Where Darkness Learned Breath by Rylor Dusk 127

Posted by Adminj, ? Views, Released on February 16, 2026

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127 Chapter 127: Family Reunion

Aria pov

“Aria”

“Damien, I watched you get drugged and staged for photos, I’m not leaving this hospital until you do. End of discussion.”

He smiled slightly. “You’re very stubborn.”

“You’re just noticing this now?” I raised an eyebrow. “I built a company from nothing while raising a toddler alone in a foreign country. Stubbornness is kind of my thing.”

“It’s one of the things I love about you.” He pulled me back down beside him. “Fine. Stay. But at least eat something you must be starving.”

As if on cue, my stomach growled as we both laughed.”I’ll order delivery,” I said, pulling out my phone. “What do you want?”

“Whatever you’re having.” He closed his eyes. “I just want you here.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” I promised.

We spent the day in comfortable companionship. I worked remotely, fielding calls about the merger while Damien dozed on and off. Margaret called with updates- Sophia’s arraignment was scheduled for tomorrow, and the evidence was overwhelming.

“She’s going to try to plea bargain,” Margaret said. “Her lawyer knows they can’t win at

trial.”

“No deals,” I said firmly. “We’re going to trial. I want everyone to see exactly what she

did.”

“Aria, trials are expensive and time–consuming, a plea bargain”

“I don’t care about expensive.” My voice was cold. “I want her convicted in open court. I want the jury to hear about the drugging, the staging, the premeditation. I want her socially destroyed so she never tries this again.”

Damien’s eyes opened at my tone. When I hung up, he studied me carefully. “You’re going to war,” he observed..

08:58

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127 Chapter 127: Family Reunion.

“Yes.” I met his gaze steadily. “She tried to destroy you. Destroy us. I’m making sure she pays for that.”

“This isn’t like you.” His voice was gentle. “The Aria I’ve been getting to know is compassionate, forgiving.”

“With people who deserve it,” I interrupted. “Sophia doesn’t deserve compassion. She deserves exactly what she tried to give us–public humiliation and consequences.”

“Okay.” He caught my hand. “Then I’m with

you. Whatever you decide.”

“You’re not going to try to talk me out of it? Tell me I’m being too harsh?”

“No.” His smile was slight. “Because you’re right. She needs to face consequences and honestly?” His expression hardened. “I want her to pay for what she did too. Not just to me, but to you. Making you doubt us, making you relive that trauma–that’s unforgivable.”

“Good.” I kissed him quickly. “Because we’re in this together. Partners.”

“Partners,” he agreed.

*******

By evening Damien was cleared for discharge. Richards brought clothes from the penthouse–comfortable sweats instead of Damien’s usual suit. We were signing discharge papers when Lucas Hayes appeared in the doorway.

“Hope I’m not interrupting,” he said. “I wanted to check on you both before you left.”

“Lucas.” I stood. “Thank you for coming by yesterday, that was thoughtful.”

“Of course.” His eyes were kind. “Damien, how are you feeling?”

“Better.” Damien actually smiled slightly. “Thank you for your concern.”

“I also wanted to let you know–Hayes Tech is prepared to testify at Sophia’s trial if needed. We’ve had similar issues with her in the past. Stalking behavior, boundary

violations.”

I exchanged glances with Damien. “That could be helpful. Shows a pattern of behavior. “My lawyer will be in touch,” Damien said. “Thank you, Lucas. Really.”

“Of course.” Lucas hesitated, his ears turning slightly pink. “And Aria, I meant what I said yesterday. If you need security support, business backup, anything–Hayes Tech

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127 Chapter 127: Family Reunion

has resources at your disposal.”

“We appreciate that,” I said warmly, then caught the telltale color in his cheeks. My eyes narrowed with interest. “Speaking of support–how’s Olivia doing? I know she’s been working crazy shifts lately.”

Lucas’s entire face went red. “She’s–yeah, she’s good. Busy. Very busy.”

“Mmm.” I crossed my arms, fighting a grin. “Funny how you know that. Almost like you’ve been… checking in on her? Frequently?”

“I–we talk sometimes. About medical stuff. Professional conversations.”

“Right. Professional.” I was full–on smirking now. “That’s why you texted me three times last week asking what kind of coffee she likes and whether she prefers Italian or

Thai food.”

Damien let out an actual laugh. “Hayes, you’re terrible at this.”

Lucas rubbed the back of his neck. “Is it that obvious?”

“To everyone except maybe Olivia,” I said. “But she’s been equally weird lately. Last week she asked me if I knew your favorite place, but then tried to play it off like she was just making conversation.”

“She did?” Lucas’s whole face lit up.

“Oh my god, you’re adorable,” I laughed. “Just ask her out already. Properly not a professional coffee‘ or ‘medical consultation dinner. An actual date.”

“I’m working on it,” Lucas admitted. “She’s intimidating. Smart, successful, doesn’t take

anyone’s crap”

“Sounds familiar,” Damien murmured, glancing at me.

“Yeah, well, some of us have learned that’s exactly the kind of woman worth pursuing,” Lucas shot back, grinning. “Even if it’s terrifying.”

“Agreed.” Damien extended his hand. “Good luck with Dr. Grant. And thank you again- for all of this, your support means more than you know.”

Lucas shook his hand firmly. “You’ve got good people in your corner now, Blackwood. Both of you don’t screw it up.”

“Not planning on it.”

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After Lucas left, Damien was quiet on the ride home, but it was a comfortable silence could see him processing, but without the tension from before. “That was nice,” he sa finally.

“What was?”

“Hayes being able to talk to him like–like a normal person. Without wanting to punc

him.”

I laughed. “Character growth, I’m proud of you.”

“I’m serious.” He turned to face me. “A few months ago, I would’ve hated him just for looking at you. For existing as a possibility in your life but now” He paused. “He’s a good guy and clearly has terrible taste in women if he’s pursuing Dr. Grant.”

“Hey!” I swatted his arm. “Olivia is amazing.”

“I’m kidding. She’s terrifying and competent. They’ll be good together.” He caught my hand. “It’s just–I can see now that not every man who’s kind to you is a threat. That having people who care about you, support you, isn’t something to be jealous of. It’s something to be grateful for.”

“Look at you, being emotionally mature.”

“Don’t get used to it,” he said dryly. “I’m still going to be possessive and overprotective That’s non–negotiable.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” I squeezed his hand. “But I like this version of you, the one who can be friends with Lucas instead of rivals.”

“Well, we’re still business rivals. I’m taking Hayes Tech down in the next quarter.”

“Of course you are.” I said smiling.

He pulled me closer as we drove. “I’m learning, Aria. Slowly. But I’m learning that the people who support you aren’t my enemies. They’re just more proof that you’re

exactly as incredible as I always thought.”

“Smooth talker.”

“I mean it.” His voice went serious. “I spent so long thinking I had to be everything for you. That letting anyone else in meant I was failing somehow. But seeing you with Olivia, with Lucas, even with Richards–you have a whole life, a whole support system. And instead of threatening me, it just makes me love you more. Because you built all of that yourself, you created this network of people who would go to war for you.”

08:58.

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127 Chapter 127: Family Reunion

“We built it,” I corrected. “You’re part of that network now too.”

“I’m the lucky one who gets to come home to you.”

“Damn right you are.”

We pulled into the penthouse garage as Damien got out carefully, still moving slowly from the drug’s effects, but steady. I came around to his side, and he wrapped an arm around my waist.

“Thank you,” he said quietly.

“For what?”

“For not choosing safe but choosing us instead.”

I kissed him softly. “Every single day, Damien. Now let’s go inside. Noah’s probably destroyed the living room by now, and I need to thank Mrs. Dora for surviving him.”

“Our son is a menace.”

“He gets it from you.”

“Lies and slander.”

We headed inside, together as Noah launched himself at Damien with a shriek of joy.

“Daddy! You’re home! Are all better?”

you

“Much better, buddy.” Damien scooped him up, holding him tight. “Did you take care of Mrs Dora while I was gone?”

“Uh–huh! We made cookies and watched movies and I protected her from bad guys with my T–Rex!” Noah held up his stuffed dinosaur. “See? No bad guys got her!”

“Good job.” Damien’s voice was thick. “That’s your most important job–protecting “And you gotta protect Mama too!” Noah said seriously. “Mr. Peterson says families protect each other.”

“Mr. Peterson is very wise.” Damien looked at me over Noah’s head, and the love in his eyes made my breath catch. “And yes, I’m going to protect Mama. Always.

“Good.” Noah squirmed down. “Cause she’s really important. She’s the best mama ever and she makes really good cookies more than Dora and she reads all the voices in stories and.”