Chapter 247

ARIA'S POV

The morning sun spilled through the sheer curtains of my bedroom, but it brought absolutely no warmth. I hadn’t slept a single wink.

Every time I closed my eyes, I either saw the horrifying words in that manila folder or the absolute betrayal in Brandon’s silent confession.

I forced myself up, putting on a sharp corporate outfit for work. I needed a routine. I needed to escape the suffocating walls of this house, even if it was just for a few hours.

When I led Amelia down to the driveway, the heavy iron gates opened, and a black SUV pulled up to the front steps. The door opened, and Anthony stepped out. His expression was deeply solemn, his posture alert.

"Good morning, Miss Aria. Good morning, Amelia," Anthony said, opening the rear passenger door for us. "I'll be driving you to school and then taking you straight to your office today."

I froze, my grip tightening on Amelia’s small hand. The sight of Brandon’s security detail made my blood boil all over again. "No, thank you, Anthony. I can drive my daughter to school myself. I don't need Brandon’s men managing my life anymore."

Anthony didn't flinch, nor did he look offended. He just stepped closer, his voice dropping to a low, incredibly serious tone.

"Miss Aria, with all due respect, I insist. Mr. Brandon’s orders were absolute. After what happened at the botanical gardens, it isn't safe for you two to be out there without protection. My only job is to keep you both alive. Please, get in the car."

I stared at him, the chilling memory of the masked men flashing in my mind. I hated Brandon, but I loved my daughter more than my pride. "Fine," I said through clenched teeth. "Okay."

Amelia didn't say a word as she climbed into the back seat. She immediately slid across the leather, pressing her tiny body against the opposite window, staring blankly outside.

She didn't look at me. She didn't even acknowledge that I had sat down beside her. As Anthony pulled the heavy SUV out of the driveway and onto the main road, the silence inside the cabin became deafening.

"Amelia, sweetheart?" I started softly, reaching over to gently touch her arm. "Are you still mad at Mum? Please, talk to me." Amelia pulled her arm away, shifting closer to the door.

She kept her eyes fixed on the passing buildings, her lower lip trembling slightly, but she refused to say a single word. She was completely icing me out.

My heart broke into a million pieces right there in the back seat. Sarah had told me last night that Amelia was just going through a phase, but seeing my little girl look at me like I was the enemy felt like a living nightmare.

When the SUV finally idled in the drop-off lane outside her school, Amelia quickly unbuckled her seatbelt. "Have a good day at school, baby. I love you," I said, leaning over to kiss her cheek.

She flinched away slightly, grabbed her backpack, and opened the door. "Bye, Anthony," she murmured softly, giving the driver a tiny wave before stepping out.

She didn't say goodbye to me. I watched her walk through the school gates until her pink backpack vanished into the crowd of children.

A heavy, suffocating sob caught in my throat, and I quickly wiped a rogue tear from my cheek before Anthony could see it in the rearview mirror.

"To the office, Miss Aria?" Anthony asked quietly, his eyes meeting mine in the glass with a look of genuine pity.

"Yes, Anthony," I whispered, leaning my head against the cold window. "To the office.”

On the drive to the office, the silence in the car was so heavy it felt like physical pressure. I kept my eyes locked on the window, watching the city blur past, desperately trying to keep my emotions from spilling over.

"Miss Aria," Anthony’s voice broke the quiet, sounding hesitant but steady. "If I may... Mr. Brandon didn't sleep last night either. He spent the entire night coordinating security. His only priority is making sure you and Amelia are safe. He really cares."

My chest tightened, a sharp spike of anger cutting through my grief. "I don't want to hear about him, Anthony. Please. Just drive."

Anthony’s eyes met mine in the rearview mirror, filled with a quiet, respectful sympathy, but he nodded and remained silent.

I closed my eyes, hating how much his words affected me. Even though I had kicked Brandon out of my life, his shadow was still completely covering me. I couldn't escape him.

When we finally pulled up to the sleek glass building of my office, I immediately noticed two men in dark suits parked in an unmarked sedan across the street.

As soon as our SUV stopped, their heads snapped toward us, their eyes scanning the surroundings. More of Brandon's men. Just as he had promised, my workplace was now a fortress.

"I'll be waiting right here, Miss Aria," Anthony said as he unlocked the doors. "Call me the second you are ready to leave."

"Thank you," I murmured, stepping out into the bustling morning air. I took a deep breath, smoothing down my blazer, trying to wrap myself in the illusion of normalcy.

I walked through the grand lobby, riding the elevator up to my floor. The familiar hum of the office, the printers whirring, the quiet chatter of colleagues instantly wrapped around me.

I needed this. I needed to lose myself at work.

"Good morning, Miss Aria," my assistant, Chloe, greeted me as I walked past her desk. She looked up with a warm smile, but her eyes quickly darted to a massive, stunning arrangement of dark red roses sitting on the corner of her desk.

"Good morning, Chloe," I replied, my eyes immediately locking onto the vibrant red petals. My heart did a sudden, violent flip in my chest.

Chloe stood up, picking up the heavy vase and following me into my private office. "These arrived for you just a few minutes ago. They’re absolutely beautiful."

She set the bouquet down on the center of my mahogany desk. The deep red of the roses was almost mesmerizing, standing out sharply against the clean, neutral tones of my office.

Tucked right in the center of the arrangement was a small, crisp white envelope. "Do you need anything else, Miss Aria?" Chloe asked gently.

"No, that's all. Thank you, Chloe," I said, keeping my voice as even as possible..The moment the office door clicked shut behind her, the professional mask I had worked so hard to put on crumbled.

My hands trembled as I reached out, my fingers brushing against the soft, velvet petals before pulling the envelope from the arrangement.

I slid the card out and unfolded it. Written in Brandon’s bold, elegant handwriting were just a few simple words.

I am always watching over you. Even from the dark. I love you, my Queen. And I'm sorry.

I stared at the note, my breath catching in my throat as a wave of conflicting emotions crashed over me. I wanted to tear the paper to shreds. I wanted to throw the roses into the trash.

But as I gripped the edge of my desk, looking out the window at the city below, I couldn't ignore the terrifying, undeniable truth.

No matter how hard I tried to push him away, Brandon was still the only shield standing between my family and the monsters waiting in the dark.