Chapter One-Hundred and Twelve

Lauren's POV

I opened my eyes to find it dark outside. My head was brewing with a mild ache that seemed to get worse as I sat up to an empty bed. With a frown, I looked around at the bedroom one more time to find Damien, but he was obviously not there.

“Have you seen Damien?” I asked as soon as I saw Shirley in the hallway walking towards the stairs.

“We had lunch together. I think he’s in the garden with Conrad,” she answered. With a nod, I walked down the stairs with her and into the garden at the back of the house.

Conrad and Damien stopped talking as they looked up and found me approaching.

“I slept in so late,” I said, sitting beside Damien. “I missed lunch.”

“If you’re hungry, I can get the chef to make something for you. I had the staff come over here to work,” Damien announced. I shook my head in response.

“I’m not very hungry, honestly,” I said.

As we all sat there, I couldn’t help but notice how neither of them had said a