The CEO's Midnight Remedy novel Chapter 374

Chapter 374

Devon’s POV

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Silence stretched between us, heavy with decades of unspoken disappointments and resentments.

Then a cough echoed from the French doors.

I turned to see my father standing there, leaning heavily on his cane. His face was impassive, but his eyes gleamed with the sharp

intelligence that had built Kane Tech from nothing–and destroyed countless lives in the process.

“Father.” I kept my voice neutral. “I didn’t know you were home.”

“Evidently.” He moved onto the terrace with slow, measured steps, each tap of his cane deliberate. “I heard raised voices. Your mother

claimed you were just discussing…” He glanced at Eleanor. “What was it, dear? Wedding arrangements?

Eleanor’s face went carefully blank. “Arthur, I was just explaining to Devon-

“I heard enough.” His gaze shifted to me, sharp despite his illness. “You’re getting married. To the Stevens girl, I presume? About time.

The merger will strengthen our position in-

“No.” I met his eyes directly. “Not Mandy Stevens. Aria Harper.”

The tap of his cane stopped abruptly.

“Harper.” He said the name like he was identifying something unpleasant on his shoe. “William Harper’s daughter? The one whose father is currently out on bail? Whose family business is circling the drain? His voice hardened. “That Harper?”

His cane struck the stone with sharp emphasis. “Absolutely not.”

“It’s not your decision.”

“The bell it isn’t!” His voice rose, triggering a coughing fh that left him wheezing. When he recovered, his eyes blazed with cold fury. “I won’t allow you to marry some gold–digging socialite from a broken family. The Kanes have a reputation=”

“That you’ve spent forty

y years destroying.” I said Hally. “Don’t pretend this is about reputation, Father. This is about control.”

“It’s about not being an idiot! He moved closer, anger overriding his usual careful movements. “That woman is a liability. Her fathers trial will drag on for months, maybe years. Every headline will link her name to murder, scandal, corporate fraud. And you want to tie

Kane Tech to that circus?”

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Chapter 374

“I want to marry the woman I choose,” I said evenly. “What Kane Tech thinks about it is inelevant

“Trelevant?” He laughed, harsh and bitter. ‘You ungrateful—I have dedicated my life to this family. Sacrificed everything to life, this name, this legacy. And you’re willing to piss it all away for a piece of

号

“Finish that sentence. I interrupted, voice dropping to something dangerous, and I will put you in the ground myself less or not

The threat hung in the air between us. My mother gasped.

My father’s face went from red to purple. “How dare you threaten me! I’m your father-”

You’re the CEO emeritus of a company I control,” I corrected coldly. “That’s the only relationship that matters anymore. speak about Aria that way again–if you ever so much as imply disrespect–Ill remove you from the board permanently

se

“You can’t-

“I can. I own fifty–three percent of voting shares. You taught me that control is everything. Father. Congratulations–I learned the

well.”

His hand tightened on his cane, knuckles white. “If you do this–if you marry that Harper girl–you I regret it. The board won T

1. it. Your investors won’t tolerate the liability. I’ll make sure

“You’ll make sure of what?” I moved closer, using my height advantage deliberately. That everyone knows you’re willing own son over a marriage you don’t approve of? That’ll play beautifully in the press, Father. I’m sure the shareholders

drama.

“Devon, please.” My mother’s voice shook. “Your father’s health–this stress-

“Should have thought of that before threatening my fiancée. I straightened my tie, pulse hammering but suice stead. The wedding a

Saturday. You can attend or not–your choice. But understand this: if either of you makes any move against Aria, if you try to sabotage

this marriage in any way, I will burn every bridge between us. Permanently

You re choosing her over your family? Eleanor s voice cracked.

I looked at them–my mother with her calculated concern, my father with his barely contained rage. The people whod raced me to see

relationships as transactions, emotions as weaknesses, love as a liability

“Tau choosing to build my own family,” I said quietly. “One that just based on manipulation and control

My father’s i

“Gladly” I turned toward the garden path, then paused. Oh, and Father? Try to interfere with my wedding my manage.

any way, and I’ll trigger the clause in your relfirment contrad. You know the ome—the mutality clause that von

engage in conduct detrimental to Kane Tech v interests. Tim sine I can find enough evidence of yitur past

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Chapter 374

The color drained from his face.

I left them there on that terrace–my mother rigid with shock, my father trembling with impotent rage. Their perfectly manicured prison,

their carefully constructed facade of family unity, cracking under the weight of truth.

Marcus was waiting by the car, expression carefully neutral.

“Where to, sir?”

“Manhattan. The penthouse.” I loosened my tie, hands not quite steady. “And Marcus? Call my lawyer. I want a prenuptial agreement

drafted tonight–generous terms, ironclad protections for Aria and any children. Make it clear that she’s protected regardless of what my

family tries.”

“Yes, sir.” He pulled onto the road. “Should I also increase security?”

“Double it. My parents will try something–they always do when they don’t get their way.” I stared out at the passing landscape, my

mother’s manicured gardens fading in the rearview mirror. “And Marcus? Make sure no one from my family gets near Aria without my

knowledge. No surprise visits, no chance encounters. Nothing.”

“Understood, sir.” He hesitated, then added quietly, “For what it’s worth… I believe you’re making the right choice.”

I didn’t answer,

too busy replaying Aria’s face in that ultrasound room. The desperation in her voice when she’d asked me to marry her.

The way her hand had moved to protect her stomach, as if she could shield our child from the cruelty of the world with that simple

gesture.

She thought I’d rejected her. Thought my single word meant dismissal or avoidance.

She had no idea it meant yes to everything

Yes to marriage. Yes to legitimacy. Yes to building something real instead of the hollow arrangement wed pretended satisfied either of us.

Yes to her, to us, to the terrifying future we were creating.

The city skyline appeared ahead, glittering in the late afternoon sun. Somewhere in that maze of

of steel and glass, Aria sat in Lucass cat,

probably analyzing that one word from every possible angle, driving herself crazy with uncertainty.

Taster,” I told Marcus. “I need to get back to her.”

her awni

Because I’d already left her alone too long. And If there was one thing I’d learned about Aria Harper, it was that her mind was her owni worst enemy when left to run wild with possibilities,

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