Chapter 45

Alison

The air was filled with tension as I held the phone tightly against my ear, listening to Aiden’s voice on the other end.

“How’s Damien’s condition?” he asked.

I hesitated. “He’s… recovering.”

Aiden exhaled. “So, he’s alive.”

I frowned. “You were behind the attack, weren’t you?”

A slow, cruel chuckle echoed through the line. “Of course, I was.”

I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry.

“Damien’s about to meet his end, Alison,” Aiden continued. “He’s outlived his usefulness, and soon, he’ll be nothing but a memory.”

Something twisted in my gut. The certainty in his voice, the complete lack of hesitation—it made my stomach churn.

“Right,” I murmured. But deep down, I felt otherwise. I didn’t want anything to happen to Damien. But I knew I couldn’t tell Aiden that.

The sound of Aiden sighing pulled me out of my haze.

“Is something wrong?” I asked.

“Nothing, it’s just that. I Can’t wait for you to be back, finally.”

I felt my heart stop as I took in his words.

“So I can have my wife in my arms again.” He added.

Those words made my blood run cold.

His wife.

I wasn’t his wife. Not anymore. Not after everything I had done.

Not after Damien.

My pulse pounded in my ears as guilt wrapped around my throat like a noose.

“And I know your father would be proud of you,” Aiden continued speaking. “For seeking justice. For doing what’s right.”

I felt sick.

I didn’t deserve his praise. I had abandoned my mission. I had given in to my desires. I had betrayed Aiden, my father, everything I was supposed to stand for.

“Alison?”

I blinked, realizing Aiden was waiting for a response.

“I…” My voice cracked. “Yeah. I hope so.”

There was a brief pause.

“I need you to find out if Damien’s planning to retaliate,” Aiden said, his tone sharpening. “We have to stay two steps ahead.”

I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me.

“Goodnight, Alison,” he murmured before ending the call.

I stood frozen in the hallway, my phone still pressed to my ear, even as the screen went dark.

I felt dirty.

The weight of my actions had finally settled on my chest, suffocating me.

I had betrayed Aiden. I had betrayed my father.

And the worst part?

I wasn’t sure I regretted it.

My fingers trembled as I tucked my phone away and turned back toward the room.

When I stepped inside, the dim light of the lamp cast a soft glow over Damien’s sleeping figure. He looked peaceful, despite the bruises marring his face, and the cuts across his skin.

My heart clenched.

I needed to pull away.

I needed to remember why I was here.

But as I stood there, watching the steady rise and fall of his chest, I knew—deep down—I wouldn’t.

***

The next morning, I woke to the feeling of warm lips trailing down my shoulder.

A soft sigh escaped me before I even opened my eyes.

“Morning,” Damien murmured against my skin.

I turned my head slightly to find his face hovering inches from mine, his dark eyes still heavy with sleep but filled with something deeper—something I didn’t want to name.

“You’re injured,” I reminded him, but my voice was weak, betraying me.

His lips quirked into a smirk. “That won’t stop me.”

I should have pushed him away. I should have resisted.

Instead, I let him kiss me.

Because resisting Damien was impossible.

Later that evening, we stood on the terrace, the evening breeze brushing against my skin as I leaned against the railing. The lamplight twinkled in the distance, but I barely noticed them. My mind was too consumed by Damien.

He stood beside me, his fingers tracing lazy circles over my hand. Time seemed to stand still during that moment.

I guess that is always what happens when I am with Damien.

The whole world always seem to fade into a distance and it felt like we were the only one visible.

I wished I had met Damien differently.

I wished he wasn’t tied to my life.

Maybe things could have been different, and I wouldn’t have to carry this guilt around.

I felt like I was at a crossroads and there was nothing I could do.

Or atleast I pretended there wasn’t. I guess that was the only way. I could not stop myself from thinking about the mess I had made and the actions I had taken.

I sighed. I didn’t know Damien heard me. The feeling of his hands brushing against my cheek snapped me out of my thoughts.

“Are you okay?” He asked in a low tone.

“If I tell you I wasn’t what would you do?” I asked with a teasing smile, although the smile wasn’t from my heart.

“I would hurt anyone who made you feel this way.” He told me, “I mean it.”

“When did you become so protective of me?” I asked Damien.

“I always have been.” He replied. “I just spent my time denying it.”

I was quiet then I spoke up. “You make me feel things I’ve never felt before.” I blurted out.

His gaze flicked to mine, then I noticed something unreadable passing through his eyes. “You’re not the only one.”

Before I could respond, a voice interrupted us.

“Damien!” It was Hugh, and he didn’t have a pleasant look on his face.

“What do you want?” Damien snapped.

“Something requires your attention.”

“And that something doesn’t have a name?” Damien asked.

Hugh was quiet his eyes traveled from Damien before landing on me. After flashing me a glare his gaze fell back on Damien.

“A parcel was delivered.”

“A Parcel?” Damien arched a brow, and Hugh nodded.

“The parcel was directed to you and I have a feeling that whatever is inside is important.”

Damien sighed, clearly reluctant to leave.

“Very important.” Hugh sighed and after Damien heard that. He turned to me, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “I’ll be back.”

I nodded, watching him walk away.

I had a feeling that something bad was about to happen.