The CEO's Midnight Remedy novel Chapter 199

Aria’s POV

My father stood in the center of our luxurious living room, his posture rigid with fury as he gripped his tablet so tightly his knuckles had turned white. Victoria still knelt before him, her carefully applied mascara now creating dark rivers down her cheeks.

“When,” my father’s voice was dangerously quiet, “did I, William Harper, sink so low that I need my wife to sell her body to handle scandals? Wouldn’t that

just create more scandals?”

Victoria’s hands trembled as she reached for him. “William, please, I swear I didn’t know he would suddenly kiss me! It was just a business meeting to

handle the situation with Scarlett and Ethan. I was trying to protect our family!”

I leaned against the banister, a rush of satisfaction warming my chest. For years, I’d watched Victoria manipulate my father with her tears and trembling voice. Now he was finally seeing through her act–or at least beginning to question it. I pressed my lips together to suppress the smile threatening to form.

“If I’m lying,” Victoria continued, placing a hand over her heart, “may God take away my title as Mrs. Harper forever.”

I noticed the flicker of doubt in my father’s eyes and felt my satisfaction drain away, replaced by a familiar bitterness. Four years of marriage had conditioned him to believe Victoria’s tears. The pattern was so predictable it made me sick–her tears, his hesitation, her triumph.

Victoria seized on his momentary weakness, pulling out her phone with shaking fingers. ‘I’ll prove it to you,” she said, dialing a number and putting it on speaker. “Leila? Could you please tell William what happened at the hotel yesterday?”

As her assistant’s voice filled the room with a carefully crafted explanation, I dug my nails into my palm. Of course Victoria had prepared for this. The woman was nothing if not thorough in her deceptions.

When the call ended, Victoria looked up at my father with wounded eyes. “You heard it yourself, William, I was only asking for his help. Leila is the assistant you personally selected for me–she wouldn’t lie to you.”

Scarlett chose this moment to rush in, clinging to my father’s arm. “Daddy, please forgive Mom. She did nothing wrong!”

For once, my father didn’t immediately melt at Scarlett’s touch. Instead, he turned to her with unexpected anger. “If you and the Blake boy hadn’t created this mess, your mother wouldn’t have needed to beg others for help!”

A surge of vindication rose within me. Finally–finally!-my father was directing some of his anger at his precious Scarlett.

Scarlett’s eyes immediately welled with tears. “I’m sorry, Daddy. I promise I’ll never do anything like that again.”

I considered my options as I watched them. The folder of evidence on my laptop contained much more damaging information–proof that could destroy Victoria completely. My finger twitched, eager to deliver the final blow, but I forced myself to wait. Timing was crucial in this game we were playing.

Finally, my father spoke. “Victoria, starting tonight, you’ll move to the Madison Park apartment. Until I get to the bottom of this, you are not to return home.” His voice hardened. “And if I discover you’ve lied to me, you’ll never set foot in a Harper home again.”

I quietly ascended the stairs, a cool sense of accomplishment settling over me. Aljout twenty minutes later, I heard the distinctive purr of a luxury car pulling away from the house. One battle won.

When I came downstairs for dinner, Scarlett was waiting at the bottom of the stairs, her eyes puffy but filled with accusation.

“It was you, wasn’t it?” she hissed, blocking my path.

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17:43 Tue, Dec 30 RM

Chapter 199

I ignored her, turning to Aisha. “Is dinner ready? I’m famished.”

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