Page 40 of The Billionaire’s Contract Bride

“A business arrangement can be managed,” Augustus said softly. “An obsession cannot.”

Aria touched the black diamond on her finger. “Was he obsessed with Celeste?”

“No.” The answer was instantaneous and absolute.

“Did he hurt her?”

“Damien destroys threats with extraordinary efficiency,” Augustus replied. “Celeste’s ruin was far less deliberate.”

“What does that mean?”

The old man stepped closer. “He didn’t love her enough to notice she was terrified—until her fear drove her to betray him.”

“And then she disappeared.”

“Yes.”

“Did he kill her?”

“If Damien had killed Celeste, no one would still be looking for her.”

The cold certainty in his voice chilled Aria to the bone.

Augustus tapped his cane against the hardwood floor. “You believe your legal agreement protects you.”

“It protects my mother.”

“That is not the same thing.”

“I know.”

For the first time, a flicker of genuine respect crossed the old man’s face. “Good. Then perhaps you will live long enough to discover why your father’s name appears in our sealed corporate archives.”

Aria’s breath hitched in her throat. “What archives?”

Before Augustus could respond, Damien pushed through the door. “Time is up.”

Aria spun around to face her husband. “My father worked for Blackthorne Global. What happened to him?”

Damien leveled an icy stare at his grandfather.

Augustus smiled faintly and headed for the exit. “Ask your husband why he started watching you in the first place.” He walked out into the corridor.

Aria stepped right up to Damien. “I am asking you. Right now.”

“And I am telling you this is not the place.”

“There will never be a place, because you will keep shifting the target!”

Damien’s expression hardened. “Your father died after stealing sensitive material from my family.”

The words hit her like a physical blow. “He was not a thief.”

“I didn’t say he stole money.” Aria huffed at his ability to reply without giving anything away.

“What did he take?”

“Evidence that dangerous people have killed to recover.”