Semua Bab The chef and The charmer: Bab 61 - Bab 64

Damien povI couldn’t sleep that night. Not with the sound of her voice echoing in my head—quiet, shaking, broken.“Go away, Damien.”I knew I’d screwed up the moment she slammed the bedroom door in my face.The sound echoed through the penthouse like a final sentence, and I stood there—palm against the wood—feeling like the world had tilted sideways. I’d accused her of orchestrating some elaborate scheme, dragging me into this mess just to escape her past. I even brought up Eric, that smug bastard from the fintech forum.God, what had I been thinking?I ran both hands through my hair, pacing the hallway like a man without a plan. I had to fix this. I wanted to fix this. But I couldn’t bulldoze my way in—I had to earn back her trust one small step at a time.And so I did. I walked away like she asked, but every cell in my body screamed at me to turn around. To pound on the door again. To make her listen. To explain.But she didn’t want explanations. She wanted space.I sat on the couc

The kitchen was unusually quiet. Even the familiar hum of the refrigerator sounded louder than usual, filling the silence left behind by the conversations I didn’t want to have. I stood at the marble counter, carefully arranging the last of the mini pastries I’d baked for the catering contract Damien had helped me land.The client had been thrilled—effusive with praise and delighted by the presentation. She’d even mentioned wanting to recommend me to a few corporate clients. On any other day, I’d have been ecstatic. I should have been celebrating. But instead, a hollow ache curled itself around my ribs, tugging with every breath.I tried not to let it show. I busied myself by fixing a ribbon around one of the platters, smoothing out the creases like it was the only thing that needed fixing.Since that night, since the argument that left me emotionally shredded, Damien had been… different. Not cold exactly. Just restrained. His usual warmth, the sly glint in his eyes, the playful touch