CHAPTER FIVE — UNDER HIS ROOF
1040 Words
Ariana had never been inside a billionaire’s home before.
Now she was standing in one.
Damian Sterling’s penthouse rose above the city like a fortress made of glass and steel. Floor-to-ceiling windows revealed a skyline that glittered endlessly, as if the world itself bowed beneath his feet.
“This is where we’re staying?” Ariana asked quietly.
“Yes,” Damian replied. “This is where you’re safe.”
She scoffed. “You call this safe? You brought us closer to you.”
“That’s the point,” he said evenly.
Liam tugged at her hand, eyes wide with wonder. “Mommy, it’s so big.”
Ariana forced a smile. “Stay close, okay?”
Damian watched them carefully. Too carefully.
Every movement.
Every reaction.
It unsettled him how natural they looked together. How Liam fit against Ariana’s side like a piece of her heart walking outside her body.
Damian turned to the head of security. “Two guards on this floor at all times. No visitors without my approval.”
“Yes, sir.”
The guards retreated, leaving the three of them alone.
The silence was thick.
Ariana crossed her arms. “How long are you planning to keep us here?”
“As long as necessary,” Damian said.
“That’s not an answer.”
“It’s the only one you’ll get.”
She exhaled sharply. “You can’t just move people into your home.”
“I can,” Damian replied. “And I did.”
Liam wandered toward the window. “We’re so high.”
Damian moved instantly.
“Don’t get too close,” he said gently, placing a steady hand on the boy’s shoulder.
Ariana’s chest tightened painfully.
That instinct.
That protectiveness.
It wasn’t fake.
And that scared her more than anything else.
---
That night, Ariana couldn’t sleep.
The guest room was elegant—too elegant. The bed was too large. The silence too loud.
She sat on the edge of the mattress, listening to Liam’s soft breathing beside her.
This is temporary, she told herself.
He’ll figure out the truth… and then this will end.
But she didn’t know how.
Or when.
A soft knock came at the door.
Her body tensed instantly.
“Yes?” she whispered.
The door opened slowly.
Damian stood there, sleeves rolled up, his tie gone, looking less like a billionaire CEO and more like the man from that night two years ago.
Her heart skipped.
“Liam?” he asked quietly.
“Asleep,” she replied.
“Good.”
He stepped inside, closing the door behind him.
The room suddenly felt smaller.
“We need to talk,” Damian said.
Ariana stood. “We’ve been talking all day.”
“Not about this.”
She crossed her arms defensively. “About what?”
Damian studied her face, his gaze intense.
“About you,” he said.
“About him.”
“About why every instinct in my body tells me that child belongs to me.”
Her breath hitched.
“You’re wrong,” she said quickly.
“Am I?”
“Yes.”
Damian stepped closer.
“Then look me in the eye and tell me you didn’t disappear two years ago,” he said quietly.
“Tell me you weren’t pregnant.”
Her lips trembled.
“That’s none of your business.”
“It became my business the moment someone threatened him,” Damian snapped.
Ariana flinched.
Damian took a breath, his voice lowering.
“I’m not your enemy,” he said.
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Then let us go,” she whispered.
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
“Because if I’m right,” Damian said slowly, “and I think I am—walking away would be the biggest mistake of my life.”
Her heart slammed painfully against her ribs.
“You don’t get to decide that,” she whispered.
“Maybe not,” he said.
“But I won’t ignore the truth either.”
Silence stretched between them.
Then Liam stirred.
“Mommy?” he murmured sleepily.
Ariana turned instantly. “I’m here.”
Damian watched as she soothed him back to sleep, her touch gentle, practiced, full of love.
Something twisted painfully in his chest.
He had missed this.
Whatever this was…
he had missed it.
The next morning, Ariana woke to voices.
Low. Urgent.
She slipped out of bed quietly and cracked the door open.
Damian stood in the hallway with his head of security.
“We traced the message,” the man said. “It wasn’t a random threat.”
Damian’s expression darkened. “I assumed as much.”
“There’s a woman,” the man continued. “She’s been watching you for months. Former associate. Dismissed quietly.”
Ariana’s heart pounded.
“Why now?” Damian asked.
“Because she believes the child is leverage.”
Ariana’s blood ran cold.
“What child?” she whispered before she could stop herself.
Damian turned sharply.
“You heard that,” he said quietly.
She stepped fully into the hallway, panic blazing in her eyes.
“You think someone wants to hurt my son?”
“Yes,” Damian said firmly.
“And that’s why I’m not letting you leave.”
Her knees weakened.
Damian moved instantly, steadying her.
“I’ve got you,” he said.
His hands were warm. Strong.
Too familiar.
She pulled away. “You don’t know what you’re protecting.”
“I know enough,” Damian replied.
“And I’ll know everything soon.”
He turned to security.
“Prepare a DNA test,” he ordered calmly.
Ariana’s heart shattered.
“No,” she whispered. “You can’t—”
“I can,” Damian said.
“And I will.”
She backed away, fear flooding her veins.
“If you do this,” she said desperately, “everything will change.”
Damian met her gaze, unwavering.
“Good,” he replied.
“Because I’m done pretending this isn’t real.”
Ariana hugged herself, tears threatening to fall.
Because if the truth came out—
If Damian Sterling discovered he was Liam’s father—
There would be no running left.
And Damian Sterling never let go of what was his
- Writer
