Astrid's POVThe moment the first drop of rain touched my cheek, I knew I was done for. Damien still hadn't moved, and the thunder was rumbling so loud, I knew it would be a heavy rainfall."Damien, come on, we need to go."The cars rolled up to our side. The elderly driver of the car, whom I had been scolding to let me go, stepped out."Ma'am, is everything okay?"I turned to him, my tears mixing with the rain. One of the drivers brought out an umbrella and quickly covered us, to which I gave a nod of gratitude."He's not moving. I don't know what's wrong."The wind was howling wildly, and even the umbrella flapped around. I knew it wouldn't take long before it would get broken."We need to go home.""I'm sorry, ma'am, but I don't think it is possible for us to go home in this weather. The storm is too strong. We can rest at the cabin."I glared at the man. Was he crazy? That's someone's home. He didn't just expect us to intrude."Do you know what you're saying? We should drive home
Astrid’s POVI had just finished plating our breakfast when Damien walked downstairs, already dressed in his suit and holding his briefcase, ready for work.His cologne hit me hard as he stepped closer, my hairs standing at attention. He wrapped an arm around my waist and leaned his head into the crook of my neck, sending warmth curling up my belly."Damien, why are you dressed?""Work," his muffled voice mumbled."Damien, it's the weekend. Aren't you supposed to stay home? And by the way, after what happened yesterday, shouldn't—""Something happened yesterday? What was that?" he asked, making me pause.Was he being serious? A frown formed on my face. Maybe he really didn't remember what happened last night at the cottage.I guess I really have to speak to the driver about this. Or Auntie and Uncle."Nothing. Nothing happened. Have breakfast before leaving.""Sure, I wasn’t going to go without it anyway," he responded and sat down. I served him and served mine too.After eating, he k
Damien's POVI couldn't wait to be done with all the work before me and go home.Normally, I worked on weekends. I worked every day of the week, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. And even when I got home, I still managed to do some work.But since Astrid came into my life, I had been feeling like leaving everything in the hands of others and just staying home with her.Which was why I was happy she worked with me now—because just being with her made all my problems go away.Unfortunately, this time, here I was on a weekend, stuck on a puzzle I was trying to fix regarding some people who had been trying to sabotage my ventures in different parts of the country. Most likely the same people who had tried to poison guests at my hotel.That wasn’t the annoying part.The annoying part was the idiot sitting across from me, making all the noise in the world and making me wish I could bash his face into the wall and not be held accountable."For the last time, Adam, will you stop being so noisy? You're gi
Astrid's POVThe whole room remained silent after Tiffany's declaration. Damien stilled on the steps where he had been ascending. I stared at the woman, watching her lower lip wobble, and soon, tears flowed down her face like a stream."Son, your mother is going. In a few months, I won’t be here anymore."I awaited Damien’s response to her, knowing that at this point, he would have to calm down and let them talk things out.But he faced ahead, his hands gripping the railing so tight I could see them turning red from where I stood. Then he uttered words I never thought I would hear someone say to their mother."Tiffany, dying?" He scoffed. "I’m afraid you died a long time ago to me. Let’s just assume you never came back and you’ve always been dead."Tiffany let out a loud wail while Damien continued ascending the stairs until he disappeared from her sight. His mother broke down, falling to the floor while holding her head in her hands.I rushed toward her, helping her up to the sofa wi
Astrid's POVI was almost at my room, just a few doors away, when Damien's wrist shot out, grabbed mine, and he slammed me up against the wall. It happened so fast before I could even blink."Damien, what are you doing?" I breathed out, gulping.He didn't respond immediately. Instead, he leaned in, and I heard him inhale. Wait... was he sniffing me?"I should be asking you that, Astrid. What do you think you're doing?""I'm going to my room."He rolled his eyes. "Yes, going to your room. Do you have to run to get to your room?""Uh, yes, I have to. The doctor said it is very important for me to run so that the exercise will make my body–""What doctor, Astrid? Stop lying."He flicked my nose. I frowned, crossing my arms over my chest. "Why are you following me?""Because you're running.""I was running because I wanted to get to my room and do something urgent."Damien smirked. "You didn't seem to be in a hurry when you were ogling me from the door to my room." Then, taking my earlobe
Chapter 45Damien's POVAstrid was making me break my boundaries. Yes, she hadn’t made me forgive Tiffany, but just allowing her to live in my house was a big step—one I would never have taken if Astrid wasn’t here to speak to me.Of course, I meant what I said. If Tiffany tried anything, especially toward Astrid, I wasn’t going to forgive her this time. She could hurt me all she wanted, but if she ever tried to touch Astrid or even look at her the wrong way, I would make her regret ever stepping foot back into my life.I was now supposed to call Tiffany and let her know she could stay with me. Astrid offered to do it, but I told her it would be best if I did it myself so I could warn Tiffany properly. Astrid would just end up being super friendly with the woman.As I was on my way down to the hotel where Tiffany was staying, my phone rang. Picking it up, I saw Arthur Marshalls number.“What!!”“Oh,. Hey, son-in-law.” The lewd man laughed on the other end.“Nothing is funny, Arthur. H
Astrid's POVI had just finished taking a bath when Myra knocked on my door."Hello, Astrid? Mrs. Tiffany is here.""Oh, Tiffany. Okay, I'll be right out," I said, hurrying to put on my clothes and go welcome her—in the right way this time.Five minutes later, I walked down the stairs to where she sat in the living room, wearing the same dress she had on when she came here before."Tiffany!""Oh my God, Astrid," she rushed toward me, hugging me as if we were mother and daughter. "Thank you so much, Astrid. From when I first saw you, I knew you really were an angel in my son's life. Now I can confirm it. I'm so grateful, Astrid."I nodded at her, and we both smiled."Do you need help settling in?""Oh, you really want to help me?" She acted so enthusiastically I wondered if loneliness could make people like this—how long had it been since someone aided her or kept her company?"Yeah, I can help you. I mean, I'm not doing anything now.""Thank you so much.""Of course, let's go. Did Dam
Astrid’s POVWe sat at dinner that evening, but even though Myra and I had spent a few hours cooking to make it perfect, I couldn't eat. The cooking had just been a way to distract myself from thinking too much, but it had almost ended with me chopping off my fingers.Now, I had a little plaster around my middle finger on my right hand, which I prayed Damien wouldn't see and make a fuss over. Well, it's not like there's anything to make a fuss about. It's just a little cut. I've had worse.I was struggling to eat. The food itself tasted ugly in my mouth, which was a first because I deeply appreciated food and would never want to see it wasted.My actions didn’t go unnoticed because Damien started staring—so hard I almost slapped his face. Why couldn't he just go back to wherever he came from with his girlfriend?The clause in the contract did say I wasn't allowed to date or my money would be slashed. It didn't say anything about him not being allowed to. So, he hasn’t done anything wr
Astrid's POV"W-What?" I stuttered. "I don't understand.""It's not about you understanding or not, Astrid. What matters is I've realized I have feelings for you. I'm catching them real fast. I want to try to have something real with you.""Oh," was all I could say. It wasn't an everyday thing to have your husband—no, contract husband—tell you he is falling for you.Damien's gaze was intense, making my skin crawl, and my stomach fluttered. When I had joked at the beginning that I would make him fall for me, I didn't think it would be this easy. I mean, I hadn't even started on that aspect yet. I was still thinking of what to do with Fiona and Adrian. How come he's already falling?"Damien, I think you're mistaken, okay? Maybe you think you're falling for me just because you haven't had, you know—"Damien shook his head. "I knew you would say something like this, Astrid. I am not mistaken about this. It is not new. I have had these feelings for a while, and I have been conflicted and f
Astrid’s POVWe sat at dinner that evening, but even though Myra and I had spent a few hours cooking to make it perfect, I couldn't eat. The cooking had just been a way to distract myself from thinking too much, but it had almost ended with me chopping off my fingers.Now, I had a little plaster around my middle finger on my right hand, which I prayed Damien wouldn't see and make a fuss over. Well, it's not like there's anything to make a fuss about. It's just a little cut. I've had worse.I was struggling to eat. The food itself tasted ugly in my mouth, which was a first because I deeply appreciated food and would never want to see it wasted.My actions didn’t go unnoticed because Damien started staring—so hard I almost slapped his face. Why couldn't he just go back to wherever he came from with his girlfriend?The clause in the contract did say I wasn't allowed to date or my money would be slashed. It didn't say anything about him not being allowed to. So, he hasn’t done anything wr
Astrid's POVI had just finished taking a bath when Myra knocked on my door."Hello, Astrid? Mrs. Tiffany is here.""Oh, Tiffany. Okay, I'll be right out," I said, hurrying to put on my clothes and go welcome her—in the right way this time.Five minutes later, I walked down the stairs to where she sat in the living room, wearing the same dress she had on when she came here before."Tiffany!""Oh my God, Astrid," she rushed toward me, hugging me as if we were mother and daughter. "Thank you so much, Astrid. From when I first saw you, I knew you really were an angel in my son's life. Now I can confirm it. I'm so grateful, Astrid."I nodded at her, and we both smiled."Do you need help settling in?""Oh, you really want to help me?" She acted so enthusiastically I wondered if loneliness could make people like this—how long had it been since someone aided her or kept her company?"Yeah, I can help you. I mean, I'm not doing anything now.""Thank you so much.""Of course, let's go. Did Dam
Chapter 45Damien's POVAstrid was making me break my boundaries. Yes, she hadn’t made me forgive Tiffany, but just allowing her to live in my house was a big step—one I would never have taken if Astrid wasn’t here to speak to me.Of course, I meant what I said. If Tiffany tried anything, especially toward Astrid, I wasn’t going to forgive her this time. She could hurt me all she wanted, but if she ever tried to touch Astrid or even look at her the wrong way, I would make her regret ever stepping foot back into my life.I was now supposed to call Tiffany and let her know she could stay with me. Astrid offered to do it, but I told her it would be best if I did it myself so I could warn Tiffany properly. Astrid would just end up being super friendly with the woman.As I was on my way down to the hotel where Tiffany was staying, my phone rang. Picking it up, I saw Arthur Marshalls number.“What!!”“Oh,. Hey, son-in-law.” The lewd man laughed on the other end.“Nothing is funny, Arthur. H
Astrid's POVI was almost at my room, just a few doors away, when Damien's wrist shot out, grabbed mine, and he slammed me up against the wall. It happened so fast before I could even blink."Damien, what are you doing?" I breathed out, gulping.He didn't respond immediately. Instead, he leaned in, and I heard him inhale. Wait... was he sniffing me?"I should be asking you that, Astrid. What do you think you're doing?""I'm going to my room."He rolled his eyes. "Yes, going to your room. Do you have to run to get to your room?""Uh, yes, I have to. The doctor said it is very important for me to run so that the exercise will make my body–""What doctor, Astrid? Stop lying."He flicked my nose. I frowned, crossing my arms over my chest. "Why are you following me?""Because you're running.""I was running because I wanted to get to my room and do something urgent."Damien smirked. "You didn't seem to be in a hurry when you were ogling me from the door to my room." Then, taking my earlobe
Astrid's POVThe whole room remained silent after Tiffany's declaration. Damien stilled on the steps where he had been ascending. I stared at the woman, watching her lower lip wobble, and soon, tears flowed down her face like a stream."Son, your mother is going. In a few months, I won’t be here anymore."I awaited Damien’s response to her, knowing that at this point, he would have to calm down and let them talk things out.But he faced ahead, his hands gripping the railing so tight I could see them turning red from where I stood. Then he uttered words I never thought I would hear someone say to their mother."Tiffany, dying?" He scoffed. "I’m afraid you died a long time ago to me. Let’s just assume you never came back and you’ve always been dead."Tiffany let out a loud wail while Damien continued ascending the stairs until he disappeared from her sight. His mother broke down, falling to the floor while holding her head in her hands.I rushed toward her, helping her up to the sofa wi
Damien's POVI couldn't wait to be done with all the work before me and go home.Normally, I worked on weekends. I worked every day of the week, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. And even when I got home, I still managed to do some work.But since Astrid came into my life, I had been feeling like leaving everything in the hands of others and just staying home with her.Which was why I was happy she worked with me now—because just being with her made all my problems go away.Unfortunately, this time, here I was on a weekend, stuck on a puzzle I was trying to fix regarding some people who had been trying to sabotage my ventures in different parts of the country. Most likely the same people who had tried to poison guests at my hotel.That wasn’t the annoying part.The annoying part was the idiot sitting across from me, making all the noise in the world and making me wish I could bash his face into the wall and not be held accountable."For the last time, Adam, will you stop being so noisy? You're gi
Astrid’s POVI had just finished plating our breakfast when Damien walked downstairs, already dressed in his suit and holding his briefcase, ready for work.His cologne hit me hard as he stepped closer, my hairs standing at attention. He wrapped an arm around my waist and leaned his head into the crook of my neck, sending warmth curling up my belly."Damien, why are you dressed?""Work," his muffled voice mumbled."Damien, it's the weekend. Aren't you supposed to stay home? And by the way, after what happened yesterday, shouldn't—""Something happened yesterday? What was that?" he asked, making me pause.Was he being serious? A frown formed on my face. Maybe he really didn't remember what happened last night at the cottage.I guess I really have to speak to the driver about this. Or Auntie and Uncle."Nothing. Nothing happened. Have breakfast before leaving.""Sure, I wasn’t going to go without it anyway," he responded and sat down. I served him and served mine too.After eating, he k
Astrid's POVThe moment the first drop of rain touched my cheek, I knew I was done for. Damien still hadn't moved, and the thunder was rumbling so loud, I knew it would be a heavy rainfall."Damien, come on, we need to go."The cars rolled up to our side. The elderly driver of the car, whom I had been scolding to let me go, stepped out."Ma'am, is everything okay?"I turned to him, my tears mixing with the rain. One of the drivers brought out an umbrella and quickly covered us, to which I gave a nod of gratitude."He's not moving. I don't know what's wrong."The wind was howling wildly, and even the umbrella flapped around. I knew it wouldn't take long before it would get broken."We need to go home.""I'm sorry, ma'am, but I don't think it is possible for us to go home in this weather. The storm is too strong. We can rest at the cabin."I glared at the man. Was he crazy? That's someone's home. He didn't just expect us to intrude."Do you know what you're saying? We should drive home