The CEO's Midnight Remedy novel Chapter 36

**Dust Writes New Stories by Rei Holt Wilder**
**Chapter 36**

I shot my father a look of disbelief, a mixture of confusion and irritation swirling within me. He seemed utterly unfazed, pointedly ignoring my gaze as if it were a mere fly buzzing around his head. The lilies sitting before us were definitely not a gift from me; I was acutely aware of Ethan’s allergy to them—a detail my father had apparently let slip through the cracks of his memory.

Ethan accepted the flowers with a slight grimace that he quickly masked with a strained smile. “Thank you, Aria. It really means a lot that you’re thinking of me,” he said, his voice warm yet tinged with discomfort.

“No problem,” I replied, my tone cool and detached. “It was the least I could do.” I felt a pang of guilt for my indifference, but I quickly pushed it aside.

William, my father, continued the charade with a flourish, “Aria’s been so worried about you, Ethan.” He leaned forward, his eyes sparkling with the kind of sincerity that felt almost theatrical. “She’s just too stubborn to admit it. But deep down, her heart is in the right place; she still cares.”

Ethan’s smile widened, and he reached for my hand, his fingers brushing against mine. “I know. It’s one of the things I love about her.”

I allowed him to take my hand, feeling a strange reluctance to pull away. His touch was too soft, too hesitant, a stark contrast to Devon’s confident grip that lingered in my memory.

Devon. Just the thought of his name sent a rush of heat coursing through my veins, a reminder of everything I was trying to ignore. I needed to concentrate on the present, to navigate the awkwardness of this moment.

“Ethan,” my father interjected, folding his newspaper with a decisive snap. “To celebrate your discharge, I’ve made a reservation at Le Bernardin. It’s essential that we have a proper meal together.”

The implication hung in the air like a heavy fog, and judging by Ethan’s eager nod and Marianne’s pleased smile, they were all aligned on a page I had no desire to read.

“I’m not sure I’m up for a big lunch,” I protested, trying to inject some urgency into my voice. “I have a lot of work waiting for me at the office.”

“Nonsense,” William dismissed my excuse with a casual wave of his hand, as if swatting away a bothersome fly. “Your company can survive without you for one afternoon. This is important.”

Silence enveloped me as I mentally plotted my escape. Perhaps I could fake an emergency call during lunch…

“I know, I know,” he said hastily, his voice rising slightly. “But people make mistakes. I’m only human.”

I almost laughed at the familiarity of his excuse. It was the same one he had wielded like a shield when I caught him flirting with a model at Fashion Week last year. The same one he had used when I discovered texts from his ex-girlfriend on his phone. Always just a mistake. Always meaningless.

“Some mistakes can’t be undone,” I said quietly, the weight of my words hanging in the air between us.

Before he could respond, the car pulled up to Le Bernardin. As I stepped out onto the sidewalk, a familiar figure caught my eye—Devon Kane, impeccably dressed in a charcoal suit, was approaching the restaurant with a tall blonde woman on his arm.

My heart lurched uncomfortably in my chest. Devon hadn’t mentioned any lunch plans when he left me yesterday, and he certainly hadn’t said anything about bringing a date. The woman beside him exuded a stunning elegance, the kind that hinted at old money and impeccable breeding.

Ethan tensed beside me, his expression darkening as he spotted Devon. “Well, if it isn’t the man who nearly killed me,” he said, his tone loud enough for Devon to hear, a sharp edge of hostility lacing his words.