The CEO's Midnight Remedy novel Chapter 276

Chapter 276

Aria’s POV

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Having instructed Garrett to keep investigating the Blake family matter, I remained in my car for almost twenty minutes, drumming my fingers restlessly on the steering wheel.

The revelation that my own father was conspiring with my ex–fiancé’s family to undermine me shouldn’t have surprised me. Yet somehow, it still cut deep. I’d gotten what I wanted–Victoria was gone, and I’d moved back into the Harper mansion. But what was the point of

reclaiming my place in a house where my father plotted against me?

I made my decision and started the engine. Within thirty minutes, I’d packed two suitcases with essentials. No one questioned me as I carried them downstairs and loaded them into my car. The Harper mansion had never felt like home since my mother died anyway.

The drive to Devon’s building passed in a blur. Devon had given me a key during our second month together–a practical decision, he’d

claimed at the time, nothing more. I wondered what he’d say if he knew I was using it to essentially move in without his knowledge or

permission.

The elevator ride to the top floor gave me time to question my choices. Was I really going to Devon Kane for help? The man who’d started

as a business arrangement and somehow become… what exactly? My lover? My protector? A man who seemed to want me yet kept me at

a calculated distance?

It was only then that I realized his apartment looked somewhat different than it had a few months earlier. The minimalist design and

expensive furnishings were still there, but something had changed. As I walked through the entryway, my eyes caught sight of a silk scarf

-my scarf–draped casually over a chair. Floor–to–ceiling windows still showcased the glittering Manhattan skyline, but the space no

longer felt completely unlived in.

I placed my suitcases by the door and moved toward the kitchen, surprised to find it stocked with my favorite brand of tea and the dark

chocolate I’d mentioned liking weeks ago. Opening the bathroom door revealed even more surprises–women’s toiletries arranged neatly

beside the sink, the lavender bath salts I’d used during my last visit, and a new bathrobe in my size hanging on the door.

These weren’t just random female items; they were specifically things I’d used or mentioned in passing. Had Devon been collecting them with each of my visits? Or had he deliberately purchased them with me in mind? The thought that he might have been preparing for my

eventual return sent an unexpected warmth through me.

The cold, showroom–perfect penthouse had subtle touches of… me. It was still undeniably Devon’s domain, but these small concessions to my presence softened its edges, transforming the space from merely impressive to surprisingly intimate.

I settled at the dining table with my laptop, spreading out the documents Garrett had given me earlier. Three meetings between my father and the Blakes in two weeks. A coordinated effort to push me out of Harper Group. I needed to know more, particularly about Marianne Blake’s involvement. My mother’s former best friend was now actively working against me–I needed to understand why.

After hours of work, hunger finally drove me to the kitchen. Devon’s refrigerator contained exactly what I expected: premium ingredients, barely touched. I settled for making instant ramen from my emergency purse stash, eating it directly from the pot while staring at the city

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Chapter 276

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“Breaking and entering now, Ms. Harper?”

Devon’s voice startled me so badly I nearly dropped my chopsticks. He stood in the entryway, his suit jacket draped over one arm, loosened, eyes fixed on me with an expression I couldn’t quite read.

“I have a key,” I replied, trying to sound casual while standing in his kitchen eating instant noodles.

tie

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“Yes, for emergencies.” His gaze drifted to my suitcases by the door. “Moving in seems a bit presumptuous, even for you.”

I set down my ramen. “I need a place to stay temporarily and some help getting information. The Blake family is working with my father to undermine me at Harper Group.”

“And here I thought you might have missed me,” he said, dropping his jacket on a chair. “What about your boy Reed? No room at his place?”

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