His Son, My Secret

Chapter 4: The contract

Damian’s penthouse had more square feet than Aria’s childhood foster home.

“ sign here.”

A 40-page contract slid across the marble island. Damian stood on the other side, sleeves rolled up , forearms scarred. He hadn’t slept.

Aria didn’t touch the pen. “I’m not signing away my son.”

“ You’re not.”His eyes were bloodshot. “You’re signing a non-disclosure agreement. And a cohabitation agreement. For Leo’s safety.”

She scanned the first page. *Clause 1:Mr. Blake will reside at Wolfe Penthouse for minimum 6 months …*

“6 months?”

“ Or until Leo is in remission.” Damian’s jaw flexed . “ The press will call you a gold digger. My board will call you a liability. This protects you . And him .”

*Clause 12: Parties agree to portray themselves as engaged couple for public appearances …*

Aria chocked. “Engaged?”

“Fake.” He said it too fast. “ For the cameras .It stops speculation. Keeps Leo out of tabloids .”

Her figure stopped on *Clause 23: Physical intimacy between parties is permitted but not required…*

Heat flood her face . “ permitted?”

Damian went very still . “ Aria .”

“Don’t ‘ Aria ’ me . You want me in our bed?”

“ I want my son alive.” But his eyes dropped to her mouth. “ The rest…is your choice.”

She signed.The pen shook.

“ Good.” Damian exhaled. “Leo’s transfer team arrives in 10 minutes. His room is ready. Yours is …” He hesitated. “Next to me.”

The penthouse had 8 bedrooms. He put her next to him.

Before she could ask why, the doorbell rang.

Leo’s tiny voice carried down the hall:”Mommy! There is a move theater in my room!”

Aria ran.

Damian followed slower. He stopped in the doorway of Leo’s new room - transformed into a spaceship with a hospital bed—and watched his son launch himself at Aria.

For the first time,Damian Wolfe smiled .It was devastating.

Later, after Leo fell asleep holding his new dinosaur plush, Aria found Damian on the balcony.

“ Why do you have scars ?” she blurted. His knuckles, she remembered. Silver in the hotel light.

Damian didn’t look at her . “ Car accident. 10 years ago. My parents died . I was driving.”

The words hung between them. Broken. Human.

“ I was orphaned at 8,” Aria whispered.

“Foster care . So I get it . The survivor’s guilt.”

His head snapped to her . And for a second, they weren’t billionaire and broke girl . They were just two kids who’d lost everything.

Thunder cracked. Rain started.

Damian stepped closer, blocking the rain with his body. “ You should go inside. You’ll get sick.”

“ You too.”

“ I don’t get sick.”

“Liar.” She touched his scarred knuckles . “ You bled for me seven years ago . In the hotel. You had a bandage on your hand.”

He froze. “ You noticed that?”

“ I noticed everything things about you.”

The rain soaked them both. Damian’s white shirt went transparent. Sticking to muscles she’d spent 7 years trying to forget.

“Aria.” Her name was warning. Or a prayer.

She should step back. She signed a contract . This was fake.

But his eyes were Leo’s eyes. And Leo was sleeping 20 feet away because this man moved mountains in 6 hours.

So Aria rose on tiptoe and kissed him.

Damian went rigid. Then his hands fisted in her wet shirt, hauling he against him like he’d been starving.

The kiss was nothing like their first night.That was desperation. This was possession.

When they broke apart, gasping, Damian rested his forehead on hers.

“ Tomorrow,” he rasped, “ Leo has surgery . His first transplant round.”

“ I know.”

“ If it works…”

“It will.”

“ If it works, you’re mine.contract or not.”

“Mr. Wolfe?”A woman’s voice, sharp as glass. “ We need to talk. About your fiancée.”

Damian went ice-cold.

A redhead in a $10k dress stood in his penthouse. Diamonds . Fury. And recognition lit her face when she saw Aria.

“ So,” the woman purred,”you’re the-