Damien pov
"After months." Aria's laugh was bitter. "It took you months to question whether your wife was a lying manipulator."
"I hired investigators." I continued. "They found the audio engineer Vivian had paid to fake your voice, found the bank records showing payments to witnesses who claimed to have seen you with other men." I stopped. "Everything was a lie, it was manipulation."
"And you didn't come after me?" Her voice rose. "You knew the truth and you just—what? Stayed in Ravenwood?"
"I tried to find you!" I stood. "Do you think I just accepted it? I hired every investigator I could. Traced your credit cards, your phone—but you'd gone completely off grid. It was like you'd disappeared into thin air."
"I had to." She hugged herself. "I thought—I thought you'd try to take the baby. Force me into an abortion or worse."
The words hit me "I would never" I started.
