Chapter 13: Morning Light
346 Words
I woke to the quiet rhythm of Damien’s breathing beside me, his arm draped protectively across my waist. The early morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over his face.
For a moment, I simply watched him.
This man—once untouchable, now undone—was mine, in a way that mattered more than status or wealth ever could. He stirred slightly, his lashes fluttering before his eyes opened and landed on me.
A slow, sleepy smile curled his lips. “Hey.”
“Hey,” I whispered back, brushing my fingers along his cheek.
He kissed my forehead, then my belly. “Three heartbeats in one bed,” he murmured. “It feels unreal.”
“It’s real,” I said, laying my hand over his. “And it’s ours.”
The peace between us felt fragile but beautiful, like something blooming in winter.
We didn’t need to say more.
Because sometimes, the quiet is where love grows best.
The stillness didn’t last.
A few days later, a letter arrived—heavy paper, gold-trimmed edges, and the unmistakable seal of Damien’s former company.
He stared at it like it was a bomb.
“What is it?” I asked gently.
He swallowed hard. “A final offer. They want me to sign over the last of my shares… completely disappear.”
“And if you don’t?”
“They’ll go public. With everything. The scandal. The fall. Even… us.”
I reached for his hand. “Let them talk.”
His jaw tensed. “You don’t understand. They’ll come for you. For our child. My name may be ruined, but you’re still clean.”
“You think I care about that?” I said, voice rising. “You think I’m ashamed of you?”
He looked away, pain flickering in his eyes. “You should be.”
I stood up, heart pounding. “Don’t you dare decide what I should feel.”
The silence that followed was thick and bitter.
Love was never simple.
Especially when the past refused to stay buried.
- Writer
