Chapter 11

Liam’s sneer remained unwavering. “Actually, she is my concern.”

A dangerous silence fell between them. Adrian’s gaze returned to Aria, searching for something—anything. But she was already turning away, walking toward Liam, walking away from him. Adrian’s chest tightened. She wasn’t coming back, and this time, he wasn’t sure he could chase her.

Aria sat in her office, her fingers tapping against the polished oak desk. Her sharp intellect scanned the document before her; the printed words confirmed what she already knew: Adrian Marsden was delving into her life.

Her phone vibrated. Keira’s message appeared: “It’s worse than we expected. He’s deploying private investigators, prying into financial documents, pulling strings in government offices. He wants everything on you.”

Aria’s jaw clenched. She should have anticipated this. Adrian was not the type of man to let things go. He had spent months mourning her, pursuing her ghost. Now that he knew she was alive, he wouldn't passively watch her build an empire. He wanted control. But what he didn’t know was that she was ten steps ahead. Her gaze drifted to another document on her desk—a legally binding contract Adrian was about to sign. She smirked. If Adrian chose to play dirty, she would bury him.

Adrian sat in his apartment, reviewing the latest information gathered by his staff. His jaw tightened as he read. Aria—Isabella—had built an empire in mere months, acquiring properties, securing investments, and forging powerful alliances—Liam Carter being the most significant. It didn't make sense. How had she progressed so rapidly? He tossed the folder onto the coffee table, his head throbbing. He had always known Isabella was intelligent, but this was warfare. And what disturbed him most? She didn't hesitate to oppose him.

A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. His assistant, Charlotte, entered, looking uneasy. “Sir, you have a meeting request.”

Adrian frowned. “From whom?”

Charlotte hesitated. “Aria Laurent.”

Silence. Adrian’s body stilled. She was coming to him? After everything, she was finally willing to talk? His grip tightened on the armrest. “Set it up,” he instructed. Charlotte nodded and left, but Adrian remained motionless. His mind raced, calculating. Why now? Why, after weeks of silence—after their disagreement, after Liam Carter—was she reaching out? There was only one way to find out.

The restaurant was quiet, intimate—a place where powerful bargains were struck in private. Adrian arrived first, his posture straight, his demeanor inscrutable, though inwardly he burned. Then, the door opened. Aria entered, unhurried, composed, untouchable. She wore a dark blue dress, her shoes clicking softly on the marble floor as she approached. Adrian rose as she reached him, watching intently.

“You’re late,” he murmured.

Aria smirked, settling into her seat. “You should be accustomed to waiting for me by now.”

A sharp pain pierced his chest, but he suppressed it. He had no time for emotions. “You wanted to meet,” Adrian replied, leaning back. “Why?”

She tilted her head, her eyes chilly and unreadable. “I thought it was time we talked.” He watched her, trying to penetrate her defenses.

“Talk about what?”

She sighed, tapping her nails lightly against her wineglass. “This fight is exhausting, Adrian. I don’t want a war.”

His jaw clenched. “You started it.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Did I?”

Adrian inhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “What do you want, Bella?”

Her lips curved slightly. “A truce.”

He narrowed his eyes. “You disappear for months, rebuild your life, and now you want a truce?”

She shrugged. “I want to live my life without constantly looking over my shoulder. You’ve been investigating me, probing my business. I’m offering an opportunity to put it all behind us.”

Adrian studied her; something felt amiss. She was too calm, too collected. But the truth was, he was weary, bored of the chase, bored of losing. If this was a way to keep her close, to find a way back to her… he would take it.

“Fine,” he responded after a long pause. “No more interference.”

Aria smiled faintly and reached into her bag, producing a folder. “Good,” she murmured casually, handing him the document. “Then let’s make it official.”

Adrian scowled, examining the papers. “What is this?”

“A business contract,” she added nonchalantly. “A small agreement. It outlines that neither of us will interfere in each other’s enterprises moving forward.”

Adrian scanned the contents. Everything seemed normal: a non-compete provision, a mutual agreement to end hostilities, a division of corporate interests. He took a pen and signed without hesitation.

“Done,” he murmured, pushing the folder back to her.

Aria accepted it, their fingers brushing lightly. She smiled—not gently, not warmly—but like a woman who had just checkmated her opponent. “Pleasure doing business with you,” she muttered.

Adrian felt uneasy, but before he could speak, she was already standing, already walking away, leaving him with the unsettling feeling that he had made a terrible mistake.

The next morning, Adrian’s world imploded. Charlotte stormed into his office, her face pale, clutching a stack of documents. “Sir,” she gasped, “you need to see this.”

Adrian frowned, taking the papers. And then—his blood ran cold. The contract he had signed… It wasn’t merely a truce. It was a corporate purchase. He hadn’t just agreed to stay out of Aria’s way; he had signed over crucial assets—properties, investments, and shares—directly to Laurent Global Investments. Directly to her.