Where Darkness Learned Breath by Rylor Dusk 131

131 Chapter 131:Damien Words 

“She will.” He kissed the top of my head, his lips were warm. “Through legal channels. Through natural consequences. But Aria, you are actively destroying her life–that’s not justice. That’s you becoming the villain in her story instead of the survivor in yours.” 

Aria pov 

I laughed despite myself, the tension from moments ago dissolving into something lighter. “You’re impossible.” 

“I know.” I leaned against him. “I just hope it’s enough.” 

“For now,” I agreed, smiling. 

After I hung up, Damien smiled at me.“That was hard for you,” he observed. 

“I want her to pay.” I pulled back to look at him. His face was half in shadow, half lit by the glow from the windows. Those ice–blue eyes were soft now with worry. 

“Unfortunately, I do.” I stepped back, smoothing my clothes and trying to regain some composure. “But seriously, Noah has a habit of appearing at the worst possible 

moments.” 

The words made Damien flinch. 

“You’re such a bad boy.” I pushed lightly at his chest, trying to create distance even as my body betrayed me by leaning into him. 

“And if she attacks again?” I traced the buttons on his shirt with one finger. Smooth mother–of–pearl under my touch. 

For myself. 

“Our family,” I said softly. 

I kissed his head and made a promise: 

“I know.” He laughed but the sound broke some of the tension. “But Noah’s watching and he needs to see us choose right over easy” 

I thought about Noah’s question earlier. The innocent confusion in those devastating blue eyes. About how he’d asked if Vivian was coming to his next party, hopeful and 

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131 Chapter 131:Damien Words 

trusting. He’d been so excited to learn he had another aunt. Another piece of family he 

didn’t know existed. 

He laughed, low and dangerous as the sound sent shivers down my spine. “Or are you scared you won’t be able to control yourself?” 

“Damien” I broke away, breathless. “No. Stop with the seduction tactics. Noah could 

walk in.” 

I wanted to argue. Wanted to defend my plans. To list all the ways Vivian had destroyed me. How she’d smiled while seducing my husband. How she’d laughed when our parents threw me out. How she’d spread lies about me being unstable, desperate, pathetic. 

We went back inside, and I made a call to Roberts.“Cancel the eviction,” I said. “Vivian stays in the apartment.” 

“Then we defend ourselves.” He pulled back to look at me. His hands cupped my face, thumbs brushing my cheekbones. “But we don’t become her, Aria. We don’t let hatred make us into people our son wouldn’t recognize.” 

No matter how hard it was. 

“When did you get so wise?” 

I would choose peace. 

“Delete it.” His voice was firm. “Don’t engage. That’s what she wants–to pull you back into the cycle.” 

But as I left Noah’s room, my phone buzzed again. Different unknown number. 

“Then we end her,” Damien said flatly. “Together but until then, we take the high road.” “I’ll stop actively destroying her life,” I looked up at him. His face was so close I could see the faint stubble on his jaw. Could smell his cologne–cedar and something darker. “But I’m not reaching out. Not offering forgiveness. She gets natural consequences and legal prosecution, but nothing more.” 

“I know.” His hand moved through my hair, gentle strokes that should have soothed me but only made the frustration worse. 

Heat flooded my face. “I–you–that’s” 

My phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number. “Heard you called off the dogs. 

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131 Chapter 131:Damien Words 

Disappointed. I was enjoying watching you become me. —V” 

“He deserves the mother who taught me about forgiveness,” Damien said softly as his thumb caught a tear that escaped down my cheek. “The one who gave me a second chance when I didn’t deserve it. Be that person, Aria. Not because Vivian deserves mercy, but because you deserve peace.” 

“You’re one to talk about stooping to levels,” I said bitterly. “You destroyed your own 

brother.” 

We stood there for a long time, holding each other while the city hummed below us. I could hear the distant sound of traffic. Car horns. The faint wail of a siren blocks away. The penthouse was too quiet. The air conditioning blowing through the vents, raising goosebumps on my arms. I shivered despite the warmth of Damien’s embrace. 

“You will?” There was surprise in his voice, instant relief. 

“What do I do?” I finally asked. 

“I had an excellent teacher.” He pulled me back for a kiss. His lips were warm,tasting faintly of the wine we’d had with dinner. “A brilliant, strong, occasionally terrifying woman who showed me that being better is harder than being bitter.” 

And I’d had to crush that hope. Had to explain that family could hurt you. That blood didn’t mean loyalty.The memory made my chest tight, made breathing harder. “He deserves better than having a mother consumed by revenge,” I admitted as my throat 

burned with unshed tears. 

His voice was gentle. “You’re supposed to remember who you are. The woman who built an empire to provide for her son. Who faced down enemies with grace and strategy instead of cruelty. Who taught me that revenge isn’t the same as justice. That woman, He caught my hand. That woman is better than Vivian, Better than stooping to her level,” 

“You love it.” He kissed my forehead, finally releasing me, 

“Vivian?” Damien asked, seeing my expression. 

“Flattery will get you everywhere,” I said against his lips. 

“She’ll face justice eventually,” he said. “When the DA finds her, when the conspiracy case goes to trial–she’ll pay for what she did.” 

“Maybe.” He pulled me close. “But you don’t deserve to become someone who takes 

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pleasure in causing that suffering. That’s not who you are.” 

“That’s fair.” He smiled slightly. “That’s justice, not revenge.” 

“Probably.” He handed back my phone. “But we’re not playing her games anymore. We’re focused on us. On building something she can never touch.” 

Later that night, after Damien was asleep, I checked on Noah. He was curled up with his stuffed T–Rex, peaceful and innocent.“You deserve better than having parents who destroy each other,” I whispered, brushing hair from his forehead. “You deserve parents who choose love over hate. Who chooses building over destroying. Who chooses peace.” 

“Yeah.” I showed him the text. “She’s taunting me.” 

“Incredibly hard.” I sank onto the couch. “But you’re right. I don’t want to be the villain. Even if she deserves it.” 

“It will be.” He kissed my head. “Because unlike revenge, justice actually brings closure.” 

For him. 

We sat in comfortable silence, and I tried to let go of the anger that had been driving me. It was hard. Harder than I’d expected.But for Noah–for the mother I wanted to be, for the family we were building–I would try. 

“Fine.” I stepped back. The loss of his warmth made me feel exposed. “But if she comes after us again” 

He caught my hands, holding them against his chest. His heart was racing under my palms. He pouted–actually pouted–looking ridiculously attractive and far too pleased with himself.“If I remember correctly,” he said, his voice dropping an octave, “you called me daddy the last time.” 

I would be that parent. 

“Understood, Ms. Monroe, 

For Damien. 

“Our family,” he agreed, 

“Set up a payment plan with reasonable terms. She pays what she owes over time, she stays.” I paused. “And Roberts? This stays confidential. She doesn’t need to know I’m the one who gave her the reprieve.” 

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I buried my face in his chest, frustrated and confused and so tired of being the bigger person. His shirt was soft against my cheek. Warm. I could hear his heartbeat–steady and sure beneath the expensive fabric. 

But standing there, wrapped in Damien’s arms, I realized he was right. Revenge wasn’t making me happy. It was making me hard. Cold. Someone I didn’t recognize when I looked in the mirror. Someone with sharp edges and calculating eyes. Someone Noah might one day fear instead of love. “Okay,” I whispered but the word felt like surrender. “I’ll stop.” 

“I hate this,” I said, my voice muffled against him. 

“You’re right,” he said quietly. “I did. And it’s one of my deepest regrets. Marcus and I” He stopped. “We could have been family. Could have supported each other through our father’s abuse. Instead, I chose to survive. And now Marcus is so twisted by hatred that he’s trying to destroy everything I love. That’s what revenge creates, Aria. More revenge. An endless cycle.” 

“She’s going to keep pushing,” I said. 

“I hate the high road,” I muttered. 

I wanted to argue. Wanted to defend my actions. But deep down, I knew he was right. “She deserves to suffer,” I whispered. 

“But Ms. Monroe, the back rent” 

“Good to know.” He deepened the kiss, drawing me closer. His hands slid down my back, settling on my hips before moving lower. He squeezed gently, possessively, and I couldn’t help the small moan that escaped. 

I stared at the message, fury building again. 

“But” 

“You let the legal system handle Vivian.” His voice was firm. Strong. The CEO voice he used in boardrooms. “You focus on what matters–Noah, our family, our companies. You choose peace over revenge.” 

No matter what Vivian did. 

“Fine.” He sighed dramatically. “I’ll behave for now.” 

He grinned at my sputtering, clearly enjoying my embarrassment. 

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131 Chapter 131:Damien Words 

“No.” He took my phone, deleted the message, and blocked the number. “You chose the high road. Stick with it. No matter what she says.” 

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