Chapter 168
Chapter 169
Aria’s POV
“ You’re going to have to talk to him eventually,” Julian said gently, leaning back on the sofa. He watched me carefully, eyes thoughtful, fingers tapping against his knee.
I sighed, pulling my legs up under me. “And say what? I barely even know where to start.”
“Anywhere is better than nowhere,” Julian said softly. “He’s not perfect, Aria, God knows, but Dominic… he cares about you in a way I’ve never seen from him. It scares him.”
“It scares me too,” I admitted quietly.
He nodded slowly, understanding. “Look, I know Emilia meant a lot to you. Hell, she was good to me too. But she crossed a line—she sold you out . You know Dominic. Betrayal to him isn’t something he can overlook.”
“I get that,” I said, feeling the familiar ache again. “I do. But it’s everything else , Julian. The inheritance, my family… Dominic knew everything from day one, and he kept it from me.”
Julian hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “You know he’s never been good with openness. It’s the way he was raised. Secrets are how you survive in
this life.”
I shook my head, frustrated. “He said he loved me. But how can I trust that now? How can I trust anything he says ? ”
Julian leaned forward, his voice serious but gentle. “Dominic’s idea of love isn’t flowers and honesty, Aria. It’s fierce, and messy also fucking ossessive. It’s not perfect—but it’s real. He’d burn down cities if it meant keeping you safe. Maybe he did it wrong. But don’t doubt how he feels.”
I looked down at my hands, picking at my nails. “He could’ve just told me about the inheritance. Why hide it from me?”
Julian sighed heavily. “I think in Dominic’s mind, it was protection. If people found out you had those vaults, that money, the Syndicate would have come after you, just like they did your parents.”
“Still,” I said softly, voice strained. “He lied to me. He kept me blind. What if he planned to take it all himself? ”
Julian shook his head instantly. “No. That’s one thing I’m sure of. Dom has enough money, power , connections. He doesn’t need your inheritance, Aria. He needs you. He kept your legacy hidden because, for the first time in his life, he found someone he couldn’t stand to lose.”
Silence stretched between us. I knew Julian was right, deep down. Dominic wasn’t perfect far from it–but every ruthless move he’d made had always been about keeping me alive, protecting me, even if he destroyed everything else along the way.
A soft knock sounded on the open doorway, breaking the silence.
I turned my head sharply, heart suddenly racing. Dominic stood there, hesitant , his eyes unreadable, but something softer in them. He looked exhausted, the circles under his eyes deepening.
“Can we talk?” he asked carefully, looking from me to Julian, Julian stood immediately, squeezing my shoulder reassuringly before slipping of the
room .
Dominic stepped closer but kept his distance, respecting my silence. For a moment , neither of us spoke. Then, slowly, he broke the quiet .
“I handled everything wrong, ” he said quietly. “I know that.”
He stepped closer. “I thought if you knew the truth, it would break you or worse , make you run. I couldn’t risk it . ”
“You don’t get to decide what breaks me , ” I said sharply, tears pricking my eyes . “I’m not a child, Dominic. This was my family , my legacy my life .
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08.27
Chapter 169
He nodded slowly. “I was wrong. I should’ve trusted you with it. But I never kept your inheritance for myself, Aria. Never. It’s untouched . Every penny, every account, every secret vault, it’s yours. I’ll take you there myself, show you everything , no secrets this time . ”
My breath caught. “Where is it?”
“Zurich,” he said without hesitation. “In a private bank. It’s coded to your DNA. Gabriel Fletcher was paranoid about security; he ensured only you could access it. Everything he left behind is there–money, properties, files. Enough power to reclaim your family’s legacy.”
I stared at him, speechless, processing everything he’d just said.
“Why tell me now?” I asked softly.
“Because I realized keeping it from you didn’t protect you,” he said, his voice strained. “It nearly destroyed us. And I can’t lose you, Aria. Nothing else matters if I don’t have you.”
I swallowed hard, feeling the knot in my chest loosen just a bit.
“Dominic, I–”
“Please,” he interrupted gently. “Don’t say you can’t forgive me yet. Just say you’ll try. That’s all I’m asking.”
“You killed Emilia,” I whispered, unable to let go of that final wound.-
His expression darkened slightly, regret flashing across his face. “She betrayed you, Aria. She betrayed us. If I’d allowed her to live, more would have
come after you.”
I stared at him, seeing the fierce love and the pain behind his eyes.
“You always say it’s for me,” I whispered. “But every time you kill, it tears me apart.”
He stepped forward again, slowly, until he stood just inches from me. “I’m sorry,” he said softly, voice breaking slightly. “For hurting you. For lying. For the things I can’t change. But I’ll never apologize for protecting you.”
“You hurt me,” I said quietly, tears slipping down my cheeks. “More than anyone ever has.”
He reached up carefully, cupping my face with gentle hands, brushing his thumbs against my cheeks to wipe away the tears. “And no one hates me more for that than I do. If I could erase all the pain, I would.”
I studied his eyes, searching desperately for the truth beneath all the darkness and secrets. “Was any of it real?” I whispered. “ Or was I just another chess piece?”
His eyes softened, something vulnerable breaking through. “You were never a chess piece. You were my queen. And I’d let the whole board burn if it meant keeping you.”
His words lingered in the air between us, heavy, desperate, sincere. Slowly, he leaned in, pausing just before our lips touched, giving me space to pull away if I wanted.
But I didn’t .
I closed the gap, my lips meeting his, gentle and tentative at first, then deeper, warmer , as I melted into him. His arms wrapped around me , pulling me close, like I was something precious he’d nearly lost.
He broke the kiss softly, forehead resting against mine. “Please, Aria. Give me a chance to make it right.”
I opened my eyes, meeting his gaze. “Just… promise me. No more secrets .”
“No more secrets,” he vowed quietly.
I smiled, “Better keep to it Dominic.”
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