BACK WITH OUR BILLIONAIRE DADDY

Elena knew that handbag. That was the first thing that frightened her. She stood inside Damien's apartment, staring at the cream leather bag sitting on his sofa. Serena's bag. Elena knew because she had been there when her sister bought it. For a few seconds, she tried to convince herself there was nothing strange about Serena being here. they were all friends. Maybe Damien had asked her to help with something. Maybe Serena had stopped by. Maybe— A woman's laugh came from the bedroom. Elena went completely still. She knew that laugh too. "Serena?" Silence. The small gift bag in Elena's hand suddenly felt too heavy. She had come to surprise Damien. Their anniversary was a few days away, and she'd bought him the watch he had been admiring for months. Now she couldn't remember why she'd thought surprising him was a good idea. "Damien?" Movement came from the bedroom. A moment later, the door opened. Damien stepped into the hallway. Shirtless. His trousers weren't even properly buttoned. Elena's fingers tightened around the gift bag. Damien stopped when he saw her. "Elena." She looked past him. "Where is Serena?" He rubbed a hand over his face. "Listen to me." "Where is my sister?" "Elena, just—" "Where is she?" Serena appeared behind him. Barefoot. Messy hair. Wearing Damien's white shirt. Elena forgot how to breathe. She knew that shirt too. She had ironed it for him last week. Of all the things she could have noticed, that was what stayed in her head. I ironed that shirt.she thought to herself. "Elena," Serena whispered. The gift bag slipped from Elena's hand. It landed on the floor between them. Nobody moved. Elena looked at her sister. "Take it off." Serena blinked. "What?" "His shirt." "Elena, please." Serena pleaded "Take his shirt off." Damien stepped forward. "You're upset." Elena turned slowly toward him. "Upset?" "I didn't mean—" "You came out of your bedroom half naked, and my sister is wearing your clothes. What exactly would you prefer me to be?, livid?" "Can we sit down and talk?" "No." "Elena—" "How long?" Damien went quiet. Elena looked at Serena. "How long have you been sleeping with him?" Serena's face crumpled. "Please don't do this." "Do what? Ask questions?" "I'm sorry." "How long?" Serena glanced at Damien. That tiny look between them hurt almost as much as everything else. "Don't look at him," Elena said. "Look at me." Serena slowly raised her eyes. "Four months." Elena stared at her. "What?" "I'm sorry." "Four months?" Serena nodded. Elena looked at Damien. "Is she telling the truth?" "Yes." One word. Three years together, and he reduced the destruction of their relationship to one word. Elena turned back to her sister. Four months. She started counting backward without meaning to. Serena had gone wedding dress shopping with her two months ago. She had stood beside Elena while their mother cried over the dress. She had adjusted the train. Told Elena she looked beautiful. All while sleeping with Damien. "You came dress shopping with me." Serena's eyes filled with tears. "Elena—" "You were already sleeping with him." "I'm sorry." "You helped me choose my wedding dress while you were sleeping with my fiancé." "I didn't know what to do." Elena gave a short, bitter laugh. "You could have stopped." Serena looked down. "You could have told me." "I was scared." "Of what?" "Of losing you." Elena stared at her. That almost made her laugh again. "That's what you were afraid of?" Serena began crying. Elena felt nothing at the sight of it. Normally, seeing her sister cry would have softened her immediately. Tonight, it only made her angrier. "Was it once?" Neither answered. Elena looked between them. "Was it one stupid mistake?" Serena wiped her face. "No." "How many times?" "I don't know." Elena's stomach turned. "You don't know?" "It wasn't like that." "Then what was it like?" "Elena," Damien said, "knowing every detail isn't going to help you." She faced him. "I wasn't asking what would help me." He sighed. Actually sighed. As though this conversation was exhausting him. Elena couldn't believe it. "You've been lying to me for four months." "I know." "And you came home to me afterward." Damien said nothing. "Did you kiss me after sleeping with her?" His jaw tightened. "Elena." "Did you?" "Yes." The answer nearly broke her. Elena looked away before either of them could see how badly. Her engagement ring suddenly felt too tight around her finger. "You two weren't making a mistake," she said quietly. Serena frowned. "What?" "A mistake happens once." Elena looked at her. "Four months isn't a mistake." Serena's lips trembled. Elena turned to Damien. "This was a relationship." "It wasn't." "Then what was it?" Damien looked at Serena, then back at Elena. Something in his expression changed. Not guilt. Frustration. Elena saw it immediately. "What?" Damien shook his head. "Nothing." "No. Say it." "You're angry." "Of course I'm angry." "And you're not going to listen to anything I say right now." "Try me." Serena stepped forward. "Damien, don't." Elena looked at her. "Don't what?" Serena went silent. Elena's gaze returned to Damien. He folded his arms. "You want the truth?" "Yes." "All of it?" "Yes." Damien stared at her for a long moment. Then he said the one thing Elena hadn't expected. "You weren't completely innocent in what happened either."