CHAPTER SIXTEEN: CRACKS OF FEAR
Aria slept badly again.
Vivian's accusations replayed in her mind like a cruel recording. She hated that her sister had said it. Hated that the thought had been planted like a seed she never intended to grow.
What if?
What if Damien changed his mind?
What if he fought her for custody?
What if things went wrong again?
Fear clawed at her all night.
In the morning, she found Damien outside her apartment building, leaning against his car, arms crossed, face set in a serious expression.
He wasn't angry.
He was waiting.
"For you," he said when she approached.
Aria folded her arms protectively.
"We need boundaries, Damien."
"I agree," he replied immediately.
The quickness of his answer startled her.
He took a step closer—not intimidating, but certain.
"Aria, yesterday was chaotic. But your sister was wrong about me. Completely wrong. I'm not here to fight you. I'm not here to take Eli from you."
His voice softened.
"I'm here because I missed three years. And I don't want to miss a single day more."
Her throat tightened.
"Still," she whispered, "you have a powerful family, powerful lawyers—"
"I won't use any of them against you."
She hesitated.
"People say things they don't mean when they're hurt."
"I mean this," he said firmly.
"I won't betray you. Not as Eli's father. Not as a man."
Aria looked away.
Damien exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair.
"Aria… I want to do this with you, not against you. But I need to know—really know—that you want me in Eli's life."
Her eyes flicked to him.
"I do."
He let out a breath he'd been holding tightly.
"Then trust me with one thing."
Aria swallowed.
"What?"
Damien held her gaze.
"Don't let anyone—your sister, your fears, your past—turn me into a threat. I'm not the enemy."
Her heart cracked open a little at the edges.
"Okay," she whispered.
Damien stepped back, giving her space, letting her breathe.
"Good," he said softly.
"Because today… I want to take both of you out. A real outing. Not the park. Something special."
Aria blinked.
"Both of us?"
"Yes."
He hesitated, then added:
"Let me be part of the family you built. Even if just for today."
Her chest tightened painfully.
She wasn't sure she was ready.
But she wanted to try.
"Okay," she whispered.
Damien smiled for the first time that morning—small, tentative, hopeful.
And Aria felt something dangerous:
Warmth.
Possibility.
Hope.
She prayed she wasn't making a mistake.