The CEO's Midnight Remedy novel Chapter 103

Aria’s POV

The weight of Devon’s words-“Then let the storm begin“-hung in the air between us, electric and dangerous. In the Plaza Hotel’s VIP lounge, we stood at the precipice of destruction, my wedding dress rustling softly as I shifted my weight.

Suddenly, Devon pulled me against him, his hand firm on my lower back. I felt the heat of his palm through the silk of my dress as he leaned close, his voice dropping to a whisper against my ear. “You should know, this will completely destroy the partnership between Harper and Blake.”

His breath warmed my skin, sending an involuntary shiver down my spine. I stared into his storm–gray eyes, finding something there I hadn’t expected–intense desire beneath his concern.

I’ve never cared about the partnership,” I said, holding his gaze. “I only care about truth and dignity.”

Devon’s eyes darkened as they dropped to my lips. His thumb traced a slow path along my jawline, the slight pressure both possessive and questioning. My pulse quickened under his touch.

Before he could respond, I leaned forward and pressed my lips against his. He froze for a split second–I felt his surprise in

the tension of his body–before he responded with calculated intensity. His hand slid from my back to grip my waist,

fingers digging into the fabric as he pulled me closer. His other hand moved to the nape of my neck, controlling the angle

of the kiss as he deepened it.

His lips were firm, demanding, taking rather than asking. I felt the edge of his teeth against my lower lip, not quite biting but threatening to. When his tongue pushed past my lips, the invasion was deliberate, commanding. I responded despite myself, my hands gripping the lapels of his suit.

When we finally broke apart, his breathing was uneven. His eyes remained fixed on mine, pupils dilated with unmistakable hunger. “You say I’m dangerous,” he murmured, his fingers still possessively wrapped around the back of my neck. “But it seems we’re cut from the same cloth, Miss Harper.”

I stepped back, feeling the flush spreading across my cheeks and down my neck. His eyes tracked the color as it moved, noting my reaction with evident satisfaction. I reached into my clutch with fingers that weren’t quite steady.

“This drive contains everything,” I said, extracting a small black USB. “Your tech team should be able to push it during the champagne tower ceremony.”

Devon took it, deliberately letting his fingers slide against mine. His expression shifted to something calculated and certain. His lips curled into a knowing smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

“The game continues,” he said, pocketing the drive. “There’s no turning back now.” His voice carried a finality, but his eyes communicated something else entirely–a promise of continued entanglement, of unfinished business between us. He

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Chapter 103

looked at me with the confidence of a man who already knew the outcome, a predator certain of his prey.

I registered his meaning instantly. This wasn’t just about our revenge plot–he was telling me that whatever was

happening between us was far from over. The realization sent a complicated mixture of dread and anticipation through

1. me.

1 smoothed my dress and checked my reflection. My lips were visibly swollen, my cheeks flushed. I reapplied my lipstick

with as much steadiness as I could muster.

“There was never any turning back,” I replied, my voice cooler than I felt.

When I returned to the ballroom, the celebration was in full swing. New York’s elite circulated through the room, champagne flutes in hand, air kisses exchanged with practiced precision. The editor of Vogue complimented my gown, calling it “daringly traditional.” I smiled and thanked her, playing my part with perfection.

Ethan appeared at my side moments later, his hand possessively on my lower back. “Where did you disappear to?” he asked, his voice light but his eyes sharp. I could smell Scarlett’s perfume on his collar.

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