The CEO's Midnight Remedy novel Chapter 337

Chapter 337

Aria’s POV

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After watching the police car drive away with my father inside, I stood frozen on the steps of the Harper mansion. My hands trembled, I had just turned in my own father for murder. The weight of that truth settled into my bones, making each breath difficult. The mansion behind me suddenly felt alien–no longer a home but a monument to decades of lies.

I needed to move, to act. The company would already be feeling the aftershocks. My fingers felt numb as I called for a car.

During the ride to Harper Group, I stared out the window but saw nothing. My mind raced between moments of cold certainty–he deserved this, justice for my mother–and waves of nauseating doubt. What had I done? Was this really what Mother would have wanted? The rational part of me knew the answer,

but another part, the little girl who once adored her father, ached.

My heels clicked against the marble floor as I entered the Harper Group building. The security guard looked up, recognition flashing in his eyes before he

quickly averted his gaze. His discomfort was palpable. The first of many reactions I would face today.

The moment I stepped into the elevator, my phone erupted with notifications. I inched at the sudden noise. Breaking news alerts from TMZ, Page Six, and

every major outlet dominated my screen: “HARPER MEDIA MOGUL ARRESTED FOR WIFE’S MURDER,” “FAMILY CONSPIRACY UNCOVERED AT HARPER

GROUP,” “CEO WILLIAM HARPER FACES LIFE SENTENCE.”

My stomach clenched. I leaned against the elevator wall, suddenly light–headed. d known this would happen, had prepared for it, but seeing the headlines-

my private pain transformed into public entertainment–made me feel physically ill.

By the time I reached our floor, the office was in disarray. Employees clustered in corners, their voices creating an anxious hum that died immediately when I appeared. Eyes darted toward me, then away. Anna, my assistant, rushed toward me, her face drained of color, tablet clutched so tightly to her chest her knuckles were white.

“Ms. Harper, it’s everywhere,” she whispered, her voice cracking as she swiped through Instagram and Twitter feeds. “#HarperScandal and #MurderMogul are trending nationwide. Clients have been calling non–stop since 6 AM.”

I swallowed hard, feeling the panic rise. Not here. Not now.

*Conference room. Ten minutes. Get everyone,” I managed to say, my voice steadier than I expected.

Inside my office, I closed the door and pressed my forehead against the cool glass My heart hammered against my ribs. Breathe in. Breathe out. I allowed myself exactly thirty seconds of naked fear–hands gripping my desk until my fingers hurt, eyes squeezed shut, breath shallow and quick–before forcing myself to stand straight. I smoothed my skirt with shaking hands, applied a fresh coat of lipstick without looking in the mirror. I couldn’t fall apart. Not when everyone was watching.

The conference room fell silent when I entered. Thirty pairs of eyes tracked me as I walked to the head of the table, each gaze holding some mixture of curiosity, pity, and apprehension. I could feel sweat forming at the small of my back, but I kept my expression neutral, chin lifted.

“The news reports are accurate,‘ I began, grateful that my voice didn’t betray the hurning in my stomach. William Harper was arrested last night. But this is a family matter, not a company crisis. Our work and professional capabilities main unchanged.

Sophia stepped forward, projecting analytics onto the screen. Her eyes kept darting to me, checking if I was okay. I gave her an almost imperceptible nod.

“The negative coverage shows a coordinated pattern,‘ she explained, her voice tag on a professional tone that helped ground me. “These weren’t organic stories–they broke simultaneously across six outlets, with identical information out Victoria’s testimony.

Calvin Reeds office just emailed, a designer interrupted, glancing at her phone with wide eyes. “They want to pause our collaboration pending further developments.”

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Chapter 337

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The room erupted in worried murmurs. Reed Group represented twenty percent

beginning.

our revenue. I felt a cold trickle of dread down my spine. This was just the

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