It's Aaron's funeral today.It's just the three of us here, watching the coffin being lowered in the ground. My mother and I are watching without shedding a tear. There isn't a single tear left inside of me. These past couple of days have been torturous; hopelessness and despair has been clinging to us like a cloud, and by us I mean mom and I. My brother's loss rocked us; I felt worse the second day. I woke up feeling empty, overcome with loss. I felt defeated, deflated, lost. Ferdinand has been trying to reach out to me, but I can't and won't let him in. I'm indifferent towards him solely because he didn't help Aaron, he let him die, but I'm sure that if my mother decides to tell me about him, the whole unfiltered truth, I'll despise him. She hasn't talked to me since the day I arrived. She hasn't said a single word. She was locked in her room the whole time, holding pictures of Aaron. It's heartbreaking and shattering.Ferdinand told us yesterday at breakfast that there would be a
My mother won't talk to me.It doesn't matter how hard I push her, she won't budge. How can she tell me she had an affair with Gabriel Keller and not elaborate? She just left me hanging, and I need answers. She needs to explain this to me in detail. How did Aaron find out about their supposed affair, and why would he want to kill him because of it? This just makes everything more complicated than it already is. I thought it was bad enough as it is. Did Damien know about this affair?I preferred it when I didn't know anything, when I was ignorant about my mother's past. I vehemently wish that I had gone home when I had the chance, none of this would have happened. She wouldn't have come here looking for me, and I would most probably never have met Ferdinand. Aaron wouldn't go to him for help. This remorse kills me. Frankly, I would have preferred never knowing about this. She slept with Damien's father, how fucked up is that?I'm in the dining room having brunch when Ferdinand stride
My heart's racing.He looks like he's seen a ghost, and perhaps that's exactly what I am to him. I don't even know if he found out about Ferdinand's deal with Hans, or if my presence here is a shock to him. I guess that shouldn't matter right now. I'll find out soon enough if the latter is the case. I wasn't expecting him to be here. I never in a million years would've guessed that Ferdinand would bring me to an event Damien would be attending. Perhaps he didn't know, but why do I feel like this was a set up? He didn't mean to introduce me to anyone, or rather, that wasn't part of the plan. I'm not an idiot, mom told me that he always planned on having a daughter so he could marry her into the Keller family. And I don't think he gave up on that plan.We stare at each other for a long time. Well, it feels like a long time, but it's probably only been a few seconds. I'm the first to look away, because I can't stand the intensity of his gaze. I can feel his hatred—or is it something els
Devon pours himself a drink first.I sit and wait patiently for him to start talking. I know he's doing this on purpose, he doesn't want to tell me anything. But I'm determined, and I'm not leaving until I get answers.He sinks into the couch with a groan, and I'm really trying to stay calm. He sips his drink, then sets the glass on the coffee table between us. He says, "Where do you want me to begin?""When you left town with Aaron, Ferdinand's was the first place you went, right?" I figured that out by myself. It's pretty obvious, where else would they go? Ferdinand was the one who sent them money to leave in the first place.He nods. "That's right. He took us in, showed us around the city. Aaron was excited to see him, he thought he was dead. He had fond memories of him, in fact he would tell me when we were younger, about parties and presents. I thought he was crazy. Or making it up. All I knew was poverty and I didn't think people lived different lives. My mother always told me t
Damien watches Amelia walk away, and every step she takes is a blow to his soul.Ethan watches him with an unreadable expression. Damien doesn't meet his gaze. He knows what his cousin is thinking, and he isn't going to go down that road with him. He doesn't need anyone's opinion; he doesn't expect anyone to understand."We have to go," Ethan says, interrupting his train of thought. "We're going to be late."They should never have come. If he had known Amelia would be here, he would've declined the invitation. But a part of him came to life at the sight of her. Her words stung; that conversation was the hardest one he ever had. Her pain was palpable, and so was her hatred towards him. Him. The deepest, most vulnerable part of him would take her in his arms, but Damien Eric Jameson Keller is anything but vulnerable. He can't afford to look weak, not before his opponents and especially not before his family, which is why he decided to have her killed in the first place, even though his
The smell of disinfectant tickles my nostrils.I hate how hospitals smell, and this doesn't stem from my childhood. I was a fairly healthy kid, I rarely fell ill. Perhaps it has to do with my mother. When she passed out a few days after Aaron was convicted, I was desperate. I didn't know what to do. They told me she was really sick, and I had to wait outside her room the whole day, waiting for her to wake up. I don't know what I would've done if she didn't. I remember feeling terribly anxious and afraid. What would I have done without her? I shake my head to get rid of these thoughts. I'm ready to go, but they're still keeping me here for some reason. Felix is gone, I don't know where he is. I haven't seen him since I got here. It's not that I want him around me; I know that he's probably already told Ferdinand about this and I'll have to deal with him when I get back. He must have followed me, which means he saw me with Devon. I wonder if that'll implicate him in some way. I'm mad
Devon rushes into his office and locks the door behind him.He sits behind his desk, then starts looking around for the bottle of scotch he kept in one of the drawers. He can't find it, which pisses him off. He slams the drawer shut and sits back, willing himself to calm down or he's going to lose his shit.That old woman, she said her name was Bertha Johnson, didn't want to cooperate at first, but Devon always finds a way to get someone talking. He threatened her, but when that didn't work, he promised to help her get what she wants. And when she talked, she fucking talked. He had a hard time believing her, but there was no way he couldn't. She knew exactly what she was talking about, her story made sense. He knew a small part, but now he finally pieced everything together.The story is too fucking crazy to be true.He needs to make calls, get people investigating this immediately, but Sam will be in his ass about this, because people need to be paid for their work, and the company c
Mom just shut down.As soon as I confronted her about it, she walked out of my room without offering me any explanation. I didn't go after her; it would be a waste of time. I can't understand why she won't just tell me. What's the worst that could happen if she did?I didn't realize that I fell asleep. I wake up and it's morning. I feel a deep ache in my bones, but I'm better. I shower, paying special attention to my hair because my head still hurts a lot, then get dressed in jeans and a black top. I wonder who bought all these clothes for me. They're exactly my size.I leave the bedroom and realize that the sitting and dining rooms are empty. It's around ten, which means that everyone's already gone. My mother must be in her room, that's where she always is, but I won't go to her, not until she opens up to me about all this. I'm disappointed and angry at her, I won't deny it. I kept secrets from her, that's true, but I'm still hurt that she'd not want to share this with me.One of th
Six months have passed.They've been peaceful and for the most part, quiet. Tremendously busy, but I'm used to that part now. Working alongside Damien is the best part about it. I get to be with him all day and make sure that he isn't exerting himself. He has a lot more work now; he had to take over Ethan's duties. Theo helps, but there are certain things only Damien can handle. When Ethan was here, he took care of it, but he's been gone for half a year and there's no one capable enough to replace him. I think that deep down, Damien doesn't want anyone to take over Ethan's job, but he'll never admit it out loud. I help him whenever I can. There's a lot I still don't understand, but I'll get there.It's only a matter of time.He doesn't ever ask me to go home when there are people coming over to meet with him. We never talked about what happened with Ash, but it changed a lot of things. I gained some respect after I killed him. I see it in the way people look at me whenever we're at so
I help him peel his blazer off.This day has been mentally exhausting for him. He rarely leaves the office early, but I'm glad he did today. I'm glad, because at least we have the whole day ahead of us. It's going to be just the two of us. Theo rarely comes here, she prefers to stay in the city. It's closer to everything else. I love it here, because it feels like we're all alone in the world. I stare out the window and all I see is the vast sky, green hills, nature. I don't even see the guards surrounding the house. They're invisible to me.It's peaceful here, and breathtakingly beautiful. It's home. I understand why Damien is so attached to this place. It's not simply because he grew up here. I feel safe, here, untouchable. The first time I was here, I felt like an intruder. Our relationship was so different back then, I can't help but marvel at how everything is so different now. I never would have guessed that we'd end up here, closer than ever, madly in love. We've come a long wa
Today's an important day.I've been on edge all morning. Damien has called for a Keller family meeting. We're all going to be there, including Ethan and Penelope.He announced that there'd be a meeting only last night during dinner, and he asked Theo to give Ethan a call. I was startled by the news and so was she. He didn't tell me what he'll say to Ethan, but we can guess what it is. He wants closure. Ethan owns a third of everything, and that matter needs to be resolved. I doubt that Damien will allow him to return to the company. I just don't see it happening. Ethan himself never mentioned it to Theo, not that he'd dare to.Theo told me that he's out of the hospital. She said he hasn't left the country yet because he wants to see Damien first. Damien, however, wanted nothing to do with him until yesterday. He's asked after him, but he didn't want to see him. He's still hurt by what Ethan did to us, his betrayal is a wound that will never quite heal for him. And if it ever does, it'
I'm afraid of opening the door.I've been standing here for a full minute with my heart in my throat. My hand is on the knob, ready. I can't bring myself to turn it, though, simply because I know that Damien's on the other side. There's a lot we need to talk about, so much in fact that I wouldn't know where to start.I hold my breath and close my eyes. I've been standing out here for too long. I remind myself that he's my husband, he's the man I love, and we'll get through this. We'd get through anything together. I've been in a far worse position before. This time, I was actually focusing on the well-being of our family.I open the door slowly.Only the bedside lamp is on. I see him right away; he's seated on the couch across his bed. He's staring out the window with a distant look in his eyes. I take a few steps towards him, my eyes on his handsome face. My heart's thumping against my chest. I'm overcome with emotion, but I put a hamper on them for now. He's a little pale, I notice
Amelia's going to hate him for this, but that's okay, because he doesn't plan on ever seeing her again.He means it this time. He's done with this shit. He had his chance, he fucked it up a hundred years ago. It's time to get over it. If there was ever a part of him that thought he'd get a chance with her, that part of him died a while back. She loves Damien Keller. He lost her a long time ago. That doesn't necessarily mean that he's content with the outcome, but he'll admit defeat. Staying here is slowly killing him.She's going to be alright. Leaving her back there was a dick move, sure, but he stands by what he said to her; when everyone finds out that she did it, there will be no revenge. He helped her along the way, but no one needs to know that. The Huntingtons won't dream of touching her, especially when the truth about Damien comes out. It would be an entirely different story with him.He glances at his watch. Five more minutes in there and he'd miss his flight. He can't miss
I've never been so glad to see him in all my life."Devon," I say, the word a gasp. "How did you—"He doesn't let me finish. "Did he hurt you? Are you hurt?"I shake my head. "No, but how did you—""I'll explain later," he assures me. "Right now, we've got to get this asshole tied to that chair. Quickly, before he wakes up. Bring that chair over there. I have rope under the bed."I grab it and Devon grabs a duffel bag from under the bed. He opens it and fishes out rope and a couple of knives. He's been lying under the bed the entire time. It's clear that he planned this thoroughly.He didn't abandon me. He said he'd help me kill Ash and here he is. I tell him, "I thought you weren't going to show up. I thought you tricked me.""I don't blame you for assuming the worst," he says, looking up at me. His eyes are glinting with mischief and something else, something I won't dare name. He points at my gun. "You know how to use that thing?"I stare at it. "Yes."He's watching me intently. "A
It's quarter to midnight.The clock is ticking and my heart is racing. I'm ready, my small gun is hidden in my underwear. I've made sure to wear an extra tight pair just for the occasion. The dress is scarlet and flowy, perfect for tonight.I'm waiting for him in the lobby. This time, I'm early. It makes me feel more in control of the situation even though that's far from the truth. I take a small sip of champagne and look back at the entrance. My heart's in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. I have to remain cool, though. There's a lot at stake.Everything depends on this."Anything else?" the bartender asks me while pouring someone else a drink. I shake my head, I can't even speak at a time like this.I'm taking another sip of champagne when I finally spot him. There are two men walking behind him. He's saying something to them as he looks around. For me, no doubt. I fix my gaze on him and hold my breath as I wait for him to see me. He doesn't, which is fairly disappointin
"Leave," Damien says to the nurse. She scurries out of the room as soon as he mutters the word.He's in a terrible mood and he doesn't want anyone around him. He has finally moved from that awful, desolate place and he's home. He made sure that they didn't change any decorations. They lost a lot of antiques and furniture that was in their family for decades, but he's made sure that everything else remained the same. He's sure that he'll recover in no time here, he already feels better. He's not in bed, he's sitting on the sofa beside his bed. He's supposed to be resting, but he's done enough of that.He can't sleep when he's worried sick about Amelia.The fact that no one gives him any news is a bad sign as it is. They're hiding something from him, he can feel it. The last time he spoke to her, she told him that she wasn't going to turn back, that she'd go ahead with the plan. He has no idea of what her plan might be, but he knows it won't be anything he'll agree with. He wonders if p
I can't stop chewing my thumbnail.I force myself to put my hand down. I'm in agony; I don't know what to do and I'm running out of time. I'm supposed to be meeting Ash tonight. This was supposed to end it all, according to Devon, but he let Ethan go so what happens now? The only reason why I'm agreeing to everything is because of him. It isn't, but that's what Ash thinks. Am I still expected to show up? Why would he do this?I can't figure it out.I wish I had a way of contacting Devon to let him know that everything went to shit, but I don't have his number. I don't know where he's currently residing. I don't think I'll be seeing him anytime soon; tonight, maybe but not earlier. In the meantime, what do I do? I can't ask anyone's advice. My family is against me entirely. Theo probably thinks that our negotiations with Ash have come to an abrupt end, but she doesn't know half of it. I'm planning on killing him once and for all, I made a promise to myself that I would.For Damien.I h