Becoming My Ex's Stepmother:Father worships her

Trying to wrap her head around everything, Aria stared at Damien.

"The staff who sent me to the lounge under the pretense that I was being called by Ethan, the pictures circulating online, they were your doing?" Aria asked, gazing at the man who looked at her like prey, making her feel strangely unsettled.

"They were meant to be out at some point. I just quickened the process. Nothing too bad."

"Why?" Aria breathed out.

"He doesn't deserve you, and I need you to know that badly."

"He is your son?"

"My adopted son, Miss Aria. And even though I will not tolerate disgusting behavior from my family members..."

He paused.

"I want to make a deal with you. A chance to rewrite this whole thing. A chance for revenge."

"What do you mean?" she asked quietly as she settled back down on the bed.

Damien didn't answer immediately. Instead, he looked out the window, his sharp profile unreadable.

"Everyone reaches a crossroads at some point in their life. Some know, and some never realize that they are standing at one."

Aria frowned.

"And you think today is mine?"

"I know it is," Damien answered.

His certainty unsettled her. She had only met him three times, as far as she could remember,at her school orientation, at a family dinner three years ago, and the third time was last night. Yet he spoke like he understood her, like he knew what she needed, and that infuriated her more than she wanted to admit.

"I can't do anything. What is done is done."

"You are wrong."

She walked closer to him.

"The past can't be changed."

"No," he said.

His gaze met hers.

"But the future can. Miss Bennett, let's have lunch, shall we?"

"Erm... sure... of course."

The club looked less like it had the night before as they walked out. It was quiet, with no disco lights or music. There were guards outside their room and all over the club premises.

The Rolls Royce pulled into the driveway of an elegant restaurant. It had the same name as the restaurant "NOIR" and it was one of the restaurants boycotted by Grand Orion.

It was quieter than expected, even though it was at the center of the city.

The drive there was quiet. Damien looked at Aria once in a while, but Aria's eyes never left the window. She felt tired and, at the same time, curious.

She came out of her thoughts when her door was opened by Damien.

She got down and saw bodyguards lined up at the restaurant entrance. She was led inside the restaurant by Damien.

"You should eat," he said.

As soon as they settled down, she looked around and found that they were the only ones there. She wasn't that bothered because she knew who she was sitting with.

She almost laughed at his words, though.

"You are determined."

"You had too much alcohol last night. You need food."

"I'll survive."

"Maybe."

His tone remained calm.

"But I don't intend to watch over a sick person. Also, you need food. You cried a lot yesterday. You need to regain your strength so that your cousin won't feel like she is the winner when she sees you sick and feeble."

She was about to protest but kept quiet, pouting slightly.

Aria stared at the feast being placed on the table by the waiters.

"I can't possibly eat all this."

"You don't have to."

"Then why did you order food that can feed a dozen mouths?"

Damien picked up his fork and spoon and proceeded to dish out some food onto Aria's plate.

"I don't like to see an empty table."

"That is the rich speaking in you."

She shook her head.

"You are strange."

For the first time since last night, the tightness in her chest eased.

She picked up her spoon and took a bite. Only then did she realize how hungry she was.

Nobody spoke. Only the sound of cutlery could be heard. It was somewhat peaceful.

Finally, Aria placed her spoon down and stared deeply at Damien, who was busy with his steak.

"I must look pathetic," she sighed.

"No."

His answer came immediately.

"You were betrayed."

Their eyes met.

No pity.

No judgment.

Just a simple statement of fact.

"I spent my whole life loving someone who doesn't love me."

"That says more about how pathetic he is, not you."

His words caught her off guard.

She had expected him to tell her to be strong, stop crying, and move on, but he simply acknowledged the wound. Somehow, that made it hurt less.

Across the table, Damien studied her quietly the pain, the confusion, the humiliation. He wished he could wipe it away. He clenched his fist underneath the table.

He remembered the first time he met her at the college. He felt like he had seen an angel, her bunny-like smile, her dimples, her brown eyes, her tan-toned skin, and her curly hair.

He found out she was a mix of Nigerian and American.

He later found out, a few weeks later, that she had confessed to his son and that they were dating. He had to step back because she was dating the only family he had, the boy he had taken in and had to take care of after his parents, who were his brother and sister in law, died because of him.

Marcus, Damien's assistant, entered discreetly.

"Sir."

Damien looked up.

"The documents are ready."

Aria frowned.

"What documents?" she couldn't help but ask.

Marcus hesitated before placing the sealed black folder beside Damien.

"I'll wait outside."

The door of the restaurant closed.

Silence returned.

Damien gazed at the documents but didn't open them.

Instead, he looked directly at Aria.

"I have a proposal."

"A proposal..."

"It might sound unreasonable."

"That's not exactly reassuring," Aria said, shifting slightly in her chair.

"It wasn't supposed to be," Damien said, looking at her.

Aria smiled again, but the smile faded when Damien's expression became completely serious.

"I need a wife."

Aria stared at him like she had misheard him.

"Sorry?"

"I need a wife."

For a moment, she looked at him before letting out a genuine laugh.

"I'm your son's ex."

"I know."

Damien didn't laugh.

Her smile slowly disappeared.