The CEO's Rejected Wife And Secret Heir novel Chapter 88

Chapter 88: Chapter 88: Vivian’s Seduction Attempt

Damien’s POV - Next Day

I was in the middle of reviewing quarterly reports when my assistant buzzed through.

"Mr. Blackwood? There’s Vivian Monroe here to see you." Jessica’s voice was carefully neutral. "She doesn’t have an appointment."

My jaw clenched. "Tell her I’m busy."

"I tried, sir. She’s quite insistent, says it’s about Aria."

Of course she did.

"Fine." I closed my laptop. "Send her in. And Jessica? Stay on the line, record everything."

"Yes, sir."

A moment later, my office door opened.

Vivian walked in wearing a red dress that left little to the imagination. Low-cut, tight, clearly chosen for maximum impact. Her hair fell in waves over her shoulders, her makeup perfect, her heels adding inches to her height.

Few years ago, I would have noticed, might have been tempted.

Now? I just felt vaguely disgusted.

"Damien." She smiled, closing the door behind her. "Thank you for seeing me."

"I’m giving you five minutes." I stayed behind my desk, maintaining distance. "What do you want?"

"To talk about Aria." She moved closer, her hips swaying. "About the mistake you’re making."

"There’s no mistake." I kept my voice flat. "Now if that’s all—"

"Hear me out." She perched on the edge of my desk, crossing her legs slowly. "Aria’s not who you think she is. She’s cold, calculating, cruel. You saw what she did to our parents yesterday."

"She protected herself from people who abused her." I leaned back in my chair. "Something I should have done years ago."

"Is that what she told you?" Vivian laughed. "Damien, she’s playing you. The poor victim act, the devoted mother routine—it’s all calculated to get your money and your name."

"Get off my desk."

She blinked. "What?"

"I said get off my desk." I stood, moving around to face her. "And stop insulting my intelligence. I know exactly who Aria is—brilliant, strong, and nothing like you."

Her expression flickered with hurt before hardening. "You don’t mean that."

"I absolutely mean it." I crossed my arms. " years ago, I made the worst mistake of my life. I believed your lies, chose the wrong woman, destroyed my marriage. I’m not making that mistake again."

"I wasn’t a mistake." She stood, moving into my personal space. "We were good together, Damien. Remember? The passion, the chemistry."

"The betrayal?" I stepped back. "The lying? The helping to destroy your own sister?"

"She wasn’t innocent!" Vivian’s voice rose. "She trapped you with that pregnancy"

"Stop." My voice went cold. "Don’t talk about my son that way. Don’t talk about Aria that way. In fact, don’t talk at all just leave."

"Damien, please." She touched my chest. "I know you feel this. The connection we had. It’s still there."

I grabbed her wrist and removed her hand. "There’s no connection. There never was. I was drunk, stupid, and blind. That’s the only reason I ever even bothered to make out with you."

She flinched like I’d slapped her. "You don’t mean that."

"I do." I moved to the door, opening it. "Whatever we had—and it wasn’t much—it’s over. It’s over. And Aria is worth a thousand of you."

"Really?" Her hurt transformed into rage. "Aria, who humiliated our parents? Aria, who’s using you for protection? Aria, who will never forgive you for what you did?"

"Maybe she won’t." I met her eyes. "But I’ll spend my life earning that forgiveness anyway. Because that’s what you do when you love someone—you fight for them, even when it’s hard."

"Love?" She laughed bitterly. "You think you love her?"

"I know I do." The words came easily, naturally. "I love her more than I’ve ever loved anything or anyone. She’s everything you’re not—real, honest, worth fighting for."

"And what am I?" Tears sparkled in her eyes, though I suspected they were manufactured.

"A mistake I’ll never make again." I gestured to the door. "Now get out and don’t come back."

"This isn’t over." She grabbed her purse. "I can give you things she can’t. Passion, excitement, freedom from that brat"

"Careful." My voice dropped to deadly quiet. "That’s my son you’re talking about. The best thing that’s ever happened to me. So choose your next words very carefully."

She must have heard the threat in my tone because she stopped.

"You’ll regret this," she said instead. "When Aria breaks your heart, when she leaves you, when she takes everything—you’ll regret choosing her."

"The only thing I regret is not choosing her sooner." I opened the door wider. "Goodbye, Vivian. Don’t come back."

She stormed out, her heels clicking angrily on the marble floor.

I closed the door and leaned against it, suddenly exhausted.

"Jessica?" I called through the intercom.

"Yes, sir?"

"Tell me you got all of that."

"Every word, sir. Video and audio."

"Send it to me. And add Vivian Monroe to the permanent ban list. She’s not allowed in this building again."

"Already done, sir."

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