BY CONTRACT: His to own

Chapter25

The room had fallen into a rare, peaceful silence. Lily was finally asleep, her small breaths steady and even, the soft beeping of the machines a quiet lull in the background.

Ava turned to Damien, her voice low. “Come out. Let’s talk.”

Damien didn’t move at first. He stood with his arms crossed near the window, staring out with his usual impassive expression, but something in his jaw ticked. After a beat, he turned and followed her out of the room without a word.

Once they were in the corridor, Ava folded her arms across her chest. Her eyes searched his face, but it remained unreadable.

Ava stood silently by the window, watching the rhythmic rise and fall of Lily's chest as she slept. The room was dimly lit, the soft hum of medical equipment filling the silence. Damien leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his gaze fixed on the floor.

After a few moments, Ava turned to him. "Why were you at the hospital with Lily's doctor?"

Damien's eyes met hers, cold and unflinching. "I wasn't."

Ava's brow furrowed. "Lily said she saw you."

Damien didn’t flinch. He adjusted the cuff of his suit jacket with methodical precision, his features calm, cold, and practiced.

“She must be mistaken,” he said flatly. “Children confuse things all the time.”

Ava stepped closer, her eyes narrowing. “Don’t lie to me.”

“I’m not,” he said, voice clipped. “Maybe she saw someone who looks like me. She said it herself, tall, dark hair. That’s not exactly uncommon.”

“But she said she saw you. And she was so sure….”

“Let it go, Ava,” he cut in, tone firm, eyes steel. “It’s nothing to worry about.”

Ava folded her arms, her chest burning. “Every time I start to think I understand you, you remind me exactly why I shouldn’t trust you.”

Damien didn’t answer right away. He just looked at her, no softness, no apology. Then, he turned away like her words hadn’t hit their mark at all.

“I need to get to the company. There’s a meeting I can’t miss,” he said coolly. “I’ll be back to pick you up later.”

“Damien….”

“You don’t have to wait up,” he said, already heading for the door. “I’ll find you when it’s time.”

And just like that, he was gone.

Five hours later, the sun had set, casting a warm glow through the hospital windows. Lily was awake, her laughter filling the room as she and Ava played a card game on the bed.

"You're cheating!" Lily giggled, pointing at Ava.

"Me? Never!" Ava feigned innocence, sticking out her tongue.

Just then, the door creaked open. Damien entered, his presence commanding as always. One hand was hidden behind his back.

"Damien!" Lily exclaimed, her face lighting up.

He smirked. "Guess what I brought you."

"A puppy?" she guessed eagerly.

"No."

"A unicorn?"

He chuckled. "Close."

He revealed a beautifully crafted doll, its dress shimmering under the room's light.

Lily gasped. "She's beautiful!"

Damien handed it to her. "Thought you'd like her."

"Thank you!" She hugged the doll tightly.

Damien turned to Ava. "We need to talk."

She nodded, following him out into the hallway.

"The wedding," he began, his tone serious. "It's set for two weeks from Saturday."

Ava's eyes widened. "So soon?"

"We need to act now," he continued. "Start planning to stop it."

She nodded slowly, determination settling in her eyes.

Ava’s steps faltered as they stepped out of the hospital’s sterile halls into the cool evening air. The weight of Damien’s words pressed down on her like a physical force, but she forced herself to look up and meet his gaze. The steel in his eyes unsettled her, a reminder that beneath his cold exterior was a man driven by fierce control and purpose.

“Where exactly will Lily stay while all this… this plan is happening?” Ava asked cautiously, her voice quieter than usual. She needed to know. The thought of her little sister away from home, in someone else’s care, gnawed at her insides.

Damien didn’t hesitate. “I have an apartment not far from here. It’s secure. I’ll employ a babysitter, someone reliable, and discreet. She’ll stay with Lily, keep her safe, make sure she’s never alone.”

Ava’s brows knitted together. “You’re going to move her out? Away from me?”

His jaw tightened. “It’s temporary. She’ll have everything she needs, toys, books, outings to parks and playgrounds. I’ll make sure she has a normal life, as normal as possible given the circumstances.”

Ava looked at him sharply. “And you think that’s enough? Just send her away like some package to be stored until this… whatever this is, is over?”

Damien’s voice cut through the cold night air, clipped and firm. “You don’t have to like it. But it’s the safest option. Don’t waste your energy worrying about something you can’t control.”

Her chest tightened, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. “Should I not be worried about her?

For a long moment, silence stretched between them, heavy and unresolved. Ava’s mind raced, balancing her role as Lily’s sister, and her role as the trap to stop her ex’s wedding.

Finally, she nodded, voice softer now. “Alright. I’ll ask the doctor when Lily can be discharged. I’ll make sure she’s ready for this move.”

Damien gave a curt nod, then turned away. “Good. Time is not on our side.”

Ava stood rooted for a moment, watching his retreating figure, the cold resolve in his back. No matter how much she hated it no matter how much she hated him, she couldn’t deny it: Damien was getting a spot in her heart.