CHAPTER 7

Lilia stood frozen, her heart racing in her chest as the headlights from the car sliced through the darkness of the night, cutting through the quiet of the garden. She saw Damian stepping out of the car, tall and imposing. But in that moment, her focus was on Mark. He stood there, fists clenched, his eyes filled with anger and hurt.

“You left me to marry him?” Mark growled, his voice thick with frustration and bitterness. He stepped forward, pointing at Damian. “Lilia, do you really think tying yourself to someone like him will make you happy? He just wants to control you, to possess you. And me... I love you, Lilia.”

Lilia felt Mark’s words hit her like a punch to the gut. She had once loved him, had trusted him, but now, those feelings were fading, replaced by tension and the growing pain she felt as she looked at Damian standing there, unwavering. A part of her still felt weak for the past, but she couldn’t go back. She had made her choice, and nothing would change that.

“You don’t need to explain anymore, Mark,” Lilia said, her voice steady and cold, but with a hint of pain. “I’ve already chosen.”

Mark took another step toward her, nearly rushing toward her, his eyes filled with fury. “You really think you can forget about me and go with him? You actually want to be his wife, while I’m the one who loved you truly?”

Lilia stood firm, not backing down. She didn’t want to keep living under Mark’s control, didn’t want to stay in the lies. She looked straight into his eyes, her gaze filled with resolve.

“You’re no longer mine, Mark,” she said, every word clear and final. “I’ve chosen Damian, and I won’t turn back.”

Just as Lilia finished her words, Mark lunged at her, his hands outstretched, trying to pull her back into his arms, as if to reclaim her. But before he could touch her, Damian acted.

Damian didn’t speak. In one swift move, he stepped toward Mark, grabbing him by the collar and lifting him off the ground, his eyes cold and unfeeling.

“Don’t try that again,” Damian said, his voice low, filled with authority. “If you keep hurting her, I won’t hesitate.”

Mark flinched, but didn’t resist. The feeling of being controlled by Damian made him feel powerless. “She’s not yours!” Mark yelled, but his voice faltered when he saw the coldness in Damian’s gaze.

Lilia watched it all unfold. Part of her wanted to step back, unsure of how to handle the situation, but the other part of her, the stronger part, refused to accept what Mark was doing. She was no longer the weak girl he once knew. She had grown, and she had made her choice.

“Damian, stop,” Lilia spoke up, stepping between the two men. She placed a hand on Damian’s arm, not to stop him, but to signal that she didn’t need protection anymore. “He won’t hurt me anymore.”

Damian looked at her, his eyes filled with surprise, but also with deep resolve. He looked back at Mark, and then released his grip, but didn’t move away from Lilia’s side.

Mark stood there, still glaring at Damian, his fists still clenched. His eyes turned back to Lilia, filled with anger and sorrow. He turned and walked away, not saying another word.

When he disappeared into the darkness, Damian turned to Lilia. He stepped closer, his gaze softening, though the edge of authority still lingered in his eyes. He was determined to protect her, to keep her from any more harm.

“Thank you,” Lilia whispered, but her voice betrayed her exhaustion. “I didn’t know what to do…”

Damian gently brushed the stray hairs from her face, then pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. “You don’t need to do anything, Lilia. From now on, you don’t need to worry about a thing. I’ll always protect you.”

Lilia felt a strange sense of comfort from Damian. Even though she knew there were still things she had to face, right now, at least she didn’t feel alone.

Damian looked at her with eyes full of concern, but there was a flicker of discomfort in them, as though he was trying to process everything. But the protection he offered wasn’t going to last forever. The love, the protection, and the secrets between them would soon reveal things that couldn’t be predicted. And Lilia would have to make harder choices as everything around her began to crumble.

Lilia stood there, her heart racing, feeling like everything was falling apart and being rebuilt all at once. Damian stood beside her, solid and unmovable, but deep inside, Lilia knew that no matter how much Damian protected her, she couldn’t escape her past—and the feelings she hadn’t yet let go of.

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