The CEO's Midnight Remedy novel Chapter 361

Chapter 361

“The project needs more time, I lied.

Devon texted twice. “Project going smoothly?” and Weed help?” Both messages read like business

inquiries, nothing more.

My replies matched his tone. “Everything’s fine.” and “Don’t need any.”

Neither of us mentioned our fight. Neither brought up Eleanor’s intervention. We maintained a polite distance, separated by unsaid secrets and a thousand miles.

But the emptiness inside me only grew.

On what should have been my last night in Chicago, canceled all work obligations. Austin from the office invited me to try a famous deep dish place in River North. Through the floor–to–ceiling windows, I saw it first–the black Rolls–Royce Phantom parked at the curb, Marcus standing beside it

with military precision.

My heart stopped.

The car door opened. Devon emerged in a charcoal gray suit, hands in his pockets, brow slightly furrowed in that way he had when deep in thought. He looked exactly as I remembered and nothing like what I’d convinced myself to forget.

I stood abruptly, nearly knocking over my water glass. “I need the restroom.”

Austin barely looked up from his menu. “Sure.”

I practically ran toward the back of the restaurant, my heels clicking too loudly on the hardwood floor. But there was only a staircase leading upward, no exit, no escape.

A middle–aged man descended the stairs, glancing past me. “Mr. Kane, your private room is ready.

This way, please.”

“No.” I dove into the small restroom tucked in the stairwell corner, pressing my back against the door. Through the crack, I watched Devon’s shoes pause–expensive Italian leather–then continue up the stairs. His footsteps were measured, confident, unhurried.

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Chapter 361

I waited ten minutes. Fifteen. My phone buzzed with concerned texts from Austin. When I was certain Devon had settled into his private room, I crept back downstairs.

“You okay?” Austin studied my face as I slid into my seat. “You look really pale.”

I forced a smile. “Just preg-” The word caught in my throat. “Just feeling queasy. The smell, you

know,”

“Idiot.” I’d almost said it. Almost exposed everything

92%

I ended dinner early, claiming exhaustion. Back at The Langham Chicago, I showered and tried to convince myself that seeing Devon had been coincidence. That he wasn’t here because of me.

I was blow–drying my hair when someone knocked.

Probably Austin with my scarf. I’d left it at the restaurant. Without thinking, I opened the door.

Devon stood in the hallway. He’d shed his suit jacket, rolled his shirtsleeves to his elbows. His gray eyes held something I couldn’t read–something controlled and dangerous.

I moved to close the door. His hand shot out, palm flat against the doorframe with enough force to

make me step back.

“Running from me?” His voice was low, cold.

“I’m not running. I’m working.”

He walked in without invitation, closing the door behind him. His gaze swept the sparse room–my barely unpacked suitcase, project files scattered across the desk, the half–eaten room service on the

nightstand.

Then he turned those storm–cloud eyes on me. “Does work require you to turn off your phone? Does work require you to extend business trips indefinitely? Does work require you to bolt like a scared rabbit when you see me?”

My pulse hammered in my ears. He’d known. At the restaurant, he’d known I was there.

“I can explain-”

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091: thu dam 15 Bà

Chapter 361

Ten days, Aria.” He cut me off, each word sharp as re Ten days of watching you slip further away.”

1 bit my lip, tasting blood. What could I say? That h That I’d seen him with Evelyn, seen the real affection me? That I was carrying his child and terrified of wh

The air between us felt thick, suffocating. We stood o

been a canyon.

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09:11 Thu, Jan 15

Chapter 361

1. BT.

“Ten days, Aria.” He cut me off, each word sharp as broken glass. “Ten days of one–word respones,

Ten days of watching you slip further away.”

I bit my lip, tasting blood. What could I say? That his mother had shown me exactly where I stood? That I’d seen him with Evelyn, seen the real affection he was capable of–affection he’d never shown

me? That I was carrying his child and terrified of what that meant?

The air between us felt thick, suffocating. We stood only a few feet apart, but it might as well have

been a canyon.