CHAPTER SIXTEEN
1234 Words
The next morning felt different.
For the first time since Amelia had married Damian, she woke up without wondering what new disaster was waiting for her.
There were no secret documents to uncover.
No accusations.
No family feud hanging over breakfast.
Just sunlight coming through the curtains and the sound of Damian moving around downstairs.
She smiled to herself.
Then she remembered something.
Their date.
She got out of bed and walked downstairs.
Damian was standing in the kitchen, trying to make breakfast.
Trying.
Amelia stopped at the doorway.
“What exactly are you doing?”
He looked over his shoulder.
“Breakfast.”
She stared at the pan.
Then at him.
“Are you sure?”
He frowned.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You don’t look like someone who knows what he’s doing.”
“I can cook.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
She walked closer and looked into the pan.
“What is that?”
“Eggs.”
“Those are eggs?”
Damian laughed.
“You’re very difficult to impress.”
She picked up a spoon.
“Move.”
“No.”
“Damian.”
“I said I can cook.”
Amelia folded her arms.
“Fine. Continue.”
He turned back to the pan.
Thirty seconds later, smoke began rising.
Amelia burst out laughing.
“Okay! Move!”
Damian reluctantly stepped aside.
“You’re enjoying this.”
“Very much.”
She took over the pan.
He stood beside her, watching.
“You’re laughing at me.”
“Yes.”
“I’ll remember this.”
“You should.”
He smiled.
For the first time, the kitchen didn’t feel like a place where two people were forced to live together.
It felt like home.
Later that afternoon, Amelia stood in front of her wardrobe.
She had changed outfits three times.
She finally walked downstairs wearing a simple but elegant dress.
Damian was waiting in the living room.
He looked at her.
And forgot what he was about to say.
Amelia noticed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
She smiled.
“You were staring.”
“I was.”
She laughed.
“Let’s go.”
He opened the door for her.
“After you.”
She walked past him.
“Very gentlemanly.”
“I’ve been practicing.”
Their date was simple.
No expensive restaurant.
No photographers.
No business conversations.
Just the two of them sitting at a quiet outdoor restaurant, talking about things that had nothing to do with their families.
Amelia discovered that Damian hated overly sweet drinks.
He discovered that she could spend thirty minutes choosing what dessert to order and still regret her choice afterward.
They laughed.
They teased each other.
And somewhere between lunch and dessert, Amelia realized something.
She was happy.
Genuinely happy.
She looked across the table at Damian.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Anything.”
“If you could go back twelve years, knowing everything you know now, would you still choose revenge?”
Damian thought for a moment.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because revenge took too much from me.”
He looked at her.
“And I don’t want to lose any more time.”
Her smile softened.
“You won’t.”
He reached across the table.
She placed her hand in his.
“I want to do this properly,” he said.
“What?”
“Us.”
She smiled.
“You’re already my husband.”
“I know.”
“But?”
“But I want you to choose me.”
Amelia squeezed his hand.
“I am choosing you.”
Damian smiled.
“Then we’re starting again.”
She nodded.
“Together.”
When they returned home that evening, Daniel was waiting.
He looked at their joined hands.
“Finally.”
Amelia laughed.
“What?”
“I’ve been waiting for both of you to stop pretending this isn’t happening.”
Damian rolled his eyes.
“Don’t start.”
Daniel stood.
“I actually came with good news.”
Damian’s expression became serious.
“What happened?”
“The legal team finished reviewing the company records.”
“And?”
“Victor’s fraud can be proven.”
Damian nodded.
“Good.”
“There is enough evidence to take him to court.”
Amelia smiled.
“So it’s finally over.”
Daniel shook his head.
“Not quite.”
Damian frowned.
“What’s left?”
“Victor has agreed to meet.”
“Why?”
“He wants a settlement.”
Damian laughed.
“He has nothing to negotiate.”
“He thinks he does.”
Amelia looked at Damian.
“What are you going to do?”
He thought for a moment.
“Meet him.”
Daniel nodded.
“I’ll come with you.”
“No.”
Daniel frowned.
“Why?”
“This is something I need to do myself.”
Amelia looked at him.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
She smiled.
“I trust you.”
Those three words meant more to Damian than she realized.
Because once upon a time, Amelia had been the last person he expected to trust him.
Now she was the person whose trust mattered most.
The meeting took place the next day.
Victor arrived first.
Damian entered alone.
Victor leaned back in his chair.
“You look different.”
Damian sat across from him.
“I feel different.”
Victor smiled.
“Your father would be proud.”
“Don’t mention my father.”
The smile disappeared.
Victor studied him.
“You finally learned what happened.”
“Yes.”
“And you still came.”
“I came to finish this.”
Victor leaned forward.
“You think you can take everything from me?”
“No.”
Damian placed a folder on the table.
“You took everything from my family twelve years ago.”
He pushed the folder toward Victor.
“Now you’re going to return it.”
Victor didn’t touch it.
“And if I refuse?”
“Then the evidence goes to the authorities.”
Victor’s face hardened.
“You’d destroy me?”
“No.”
Damian stood.
“You destroyed yourself.”
Victor stared at him.
“You’re making a mistake.”
Damian turned toward the door.
“No.”
He stopped.
“For twelve years, I made one mistake.”
Victor looked up.
“I believed you.”
Damian walked out.
This time, he didn’t look back.
Outside, Amelia was waiting.
Damian stopped when he saw her.
“What are you doing here?”
She smiled.
“I wanted to be here.”
“You didn’t have to.”
“I know.”
She walked toward him.
“I wanted to.”
Damian smiled.
He wrapped an arm around her.
“It’s over.”
She rested her head against his shoulder.
“Good.”
He kissed the top of her head.
“No more revenge.”
“No more revenge.”
“No more lies.”
“No more lies.”
She looked up at him.
“And maybe…”
“Maybe what?”
“We can finally have a normal marriage.”
Damian smiled.
“I don’t think there’s anything normal about us.”
She laughed.
“You’re right.”
He took her hand.
“But I’m okay with that.”
They walked toward the car together.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD