Chapter 53

Alison

I shut the door behind me, my hands trembling as tears spilled down my face.

This was the second time Aiden had hurt me so deeply. The first time had been the night he accused me of cheating on him—a night that still haunted me.

I pressed my back against the door, sliding down until I was sitting on the cold floor, my knees pulled to my chest.

I tried to fight the tears, but they kept coming, relentless, like a flood I couldn’t control.

My emotions swung violently between pain and anger, my mind struggling to process everything. It was too much. My heart felt like it was being crushed under the weight of it all.

Tilting my head back, I stared at the ceiling, whispering to myself.

‘Here I was, believing I had failed my father by leaving Damien, but I had already failed him the moment I agreed to Aiden’s plan—the moment I allowed myself to be tangled in his web of deceit.’

A bitter laugh escaped me. Who was to say Aiden and his father hadn’t lied about my father’s dying wish?

They were the kind of men who thrived on manipulation. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. Maybe my father had never wanted me to marry Aiden. Maybe I had been nothing more than a pawn in their twisted game.

The thought sickened me.

I stayed locked in my room, lost in my own despair. Eventually, I grew tired, and I fell into a restless sleep.

***

When I woke up, the room was very silent, but the storm in my head wasn’t. My stomach rumbled in protest, but I ignored it. I didn’t have the energy to move.

Time passed and I remained in the same position. In the afternoon, a knock sounded at the door.

I didn’t answer.

“Alison,” a familiar voice called from the other side. It was Damien.

I closed my eyes, acting like he could see me.

“You can’t stay in there forever,” he said, in a soft voice and I was surprised he came looking for me.

“I know this is hard, but don’t be too hard on yourself.” He added.

I bit my lip, refusing to respond.

A long pause. Then I heard him say, “I left food by the door. If you’re hungry.”

I listened as his footsteps faded down the hall.

For a while, I just sat there. My heart felt raw, my mind tangled in too many emotions to sort through.

But the gnawing hunger eventually won, and I stood, hesitantly opening the door just enough to grab the tray of food he had left.

I ate in silence, each bite feeling like a battle.

By the time evening arrived Damien was back.

“Alison,” he said, knocking again. “Let me in.”

I remained silent.

I heard a rustling sound like he had slid down to sit on the other side of the door.

Then, after a pause, he spoke again. “I miss you.” His voice was softer this time. “I’m sorry for the way I acted the other day.”

I swallowed hard, my hands balling into fists.

“I didn’t mean to—” He hesitated. “I didn’t mean to try and kill you. But when I found out you were a spy… and worse, that you were married to Aiden, I lost it.”

His voice was filled with frustration, but beneath it, there was something else—pain.

“I hated Aiden,” he admitted. “I still do. And anyone associated with him…” He trailed off before letting out a bitter chuckle. “You know, he still wants me dead. He’s made several attempts after his first failure.”

My eyes widened at his words.

Then he added, “Just thinking about Aiden’s plan makes me realize Aiden is an idiot. If I were him, I would never send my beautiful wife into another man’s home. I would’ve hired a stranger.”

I closed my eyes, pressing my forehead against the wooden door.

“If I were him,” Damien continued, his voice lowering, “I would cherish you, Alison.”

My breath faltered.

“You weren’t supposed to face everything I put you through and I’m sorry you did.”

“Right now, I feel I’m just spitting nonsense but I do mean my apologies. I’m so sorry Alison.”

His words struck a painful chord in my chest. I lifted a trembling hand, pressing my palm flat against the door. I had a feeling Damien was doing the same on the other side.

My fingers traced the wood, imagining it was his chest, just like all those nights we had spent tangled in each other.

“When I found out who you really were,” Damien whispered, “I was angry. I couldn’t believe the woman I loved… wasn’t mine. That she had betrayed me.”

Guilt twisted deep in my stomach.

“But even then, Alison,” he murmured, “you still make me feel things no other woman ever has.”

A shaky breath escaped me.

“I’m a bad person, Damien,” I whispered, in a low tone.

“No, you’re not.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “I’m not worthy of love. Not yours. Not my father’s. I was working with the enemy, and I didn’t even know it.”

Damien exhaled sharply. “Don’t do that. Don’t blame yourself for this.”

I bit down on my lip.

“You didn’t know that Aiden was lying,” he said firmly. “And if you had, I know you, Alison—you would have killed him yourself.”

I didn’t say anything, and at first, there was nothing but silence.

Then, softly I heard Damien speak up, “Open the door.”

I hesitated.

“I want to comfort you,” he said. “I want to hold you close. I want to look into your eyes and tell you none of this is your fault.”

Tears burned behind my eyes.

I reached for the handle, my fingers trembling against the cool metal.

But at the last second… I stopped.

I couldn’t.

Not now. Not with everything I had done.

Slowly, I pulled my hand away and turned from the door, pressing my fists to my chest to keep my heart from shattering.

A deep growl rumbled from the other side of the door, but when he spoke again, his voice was gentle.

“I’ll wait for you, Alison.”

A shiver ran down my spine.

“Until you’re ready,” he promised. “I’ll be here. Never leaving your side.”

Tears spilled down my cheeks as I slid down to the floor once more, pressing my forehead against the door, aching for him—aching for the love we had lost.