark, deadly, determined.

But behind it… something else.

Hope.

“Connor says the police found something.”

My breath caught.

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“Something?” Rosemary echoed from behind us, voice trembling.

Aaron nodded once.

He leaned down, cupped the back of my neck, kissed my forehead for half a second-quick, urgent, terrified.

“I’ll be back soon,” he murmured. “I promise.”

Something in me broke at that word.

Promise.

He turned to Rosemary.

“Take care of her Mom. Don’t let her move too much. Don’t let her go anywhere alone. She wasn’t officially discharged from the hospital.”

Rosemary nodded, swallowing thickly. “Of course.”

Richard already gone from the doorway-had slipped away at some point. I didn’t even hear the car.

—

Dorian stepped forward. “I’m going with him.”

Aaron nodded.

Then kissed the top of Sabine’s head.

Touched George’s shoulder.

Touched my cheek last.

His thumb brushed away a tear I didn’t realize had fallen.

Then he turned.

And left.

The door closed behind them.

Sabine cuddled deeper into me, exhausted.

George stared at the floor, fists clenched.

And all I could think-

all I could feel-

was the echo of Gerald’s voice in that detention room,

“You’ll never find her.”

Andrea.

The Marlowes were supposed to be done.

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