[19]

It was very cold tonight, but Miya didn't want to move from where she was. Her body already felt better, even if she still felt a little sore in some places. Wearing a t-shirt with a high collar was the least Miya could do to cover the reddish marks Damian had left on her body.

"You don't want to sleep yet, Miss Miya?" asked Desi, who had brought a thick wool blanket to ward off the cold.

"Not yet." Miya smiled slightly and thanked Desi for the blanket she had brought for her. "It's so peaceful sitting here, Desi. I love the view from up here."

Desi nodded as she helped Miya put the blanket on. "This is Mr. Damian's favorite place when he comes home. He rarely comes home unless to rest."

"I see." Miya didn't really care for this information, but... "If this is Damian's resting place, then there's still his main house?"

Desi nodded. "Mr. Damian's family lives in the Metropolis area. West of downtown, but most of the area is owned by the Sawyer family."

"Ah, I know that place. My father once said that if they own property there, they are among the top businessmen and control important business sectors in the country." Miya rubbed the tip of her chin. "He really is a rich man, isn't he?"

Desi chuckled. "Maybe he's so rich that he can steer officials with special powers like the Ministry of Defense towards his personal interests."

"Money can always do things beyond reason. Right?" Miya grinned. She relaxed a little in the semicircular chair she was sitting on. The sofa was mostly made of soft foam. The lighting in this place was dim, but very soothing to the mind. Not far from where Miya was, there was a small bar with a collection of alcoholic drinks of various kinds and brands. A bartender was standing there as well as a waiter who was ready to serve Miya whatever she wanted.

This remark was not without reason. The mansion Miya was currently staying in truly amazed her. Luxury was clearly offered in every corner Miya had explored. It was only a few rooms that Miya had visited, but the blonde girl could already guess, this was a mansion built with a very special taste with the figure of Damian Sawyer.

"The chef was just telling me about making crème brulee and caramel popcorn. Are you interested?"

Miya immediately rounded her golden-brown eyes. "I'd love to! Make me a cup of coffee, too."

"No caffeine for tonight, Miss Miya. You should get enough rest."

Miya pursed her lips. "A low caffeine one, Desi. I need a taste of coffee right now. The atmosphere is very good, too, right?"

What Miya said was true. The night sky was truly inviting for others to just sit and enjoy its beauty. Even the moon, which had been reluctant to appear for the past few days, seemed to say, "I exist tonight."

"But I hope you don't sleep too late. Mr. Damian is due back this morning."

Miya had not forgotten Damian's words before he left her earlier, but... "Somehow I have a feeling he won't be home this morning."

Desi's brow furrowed, but she didn't want to argue with Miya. She just had to do her job, right? Make sure Miya had the best of the mansion and was well taken care of during the master's absence.

Not long after that, the dish that made Miya impatient was served in front of her. Miya couldn't wait to taste it, and when the dish reached the tip of her tongue... Miya closed her eyes with a broad smile. "Oh my, this is so good!" she praised sincerely. "Ugh! How do I make this? I have to learn how to do this!"

Desi smiled weakly. "You can just ask the chef to make it, Miss Miya. You don't have to struggle to enjoy this dish."

Miya knew, knew and understood Desi's words as a fact she had received during her time here. But... once she left this place, there would be no more luxury. To experience a 5-star fine dining restaurant would require a lot of money. Even if all the wealth and fame returned to Miya's hands, it would still be very different.

"I want to learn to make it, Desi." Miya said in a soft tone, but her eyes looked at Desi with great determination. "Please tell the chef that I want to make this snack."

Desi could only sigh. "I will think about talking to Mr. Damian."

"Don't say anything to him." Miya scowled in annoyance. "If he forbids it, what else am I supposed to do in this place? Just study? I'm going to lose a lot of hair, Desi."

"You better enjoy this nice evening, Miss Miya."

Miya frowned even more. But when her eyes looked up at the night sky again, Miya's smile began to return. "You are right. This night is indeed beautiful. Is... Damian looking at the same sky I am?"

***

Rebecca sat on the edge of her large bed. She was getting ready to sleep, but really, her eyes couldn't close for a moment. All the things that had happened tonight were taking their toll on her mind. Especially Damian's words that had shocked her so much; Rebecca would have a child, a successor to the Sawyer family.

The conversation of a few moments ago replayed in Rebecca's mind.

"Fun?" asked Rebecca with a look of wonder and disbelief. "How can it be fun, dear?"

"You don't have to have the hassle of pregnancy and childbirth, but you can have the next child in the Sawyer family."

Rebecca snarled in annoyance, her eyes staring at Damian with an angry expression. "You... seriously just say that so easily?"

Damian grinned. "What's so hard about it?" The man met his wife's gaze no less sharply. "If it weren't for my father's will to keep this crazy marriage going, I would have left you long ago, Rebecca."

"You can't do that, Damian!" Rebecca snapped emotionally. "You had a big hand in what happened to me!"

"By the way?" Damian chuckled, pulling away slightly from her closeness. "What part did I play?" He rubbed the tip of his chin, where a thin layer of hair was beginning to grow. It was as if Damian had forgotten the little business on his face.

"I had to come after you to explain everything that happened, Damian. You ignored me. You never listened to anything I said. I loved you. Even now, that love is still yours!"

"Even after you slept with your own bodyguard?" Damian laughed dismissively. "Everything that happens in your life is a consequence you have to live with. I am still the guardian of your good name, in spite of the events of your past. If it weren't for that, I would never have imagined what to do about your betrayal." Damian could not contain his anger for long.

In one fell swoop, Damian's hand cupped - no, firmly cupped - Rebecca's cheek. The woman grimaced in pain, but Damian never let go of the agony he had brought to the woman's face.

"Obey my wishes. It won't do you any harm, Rebecca Sylvia. You have much to gain by being confirmed as the mother of my child."

Rebecce unconsciously shed tears. She tried to continue speaking even though her face felt stiff and uncomfortable. "I... want the child to come from my womb, Damian."

"Mine can only be touched by me, Rebecca." Damian came closer. A puff of Damian's breath was deliberately placed directly on Rebecca's face. There was still a strong smell of nicotine from the cigar Damian had smoked earlier. "And you? Already touched by another." Damian tossed the handle away. "You think I should touch you again?"

Rebecca's tears just fell.

"Be a good doll, Rebecca. If you still want to live in comfort and luxury."

Then the man unceremoniously left Rebecca. Not caring about the sobs and heartbreaking cries of the woman he once loved. Back then, at the beginning of his marriage. He thought he could live a life like his father and mother. Loving and supporting each other. But as it turned out...

Rebecca immediately rubbed the corners of her eyes. "I need to know what kind of woman is carrying Damian's child." She tried to calm herself. "If this was the only child I had to accept, I could still try to survive. But..." Rebecca swallowed saliva that felt filled with sharp barbs. "What if Damian's heart is filled with the child's mother?"