Chapter 3

Aria’s POV

The Tesla rolled to a stop, and my heart did a little flip. Lori Park. Home sweet home. After three long years, I was finally back where I was meant to be.

As I stepped out of the car, the cool night breeze brushed against my face, bringing with it the familiar aroma of well-kept lawns and blooming roses. The mansion stood tall in front of me, a glowing beacon in the dark, its windows radiating warmth and hope. I straightened up, feeling the transformation from Gianna Dan; Matteo's quiet, obedient wife, to Aria Taylor, the heiress of the Mira Group empire.

"Welcome back, Princess!"

Damian's loud voice broke my thoughts. There he was, my second brother, towering at six feet, grinning like a kid as he rushed down the red carpet to greet me. I couldn’t help but grin back.

"Dami! How have you been, you big goof?" I chuckled as he pulled me into a bear hug that nearly lifted me off the ground.

"Oh, you know, just the usual. Putting away the bad guys, lighting up the sky…" He raised his eyebrows playfully. "By the way, did you see my little show? It’s gone viral! People are calling me a 'filthy rich guy trying to win someone over.' Pretty cool, huh?"

I rolled my eyes and gave him a light shove. "Yeah, yeah, Mr. Big Shot. I’m sure that’s the image you wanted."

But when I looked up at him, the playful glint in his eyes faded, replaced by something more serious. "Aria," he said softly, "you’re not planning to leave again, are you?"

That question hit me hard. I sighed and patted his back gently. "Where would I go, Dami? I’m divorced now, remember?"

Those words felt bitter. Three years wasted on a man who never truly loved me. Three years spent trying to be the perfect wife, believing I could win Matteo’s heart if I just put in enough effort.

"I honestly thought I could make this work," I confessed, cringing at the tremor in my voice. "But in the end, I totally bombed it."

Damian’s expression darkened, his cheerful vibe disappearing in a flash. "That jerk!" he spat. "How could he cheat on my sister? I swear, I’m diving into Morgan Corporation first thing tomorrow morning. And just wait until our fourth brother is available – Matteo won’t know what hit him when we pay him a little visit—"

"Amen to that," Nathaniel chimed in quietly from behind us. I had nearly forgotten he was there, he was so low-key.

I couldn’t help but chuckle, even with tears threatening to spill. "Dami, chill with the vigilante stuff, okay? You’re a public prosecutor, for crying out loud! Can’t you be a bit more… I don’t know, calm like Nath?"

Damian scoffed, tugging at his tie in annoyance. "What the hell! Your oldest brother only turned into a saint after he ditched the mob life!"

"Anyway," he pressed on, his tone firm, "I’m not letting this slide, Aria. The Morgans are now on my radar. No one messes with my little sister and gets away with it."

I squeezed my brothers' hands, feeling grateful for their support. As we stepped into the mansion, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. This was home. This was where I truly belonged.

The study door stood before us, and I took a deep breath. Time to face the music. I put on my biggest smile and strolled in like I owned the place. "Wyatt, I’m back!"

My dad, the legendary Wyatt Taylor, was pacing like a lion in a cage. But as soon as he spotted me, I caught a fleeting glimpse of relief in his eyes before his usual serious expression returned.

I plopped down on the nearest couch, kicking off my heels. Nathaniel, being the sweetheart he is, immediately sat beside me and started rubbing my feet. Some things never change.

"Can you sit up straight?" Wyatt grumbled. "Did you join Doctors Without Borders or some rebel group while you were away?"

I shot him a cheeky grin, enjoying our usual back-and-forth. "Oh, come on, Dad. Are you losing it? I’ve always sat like this!"

As I scanned the room, my gaze landed on a framed paper hanging on the wall. My heart skipped a beat when I recognized it—the "poem" I had written ages ago, teasing Dad about his many marriages. I couldn’t believe he still had it.

"Look at you, getting all sentimental, Dad," I said softly.

Wyatt huffed, but I noticed a smirk creeping onto his face. "The first thing you do after three years is wish Alzheimer's on me. How sweet!"

"Thanks for the kind words, Daddy!" I chirped, fluttering my eyelashes at him playfully.

Before he could fire back, Nathaniel chimed in, his tone serious. "Dad, now that Aria’s back, we need to talk. I’ve decided to hand over my CEO position at Mira Group to Aria."

I turned to him, my jaw dropping. "You what?"

But Nathaniel kept going. "I only agreed to run Mira Group for three years," he said calmly. "Now that my time’s up, I’m heading back to the church. Being a CEO isn’t my thing—I want to be a pastor."

I watched as Dad's face turned a deep shade of red. "Fine!" he snapped. "If you don’t want to be CEO, then Nath can take over!"

Damian raised his hands in defeat. "No way! I’m a public servant, remember? I can’t take on big corporate roles like that. I’d get suspended faster than you can say 'conflict of interest'!"

Watching Dad's face shift through a rainbow of purple hues, a wild thought hit me. Without thinking it through, I blurted out, "Who says women are less than men? I’m going to be the CEO!"

The room went dead quiet. I held my head high, staring right back at Dad's shocked expression.

"Do you really think being a CEO is easy?" he shot back. "Do you even know how to run a business?"

I was about to snap back, but Nathan jumped in first. "Dad, Aria is just as capable as I am," he said with conviction. "Remember that financial mess from four years ago? Aria was the one who came up with the strategies that saved us. And let’s not forget how she pulled all-nighters for the Washington Group deal two years ago."

"Exactly," Damian added, "Aria's the most level-headed and resourceful person in this family. You’ve always had a good eye for talent, Dad. Well, here’s a top candidate right in front of you!"

I held my breath as Dad's eyes narrowed, his stare piercing through me. After what felt like forever, he finally spoke.

"Alright," he said gruffly. “Aria, if you want to take the reins of the company, you’ll have to pass my test. Think of it as your birthday present!"

My heart raced with anticipation as I sat up straighter, hanging on his every word.

"Take a few days off, then show up at the MIRA World Hotel in Chicago next week," he continued. "If you can turn that place around and make it profitable in six months, I’ll think about making you CEO of MIRA Group!"

As we left the study, Nathaniel and Damian each put a hand on my shoulders.

"God only gives big responsibilities to great people," Nathaniel said gently, giving my shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

Damian just sighed, shaking his head. "Well, sis, looks like you’ve got a big challenge ahead. But if anyone can handle it, it’s you."