The CEO's Rejected Wife And Secret Heir novel Chapter 109

Chapter 109: Chapter 109: The Safe House

Aria’s POV

Portland smelled different. Cleaner with pine trees and rain instead of exhaust and concrete.

The safe house sat on ten acres outside the city—a modern glass and wood structure hidden behind tall fir trees. Security cameras dotted the property, their red lights blinking in the early morning darkness.

"It’s big." Noah pressed his face to the car window as his breath fogged the glass. "Is that our new house?"

"For now, baby." I unbuckled him, my muscles stiff from the flight. The leather seat was cold under my fingers. "Just for a little while."

"How long is a while?" He yawned, rubbing his eyes.

"I don’t know yet." I lifted him out. His weight felt heavier than usual. Or maybe I was just exhausted. The night air bit at my cheeks, sharp and damp.

Damien carried our bags up the stone pathway. Motion sensors triggered lights, bright and sudden. I flinched, my heart jumping.

"It’s just the sensors." He unlocked the door with a keycard. The beep echoed in the quiet. "The whole property is wired. If anyone gets within fifty feet, we’ll know."

Inside, the house was cold. The heat hadn’t been on in months. Our footsteps echoed on hardwood floors.

"I’ll get the heat going." Damien set down the bags with a heavy thud. "Make yourself comfortable."

Noah wandered through the living room, his T-Rex dragging on the floor with a soft scraping sound. The furniture was covered in white sheets, ghost-like in the dim light.

"I don’t like it here." His voice was small. "It’s scary."

"It’s not scary, baby. It’s just new." I pulled off the sheet covering the couch. Dust puffed into the air, making me cough. The particles caught in my throat. "See? Just regular furniture."

"Can we go home?" He climbed onto the couch, the cushions sighing under his weight. "To our real home?"

"Soon." I sat beside him, pulling him close."I promise. Soon."

But I didn’t know if that was true. The heat kicked on with a loud clunk. Warm air rushed through the vents, bringing the smell of dust and disuse.

Damien appeared with blankets, the fabric rough and musty in his arms. "Bedrooms are upstairs, there are three of them. Take your pick."

"I want to sleep with Mama." Noah burrowed into my side.

"That’s fine, baby." I kissed his head, his hair soft against my lips. "We can share."

"I’ll take the room across the hall." Damien handed me a blanket. The wool was scratchy against my palms. "In case you need anything."

"We’ll be fine." I wrapped the blanket around Noah. "You should sleep too, you look exhausted."

"I will. Later." He moved to the windows, checking locks. Each one clicked and rattled. "After I make sure everything is secure."

I carried Noah upstairs. The steps creaked under our weight, old wood protesting. The bedroom was simple—a queen bed, a dresser, one window overlooking the trees. Moonlight filtered through, pale and cold.

I laid him on the bed, tucking the blanket around him. The mattress was firm, the sheets cool. "Tell me a story." He looked up at me with heavy eyes.

"What kind of story?"

"One with dinosaurs and a happy ending."

"Okay." I lay beside him, stroking his hair. The strands were soft between my fingers. "Once upon a time, there was a brave little dinosaur named Rex..."

He was asleep before I finished. I lay there, listening to his breathing. Slow and steady. The house creaked and settled around us. Outside, wind moved through the trees with a sound like rushing water as branches scratched against the window.

My phone buzzed. The vibration loud against the nightstand. Olivia.

You there? You safe?

We’re here. Safe. Noah’s asleep.

And you? How are you holding up?

I stared at the ceiling. A crack ran across it, branching like veins. How was I holding up?

I don’t know. Tired. Scared. Angry.

All normal. Call me tomorrow when you’re rested. Love you.

Love you too.

I set the phone aside and closed my eyes but sleep wouldn’t come.

Two Days Later

The routine was suffocating. Wake up, make breakfast. The coffee maker gurgled and hissed, play with Noah. Watch the security. Monitors, the screens glowing blue in the dim room, make lunch.

"I’m bored." Noah sprawled on the living room floor, his dinosaurs scattered around him. The plastic clattered when he moved them. "There’s nothing to do."

"You have all your toys." I looked up from my laptop but the screen was too bright, making my eyes hurt. "And the backyard"

"I want to see my friends." He sat up. "When can I go back to school?"

"Soon, baby."

"You keep saying that." His face crumpled. "But we never go anywhere, we just stay here forever and ever."

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