The CEO's Rejected Wife And Secret Heir novel Chapter 110

Chapter 110: Chapter 110: Going Back Home

Aria pov

"By hiding?" I moved closer. "Damien, if I don’t show up, I lose everything. The Singapore deal, investor confidence, maybe the whole company. And for what? To sit here and watch Noah cry because he misses his friends?"

"For safety"

"There is no safety!" My voice rose, Noah glanced over from the couch, then back at the TV. "Marcus found us in your secure penthouse. He’ll find us here too, eventually. At least in New York, we can control the situation. Set the trap and end this."

"You’re talking about using yourself as bait."

"I’m talking about taking my life back!" I grabbed his arms. His muscles were tense under my fingers. "I’m done running. Done hiding, I am going to New York. I’m saving my company and yes, I’m using it as an opportunity to catch Marcus."

"Aria"

"You can come with me or stay here." I pulled away. "But I’m going."

He stared at me for a long moment. His jaw working. Then he pulled out his phone. "I’ll call the team to get security arranged."

"Thank you."

"Don’t thank me." His voice was grim. "This is insane. And if anything happens to you"

"It won’t." I touched his face, his stubble was rough against my palm. "We’ll be smart and be careful. And we’ll end this."

"We’d better." He pulled me close. His chest was solid, warm. His heart beating fast under my ear. "Because I’m not losing you again."

I leaned into him, drawing strength. In the living room, Noah laughed at something on TV. The sound bright and innocent.

That Evening

Dinner was quiet, the pasta tasted bad in my mouth. Noah picked at his plate, the fork scraping ceramic.

"Can my friends come to visit?" he asked.

"Maybe soon." I forced a smile. "We’ll see."

After dinner, Noah helped clear the table. His small hands careful with the plates. Then he settled on the couch with his dinosaurs, lining them up by size.

"I need to talk to your mama." Damien crouched beside him. "Can you play here for a few minutes?"

"Okay." Noah didn’t look up as the T-Rex roared in his hand.

Damien took my hand. His palm was warm, slightly damp. He led me outside to the deck.

The night air was cold. I could see my breath. Stars scattered across the sky, more than I’d ever seen in the city. The trees were dark shapes against the darkness.

"What is it?" I wrapped my arms around myself.

"I’ve been thinking." He turned to face me. The porch light cast shadows across his face. "About New York,about the trap. About—everything."

"And?"

"And I realized something." He stepped closer. "When Marcus broke into the penthouse, when I saw that photo of Noah—I thought I was going to die. Not from fear but from the realization that I could lose you both."

"Damien"

"Let me finish." His hands found mine, his fingers threaded through mine, warm and solid. "I’ve wasted so much time, years running from what I did to you. These past months trying to earn forgiveness. But the truth is—I don’t want to waste another second."

My heart started beating faster. "What are you saying?"

"I’m saying" He pulled something from his pocket. A small box of rings he gave to me the last time but I rejected. "Marry me."

"Damien." My voice came out breathless. "This is"

"Insane. I know." He pulled the ring from the box. "But Aria, we’re about to walk into danger. About to risk everything to catch Marcus. And I need you to know—before we do this, before anything happens—I need you to know that I love you. That I want you. That I want us to be a family for real this time."

"We were married before"

"That wasn’t real." He held the ring between us. It felt heavy with meaning. "That was a contract, a business arrangement. This" He took my left hand. His touch was gentle. "This is me asking you to be my wife because I can’t imagine my life without you in it."

My hand was shaking. "This is crazy."

"Maybe." He smiled, sadly but hopeful. "But say yes anyway."

I looked at the ring. At his face, at the open door where Noah played, oblivious.

"What if we don’t survive?" The words hurt coming out. "What if Marcus"

"Then at least I’ll die knowing I tried." His thumb stroked my knuckles. "That I asked, that I gave you the ring I should have given you years ago."

The ring slid onto my finger, it was a perfect fit. Like it was made for me.

"I haven’t said yes yet." But I didn’t pull away.

"I know." He pulled me close. His arms wrapped around me, solid and warm. "But you’re not saying no either."

I leaned into him. His heart beat steady under my ear. The ring caught the light every time I moved my hand.

"Ask me again." My voice was muffled against his chest. "After we catch Marcus. After this is over. Ask me when we’re not running for our lives."

"I’ll ask you every day if I have to." He kissed the top of my head. His breath is warm in my hair. "Until you say yes."

"That’s very persistent of you."

"I’m a persistent man." He pulled back to look at me. "Especially when it comes to you."

The door opened. Noah poked his head out. "Mama? I’m cold."

"Coming, baby." I touched Damien’s face. His skin was warm despite the chill. "We should go in."

"Keep the ring." He caught my hand. "Even if you haven’t decided. Keep it please and don’t you dare return it like the last time ."

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