Chapter 230

<p>BRANDON'S POV</p><p>My fists were still throbbing with a dark, violent energy as I drove us back to Aria’s house. My knuckles were white against the steering wheel.</p><p>Every time I closed my eyes, I saw that disgusting man's hand on Aria’s leg, and a fresh wave of fury rolled through my chest. If Aria hadn't been there to pull me back, I would have truly ended Thomas Sterling right there on that restaurant floor.</p><p>Nobody touches my woman. Nobody.</p><p>When we pulled into her driveway, I walked around the car and opened her door. I didn't say a word. I just wrapped my arm around her waist, keeping her glued to my side as we walked into the house.</p><p>The living room was quiet and warm. The moment the front door clicked shut, I helped Aria slide her heavy coat off her shoulders. She looked pale, and her breathing was still a little fast, but her eyes weren't full of tears, they were turning cold and hard.</p><p>"Sit down, beautiful," I murmured, my voice dropping its dangerous edge completely as I guided her to the soft sofa. "I am going to make you some hot tea. Don't think about anything right now. Just breathe."</p><p>I walked into the kitchen, my mind already spinning with ways to completely erase Sterling from the business world. As I was waiting for the water to boil, the sweet nanny, Sarah, walked out from the hallway.</p><p>She had a gentle, soft smile on her face, looking completely innocent. "Oh, Mr. Brandon, you're back early," Sarah said softly, her voice quiet so she wouldn't disturb the house. "I just put Amelia down for a nap. She was a little tired after school."</p><p>"Thank you, Sarah," I said, giving her a nod. I watched her closely for a second. She seemed completely dedicated to the family, always keeping the house peaceful and looking after Amelia like a protective older sister. "Aria had a rough meeting at the office. I'm making her some tea."</p><p>"Of course. Let me know if you need anything else," Sarah said sweetly, turning back toward the kitchen pantry to tidy up. I grabbed the warm mug of tea and walked back into the living room, sitting down right next to Aria.</p><p>I handed her the mug, and she took a small sip, leaning her head against my shoulder. The familiar scent of her hair instantly calmed the remaining anger in my veins.</p><p>"Aria," I started, turning slightly so I could look directly into her beautiful eyes. "Listen to me. We don't need to stress over Sterling's pulled funds. I don't care how much money he took out. I will have my personal financial legal team write up the papers tonight. I will personally take over from Thomas Sterling and buy out every single share he had in your company. I will cover the entire deficit myself."</p><p>Aria looked at me for a long moment. Then, slowly, she shook her head. "No, Brandon," she said, her voice quiet but completely steady. "Thank you, but no. I can't let you do that."</p><p>I frowned, my protective instincts flaring up. "Aria, he tried to hurt you. He tried to use his money to force you into a corner. I have billions of dollars sitting there just waiting to protect you and your father's legacy. Why won't you let me fix this?"</p><p>"Because if you fix it by just buying the company out, the media and the board of directors will say I am weak," Aria explained, reaching up to rest her warm hand against my cheek. Our eyes met, and her touch instantly melted my frustration.</p><p>"They will say I couldn't handle the pressure and needed her wealthy boyfriend to save her. I need to find a real, independent investor. I have to prove that my father's company is impressive enough to attract major backing on its own merit."</p><p>I stared at her, a profound sense of pride and admiration washing over me. She wasn't running away, and she wasn't hiding behind me. She was a true queen, standing tall even after being attacked by sharks.</p><p>"You are incredible," I whispered, leaning down to press a deep, lingering kiss against her lips. When I pulled away, I smiled softly.</p><p>"Alright. If you won't let me buy the shares, let me do this instead. I have a very close friend from my hockey and business circles. He is an incredibly wealthy venture capitalist, and he is always looking for solid, legitimate companies to invest in. Your logistics empire is already highly impressive, Aria. The numbers speak for themselves. Let me introduce you to him tomorrow. You can pitch the expansion project to him as an equal."</p><p>Aria's eyes brightened, a genuine smile finally breaking across her face. "I would really love that, Brandon. Thank you for respecting my boundaries."</p><p>"Always, my queen," I murmured, pulling her back into my arms. Just then, we heard a soft, sleepy yawn from the hallway. I looked up and saw Sarah walking out of the guest room, carrying a fast-asleep Amelia in her arms.</p><p>Amelia’s head was resting heavily against Sarah’s shoulder, her little thumb tucked into her mouth.</p><p>Sarah gave us a quiet, apologetic look. "She woke up for a second asking for her favorite teddy bear, but she fell right back asleep in my arms. I'm going to take her back to her bedroom so she can rest properly."</p><p>I watched Sarah closely as she carefully walked down the hall, cradling Amelia with total gentleness.</p><p>I felt a wave of deep relief knowing that while Aria and I were fighting these battles out in the corporate world, our little girl was completely safe at home with someone we could trust.</p><p>After Sarah left the room, the heavy exhaustion of the day finally caught up with Aria. Her eyelids fluttered, growing heavier and heavier until they closed completely.</p><p>The half-empty mug of tea slipped slightly in her hand, and I quickly caught it, setting it down on the coffee table. I adjusted her body gently, pulling a warm blanket up to her shoulders as she fell into a deep, peaceful sleep against the sofa cushions.</p><p>I stared at her beautiful, calm face for a long moment, my jaw clenching. The raw truth hit me right then and there. I did not trust anyone with Aria anymore. Not after Julian’s toxic games, not after Helen’s madness, and absolutely not after</p><p>Thomas Sterling's vile assault. I refused to let her sit across from another random businessman who might look at her with greedy, disgusting eyes. I couldn't risk her getting hurt again.</p><p>I quietly stood up from the sofa, making sure not to wake her, and stepped out onto the glass-enclosed back patio. I pulled out my phone and dialed a number I knew very well.</p><p>"Brandon! My man," a cheerful, boisterous voice boomed over the line. It was Marcus Sinclair, a massive venture capitalist and one of my closest friends from my early sports investment days. "To what do I owe the pleasure?”</p><p>"Marcus, I need a favor," I said, my voice completely flat, dark, and dead serious. The cold tone instantly caused Marcus to stop laughing.</p><p>"Whoa, okay. You sound like someone just died. What's going on, B?"</p><p>"Tomorrow morning, a woman named Aria is going to come to your office," I explained, running a hand through my hair. "She is the CEO of her late father's shipping empire. She needs a major investor to replace a corrupt shareholder who just backed out. Her company is completely legitimate, the numbers are stellar, and the growth potential is massive. I want you to take the meeting, look at her pitch, and accept the deal."</p><p>"Okay, simple enough. If the numbers are as good as you say, I'm always down to make money. But why the heavy tone?" Marcus asked, confused.</p><p>"Because the money isn't coming from you, Marcus," I said coldly. "It's coming from me. I am going to wire the entire multi-million dollar investment amount into your corporate account tonight. When you sign the papers with her tomorrow, you are going to act as if you are the sole investor. She cannot know the money is mine."</p><p>Marcus gasped over the phone, completely stunned. "Wait, Brandon...You want me to front for you? Why don't you just give her the cash yourself? She's your girl, right?"</p><p>"She has too much pride, Marcus. She wants to prove she can save her father's company on her own merit, without her billionaire boyfriend fixing her problems," I replied, my eyes burning as I looked through the glass window at Aria's sleeping form.</p><p>"But I don't trust the corporate world around her anymore. I don't trust any other investor not to try something dirty with her. I need to know she is safe, and the only way I can guarantee her safety is if I am the one holding the strings. You act as the face of the deal. The money, the power, and the protection stay with me. Do we have a deal?"</p><p>There was a pause on the other end as Marcus processed the sheer gravity of my devotion. A low, respectful whistle came through the speaker.</p><p>"Man... you really love this girl, don't you? Alright, Brandon. Your secret is completely safe with me. Send over the wires tonight. Tomorrow, I'll play the part of the perfect, eager investor and make her feel like a rockstar."</p><p>"Thanks, Marcus. I owe you one," I said before hanging up. I tucked my phone back into my pocket and walked back inside the warm house. I stood over the sofa, looking down at Aria as she slept securely under the blanket.</p><p>She wanted to fight her own battles, and I respected that more than anything. But as long as I had breath in my body, I would be her invisible shield, guarding her from the shadows while she built her empire.</p>