The afternoon sun dipped lazily in the sky when a sleek black Maybach pulled up at the gates of the Sterling estate. Aria, carrying just a few bags, watched silently as a well-dressed assistant stepped out and respectfully opened the car door for her.
"Ms. Sterling, Mr. Woods has asked me to escort you to your new residence," he said with a polite bow.
Without a word, Aria got into the luxurious vehicle. As the car smoothly pulled away, she didn't bother glancing back at the Sterling mansion. That chapter of her life was closing — and she was ready.
The ride was calm, almost too serene, and soon the bustling cityscape gave way to a quiet suburban area filled with sprawling, secluded estates. When the Maybach finally stopped in front of a grand mansion hidden behind tall iron gates and lush gardens, Aria knew immediately this was different from the house she had snuck into that night.
The assistant led her inside. As she stepped into the vast marble foyer, a few servants were already moving her luggage into a beautifully furnished guest room on the second floor.
Just as she was adjusting to the sight, a familiar deep voice called from the garden. "Come. Let's have a talk."
Following the sound, Aria walked through the grand hallway to the open garden at the back. There stood Damien, hands in his pockets, standing casually by a stone fountain.
Under the soft afternoon light, his handsome features became even clearer to her—the sharp jawline, the cold but mesmerizing eyes, the powerful aura that seemed to command attention without a single word.
"You made it," Damien said lightly. "I trust the ride was comfortable?"
Aria nodded. "Very. Thank you, Mr. Woods."
A slight frown tugged at the corner of his lips. "Just Damien. No need for the formalities between us."
She hesitated, but gave a soft "Alright... Damien."
A brief satisfied smile crossed his face.
They walked a little around the garden before Damien spoke again, his voice calm but serious. "Now that you're here, we need to talk about the next step of our agreement."
Aria turned to him, curious. "What is it?"
Damien stopped near a blossoming white rose bush and faced her. "The next plan is for you to meet my parents."
Aria blinked. "Already?"
"Yes," he said smoothly. "If you're going to be my fiancée in the public eye, my family must believe it too. Especially my grandmother. Her opinion carries weight."
Aria felt her heart skip slightly. Meeting parents was one thing — but a grandmother too?
Damien seemed to read her expression and added, "Don't worry. Grandma likes sharp, capable women. From what I've seen, you'll fit right in."
Aria gave a small laugh under her breath. "I hope so."
He smirked. "You will. She hates the delicate, fake types. You just have to be yourself."
They stood quietly for a moment, the spring breeze swirling around them. Somehow, Aria found herself relaxing in the easy silence between them.
Damien's voice broke through again, softer this time. "You're not alone anymore, Aria. Remember that."
The words caught her off guard, but she didn't show it. Instead, she simply nodded, the smallest genuine smile tugging at her lips.
For the first time in a long time, she wasn't walking into battle alone.
The Woods estate was even more imposing up close — sprawling gardens, polished stone paths, and the cool scent of lavender hanging in the air.
Aria adjusted her grip on the small, carefully wrapped painting in her hands as Damien led her through the main entrance.
Her heart thudded quietly in her chest.
This meeting was crucial.
They entered a luxurious sitting room where an elderly woman, poised and commanding, sat waiting in a high-backed chair.
Madam Eleanor Woods — a legend in business circles — watched them approach with a piercing gaze.
Aria took a slow breath, then stepped forward.
"Good morning, Madam Woods," Aria said, bowing her head politely.
"It's truly an honor to meet you."
Madam Woods didn't immediately respond.
Her eyes assessed Aria from head to toe — calm but sharp.
"You may sit," she said at last, her voice firm.
Aria and Damien took the seats opposite her.
For a moment, there was only the quiet clink of the teacups being placed on the table.
"Aria Sterling, isn't it?" Madam Woods asked, her tone direct.
"Yes, ma'am," Aria answered, her posture straight.
"You're Marcus Sterling's daughter?"
There was the faintest pause before Aria replied smoothly, "By blood, yes."
Madam Woods caught the slight shift in tone but said nothing about it. Instead, she studied her more closely.
"Have you worked before?" she asked. "I mean true work — not posing for cameras or smiling at parties."
Aria lifted her chin slightly, unoffended.
"I have some experience," she answered truthfully. "But I'm more interested in building something lasting, not just surviving off someone else's name."
At that, a faint spark lit Madam Woods's eyes — a sign of interest.
"And what are your ambitions?" she pressed.
Aria met her gaze steadily.
"To stand where I belong," she said. "On my own terms."
There was a brief, weighted silence.
Then, Madam Woods chuckled — a low, approving sound.
"Interesting," she murmured. "Very interesting."
Seeing that the atmosphere had warmed slightly, Aria finally reached for the small wrapped package beside her.
"I brought you something, Madam Woods," she said, offering it with both hands respectfully.
Madam Woods raised a brow, curious now.
She took the package and unwrapped it carefully.
The moment the painting was revealed, time seemed to still.
A soft gasp escaped Madam Woods's lips.
Her wrinkled hand trembled slightly as she traced the strokes on the canvas — a brilliant sunset over an endless field of lilies.
"This..." she whispered.
"This is Della's."
Aria nodded, her own heart tightening.
"My mother, Della, painted it," she said quietly.
"I thought… you might appreciate it."
Madam Woods closed her eyes briefly, as if savoring a precious memory.
"I knew Della. She was a firebrand — stubborn, brilliant, and full of spirit. Much like you."
She opened her eyes, and they were unexpectedly misty.
"You've given me a treasure, child. Thank you."
Before Aria could respond, Madam Woods reached out and patted her hand warmly — a rare gesture of acceptance.
"You're welcome here, Aria," Madam Woods said, her voice low but sincere.
"Not just because of Damien, but because you have a heart of your own."
From behind her, Damien's hand brushed lightly against her back — a silent approval of how well she had handled everything.
As they stood to leave, Madam Woods smiled faintly, an expression few ever saw.
"Welcome to the family, my dear."
The cool evening breeze swept through the sprawling grounds of the Woods estate, making the leaves rustle gently as Aria walked beside Damien. Her mind replayed her meeting with his grandmother. To her surprise, the encounter had gone better than she expected. Madam Woods was sharp, discerning, but there was a warmth beneath it all that Aria hadn't anticipated.
"So, how did you think it went?" Damien asked, breaking the comfortable silence between them. His voice was low but full of curiosity.
Aria glanced at him, trying to push aside the lingering tension in her chest. "She's... remarkable," Aria said after a moment. "I wasn't sure what to expect, but she's sharp. In a way, I can see why you're so... strategic."
Damien chuckled softly, his gaze flicking toward her with a flicker of something more than amusement in his eyes. "Glad you think so," he said. "She's not easily impressed. But she's fair, and she appreciates directness."
Aria nodded, still thinking over their conversation. She had been careful with her words, measured, but honest. There was no other way to win over Madam Woods. But there was something else Aria hadn't expected — the subtle warmth in the older woman's eyes when she had spoken about Aria's mother. It had caught her off guard.
"I'm surprised she accepted the gift so easily," Aria continued, pulling herself out of her thoughts. "I thought it might be a harder sell, especially with everything that happened."
Damien's expression softened, a rare vulnerability flashing across his features. "My grandmother loved your mother," he said quietly. "She never forgot her, and she'll always appreciate anything from her."
Aria gave a soft nod. "I hope I didn't step over any lines with the painting. I wanted it to mean something."
"You didn't," Damien replied. "It was the right gesture."
They reached the car, and Damien opened the door for her, his eyes lingering on her for a moment longer than necessary. Aria hesitated before climbing in, the warmth of his gaze making her feel more exposed than usual. She couldn't help the small flutter in her chest, nor could she ignore the way he seemed to be watching her, like he was trying to figure her out.
As the car drove smoothly through the night, the air between them felt different. It wasn't the usual casual, businesslike atmosphere. There was a current of something else — something unspoken, something building. Aria could feel it, but she wasn't sure what it meant. The game Damien had pulled her into was becoming more complicated with every move.
"You did well tonight," Damien said, breaking the silence once more, his tone steady but somehow softer than usual. "You handled it with grace. I'm impressed."
"Thank you," Aria replied, her voice quiet but genuine. "I just wanted to be... honest, I guess."
He looked at her, his gaze intense. "It's more than that. You were exactly what my family needed to see."
Her heart skipped a beat. What did that mean? Was he talking about business? Or was it something more personal?
Aria quickly masked her thoughts, focusing instead on the journey ahead. "And now that I've met your grandmother, how many more family members do I need to meet?"
Damien smiled, a playful glint in his eyes. "My father will be another challenge," he teased.
Aria smirked. "I'll take my chances with your father, thank you."
Damien chuckled, his voice warm but with a hint of something else she couldn't quite place. "You've got spirit, Aria. I like that."
They arrived at the mansion, the lights glowing softly against the night sky, and as Aria stepped out of the car, she couldn't shake the feeling that tonight was another step deeper into Damien's world — and possibly into her own feelings. She had thought she was in control, but now she wasn't so sure.
Damien followed her to the door, his eyes never straying far from her. He stopped her just before she entered. "You've handled everything with my family better than I could've imagined."
Aria looked up at him, not fully understanding why the compliment affected her more than she expected. "Thank you," she said, trying to keep her tone light, dismissive.
But Damien wasn't letting her go just yet. His gaze softened, the teasing edge to his voice now absent. "Aria," he said, his voice serious. "This is just the beginning. There's a lot more to come."
Aria's heart skipped a beat. What did he mean by that? She wasn't sure, but something in his voice made it clear he wasn't just talking about family introductions or business deals. "And what's that?" she asked, her voice a little more hesitant now.
Damien smiled, but it wasn't the playful grin he usually wore. There was something almost predatory in it — an intensity that sent a shiver through her. "You're more than just a piece in the game, Aria. You're going to be a force."
Aria felt the weight of his words. She knew he meant business. But something in the way he said it made her feel like he wasn't just talking about strategy. He was talking about power — the kind of power she had been craving, but had never fully realized.
"Power," she echoed softly, her mind racing. Could she truly become a force in this world, just like he said?
Damien didn't give her time to answer. "And I'll make sure of it."
The words hung heavy in the air between them, and for the first time, Aria felt as if she were standing on the edge of something vast and dangerous. The future she was building — and the choices she was making — felt more real now. More alive.
As they walked inside, Damien's hand brushed hers briefly, the touch sending an unexpected jolt through her. She quickly pulled her hand back, but the moment lingered, and Aria knew that this game was far from over.