Chapter 330: Chapter 330: One Year Later
Aria woke to the sound of babbling through the baby monitor.
Not crying. Just Eleanor’s morning chatter....nonsense sounds that somehow conveyed an entire conversation with herself.
The bedroom was filled with early light. Damien’s side of the bed was empty, sheets already cool.
She smiled. Reached for her phone. 6:47 AM.
Right on schedule.
The monitor crackled. More babbling. Then Damien’s voice, low and amused.
"Good morning, sweetheart. You’re very talkative today."
Eleanor responded with what sounded like enthusiastic agreement.
Aria sat up. Pulled on the robe draped over the chair. Padded barefoot out of the bedroom and down the hall to the nursery.
The door was half-open. She stopped in the doorway.
Damien stood at the crib in his pajama pants and nothing else, hair still messy from sleep, holding Eleanor up in front of him.
The baby...ten months old now, all chubby cheeks and dark curls....grabbed at his face with both hands.
"Yes, I see you," Damien said seriously. "Very observant."
Eleanor squealed. Damien lifted her higher and she laughed.
The most powerful man Aria had ever met was completely wrapped around their daughter’s tiny finger.
"You’re spoiling her," Aria said from the doorway.
Damien turned. Didn’t look the slightest bit guilty. "I’m spending quality time with my daughter."
"You let her stay up past bedtime last night."
"She wasn’t tired."
"She’s a baby. They’re always tired."
"She wanted to finish watching the documentary."
"She’s ten months old. She doesn’t care about marine biology."
"She was very engaged."
Aria crossed her arms. Tried not to smile. "She fell asleep on your chest after five minutes."
"Exactly. Very engaged before that."
Eleanor reached for Aria. Made grabby hands and demanding sounds.
Aria took her. Kissed her forehead. "Good morning, baby girl."
Eleanor patted her face. Said something that sounded vaguely like "Mama."
Aria’s heart squeezed. "Did you hear that?"
"She says that to everyone," Damien said. "Marcus. Richard. The gardener."
"She’s trying to say ’Mama.’"
"She called Marcus ’Mama’ yesterday."
"Because she’s learning." Aria bounced Eleanor gently. "Aren’t you, baby? You’re so smart."
Damien moved to stand beside them. Put his hand on Eleanor’s back. "She is smart. Clearly got it from me."
Aria looked at him. "She got your ego, that’s for sure."
"That too."
Eleanor grabbed both their faces. Pulled them together.
Damien kissed Aria over their daughter’s head. "Good morning."
"Morning." She leaned into him. "You were up early."
"She was awake. I didn’t want her to wake you."
"I’m already awake by seven most days."
"I know. But you looked peaceful."
Something warm settled in her chest. A year and a half married. Ten months of being parents. And he still did things like that.
"Come on," she said. "Let’s get her fed."
The kitchen was bright with morning sun. Mei had already arrived....appeared at 7 AM every day without fail to help with Elaine, despite Aria insisting she didn’t need to.
"My granddaughter needs me," was Mei’s standard response.
She was at the stove now, making congee. Alexander sat at the island with coffee and the newspaper, looking completely at home.
They’d moved into the estate three months ago. The west wing had been converted into a private suite....Aria had insisted, Damien had agreed immediately, Richard had somehow already arranged it before they’d even finished discussing it.
"There’s my girl," Mei said, reaching for Eleanor "Come to Nai Nai."
Eleanor went willingly. Immediately grabbed for Mei’s necklace.
"Careful, baby," Aria said. "That’s...."
The necklace was already in Eleanor’s mouth.
Mei didn’t even blink. "She’s teething. Let her have it."
"Mom, that’s jade...."
"It’s fine. My mother let me teeth on jade. I turned out fine."
Alexander caught Aria’s eye. Smiled. Said nothing.
Damien poured coffee. Handed Aria a mug. "Your mother has taken over the kitchen."
"I noticed."
"I’m making breakfast for everyone," Mei called. "Sit down."
"We have a chef...." Damien started.
"Who doesn’t make congee the right way. Sit."
Damien sat. Aria hid her smile in her coffee.
Marcus appeared in the kitchen doorway, already dressed in his suit despite the early hour. "Morning, Boss. Dr. Blackwood."
"Marcus, it’s not even eight yet," Aria said.
"Early meeting with the Singapore team." He glanced at Eleanor. "Morning, Miss Eleanor."
Eleanor waved at him. A new skill she was very proud of.
"She’s getting better at that," Marcus observed.
"She practices on everyone," Damien said dryly.
"Smart girl. Building her networking skills early." Marcus pulled out his phone. "Boss, I need you to sign off on the Tokyo contract before noon."
"Send it to my email."
"Already did. Also, Your grandfather wants to see you in his study after breakfast."
Damien raised an eyebrow. "About?"
"Didn’t say. Just asked if you were available."
"I’m always available for him."
Marcus nodded. Glanced at Aria. "Dr. Blackwood, the Foundation board meeting is at two."
"I know. I’ll be there."
"Lucy confirmed your lunch meeting at noon."
"Perfect."
He disappeared as quickly as he’d arrived.
Mei brought bowls of congee to the table. Set one in front of Damien with a look that said he better eat it.
He ate it.
Aria watched her husband...this man who’d negotiated billion-dollar deals and faced down enemies without blinking...obediently eat congee because her mother had made it.
A year and a half ago, she’d snuck into this estate with a fake identity and a desperate plan.
Now she was eating breakfast in this kitchen with her husband, her daughter, her parents, and somehow it was the most normal thing in the world.
"What are you smiling at?" Damien asked quietly.
"Nothing." She reached for his hand under the table. "Everything."
He squeezed her fingers. Understood.
After breakfast, Damien disappeared to Richard’s study. Aria took Eleanor to the nursery for playtime.
The room had been decorated with care...soft colors, toys everywhere, a reading nook by the window. Completely different from the stark bedroom she’d first been assigned as a maid.
Eleanor crawled across the play mat, babbling to her stuffed animals.
Aria sat on the floor beside her. Watched her daughter explore the world with fearless curiosity.
Her phone buzzed. Lucy.
Lucy: Ready for lunch? I have SO much to tell you about the new supplies!!
Aria: Ready. Noon at the usual place?
Lucy: Yes!! See you soon!! 💕
Aria smiled. Set her phone down.
Lucy had thrived this past year. Taken charge of the clinic operations. Organized the volunteer programs. Become the Foundation’s unofficial heart.
She was also dating one of the clinic doctors....a quiet surgeon named David who looked at Lucy like she’d hung the moon.
Another phone notification. Julian this time.
Julian: Aria. The Berlin expansion is approved. Contracts are being finalized. You were right about the location.
Aria: Told you. Trust the local research.
Julian: I’m learning. Slowly.
Aria: You’re doing great. The Foundation wouldn’t work without you.
Julian: It wouldn’t work without you either. See you at the board meeting.
She set her phone aside. Picked up a stuffed elephant. Handed it to Elaine.
"Elephant," she said clearly.
Eleanor grabbed it. Said something that sounded nothing like "elephant."
"Close enough."
A soft knock. Richard appeared in the doorway, leaning on his cane.
"May I come in?"
"Of course."
He crossed to where Aria sat on the floor. Lowered himself carefully into the armchair by the window.
Eleanor saw him. Crawled over immediately. Pulled herself up using his leg.
Richard smiled. Actually smiled. Put his hand on her head gently.
"She’s getting stronger," he observed.
"She’ll be walking soon. The pediatrician says any day now."
"Blackwoods are determined. She’ll walk when she’s ready." He looked at Aria. "How are you?"
"Good. Busy. The Foundation is expanding faster than we planned."
"That’s not what I asked."
Aria met his eyes. Richard saw too much. Always had.
"I’m happy," she said simply.
"Good."
They sat in comfortable silence. Eleanor played at Richard’s feet, completely unconcerned with the weight of the conversation.
"I spoke with Damien this morning," Richard said eventually. "About the European expansion."
"He mentioned you wanted to discuss something."
"I wanted to discuss succession."
Aria’s breath caught. "Grandfather...."
"I’m not dying tomorrow." His tone was dry. "But I’m also not getting younger. And the company needs to be prepared."
"Damien is already...."
"CEO, yes. But there’s more to Blackwood Industries than the CEO position. There’s the board. The legacy. The vision for the next fifty years." He paused. "I wanted his input. And yours."
"Mine?"
"You’re a Blackwood now. Your voice matters. Especially regarding the Foundation’s integration with the company."
"The Foundation is separate...."
"In legal structure, yes. In practice?" Richard smiled slightly. "It’s become part of our legacy. Our reputation. Our future. You built that."
Aria’s throat tightened. "We built it. Together."
"Yes. But you had the vision. Damien had the resources. You both had the determination." He looked at Elaine. "And now she’ll inherit all of it. The company. The Foundation. Everything we’ve built."
"No pressure," Aria said softly.
"She’s a Blackwood. She’ll handle it."
