Chapter 278

JULIAN'S POV

“She called him Daddy.” The words hung in the quiet room like a physical blow, slamming right into my chest and knocking the air clean out of my lungs.

My vision narrowed until all I could see was Aria standing across from me, so calm, so distant, looking at me like I was a complete stranger instead of the man who had loved her for years.

My whole body went rigid, my hands gripping the edge of the dark mahogany table so tight my knuckles turned stark white and my joints throbbed with pain.

Daddy.

That was my title. That was my blood. Amelia was my daughter, and Aria was supposed to be my woman.

Brandon hadn't earned a single damn thing; he had just waltzed into our lives with his billions, buying his way into their hearts while I was dragged through the mud by Leonie and the press.

A dark, icy anger washed away the last lingering traces of my desperate, emotional act. The pleading, broken front I had put on the second she walked into the room vanished completely, replaced by a cold, sharp bitterness that burned hot under my skin.

I slowly pulled my hands off the table and stood up to my full height, smoothing the front of my charcoal suit jacket with deliberate care.

"Daddy?" I repeated, my voice dropping into a low, harsh rasp. A bitter, empty laugh escaped my throat. "You really think he cares about her, Aria? You really think a billionaire like Brandon just happens to open his heart to another man's child out of the goodness of his soul?"

Aria didn't flinch. She kept her arms folded over her chest, her posture rigid, her clear eyes staring straight back into mine without a single trace of fear.

"Brandon loves her, Julian. And he loves me. You can't wrap your mind around that because you only understand what people can do for your career or your image."

"I am protecting my family," I snapped, taking one heavy step toward the table.

The tall security guard near the entrance door immediately shifted his feet, his hands coming together in front of him, his posture instantly becoming aggressive.

I cut the guard a quick, deadly glare, stopping myself before I gave them an excuse to throw me out of the building.

I turned back to Aria, taking a slow, controlled breath as I pulled my phone out of my inner jacket pocket. I tapped the screen once, bringing up the summary document Viktor had sent me late last night, and held the glowing display out toward her.

"You think Brandon is your savior," I said softly, my voice dripping with quiet venom. "You think he’s this impenetrable rock who can shield you and Amelia from every storm in the world. But you have no idea who you're actually sleeping with, do you?"

Aria’s eyes narrowed slightly, but she didn't reach out to take the phone. "What are you talking about, Julian?"

"I'm talking about reality, Aria," I said, leaning over the table, my voice dropping into an intense, dangerous whisper. "Look at the screen. Those are corporate transfer logs from Brandon’s hotel expansion project three years ago. Secret offshore holding companies, questionable tax shelters, and shell accounts registered in the Caribbean. Real dirt."

Aria looked down at the screen for a brief second, then looked right back up into my eyes, her expression totally unreadable. "Where did you get that?" she asked quietly.

"It doesn't matter where I got it," I lied, a cold, triumphant smile creeping onto my face as I pulled the phone back and slid it into my pocket. "What matters is what happens if these files find their way to the financial press. If this leaks, Brandon won't be playing house with you and Amelia anymore. He’ll be tied up in federal audits, board meetings, shareholder lawsuits, and press conferences for the next eighteen months. His spotless corporate reputation will be dragged through the mud."

I paused, letting the threat settle heavy into the quiet space between us. "Is that the life you want for Amelia?" I pressed, stepping up to the very edge of the mahogany table, my eyes locking onto hers with intense possession.

“Do you want our daughter surrounded by paparazzi, financial scandals, and process servers every single morning when she leaves for school? Stay with him, Aria, and I promise you... things are going to get very ugly, very fast. Not just for him, but for everyone standing near him."

I waited for the panic to set in. I waited to see the fear in her eyes, the crack in her foundation, the realization that Brandon couldn't protect her from the storm I held in my hands.

Instead, Aria just looked at me.

She looked at me with a profound, quiet sadness, her head tilting slightly as if she were looking at a sad, broken child throwing a tantrum in a sandbox.

"Is that your big move, Julian?" she asked softly, her tone completely devoid of fear. "Blackmail?"

"It’s leverage, Aria," I spat out, my chest heaving. "It’s me showing you that your bulletproof billionaire is just as dirty as everyone else."

Aria took a slow step backward, turning her shoulders toward the double oak doors. "You haven't changed at all," she said, her voice dropping into a steady, final tone that chilled me straight to the bone.

“You didn't ask how Amelia is doing in school. You didn't ask about her health, her favorite toys, or her happiness. You came here with dirt, threats, and corporate games, thinking you could scare me back into your arms."

"Aria, wait—"

"Do whatever you feel you have to do with your files, Julian," Aria interrupted, looking back over her shoulder one last time. "But do not ever contact me again. The next time you try to reach me, it will be through Brandon’s lawyers, and I promise you won't like the outcome."

She didn't wait for my response. She turned around, her heels clicking cleanly against the polished floor, and walked straight out the door.

The security guard stepped out behind her, letting the heavy oak door swing shut with a deep, final click. "Aria!" I roared into the quiet, empty room, slamming my hand hard against the mahogany table.

The sound echoed off the high walls, swallowed up instantly by the heavy velvet drapes. I stood there alone under the bright crystal chandelier, my chest heaving, my teeth grinding together so hard my jaw throbbed, completely consumed by the dark, desperate fire raging inside me.