The Storm Before the Fire

The tension in Kingsley Corporation had reached an unbearable level. Ariana could feel it the moment she stepped into the building.

Whispers followed her, murmurs slipping through the walls like ghosts of a battle yet to be fought. The headlines had shifted again—Callum's manipulation was evident.

"Kingsley's Wife—More Than She Appears?"

"Secrets Buried in Ariana Carter's Past—What is She Hiding?"

Ariana clenched her fists as she walked toward the executive floor.

She had expected backlash.

She hadn't expected war.

The moment she stepped into her office, her phone buzzed.

Damian.

His name flashed across the screen, but before she could answer, the door burst open.

Callum.

He strolled in, a smug smirk plastered on his face.

"You didn't think you could outrun your past forever, did you?"

Ariana's jaw tightened. "Get out."

Callum chuckled, leaning against her desk like he owned it.

"I just came to check on my dear ," he mused. "Wouldn't want you to be too... overwhelmed by all this attention."

Her fingers twitched. She wanted to wipe that smirk right off his face.

"I don't have time for your games, Callum."

He tsked. "That's a shame. Because you and I? We're going to be spending a lot of time together."

Ariana narrowed her eyes. "What the hell does that mean?"

Callum leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a whisper.

"It means, sweetheart, that I'm not done with you yet."

Before she could respond, her phone buzzed again.

Damian.

Again.

Callum's gaze flickered to the screen before he smirked.

"Better answer that. Wouldn't want your husband to think you're keeping secrets now, would we?"

Ariana refused to let him see her unease.

Instead, she picked up the phone and answered.

"Damian."

His voice was sharp. "Where are you?"

She exhaled slowly, locking eyes with Callum.

"In my office."

"Is Callum there?"

Her breath caught.

How the hell did he know?

"He just—"

"Leave. Now."

The authority in Damian's voice sent a shiver down her spine.

She didn't argue.

Without another glance at Callum, she grabbed her bag and walked out.

Callum let her go, but not before whispering, "This isn't over."

She ignored him.

She had bigger battles to fight.

---

A Storm Brewing

When Ariana stepped into Damian's penthouse later that evening, he was waiting.

He didn't greet her.

Didn't say a word.

Instead, he handed her a file.

She opened it—and froze.

Every detail of her life, every case she'd worked on, every possible weakness the media could twist.

All laid out.

Ariana's hands clenched the paper. "How did you get this?"

Damian's jaw was tight. "I have my ways."

Her heart pounded. "So Callum—"

"He's digging," Damian confirmed. "And I don't like it."

She swallowed. "I can handle it."

Damian's gaze darkened. "That's not the point."

She met his stare. "Then what is?"

Silence stretched between them.

Then, finally—

"You're my wife, Ariana." His voice was low, controlled. "Which means I protect you. No matter what."

She hated the way her heart stuttered.

She wasn't used to being protected.

But this wasn't protection. This was a claim.

And she wasn't sure how to feel about that.

Still, she nodded.

Because whether she liked it or not—

This wasn't just her fight anymore.

It was theirs.

---

To Be Continued...