The CEO's Midnight Remedy novel Chapter 181

The CEO’s Midnight Remedy

Chapter 181

Aria’s POV

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My stomach dropped. Caroline Hayes–the woman Devon’s mother had selected as his perfect match. The woman he was supposedly going to marry. And now she was engaged to his best friend?

“Interesting,” I managed, keeping my voice even. “I wasn’t aware.”

Jeremy’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “I saw how you reacted. Don’t tell me you have feelings for Noah?”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” I said sharply. “We barely know each other.”

“If you say so.” His smile was knowing. “Anyway, I need a plus–one for the event. You’d be perfect–we could discuss the Hampton house renovation there.”

Before I could respond, he glanced at his watch and stood. “I have another appointment. Think about it–the party’s in three days. I’ll pick you up at seven.”

He was gone before I could object, leaving me wondering if Devon’s five–day silence had anything to do with Caroline’s engagement to Noah. Was he upset? Relieved? Did he even care? And why did I care what Devon Kane felt?

That evening, I returned to the Harper family mansion. The house was quiet as I entered, but as I passed the living room, I heard muffled

crying.

Victoria sat on the cream–colored sofa, her face turned away. When she sensed my presence, she quickly dabbed at her eyes with a

monogrammed handkerchief.

“Aria,” she said, her voice artificially bright. “I didn’t hear you come in.”

As she turned, I saw what she had been trying to hide–a purplish bruise blooming across her left cheekbone and a swollen area near her

right eye.

“What happened to your face?” I asked, not bothering to mask my curiosity.

“I… I fell,” she said, the lie transparent.

“Must have been quite a fall,” I remarked. “Or did you do something that wasn’t… becoming of a Harper?”

Her eyes narrowed at my thinly veiled accusation. “I don’t know what you’re implying.”

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12:26 Sun, Dec 28 M

Chapter 181

Tom nut implying anything, I replied, keiting down my bag. Just curious about how the wife of William Harper ended up looking like she went three rounds in a busing ring.”

“That a enough, Aria, my father’s voice cut in as he entered from his study. “Victoria doesn’t need your interrogation.

Victoria’s eyes welled with fresh tears, “It’s fine, William. I should tell her. She turned to me with a sigh. I sent an antique brooch to the Brown family yesterday. Apparently, it was… not as tasteful as I thought. They didn’t appreciate the gesture.

My father placed a protective hand on her shoulder. “It was a misunderstanding.”

A misunderstanding that resulted in physical harm?” I asked incredulously, “Shouldn’t we involve the police?”

“Absolutely not,‘ my father snapped. “The last thing we need is more scandal. The matter is closed.”

I nodded slowly, then deliberately changed the subject. “By the way, Victoria, I wasn’t trying to invade your privacy when I came into your room this morning. I was just looking for that distinctive cologne you were wearing when you came home last night.” I studied her face carefully. “It smelled like men’s fragrance rather than perfume, Quite unique–I thought it might suit me for a business meeting.

Victoria’s face visibly tensed, her fingers gripping the handkerchief tighter. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I wasn’t wearing any special fragrance.”

“Really? That’s strange. I distinctly remember smelling it when you passed my door after midnight.” I tilted my head innocently. “Perhaps I was mistaken. Though I do have an excellent sense of smell.”

My father placed a protective hand on Victoria’s shoulder. “Aria, Victoria is tired. This isn’t the time for your interrogations about perfume,”

Victoria’s eyes darted nervously between my father and me. “It’s just a new scent I’m trying. Nothing special. I’ll get you the name tomorrow.”

The tension in her voice told me everything I needed to know. She hadn’t been visiting the Browns last night–and wherever she had been, it wasn’t somewhere she wanted my father to know about.

Dinner was a tense affair. My father and I ate in silence until Scarlett swept into the dining room, twenty minutes late and dressed in a pristine white dress that made her look like she was headed to a yacht club rather than a family dinner.

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