The CEO's Midnight Remedy novel Chapter 386

My father’s face had gone from red to white. “What are you doing here?”

“Completing a task. James’s smile never reached his eyes. “Mr. Kane sent his regards.”

The blood in my veins turned to ice. I glanced at my father and saw my own shock mirrored in his face. Whatever this was, he hadn’t

known it was coming.

“I don’t understand,” William said, his voice strained. “I told you I would handle-

“You told me you would bring your daughter home,” James interrupted smoothly. “You said you would ensure she stayed away from young Mr. Kane. Yet here we are.” His gaze shifted to me, assessing. “And Miss Harper appears to have left Mr. Kane’s residence of her own

accord. How… convenient.”

My heart hammered against my ribs. Devon’s penthouse. The guard

would be furious. Panicked. Dangerous.

guards. Lucas, Roman. They would have told Devon I was gone by now.

He

And I’d walked right into this.

“Miss Harper,” James continued, his tone conversational, “Mr. Arthur Kane would very much like to speak with you. If you’d be so kind as

to come with us?”

“No.” The word came out steady, even as my hands trembled. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

“I’m afraid I must insist.” James’s smile widened fractionally. “This is family business, after all. And you are about to become family, are you not? Or has young Mr. Kane not yet informed you of your upcoming nuptials?”

The room tilted. My father’s sharp intake of breath told me this was news to him too.

James took a step closer, and the two men behind him shifted their weight. Not threatening–not yet. But the promise was there.

“This is kidnapping,” I said, my voice harder than I felt. “You can’t-”

“This is a conversation, James corrected gently. “Between a concerned grandfather–to–be and his future daughter–in–law, Surely you wouldn’t deny Mr. Kane the opportunity to welcome you to the family properly?”

His emphasis on “grandfather–to–be hit like a physical blow. He knew. Arthur Kane knew about the baby

“Devon,” I thought desperately. “Where are you?”

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Chapter 386

But my phone was in my bag, location services turned off. I’d made sure of that. I’d made myself invisible to the one person who could

protect me from this.

“Mr. Harper.” Jamies turned back to my father. I trust you understand this is in everyone’s best interests. Your company depends on Kane Technologies continued support. And I’m sure you’d hate for that relationship to become… strained.”

My father opened his mouth. Closed it. His hand shook as he set down his glass.

“Aria,” he said finally, his voice hollow. “Perhaps you should-

“Don’t.” I stared at him, this man who’d raised me, who’d promised my mother he’d protect me. “Don’t you dare tell me to go with th

them.”

But I saw it in his face. The same weakness that had let Victoria poison my mother. The same cowardice that had let Scarlett steal my

inheritance. He would sacrifice me again, just like he always had.

For the company. For his comfort. For his own skin.

Ik out on i

MEM ILL

on my own,” I said, lifting my chin. I wouldn’t give them–any of them–the satisfaction of seeing me dragged away. “But

make no mistake. This isn’t cooperation. This is coercion.”

James inclined his head. “Semantics, Miss Harper. The result is the same.”

1 picked up my bag and walked toward the door. My father called my name, but I didn’t turn around. What was there left to say? Hed

already made his choice.

In the elevator, flanked by James’s guards, I stared at my reflection in the polished doors. My face was pale but composed. My hands

steady.

“This is who you are now,” I thought. “Not a victim. Not a pawn. A player.”

And Arthur Kane was about to learn that the hard way.

The black Mercedes sedan walted at the curb, its windows tinted dark enough to hide what–or who–was inside. James opened the rear door himself, ever the gentleman.

“After you, Miss Harper.”

I slid into the leather seat, and

ad the two guards took positions on either side of me. The dors closed with a heavy, final thunk.

James settled into the front passenger seat and glanced back at use through the rearview mirror.

“Your father truly didn’t arrange this, you know,” he said as the car pulled into traffic. “Hes far too weak to be of use in such matters. But

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Chapter 386

his weakness made him the perfect tool. All Mr. Kane needed was to apply the right pressure, and nature took its courte

“You threatened his company,” I said flatly.

“We provided incentive for hini to fulfill his obligations us a father. James’s reflection smiled. “The fact that those obligations aligned

with Mr. Kane’s interests was merely… efficient.”

I leaned back against the seat, my hand instinctively moving to my stomach. The baby. Devon’s child. The heir to the Kane empire,

whether Arthur liked it or not.

“Where are we going?”

“The Kane estate in Westchester. Mr. Kane thought a private conversation would be more appropriate than a public one.”

“How thoughtful.”

James chuckled, “You have your mother’s spirit, Miss Harper. Elizabeth Harper was a formidable woman. It’s a pity she didn’t live to ser

what you’ve become.”

My throat tightened. “Don’t talk about my mother.”

“AS

you wish.” He turned his attention back to the road. “Though I suspect she would approve of your resilience. You’ll need it, in the time

to come.”

I watched Manhattan disappear behind us, the city lights giving way to the dark ribbon of highway. My phone buzzed in my bag–once, twice, three times. Devon, undoubtedly. Calling. Texting. Tracking.

But he wouldn’t find me. Not yet.

I was on my own now, walking into the lion’s den with nothing but my wits and the tiny life growing inside me.

“Come find me,” I thought, pressing my hand harder against my abdomen. “But hurry.”

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