bChapter /bb13 /b

Andrew’s pain took a back seat as his eyes nearly popped out of his skull. ‘How the hell does she know?‘

Aria didn’t bother with a goodbye nce. She stood, strutted out, and left him choking on her dust.

One of hisckeys fidgeted, voice shaky. “Uh, boss, we calling the cops or what?”

Andrew’s face twisted like he’d been hit with a brick. “Cops? Get me a damn ambnce, you dimwit!”

71%

+20

Aria was on her own now, no one to watch her back, yet she’d had the guts toe for him. She was holding something big–something that could burn his world to ash.

‘That little viper,‘ he seethed. ‘She’s gonna regret crossing me.‘

When Liam heard Aria had put his uncle in the hospital, he to

over there, anger roaring in his chest.

As he saw Andrew looking like he’d been tossed in a blenderb, /bLiam’s blood boiled. “She went after you? Man, I was such a sucker to think she had a shred

of decency.”

Andrewi, /iwrapped in bandages from his wrist to his neck to his forehead, looked like he’d stumbled out of a bad horror flick. He groaned,ying it on thick. “Liam, my boy, Aria beat the tar outta me. I can’t even drag myself to work. She won’t fork over a cent for my bills, my pain, or the pay I’m losing!b” /b

Liam’s jaw clenched. “Don’t worry, Uncle Andrew. I’ll

a

We’ll make her

pay

yup.”

”

Andrew’s fake whimpering hitched, Aria’s parting shot ringing in his ears. He scrambled to backtrack, voice wobbling. “Uh, maybe awyer’s too much hassle. She’s gotta be walking away with a nice chunk from the divorce, right? Just take my cut from that.”

Hannah, who’d just strolled in with a fruit basket, plunked it on the table and raised of your money. What, you gonna slide her some of yours now?”

ban /b

eyebrow. “Hello? Aria signed a prenup. She’s not touching a dime

Liam grabbed Hannah’s hand, giving it a quick, reassuring squeeze. “No way, babe. She yed me, yed Cole Group. I’m not giving her squat. Don’t stress, I’m not that dumb.”

The 230 million? He thought that was Daniel’s guilt trip payoutb, /bnot his problem.

Andrew, still hamming up his sad–sack routine, froze solid. His hand was already healing, but he’d piled on the bandages to guilt Liam into coughing up cash without dragging Aria into it.

But now… Aria wasn’t getting a dime from the Coles.

‘Man, that’s cold,‘ he thought. ‘The Cole family doesn’t mess around.‘

Hannah let out a sharp huff, her eyes drilling into Andrew. “Andrew’s beat to hell, and I’m calling it–she’s got a violent side. Who’s to say your grandpa and the others haven’t caught her wrath?”

Liam lounged back, giving a casual shrug. “I’m halfway across the world, but I keep tabs on the family. Far as I can tell, she’s been holding it down.”

1

Hannah’s eyes narrowed, unconvinced. “With Daniel and Elena’s status? Yeah, she wouldn’t dare touch them. But the staff? Last time I was at the Cole Manor, a nanny Mary- was sobbing, swearing Ariaid into her.”

Liam’s jaw hit the floor, “Hold up. That’s legit?”

b“/bDamn straight,” bHannah /bsaid, her voice dropping low, schemingb. /b“If we can dig up dirt bon /bbAria throwing /bhands, this case is oursb./bb” /b

Her words bflipped /ba switch in Liam. He spun to Andrew, tone sharpb. /b“Uncle Andrew, get me that binjury /breportb, /byeah?”

15:08 Mon, 26 MayMT

Andrew froze, his eyes darting to the window like a cornered animal. “Uh… look, she’s been with Cole Group two years. I’m not sweating this.”

Liam’s patience snapped. “Uncle Andrew, I’ve got awyer’s letter breathing down my neck. Quit ying knight for Aria.”

Andrew’s face crumpled–he was losing the reins. He grabbed his temple, faking a wince. “Ugh, my head’s killing me. You two, out.”

71%

Back at her apartment, Aria’s gaze swept the room, snagging on something that made her blood run cold.

She dropped her bag and zeroed in on a crisp white envelope on the table. It was wless, except for a stark ck skull stamped dead center.

A death notice from Blood Association, the kind of assassin crew that didn’t y games. Once thisnded, one had a month–tops–before they were a

gonex

Someone has the guts to put a hit on me?‘ she thought. ‘Well, that is a plot twist.

Aria slid into a chair, kicking her legs up with azyi, /idangerous grace. Her heelnded smack on the envelope–perfect footrest.

A smirk curled her lips as she mentally sifted through her enemies.

Her phone buzzed, yanking her back. It was Owen.

“Miss Saxon,” he saidb, /bvoice all business. “The Coles got thewyer’s letter. They’re digging in their heels, so we’re probably slugging it out in court.”

“Got it. Thanks, Mr. Shaw,” Aria said, her tone smooth,manding, with a hint of a tease.

Owen fumbled, thrown by her cool confidence. “Uh, no biggie. Just doing my job.”

The evidence was airtight, so the case wasn’t a beast. Keeping her posted was just protocol.

After hanging up, a knock hit his office door. “Come in,” Owen called.

It was Aaron Freemanb, /bthe intern with a vendetta against Aria. He was Owen’s underling, always nursing a grudge.

“Mr. Shaw,” he said, sliding a tidy stack of files onto the desk. “Case docs, all sorted.”

Owen gave a quick nod. “Solid.”

Aaron didn’t budge, his face ba /bmess of nervesb, /blike he was itching to spill something but scared ito /iopen his mouth.

Owen raised a brow. “What’s up? You got something to say?”

“Uh, yeah.” Aaron shifted, then dove in. “Mr. Shaw, why’re you backing Aria’s case? She’s probably a con artist.”

Owen’s pen stopped cold. He set it downb, /bslow and deliberate, pinning Aaron with a look. “Sit. Let’s talk.”

Aaron dropped into the chair, instantly regretting his big mouth as Owen’s vibe turned subzero. He fidgeted, palms mmy.

Owen leaned back, his btone /bdeadly serious. b“/bYou’re ba /bwyerb, /bAaron. You know it’s about evidence and facts. So hit me—what’s the proof Aria’s a crock? What’s the real deal?”

Aaron’s brain screeched bto /bba /bbhalt/b. “Wellb… /bthat hundred fifty mil she’s got? It’s fishy. She hasn’t said bsquat /babout it.”

b“/bAnd why should bshe/bb?/bb” /bOwen bshot /bbback/bb, /bbeyes /bbshing/b. b“/bbShe /bexinsb, /bband /byou’ll demand ba /bbpaper /btrailb, /bbright/bb? /b

“You’re side beyeing /bbher /bbbecause /bbyou /bbcan’t /bfathom ber bmaking /bbthat /bkinda cashb. /bIf bit /bwas meb, /bwould byou /bbblink/bb?/bb” /b

bHe /bbdidn’t /bwait for ban /banswerb, /bbhis /bbvoice /bbcutting /blike ba /bbde/bb. /bb“/bbIf /bbyou /bbcan’t /bbwrap /byour head baround /bbthat/bb, /bbpack /byour bcrap /bband /bbounce

b2/3 /b

15:08 Mon, 26 May MT

Owen dropped his eyes to the files, done.

70%

(+20)

Aaron sat there, shell–shocked, his brain finally clicking. Regret hit him like a freight train. “Mr. Shaw, I blew it,” he said, voice cracking. “Don’t write me off.

“Two years ago, that Mandino City scam? My grandpa got burned–lost three hundred grand, nearly ended it. I got too personal, lost my damn mind.”

That scam had ripped through the city like a tornado, fleecing thousands in a month and racking up nearly 300 million in damages.

b3/3 /b