The CEO's Midnight Remedy novel Chapter 204

Aria’s POV

Chapter 204

Aria’s POV

“You want what?‘ Victoria’s voice cracked with panic through my earpiece, I felt a rush of cold satisfaction flood through me as I sat in Ryan’s car, parked two blocks away from the meeting site. My hands trembled slightly–not from nervousness, but from a potent mixture of vindication and long–suppressed rage finally finding its outlet.

“Five million dollars,” the man replied coolly. His voice was calm, professional–exactly what I’d asked for when Ryan recruited him. Otherwise, these photos and videos will be sent to every major news outlet and socialite on the Upper East Side. Your husband might know, but the world doesn’t. Think of the Harper family’s reputation.”

“This is absurd! I don’t have that kind of money!” Victoria’s desperate tone pierced through the earpiece. I closed my eyes, savoring each panicked syllable.

“Two days, the man stated firmly. “Otherwise, the entire Upper East Side will know Victoria Harper’s true face. Think about your social standing, and your daughter’s future,”

I could visualize her perfectly made–up face now–eyes widening, lips trembling, the careful facade of composure crumbling away. The woman who had methodically dismantled my mother’s life was now watching her own begin to unravel. The thought sent a wave of dark pleasure through me, followed

immediately by a stab of guilt that surprised me with its intensity. My mother wouldn’t have wanted this. But then again, my mother never got to see what Victoria truly was.

“I need time,” Victoria pleaded. “This isn’t something I can arrange overnight.”

“Two days,” the man repeated, unmoved. “We’ll be in touch with the transfer details.”

The conversation ended, and I watched through the tablet as the two men left the meeting place, a nondescript bench in Central Park. They walked casually

toward the parking lot where Ryan and I were waiting.

When they approached the car, I rolled down the window and handed them a thick envelope, my fingers still unsteady.

“Well done,” I said, appreciating their professional demeanor. “Keep pressuring her for the next two days. Send her more photos.”

*She looked really scared,” one of them commented, tucking the envelope into his jacket.

I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the conflicting emotions warring inside me. “The money she has was Harper money to begin with. Money my mother worked hard for. I’m just taking back what’s mine.” The words came out harder than I intended brittle with the weight of years of helpless anger.

After they left, Ryan turned to me, his expression concerned. ‘It’s done. There’s no turning back now. How are you holding up?”

A days I felt my throat constrict with emotion. ‘Do you know

“So is arson,” I replied, my voice dropping to barely above a whisper. “She burned down my mother’s beach house, Ryan. The home where I spent every summer growing p. Where my mother taught me to swim, where we painted seashells on rainy what she said when I confronted her? ‘It was just a house, Aria. You can always build/another one. As if my mother’s memory could be rebuilt with new

walls and fresh paint.”

Ryan reached over and squeezed my hand. “I know it meant everything to you.”

It was all I had left of her, I admitted, the words scraping my throat raw. “Every corner of that house held b

she was taking from me.”

voice, her laugh. Victoria knew exactly what

Ryan nodded, starting the car. “Let’s get some dinner. You need to eat something before you face the rest of tonight.”

1/2

18:18 Wed, Dec 31 M

Chapter 204

At Il Giardino, I struggled to focus on the plate before me. The pasta tasted like ash in my mouth as Ryan updated me on the rest of our plan.

“I’ve instructed the guys to send her a new photo every twelve hours, each one more compromising than the last, he explained. “I think she’ll be desperate. enough to agree to anything sooner or later.”

My phone chimed with a text message. I glanced down to see Scarlett’s name and felt my stomach knot with tension.

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“You want what?‘ Victoria’s voice cracked with panic through my earpiece, I felt a rush of cold satisfaction flood through me as I sat in Ryan’s car, parked two blocks away from the meeting site. My hands trembled slightly–not from nervousness, but from a potent mixture of vindication and long–suppressed rage finally finding its outlet.

“Five million dollars,” the man replied coolly. His voice was calm, professional–exactly what I’d asked for when Ryan recruited him. Otherwise, these photos and videos will be sent to every major news outlet and socialite on the Upper East Side. Your husband might know, but the world doesn’t. Think of the Harper family’s reputation.”

“This is absurd! I don’t have that kind of money!” Victoria’s desperate tone pierced through the earpiece. I closed my eyes, savoring each panicked syllable.

“Two days, the man stated firmly. “Otherwise, the entire Upper East Side will know Victoria Harper’s true face. Think about your social standing, and your daughter’s future,”

I could visualize her perfectly made–up face now–eyes widening, lips trembling, the careful facade of composure crumbling away. The woman who had methodically dismantled my mother’s life was now watching her own begin to unravel. The thought sent a wave of dark pleasure through me, followed

immediately by a stab of guilt that surprised me with its intensity. My mother wouldn’t have wanted this. But then again, my mother never got to see what Victoria truly was.

“I need time,” Victoria pleaded. “This isn’t something I can arrange overnight.”

“Two days,” the man repeated, unmoved. “We’ll be in touch with the transfer details.”

The conversation ended, and I watched through the tablet as the two men left the meeting place, a nondescript bench in Central Park. They walked casually

toward the parking lot where Ryan and I were waiting.

When they approached the car, I rolled down the window and handed them a thick envelope, my fingers still unsteady.

“Well done,” I said, appreciating their professional demeanor. “Keep pressuring her for the next two days. Send her more photos.”

*She looked really scared,” one of them commented, tucking the envelope into his jacket.

I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the conflicting emotions warring inside me. “The money she has was Harper money to begin with. Money my mother worked hard for. I’m just taking back what’s mine.” The words came out harder than I intended brittle with the weight of years of helpless anger.

After they left, Ryan turned to me, his expression concerned. ‘It’s done. There’s no turning back now. How are you holding up?”

A days I felt my throat constrict with emotion. ‘Do you know

“So is arson,” I replied, my voice dropping to barely above a whisper. “She burned down my mother’s beach house, Ryan. The home where I spent every summer growing p. Where my mother taught me to swim, where we painted seashells on rainy what she said when I confronted her? ‘It was just a house, Aria. You can always build/another one. As if my mother’s memory could be rebuilt with new

walls and fresh paint.”

Ryan reached over and squeezed my hand. “I know it meant everything to you.”

It was all I had left of her, I admitted, the words scraping my throat raw. “Every corner of that house held b

she was taking from me.”

voice, her laugh. Victoria knew exactly what

Ryan nodded, starting the car. “Let’s get some dinner. You need to eat something before you face the rest of tonight.”

1/2

18:18 Wed, Dec 31 M

Chapter 204

At Il Giardino, I struggled to focus on the plate before me. The pasta tasted like ash in my mouth as Ryan updated me on the rest of our plan.

“I’ve instructed the guys to send her a new photo every twelve hours, each one more compromising than the last, he explained. “I think she’ll be desperate. enough to agree to anything sooner or later.”

My phone chimed with a text message. I glanced down to see Scarlett’s name and felt my stomach knot with tension.

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