Chapter 10: "The Ultimatum"
372 Words
Aria was packing.
One suitcase. The dresses Damian bought. She left them on the bed.
Her mom’s hospital had called. Bill still paid.
But she couldn’t do this anymore.
Be a ghost in someone else’s life.
At 3AM, there was a knock.
Damian.
No suit. No tie. Hair wet like he’d been in the rain.
Eyes red.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Leaving,” Aria said. “Contract breach. I’m sure you have lawyers for that.”
Damian stepped inside. Closed the door.
“If you leave, the deal is off,” he said. Voice rough.
“Your mom’s treatment...”
He didn’t finish.
Aria laughed. Bitter. “So that’s what I am. Leverage.”
“No.”
Damian grabbed her wrist. Not hard. Just desperate.
“You’re the only person who’s looked at me in 3 years and didn’t see Evelyn.”
Aria froze.
“I hired you because you looked like her,” he admitted. “At first.”
He let go. Ran a hand through his hair.
“But you stayed because you’re brave. And stubborn. And you make terrible coffee.”
Aria blinked. “That’s not—”
“I cancelled the board meeting for you,” he said. “I texted you 'Don’t die' because I meant it.”
He took a step back. “If you want to go, go.
But don’t say it’s because of her.
Say it’s because of me.”
The room was silent. Only rain on the windows.
Aria looked at the suitcase. Then at him.
48 weeks left.
And a man who didn’t know how to beg.
“I’m not her,” Aria whispered.
“I know,” Damian said. “That’s the problem.”
He turned to leave.
“Damian, wait.”
Aria’s voice shook. “One condition.”
He stopped. Didn’t turn.
“No more lies.
No more ghosts.
If we do this, it’s me. Not Evelyn.”
Damian finally looked at her.
For the first time in months, he looked... hopeful.
“Deal,” he said.
He walked out. Didn’t slam the door.
Aria sat on the floor. Cried.
Then unpacked her suitcase.
48 weeks left.
But maybe this time, they’d be real.
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- Writer
