The CEO's Midnight Remedy novel Chapter 88

Aria’s POV

I’d barely slept, replaying the scene at Le Petit Jardin my mind. The shock on Scarlett’s face when Ethan had dismissed their baby as a “situation” to be “resolved had been almost worth the years of her snide remarks and calculated innocence. Almost.

As I descended the grand staircase of the Harper mansion, my heels clicking against the marble, I rehearsed my arguments one more time. The Hampton beach house had been my mother’s sanctuary, her favorite place in the world. She’d left it to me in her will, with explicit instructions that it would become mine when I turned twenty–five. There was no way I’d at Victoria or my father manipulate their way

around that.

“Aria.” My father’s voice stopped me at the bottom of the stairs. He stood in the center of the foyer in his

custom Tom Ford suit, looking every inch the media mogul. “I’d like a word before you leave.”

I checked my watch. “I have a meeting in forty minutes Dad.”

“This won’t take long.” His tone left no room for negotiation. “I’ve been thinking about your… situation

with Ethan.”

I raised an eyebrow. “My situation?”

“The wedding.” He waved his hand dismissively. “I think it would be best if you arranged to meet with him.

Alone. The sooner we move forward with the prenuptial agreements, the better.”

Of course. No concern about my feelings, just business as usual.

“I have more important matters to attend to,” I replied coolly.

“More important than your future?” His eyes narrowed. Than the family’s future?”

He sighed, running a hand through his silver–flecked hair. “I might be willing to consider transferring the

Hampton property into your name. As a gesture of goodwill.”

I almost laughed. “Every promise you’ve made to me in the last five years has been broken. Your credit

rating with me is well below zero, Dad.”

Before he could respond, he turned toward the stairs. “sa, please tell Scarlett to come down immediately.

We need to resolve this property matter once and for all.”

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Chapter 88

My heart raced. Was he actually going to do it?

Scarlett appeared moments later, a vision in white Chanel, looking nervous beneath her perfect makeup.

“Scarlett, darling, my father said, his voice softening in that way it only did for her. “I need you to get your ID and go with Aria to the real estate attorney’s office. We’re going to transfer the Hampton beach house.”

Her eyes widened. “But Daddy, I can’t today-”

“I’ll make it up to you, double,” he promised, cutting her off.

I felt fire ignite behind my eyes. Double. Of course he’d been compensating her all along, probably giving

her cash and gifts worth far more than my mother’s property. I wondered briefly if I should reveal what I

knew about her pregnancy, but decided to hold that card close for now.

“Fine,” Scarlett muttered, shooting me a venomous glare.

Before we could move toward the door, Victoria appeared on the stairs, her Louboutins clicking ominously

against the marble.

“William, darling,” she called, her voice honey–sweet but her eyes hard as she reached the foyer. “What’s all

this about the Hampton house?”

My father turned, already looking guilty. “I was just telling the girls-”

“That property is listed as a Harper Group asset,” Victoria interrupted smoothly. “It’s been used as

collateral for our most recent loan. Surely you remember signing the papers?”

I turned to my father, watching his face. “Is that true?”

“The business has expenses you couldn’t possibly understand, Aria,” Victoria answered for him.

“Really?” I challenged. “Because according to Bloomberg, the venture capital injection announced two days

ago, plus the bond issue from three months ago, should more than cover operational costs.”

Victoria’s smile froze for a microsecond before she recovered. “Running a media conglomerate is far more

complex than your little marketing agency, dear.”

She went on to detail the supposedly crushing expenses facing the Harper family: Scarlett’s tuition at

Princeton, my father’s recent medical bills (news to me and the upcoming charity gala they were

sponsoring.

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Chapter 88

“If William insists on transferring that property to you, Victoria concluded, tears suddenly glistening in her eyes, “I’ll have no choice but to reconsider our marriage arrangements.”

My father paled, hurrying after Victoria as she swept dramatically up the stairs.

Left alone with Scarlett, I watched her mask drop.

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