Chapter 48

Alison

I had made up my mind. I was going to confront Damien once again.

I hated this distance and the way he had shut me out so completely as if I meant nothing. Although, the way he had humiliated me in front of his men, still played on a loop in my mind.

But despite the pain, despite the anger, I needed answers.

I needed to understand why he was acting this way.

So, the next morning, I made my way to his study. The heavy wooden door was closed, and something in my gut told me it was locked. Still, I lifted my fist and knocked.

There was a moment of silence and followed by it was footsteps.

The door creaked open, but it wasn’t Damien who stood there.

It was Gemma.

She leaned against the frame, with a smug smile curving her lips. "What do you want?"

I swallowed the irritation rising in my throat. "I need to see Damien."

Gemma let out a short laugh. "Damien doesn’t want to see you."

My jaw clenched. "Let me pass, Gemma."

She tilted her head."I can’t do that."

“I don’t know why you wouldn’t listen. Damien doesn’t want to see you.” She added.

Something snapped inside me. "And who the hell gave you the right to speak for him?"

Before Gemma could respond, Damien’s voice rang out from inside the study, his tone as cold as ice.

"She has every right to speak for me.”

I paused as I heard his footsteps, A few seconds after then he appeared, standing just behind Gemma, with a firm gaze.

"Gemma is my woman," Damien said simply. "And she’s already spoken. You should listen."

His words stung like a slap. But I didn’t let him see that it did.

I remained in that same position and I refused to move. I came here for answers and I was going to get.

"Damien, why are you doing this?" I asked, my voice trembling.

He said nothing.

"Please," I whispered. "I just want to understand why you are pushing me away.”

Damien was silent and when he spoke his words broke me completely. "Gemma,” he called. “Shut the door."

Gemma smirked before slamming the door in my face.

I stood there, frozen, staring at the wood, my heart hammering painfully in my chest.

Tears burned my eyes, but I forced them back.

This wasn’t over.

I wasn’t going to give up.

No matter how much he tried to push me away, I would get the truth out of him.

Later that evening, I found my chance.

I was heading toward the garden, hoping for a moment of quiet, when I saw Damien standing alone on the terrace. The best part was Gemma was nowhere in sight.

My heart pounded. This was it.

I took a deep breath and walked toward him.

As if sensing me, he turned around, his expression immediately hardening.

"You don’t listen, do you?" he muttered.

I ignored his words. "I need answers, Damien."

His jaw ticked. "There’s nothing to talk about."

"Yes, there is!" I snapped. "I deserve to know why you have suddenly changed towards me. Why you’re shutting me out? What did I do to you, Damien?"

Damien exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "You did nothing.”

“That’s a lie!” I said. “Please just tell me.”

“Isn’t it obvious?" He met my gaze, his eyes empty. "I got what I wanted. And now, I don’t need you anymore."

His words shocked me.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "So… this was all a game to you?"

He shrugged. "Think of it as you like. But I’ve said all you need to hear."

I could feel cracks forming inside me, the weight of his words pressing down on my heart.

I searched his face, desperate, hoping for something—anything—to tell me that this wasn’t real. That he didn’t mean it.

But even when I found what I was looking for. I still didn’t relent. I was in love with him, and that made me act foolishly.

"Have you forgotten the time we spent together? The moments we shared? You can’t just—"

"Snap out of your fantasy, Alison." His voice was sharp. "It’s time for you to wake up and see the truth."

I took a step back, my breath catching in my throat.

Damien’s expression remained cold, lacking the warmth I had once known.

"I never actually wanted you," he said. "And I never will. It was all a façade."

I felt myself fall apart as the broken part of me, shattered once again.

I sucked in a sharp breath, my hands trembling at my sides.

This wasn’t happening.

This couldn’t be happening.

I forced myself to walk away before he could see the tears spilling down my face.

***

For days, I locked myself in my room. I didn’t eat. I didn’t speak. I barely moved.

I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, my body hollow, my mind replaying every cruel word Damien had said.

I had been used.

Everything—all of it—had been a lie.

And the worst part?

I had let myself believe it.

I had fallen for it.

The realization twisted inside me like a knife. How could I be so dumb? I should have just stuck to the mission.

I stupidly allowed myself to be swayed by my emotions.

During the days I stayed locked up in the room. Damien didn’t check on me. It was at that moment, that the love I felt for him seemed to reduce and was replaced with anger.

After days had passed Damien finally decided to show up.

The door creaked open, and for the first time in days, I forced myself to sit up.

Damien stood in the doorway, his face unreadable.

"You have a mission to go to," he said flatly.

I stared at him.

That was it? No concern? No remorse? Just orders?

I sighed. I shouldn’t be expecting much for me. He doesn’t love me.

I forced myself to my feet, my body was weak, and my head was light from the lack of food. But I didn’t care.

I wouldn’t let him see me broken.

I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. "Fine," I said coldly.

If he wanted to treat me like I was nothing?

Then I would show him I could be just that.

Nothing.

And for the first time since this nightmare began…

I felt nothing too.