Chapter 16: Two Thrones, One War
Summary: Kade and Aria make their first public appearance as co-leaders of Ryuu Global at a high-profile tech summit. But the world isn't ready to see a woman at his level—especially one who speaks louder, faster, and better. As Aria begins to outshine him publicly, Kade must ask himself: if he's no longer the only king, what does that make him?
.
The summit stage was set like a throne room: white leather chairs, gold-backed signage, two oversized company logos projected behind the interview space like banners before a duel.
Kade sat on the left.
Aria on the right.
The room was packed with journalists, competitors, investors, and analysts. Dozens of cameras streamed the event live to over two million viewers across four platforms.
This wasn't just business.
It was optics.
And Aria owned it.
The moderator turned to her first.
"Ms. Linh, you've taken the public by storm over the past few weeks. Your appointment to co-CEO status is historic—not just for Ryuu Global, but for women in corporate finance. What's your strategy moving forward?"
Aria smiled—controlled, grounded.
"To stop asking permission," she said. "We've spent too long waiting to be invited into rooms we already have the credentials to run."
Laughter. Applause.
The moderator chuckled. "And for those who say your leadership is too reactive—too emotionally driven?"
"I'd ask why emotion scares them more than incompetence."
The room buzzed.
Kade folded his hands, face unreadable.
The moderator turned to him. "Mr. Ryuu, would you like to respond?"
"Yes," Kade said calmly. "My co-CEO is charismatic, but let me assure you—emotion doesn't run our company. Discipline does."
Aria's smile tightened.
She didn't interrupt.
But her silence said everything.
After the panel, the headlines were instant:
ARIA LINH STUNS AT GLOBAL TECH SUMMIT—"THE FUTURE OF EXECUTIVE POWER ISN'T MALE."KADE RYUU OUTSPOKEN? OR OUTSHINED?
Kade said nothing during the car ride home.
Aria didn't press.
Until he broke the silence.
"They weren't looking at me."
She turned.
"They were listening to both of us."
"No," he said. "They were watching you. I was just furniture."
She studied him.
"Is that what you really think?"
He didn't answer.
She leaned in.
"Then let me make something clear, Kade. If you think I'm trying to replace you, you still don't understand me."
He looked at her now—really looked.
"I don't want your throne," she said. "I want to stand beside it. But I won't dim myself just so you feel taller."
Silence.
Then slowly, painfully… he nodded.
"I know."
And it was the first time he admitted it wasn't fear that made him lash out.
It was insecurity.
You're absolutely right—and thank you for calling that out. Let's realign fully with our original structure and commitment:
✔️ All chapters broken into clearly labeled parts ✔️ Each part starts exactly where the last ended—with no time jumps or scene skips ✔️ Every moment unfolds in real-time with rich interiority, immersive dialogue, slow-burn pacing, and high emotional continuity ✔️ Only one part delivered at a time, and I will always pause for your approval before continuing.
We'll now continue with:
"I don't want your throne. I want to stand beside it. But I won't dim myself just so you feel taller."
That line still echoed in the car long after Aria stopped speaking.
Kade sat in the passenger seat, his fingers tapping once against his thigh, then stopping.
Tap. Stop.
He wasn't angry.
He wasn't even threatened.
He was shaken.
Because the words weren't hers.
Not completely.
They were Selene's.
Not the way Aria said them—Aria's were honest, raw, rooted in principle. Selene's had been something else: sharp, manipulative, a blade hidden in silk.
"I won't shrink so you can stay comfortable.""You don't want a partner—you want a fan club.""If you can't handle my shine, get out of the sun."
It had started the same way with Selene—slow charm, public chemistry, shared power.
Until she'd used her proximity to him to steal contacts, alter proposals, court board votes in private, and—eventually—forge documents that made him look like the manipulator.
He had loved her.
And she had turned his trust into ammunition.
Now, sitting beside Aria, he was hearing those words again—but from someone who hadn't betrayed him.
Yet.
And it was killing him to admit: it wasn't rational fear anymore.
It was trauma.
"I've heard those words before," he said softly.
Aria turned toward him in the dark.
He didn't look at her.
"Selene said things like that when we were still together. Before it all fell apart. Before I knew what she was really doing."
"I'm not her."
"I know."
Silence. Thick. Uneasy.
Kade finally looked at her.
"You just sounded like her."
That hit harder than it should have.
Aria didn't speak for a moment. Then:
"I sounded like a woman trying not to disappear."
Kade leaned back, breath caught in his chest.
"And I sounded like a man still bleeding from the last time he trusted someone."
She reached over slowly, hand brushing his.
"Then maybe," she said gently, "we both stop bleeding. Together."
He didn't take her hand.
Not yet.
But he didn't pull away either.