8:00 A.M. Cross Mansion

Golden sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains.

Aria stirred awake, instinctively reaching toward the other side of the bed.

Empty.

She smiled faintly.

Damian was already up.

She slipped into a silk robe before making her way downstairs.

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the mansion.

As expected...

Damian was seated at the dining table, reading the morning financial reports while Mason stood nearby giving a security briefing.

"The additional team has already been deployed," Mason reported.

"The surveillance around Cross Mansion and Cross Group has been increased by forty percent."

Damian nodded.

"Keep them in plain clothes."

"I don't want Aria feeling like she's...