Chapter 12:The Girl Who Changed Him
534 Words
The mansion was unusually quiet the following morning.
Despite the heavy security surrounding the estate, Damien barely slept. The photograph and the threatening message haunted him. If his old enemy had truly returned, then everyone under his roof was in danger—especially Aria.
Standing by the window of his office, Damien watched the sunrise paint the gardens in shades of gold. It was a peaceful sight, but his mind was far from calm.
A soft knock came at the door.
“Come in,” he said.
Aria stepped inside carrying two cups of coffee.
“I thought you might need this,” she said with a small smile.
Damien looked surprised. “You didn’t have to.”
“I know,” she replied. “I wanted to.”
She handed him a cup and noticed the dark circles beneath his eyes.
“You didn’t sleep, did you?”
“There was too much to think about.”
Aria sat across from him.
“You keep carrying everything on your own. That must be exhausting.”
Damien gave a faint smile.
“I’ve been doing it for years.”
“But you don’t have to anymore.”
Her words caught him off guard.
For years, people had stood beside him because they feared him, respected him, or wanted something from him. Aria was different. She wasn’t interested in his wealth or his influence. She simply cared about him.
The silence between them felt comfortable rather than awkward.
For the first time in a long while, Damien felt a sense of peace.
Just then, Victor entered the office.
“Sir, we’ve identified the man who broke into the mansion.”
Damien’s expression hardened.
“Who is he?”
“A former member of your father’s organization. His name is Marco. We believed he disappeared years ago.”
“And now?”
“He’s working for someone called ‘The Raven.’”
Damien’s eyes narrowed.
“The Raven…”
Aria noticed the tension in his face.
“You know that name?”
Damien nodded slowly.
“The Raven was once my father’s most trusted ally.”
Victor added quietly, “Until he betrayed the family.”
The room fell silent.
Damien turned to Aria.
“I wanted to keep you away from my past.”
“And now?”
“Now it’s impossible.”
Before Aria could respond, a guard rushed into the office.
“Mr. Voss!”
“What is it?”
“We’ve received a package addressed to Miss Aria.”
Damien frowned.
“I didn’t order anything,” Aria said.
The guard carefully placed the small box on the desk.
There was no return address.
Damien slowly opened it.
Inside was a silver necklace with a tiny rose-shaped pendant.
Beneath it lay a handwritten note.
The next gift won’t be so kind.
Aria’s hands began to tremble.
Damien quietly closed the box and looked into her frightened eyes.
“The Raven knows exactly where you are.”
He made a silent promise to himself.
No matter the cost, he would protect the woman who had become the light in his dark world—even if it meant facing every ghost from his past.
- Writer
