After Rebirth, I Became My Ex's Aunt-in-Law-Chapter 70: The Bestie Protection Program

The penthouse was quiet.

Aria sat at her vanity, staring at her reflection in the harsh perimeter lighting of the mirror. She still had the makeup from the shopping trip on—a streak of electric blue eyeliner and glitter that had seemed fun in the fitting room but now just looked exhausted against her pale skin.

She picked up a cotton pad soaked in makeup remover and began to scrub. She was aggressive with it, trying to wipe away not just the glitter, but the lingering unease of the afternoon.

"You’re going to rub your skin raw," a low voice noted from the doorway.

Aria paused, looking in the mirror. Damien was leaning against the frame, barefoot, wearing only charcoal trousers. He watched her with a heavy, hooded gaze.

"It’s waterproof," Aria muttered, reaching for another pad. "It’s stubborn."

Damien walked over. He didn’t say a word. He simply took the pad from her fingers, moved her hand gently to her lap, and tilted her chin up with his other hand. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

"Allow me," he murmured.

His touch was gentle, a stark contrast to the violence he was capable of. He wiped the glitter from her eyelid with a precision that bordered on reverence.

Aria closed her eyes, leaning into his palm. The rhythm of his hand was soothing, but her mind was still racing, replaying the moment in the shop window. The hooded figure.

"Damien," she said, her voice tight. "At the store today. There was someone."

Damien’s hand stilled against her cheek. "Paparazzi?"

"No. Some...guy." She opened her eyes, looking directly at him. "He was watching me. But when I clocked him, he didn’t leave immediately."

Damien pulled the pad away. His expression hardened, the domestic softness evaporating instantly.

"What if he was one of the Vipers?"

"But I’m more worried about Zoe," Aria said, the fear finally bleeding into her voice. "She tags her location. She has no security. If the Vipers can’t get to me, chances are they’ll go for her. "

She grabbed his wrist, her grip tight.

"Damien, if anything happens to her because of my family mess..."

"It won’t."

Damien set the dirty pad down and pulled his phone from his pocket. He didn’t waste time with reassurances.

He dialed. "Ken. Wake up."

A pause.

"I don’t care what time it is," Damien said, his voice flat and hard. "I need a shadow detail on Zoe Chen. Two operatives. Round the clock. Don’t let her see them, but if anyone suspicious gets within five feet of her, drop them."

He listened for a second.

"Yes. Tonight. And send a sweeper team to her apartment building. Check for bugs, cameras, or tampered locks. I want a full report by breakfast."

He hung up and tossed the phone onto the duvet behind him.

"Done," Damien said. "She’s covered."

Aria let out a breath she felt like she’d been holding since the boutique. Her shoulders slumped. "Thank you."

"She’s your friend," Damien said simply, picking up a fresh cotton pad to finish her other eye. "That makes her my problem."

He finished cleaning her face, tossing the pads into the bin. "Now. Bed."

He picked her up and deposited her in the center of the massive bed.

As Aria settled into the pillows, pulling the duvet up, her eyes drifted to the ceiling in deep thought.

"Damien," she asked, her voice softer. "The burner phone. Did Kai get back to you?"

Damien walked around the bed, turning off the lamps until the room was lit only by the city glow outside.

"He’s still working on it," Damien lied smoothly. He climbed in beside her, the mattress dipping under his weight.

"He hasn’t found anything? About Lydia? The Vipers? My mom?"

"Nothing," Damien said. "Dead ends so far."

He reached out, pulling her into his arms, tucking her back against his chest. It was a practiced motion now.

Aria frowned into the darkness. It felt... slow. Kai was the best information broker in the city. Almost over a week to crack one phone?

"Are you sure he’s not just distracted by other things and put it aside?" she whispered.

"I’m sure," Damien cut her off, his chin resting on the top of her head. "Go to sleep, Aria. Stop thinking."

It was a protective lie, but a lie nonetheless. A lie Damien didn’t want to keep up for much longer. He needed to find out the identity of the man quickly before Aria starts looking for new clues regarding the death or rather...murder of her mother.

Damien stared at the wall. The guilt was heavy on his chest. He needed to give her some sort of update.

But not before the weekend. He needed her focused on the Sinclairs.

"Aria?"

"Hmm? What is it?" Aria mumbled, sleep finally dragging her under.

"Please don’t wear any of those outfits you bought to meet my family."

Aria shifted in his arms, turning so she could look up at him. A mischievous glint cut through her drowsiness.

"Actually, that gives me an idea," she murmured, tracing a line down his chest. "I need you to do something for me the morning we’re leaving."

Damien raised an eyebrow.

"I need you to pick the outfit for my grand entrance," Aria said. "I bought many options. The neon, the feathers, the sequins, anything gaudy you can think of...I bought it. I’m going to model them for you. A private fashion show."

"I like that idea, but..." Damien let out a long, suffering sigh. "Do I have to choose from... what you bought today?"

"Yes," Aria grinned. "I told you, I’m going to blind your grandfather. I need you to tell me which one hurts your eyes the most."

"Fine," Damien relented, though his hand slid lower, resting possessively on her hip.

He leaned in, his voice dropping to a husky, seductive whisper that sent a shiver straight down her spine.

"But on one condition... I get to choose the underwear too."

Aria’s breath hitched. She felt a furious blush heat her cheeks, visible even in the dim light.

"D-Damien," she stuttered, her composure cracking.

"Is that a no?" he teased, his thumb rubbing circles into her skin through the silk of her nightgown.

"No," Aria managed to squeak out, burying her burning face in his neck. "I mean... yes. Deal."

Damien chuckled, the sound rumbling through his chest and soothing the last of her anxiety.

"Good. Now sleep, Aria."