The CEO's Midnight Remedy novel Chapter 178

Chapter 178

Aria’s POV

Devon gently caressed my face, his expression suddenly becoming unreadable. “Let’s go back outside. I need to change,” he said, his voice flat.

1 exhaled with relief, sliding out of his bed and leaving his bedroom. The vulnerability I’d shown moments ago by admitting I needed his protection had been difficult, but his tender response had made me feel both exposed and secure.

When Devon emerged minutes later, his demeanor had completely transformed. His jaw was clenched tight, eyes cold with a distant anger that clearly wasn’t

directed at me but seemed to consume him nonetheless.

“I have to go out,” he announced, barely glancing at me as he adjusted his platinum cufflinks with sharp, agitated movements. “You can stay if you want. Tell

the housekeeper if you need anything to eat.”

Before I could respond, he strode toward the elevator, his posture rigid with tension.

“Is Mr. Kane okay?” I asked the housekeeper when she noticed my confused expression.

She sighed, a knowing look crossing her face. “His father is very angry. The young master will likely be dealing with family matters all night. She trailed off,

shaking her head slightly. “He probably won’t be back tonight.”

I felt a pang of concern. Whatever was happening with Devon’s family clearly overshadowed whatever connection we’d shared just moments ago. I gathered

my things, deciding not to linger in his apartment alone.

I’d sent De

Back in my apartment, I checked my phone for the dozenth time. I’d sent Devon three messages since leaving his place–nothing demanding, just checking if he was okay after his abrupt departure. Three hours later, I still hadn’t received a reply.

I stood by the window overlooking the twinkling lights of distant Manhattan, debating whether to call him. Would that seem too desperate? Too needy? I

placed my phone down, then picked it up again, this cycle of hesitation making me feel pathetic.

“When did I become this person?” I whispered to the empty room. “Waiting for a man’s response like my existence depends on it?”

With a frustrated sigh, I tossed my phone onto the couch and headed to the shower, determined to wash away these unwelcome feelings of dependency.

The next day, I went to work at the company as usual. After a day of tidying up by the housekeeping staff hired by Sofia, my company was almost back in order. Then Rex walked into my office so casually.

“Ms. Harper, he said, placing a check on my desk. “Three hundred thousand dollars. Consider it a gift.”

I stared at the check, then back at him, keeping my expression carefully neutral despite my racing heart. “I don’t accept gifts from strangers, especially not ones with suspicious origins.”

Rex smiled thinly. “About what happened at your office the day before yesterday,” he continued. “My employer would like to consider the matter settled.”

“Would he?” I leaned forward, maintaining eye contact. “I don’t recall agreeing to any settlement.”

“Look, Ms. Harper,” Rex shifted his weight, clearly uncomfortable with my refusal to play along. “Let’s be practical. You want this problem to go away; we

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Chapter 178

want to avoid unnecessary complications.”

“What I want,” I said, “is information about the loan Victoria Ross Harper supposedly took out using my mother’s signature.”

His eyes narrowed. “I can’t discuss clients.”

“Then we have nothing to discuss at all,” I replied, sliding the check back toward him. “And I’ll be speaking with the FBI about forged loan documents and

criminal intimidation tactics.”

The silence stretched between us, a battle of wills I refused to lose.

“Fine,” he finally said. “But this doesn’t come from me.”

What followed was a detailed account of Victoria’s financial desperation–over five million dollars borrowed at exorbitant interest rates, payments increasingly late. Most interestingly, the money hadn’t been transferred to Victoria directly, but to someone named Eugene Foster.

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