Where Darkness Learned Breath by Rylor Dusk 74

74 Chapter 74: Lucas 

Confrontation 

Aria POVO 

I stepped into the hallway and froze. It wasn’t Damien. Instead, Lucas Hayes stood in my entryway, holding a bouquet of flowers, his warm smile in place. 

“Lucas?” I moved toward the stairs but didn’t 

descend. “What are you doing here?” 

“I saw the news.” He held up the flowers. “Thought you might need a friend.” 

“How did you get in? There’s security.” 

“I told them I was your business partner. They let me through.” He climbed a few steps. “Aria, are 

you okay? Marcus Blackwood’s claims sound 

serious.” 

16:02 

1/14 

: 

74 Chapter 74: Lucas Confrontation 

“They’re lies.” I backed up, suddenly uneasy. “Lucas, this really isn’t a good time.” 

“I know.” He kept climbing. “But I couldn’t leave you alone. Not when you’re going through this.” 

The smell of the flowers hit me then. Roses. Too many of them, too strong. The scent made my stomach turn. I could hear his shoes on the 

hardwood stairs. 

“I’m not alone. Damien is.” 

“Damien is the reason you’re in danger.” Lucas reached the landing. “Aria, I’ve been trying to tell you, that man is toxic. He’ll destroy you just like he destroyed his own brother.” 

“You don’t understand.” 

“I understand perfectly.” He set the flowers on the hallway table. 

The thud of the bouquet against the wood was too loud in the quiet house. I could see the water 

16:02 

2/14 

:. 

74 Chapter 74: Lucas Confrontation 

dripping from the stems, leaving a wet ring on the polished surface. Lucas had taken off his coat at some point. His shirt sleeves were rolled up. I noticed his hands were clenched into fists, then 

relaxed, then clenched again. 

“I understand that you deserve better. That Noah deserves better. And I’m offering you a way out.” 

“A way out?” I took another step back. 

My heel caught on the edge of the hallway runner. I stumbled but caught myself on the wall. The paint was cool under my palm. I could feel my heart beating hard in my chest, that 

uncomfortable flutter that meant something was 

wrong. 

“Come to Singapore with me. My company is expanding there. I can offer you a position, set you up in a penthouse, make sure you and Noah are safe.” He moved closer. “You don’t need Damien Blackwood, you never did.” 

16:02 

3/14 

74 Chapter 74 Lucas Confrontation 

His voice had changed. The friendly tone was gone, now he sounded like he was reading from a script he’d practiced over and over. The words came out too smooth, too rehearsed. 

“Lucas, that’s very generous, but” 

“But you still love him.” His smile turned bitter. “Even after everything he did to you, even knowing he’s a monster.” 

“He’s not a monster.” 

“He threw you out when you were pregnant!” Lucas’s voice rose. “He called your child a mistake! And you’re defending him?” 

The sudden volume made me flinch. I could see a 

vein pulsing in Lucas’s temple. His face was flushed, red creeping up from his collar. He took another step forward. I could smell his cologne now, mixing with the roses. It was too much. 

“Because people change!” I snapped back. 

16:02 

4/14 

< 

74 Chapter 74: Lucas Confrontation 

“Because he’s trying, Lucas. Really trying to be better.” 

“For how long?” Lucas grabbed my arm. 

His fingers dug into my bicep. I could feel each one, pressing hard enough to hurt. His palm was hot and damp with sweat. The grip was solid, unyielding. I tried to twist away but he held on tighter. 

“Until the next crisis? Until he gets bored? Aria, you can’t trust him.” . 

“Let go of me.” I tried to pull away, but his grip tightened. 

Pain shot up my arm. I could feel my pulse hammering where his thumb pressed against the soft flesh of my inner arm. His breathing was fast and shallow. His eyes were wide, pupils dilated. This wasn’t the calm, collected Lucas I knew this 

was someone else. 

16:02 

5/14 

74 Chapter 74: Lucas Confrontation 

“Come with me.” His eyes were intense now, almost desperate. “Please. I can give you everything he can’t. Stability, safety, loyalty.” 

His other hand came up. For a second I thought he was going to grab my other arm, trap me completely. Instead, his fingers brushed my cheek. The touch was light but it made my skin crawl. I jerked my head back. 

“I said let go!” 

The slap came before I could think. My palm connected with his cheek hard enough to snap his head to the side. 

The sound echoed in the hallway. My hand stung from the impact. I could see the red mark already forming on his face, the perfect outline of my fingers against his skin. 

My breathing came in short, ragged bursts. I could hear it as adereline flooded my system, making everything too bright. My legs felt weak, 

16:02 

6/14 

::. 

< 

74 Chapter 74: Lucas Confrontation 

shaky, like they might give out at any moment. 

The ringing in my ears was so loud I almost missed what Lucas said next. My other hand, I realized, was clenched into a fist so tight my nails were digging into my palm. My whole body was trembling now, the shock of what I’d just done hitting me all at once. 

He released me immediately, stumbling back. “Aria” 

I could still feel where he’d grabbed me. The skin was hot and tender. I rubbed at it with my other hand, trying to erase the feeling of his fingers. 

“Get out.” My voice shook. “Get out of my house. 

Now.” 

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean” 

“OUT!” 

He held up his hands and backed toward the stairs. “Fine. I’m leaving. But Aria–when Damien 

16:02 

7/14 

74 Chapter 74: Lucas Confrontation 

disappoints you again, and he will, don’t come crying to me.” 

He disappeared down the stairs. I heard the front door open and close. 

I sank against the wall, shaking. What the hell was that? My phone rang. It was Damien. 

“Are you okay?” His voice was tight. “Security just reported Lucas Hayes entered the house.” 

“I’m fine. He’s gone now.” 

“What did he want?” 

“To rescue me, apparently.” I closed my eyes. “To take me away from you.” 

Silence. Then: “Do you want to go?” 

“What? No!” I pushed off the wall. “Damien, he came to force me, he wouldn’t accept a no when I told him I was not interested. That’s not rescue, that’s” 

16:02 

74 Chapter 74: Lucas Confrontation 

“I’m coming.” His voice had gone cold and deadly. “Don’t move. Don’t go anywhere.” 

“The meeting” I muttered, my breath coming out 

in gasps. 

“Can wait.” I heard a door slam on his end. “Nobody threatens you like that. Nobody.” 

“Damien, I handled it, you need to focus on the board” 

“My focus is you.” I heard the sound of an engine roaring to life. “Always you.” 

He hung up before I could argue. I stood in the hallway of my empty house, surrounded by half–packed boxes, and tried to process everything. 

Marcus on TV, destroying Damien’s reputation. The board voted to remove him. Lucas showed up uninvited, demanding I choose him. 

And Damien, leaving his company meeting to race 

16:02 

9/14 

74 Chapter 74: Lucas Confrontation 

back to me. 

Everything was spiraling out of control. 

My phone buzzed with a text from an unknown 

number. 

My hands shook as I opened it. 

Trouble in paradise? Don’t worry, sweetheart. It’s all part of the plan. By the time I’m done, you’ll have nothing left. No company, no safety, no Damien. Just you and me and our final reckoning. See you soon. -M 

I dropped the phone like it was on fire. 

Marcus wasn’t just attacking Damien’s company. 

He was attacking everything. 

And I had no idea how to stop him. 

The front door slammed open. 

“Aria!” Damien’s voice echoed through the house. 

16:02 

10/14 

74 Chapter 74: Lucas Confrontation 

I ran to the top of the stairs. He stood in the 

entryway, suit jacket gone, tie loosened, looking barely contained. 

“I’m here.” I started down the stairs. “I’m okay.” 

He met me halfway, pulling me into his arms so tight I could barely breathe. 

“I should never have left you alone,” he muttered into my hair. “Never again.” 

“Damien, the meeting” 

“Screw the meeting.” He pulled back to look at me. “Are you hurt? Did he hurt you?” 

No. I slapped him and told him to leave.” I managed a shaky smile. “I can handle myself.” 

“I know you can.” His hands framed my face. “But you shouldn’t have to, that’s what I’m here for.” 

“To fight my battles?” 

“To stand beside you while you fight them.” His 

16:02 

11/14 

74 Chapter 74: Lucas Confrontation 

thumb brushed my cheek. “Always beside you, Aria. Never in front, never behind. Beside.” 

Something in my chest cracked open. 

“We got another text from Marcus,” I whispered. “He’s planning something. Something big.” 

“Then we’ll be ready.” Damien pressed his forehead to mine. “Whatever he throws at us, we’ll handle it. Together.” 

“Together,” I echoed. 

And for the first time since this nightmare began, I actually believed it. 

We finished packing in tense silence, both hyperaware of every sound, every shadow. 

Security swept the house again before we left. As Damien loaded the last suitcase into his car, I took one final look at my house. 

“Ready?” Damien held the car door open for me. 

16:02 

12/14 

74 Chapter 74: Lucas Confrontation 

I slid into the passenger seat. “Ready.” 

That Evening 

“Mama, you’re not watching!” Noah’s voice pulled me back to the present. 

I blinked and focused on the TV where animated characters were doing something I’d completely missed. “Sorry, baby. Mama’s distracted.” 

“By what?” He climbed into my lap, Mr. Hoppy dangling from one hand. 

“Work stuff.” I kissed the top of his head. “Nothing 

important.” 

“Daddy says when you think too hard, your face gets all scrunchy.” He poked my forehead. “Like that.” 

“Daddy talks too much,” I muttered, glancing at Damien who sat at the other end of the massive 

sectional. 

16:02