Dinner With the Enemy
775 Words
The rain fell in heavy sheets.
No one spoke.
Damien's question lingered in the air.
"Would you do me the honor... of having dinner with me tonight?"
Isabella stared at him.
Was he serious?
This was the man who had admitted he was Adrian Knight's greatest rival.
Why would someone like him invite a complete stranger to dinner?
Before she could answer—
"She isn't going anywhere."
Adrian stepped forward.
His voice carried an authority that had once ruled Isabella's world.
Damien raised an eyebrow.
"Really?"
"You divorced her less than an hour ago."
"You no longer decide where she goes."
Adrian ignored him.
His eyes remained fixed on Isabella.
"Get in my car."
Isabella looked at him quietly.
"For what?"
Adrian frowned.
"We need to talk."
She almost laughed.
"Three years."
"You had three years to talk to me."
"You chose silence."
"Now..."
She shook her head.
"I have nothing left to hear."
Adrian's chest tightened.
For the first time...
He couldn't find the right words.
Sophia slipped her hand through his arm.
"Adrian."
"Why are you wasting time on her?"
"She's just your ex-wife."
The words echoed in the rain.
Ex-wife.
It should have sounded freeing.
Instead...
It felt like someone had carved the words into Adrian's heart.
Damien opened the rear door of his Rolls-Royce.
He didn't rush her.
He simply waited.
"The invitation still stands."
"You can say no."
"But don't let anyone else answer for you."
Isabella looked from Adrian...
To Damien...
Then back again.
For years...
Every decision she made had revolved around Adrian.
What he wanted.
What he needed.
What he allowed.
Not anymore.
She took a deep breath.
Then walked toward Damien's car.
Adrian's face darkened.
"Isabella."
She paused.
Without turning around.
"What?"
His voice softened.
So softly...
Even he didn't recognize it.
"Don't go."
Those two words stunned everyone.
Sophia stared at him in disbelief.
Damien's eyes narrowed.
Isabella slowly turned around.
Rain streamed down her face.
"Why?"
Adrian opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
He didn't know.
He couldn't explain it.
He only knew that watching her leave with another man...
Felt unbearable.
Isabella smiled sadly.
"You see?"
"You don't even know why you're asking me to stay."
She climbed into Damien's car.
The door closed.
With a quiet click...
Three years came to an end.
The Rolls-Royce pulled away.
Adrian stood frozen.
His gaze followed the taillights until they disappeared into the rain.
Sophia tugged gently on his sleeve.
"They're gone."
"Let's go home."
Home.
The word suddenly felt empty.
...
Inside the Rolls-Royce...
Silence filled the luxurious cabin.
Neither of them spoke for several minutes.
Finally...
Isabella broke the silence.
"Why me?"
Damien didn't look away from the road.
"I've spent seven years competing with Adrian Knight."
"I know every weakness he has."
She frowned.
"And?"
"I thought I did."
His lips curved into a faint smile.
"But today..."
"I discovered the one weakness he never knew he had."
Isabella lowered her gaze.
"I'm not anyone's weapon."
"I know."
Damien's answer came immediately.
"And I have no intention of treating you like one."
He reached into the built-in cabinet and handed her a neatly folded towel.
"You'll catch a fever."
She accepted it.
"Thank you."
It was such a small gesture.
Yet in three years of marriage...
Adrian had never once noticed she hated being cold.
Damien noticed within minutes.
She quickly pushed the thought away.
She refused to compare them.
Not anymore.
The car stopped in front of an elegant riverside restaurant.
Damien stepped out first.
Before Isabella could open her door...
He was already there.
He held an umbrella over her.
Shielding her from the rain.
Just then...
A chorus of gasps erupted.
"Oh my God..."
"Isn't that Damien Black?"
"Who's the woman with him?"
"He's holding the umbrella for her himself!"
Phones appeared in every direction.
Camera flashes lit up the night.
Click!
Click!
Click!
Damien didn't react.
Instead...
He gently placed one hand at the small of Isabella's back.
"Stay close."
Across the street...
A black Bentley had just stopped at a red light.
Inside...
Adrian looked up.
His eyes landed on the restaurant entrance.
Then...
He saw it.
Damien protecting Isabella beneath the umbrella.
The photographers surrounding them.
And Isabella...
Looking at Damien with an expression Adrian had never seen before.
Not love.
Not yet.
But trust.
Adrian's breathing stopped.
His driver looked into the rearview mirror.
"Mr. Knight..."
Adrian's voice was frighteningly calm.
"Turn the car around."
The driver hesitated.
"Sir?"
"I said..."
"Turn."
"The."
"Car."
Because for the first time in three years...
Adrian Knight was about to chase after the woman he had thrown away.
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