Chapter 135 One thirty five

Chapter 135 One thirty five
Damien’s POV

My phone buzzed just as I was finishing up the last of the paperwork from the emergency at the office.

I barely glanced at it at first, assuming it was another follow-up message or one of the endless notifications that never seemed to stop. But something made me pick it up anyway.

Aria.

I’ve gone home. I was getting bored.
A small frown settled on my face as I reread the message.

Bored?

That didn’t sound like her. Not exactly. Aria wasn’t the type to just leave without saying more, especially not today, after everything we had talked about earlier.

Something about it felt… off.

Still, I didn’t overthink it too much. I was already done here, and honestly, the thought of seeing her again made the tension from the day ease just a little.

So I grabbed my keys and headed out.

The drive to her apartment was quick, almost too quick. My mind kept drifting back to her, her expressions, the way she had been acting lately, the things she wasn’t saying.

And then there was this morning.

The conversation we hadn’t finished.

I tightened my grip on the steering wheel slightly.

By the time I pulled up in front of her apartment, the sun had already begun to dip, casting a soft glow over everything.
I stepped out of the car and headed inside without hesitation.

The door wasn’t locked.

That alone made my brows pull together slightly.

I pushed it open and stepped in.
What I saw immediately threw me off.
Aria was sitting on the couch…

Between Katie and Maeve.

And she was laughing.

Not just smiling.

Not just amused.

Laughing.

Soft, light giggles that seemed so… carefree.

For a moment, I just stood there, watching her.

There was something about the scene that didn’t sit right with me. Maybe it was how relaxed she looked. Or maybe it was the energy in the room, too light, too easy.

Too different from what I expected.

I cleared my throat lightly as I stepped further in.

“Evening.”

All three of them looked up at once.
Aria’s eyes lit up the moment they landed on me, her smile widening just slightly.

“Damien.”

There was something in the way she said my name that made my chest tighten, but I pushed the feeling aside.

I gave them all a small nod, my gaze lingering just a second longer than necessary on Katie and Maeve.

Something about them…

I couldn’t place it.

But it felt like I had walked in on something I wasn’t supposed to see.

I didn’t say anything about it, though.

Instead, I moved toward Aria, picking up her things without asking.

“Let’s go.”

She didn’t protest.

She simply stood up, still smiling faintly, and followed me out.

That, too, was unusual.

Once we got into the car, I shut the door and walked around to the driver’s side, my thoughts still circling everything I had just seen.

The moment I got in, I turned to look at her.

She was still smiling.

Still… glowing.

“Why are you this excited?” I asked, narrowing my eyes slightly.

She let out a small laugh, almost like she had been waiting for me to ask.

“Katie and Maeve are dating now,” she said, her tone light, almost teasing. “That’s why I was giggling.”

For a second, I just stared at her.

Then I leaned back slightly, processing that.

Dating.

Katie and Maeve.

That explained… something.

Maybe.

I exhaled quietly and started the car, the engine coming to life beneath us.

“Well,” I muttered, pulling out onto the road, “that’s… new.”

She laughed again softly, and I found myself glancing at her from the corner of my eye.

She looked happy.

Genuinely happy.

And for some reason, that unsettled me more than it should have.

The drive to my villa was quiet, but not uncomfortable. Still, my mind didn’t stop working.

Her message.

Her mood.

The way she had been acting lately. Pieces that didn’t quite fit together. By the time we arrived, the sky had darkened completely.

I parked the car and stepped out, walking around to her side before opening the door for her.

She looked up at me briefly, her 
expression softening.

“Thank you.”

I gave a small nod and helped her out, my hand lingering just a second longer than necessary before I pulled away.

We walked inside together, the familiar silence of the villa wrapping around us.
But the moment we stepped in, she suddenly stopped.

I took a few steps ahead before noticing she wasn’t beside me anymore.

I turned back.

She was standing there, looking at me like she had just remembered something important.

“What is it?” I asked.

She hesitated for a second, then spoke.

“I’ve spoken to my aunt… about what we talked about this morning.”

My body stilled instantly.

Every bit of my attention snapped to her.
This morning.

So she hadn’t forgotten.

Good.

I stepped closer, my gaze fixed on her face.

“And?” I asked, my voice lower now, more focused.

She held my gaze for a moment before continuing.

“She said we should come tomorrow.”
A pause.

Then..

“Saturday.”

For a second, I didn’t react.

I just stared at her, letting the word settle.
Saturday.

Tomorrow.

Everything suddenly felt like it was moving too fast.

Too soon.

“Saturday…” I repeated slowly, my voice quieter now, almost like I was testing the word.

My mind was already racing ahead.

Meeting her aunt.

Getting answers.

Facing whatever it was Aria had been holding back.

I looked at her again, really looked this time.

Her expression.

Her eyes.

There was something there.

Something she wasn’t saying.

And I had a feeling…

Saturday was going to change everything.
I took a slow step closer, my gaze never leaving hers.

“Saturday,” I repeated again, this time more firmly.