Page 83 of The Billionaire’s Contract Bride

Damien’s hand closed tightly around the back of an office chair. “She also vanished two years ago after selling corporate intelligence to Victor.”

“Because you helped her disappear,” Aria pointed out.

“And she repaid me by returning the exact moment my wife became vulnerable.”

The word wife sounded less like ownership now and more like raw, suffocating fear. It made Aria feel things she didn’t want to acknowledge.

Aria lowered her voice, meeting his dark eyes. “I’m going.” Just because he was scared and asking instead of demanding didn’t mean she would bend to his will.

“Then I will follow.”

“She explicitly said without you.” Aria tried to keep the annoyance out of her voice, but she also knew Damien would not relent on her safety. Not anymore.

“She can be disappointed.”

At eleven forty-five, Aria entered the ruined nave of the church alone.

Damien’s tactical security team had quietly cordoned off three surrounding city blocks. A micro-transmitter was hidden inside the lining of her coat. Lucien, released from custody at Aria’s absolute insistence, was coordinating surveillance from a command van while Damien remained hidden somewhere in the perimeter shadows.

Dozens of votive candles burned along the stone altar, casting long shadows against the broken stained glass.

Celeste Laurent emerged from the darkness of the sacristy, carrying a sleek silver medical case. She looked noticeably older than her photographs, a thin, faint scar running across her left temple.

“You came,” Celeste said, her voice raspy in the cold air.

“Give me the antidote,” Aria said, stopping ten feet away.

“First, tell Damien to step back.”

“He isn’t here.”

Celeste offered a tired, knowing smile. “Damien is always where you cannot see him.”

Aria deliberately touched her left wrist—performing the subtle tell she knew Damien watched for. Outside, listening through the wire, he would understand she was signaling him to stay back and let her handle the contact.

“Why did you return?” Aria asked.

“Because the person who helped me escape Victor has been using me as leverage ever since.”

“Victor?”

“Augustus,” Celeste answered quietly.

Celeste set the case on a wooden bench and unlatched the locks. Inside rested three clear, sealed vials.

“Augustus arranged your mother’s poisoning to force Damien into exposing his private security protocols,” Celeste revealed. “He framed Lucien to isolate Damien completely.”

“Why?”

“Because Augustus is dying,” Celeste said, her voice dropping. “He wants to know whether Damien is ruthless enough to preserve the family empire.”

“By trying to tear it apart?”

“Blackthornes call cruelty a test when they are too cowardly to call it pleasure.”

Aria took a step towards the silver case.

Celeste snapped the lid shut. “Damien tried to kill me, Aria.”