The CEO's Midnight Remedy novel Chapter 212

Chapter 212

Aria’s POV

The contrast between us couldn’t have been more stark–him seated comfortably, every movement refined and controlled; me standing rigidly, barely daring to breathe too loudly. The silence stretched between us like a taut wire.

“I can’t prove it,” I finally said, breaking the heavy quiet. “I have no evidence that I didn’t contact Ethan, because proving a negative is

impossible.”

Devon looked up from his plate, his expression unreadable. He dabbed the corner of his mouth with a napkin before responding.

“Then what would you have me believe, Ms. Harper?” His voice was calm, almost pleasant, but I recognized the danger lurking beneath.

“If you don’t trust me, there’s nothing I can say that will change your mind.” I squared my shoulders, a strange calm settling over me. “So do whatever you think is necessary.”

Something flickered in Devon’s eyes–surprise, perhaps, at my resigned tone. He pushed back from the table and approached me slowly, like a predator stalking prey. Every instinct screamed for me to back away, but I held my ground.

Without warning, his hand shot out, fingers wrapping around my throat. Not squeezing, not yet, but the threat was clear.

“Perhaps I should handle this personally,” he murmured, his face inches from mine. “No need to involve anyone else.”

I felt his pulse through his fingertips, or maybe it was my own racing heartbeat. His thumb moved slightly, finding the delicate spot where my pulse throbbed beneath the skin. A strange expression crossed his face–something like satisfaction at feeling the physical evidence of

my fear.

Yet I didn’t struggle. I looked directly into his eyes, my gaze steady despite the terror coursing through me.

“If that’s what you want,” I whispered.

For several heartbeats, we remained frozen in this macabre tableau. Then, as suddenly as he’d grabbed me,

he released his hold.

“Since you claim there was nothing, I’ll choose to believe you. For now.” He turned away, buttoning his suit jacket. “Consider yourself

fortunate.”

Relief flooded through me, quickly followed by a wave of anger at myself for feeling grateful to a man who had just threatened my life. But as he moved, I noticed a dark stain spreading on his white shirt cuff–blood seeping through the bandage on his wounded arm.

“Your wound is bleeding again,” I said, my voice steadier than I expected. “Let me help you with that.”

He paused, looking over his shoulder at me with mild surprise.

1/2

60

17:00 Thu, Jan 1

Chapter 212

“There’s a first aid kit in the bathroom,” he said after a moment, beginning to unbutton his shirt.

50

1 retrieved the kit and returned to find him seated on the edge of a leather sofa, shirt partially open. The sight of his bare chest momentarily distracted me–the defined muscles, the smooth skin, the intriguing trail of dark hair disappearing beneath his waistband. I forced my eyes to the bandage on his belly, where blood had indeed seeped through.

As I carefully removed the soiled bandage, I gasped at the sight of the wound. It was deeper than I’d imagined, the edges red and raw. The reopened gash looked painful, and I wondered how he’d maintained such composure.

“This hasn’t healed at all,” I murmured, dabbing antiseptic on the wound. “It keeps reopening. You should have a doctor look at it.”

“It’s fine,” he replied curtly, but I noticed the slight tension in his jaw as the antiseptic stung.

I worked in silence, applying fresh ointment and wrapping the wound with clean gauze. The intimacy of the moment wasn’t lost on me- his skin warm beneath my fingertips, his breath slow and measured, the subtle scent of his cologne. For these brief minutes, the power dynamic between us seemed to shift slightly.

When I finished securing the bandage, our eyes met. Something unspoken passed between us–not quite trust, but perhaps a temporary

truce.

“Thank you,” he said, his voice surprisingly gentle.

“You’re welcome,” I replied, packing away the first aid supplies.

Devon buttoned his shirt and stood. “You should go now. I’ll handle Mr. Blake from here.”

I nodded, gathering my things.

“Oh, and Ms. Harper?” he called as I reached the door. “I understand you were at Blue Sapphire last night for your stepsister’s birthday celebration. It seems yesterday’s incident was coordinated between the two of them.” His lips curved into a cold smile. “I’ll take care of Mr. Blake. Your stepsister, however, is your responsibility.”

Comments

LIKE

Write Comments

SHARE