Chapter 63
1161 Words
Chapter 63
ANGELA’S POV
The car was quiet.
Not uncomfortable.
Just quiet.
Damian sat beside me, one arm resting against the door while he looked out the window.
I could feel him watching me every few seconds.
I ignored him.
Mostly because I knew exactly what was coming.
“You're angry with me.”
I kept my eyes on the road.
“No.”
“You're lying.”
I sighed.
“I'm not angry.”
He turned toward me.
“Then why haven't you looked at me since we left?”
“Because you're staring.”
“I've been staring at you for months.”
I finally looked at him.
“That isn't helping your argument.”
A small smile appeared on his face.
Then it disappeared.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
I knew exactly what he meant.
“I wanted to handle it myself.”
“You did.”
“Then what's the problem?”
“The problem is that you didn't tell me you were going to meet the people who publicly humiliated you.”
“They're lawyers, Damian.”
“They represent the people who humiliated you.”
I folded my arms.
“And I had my lawyer with me.”
“I know.”
“Then?”
He was silent for a moment.
“I don't like being the last person to know when something concerns you.”
I looked at him.
There it was.
Not anger.
Something else.
Possessiveness.
He didn't want to control what I did.
He wanted to be included.
“I wasn't trying to shut you out.”
“It felt like it.”
I looked down at my hands.
“I needed to know I could do something without you.”
His expression changed.
“Why?”
“Because everyone keeps acting like I'm only standing because you're standing behind me.”
He didn't answer.
I continued.
“They say I'm with you because of your money. Because of your influence. Because I need you.”
My voice became quieter.
“And sometimes I wonder if they're right.”
Damian's jaw tightened.
“Angela.”
“I know you don't think that.”
“No. I don't.”
“But I need to know it too.”
He reached for my hand.
I hesitated before letting him take it.
His thumb moved slowly across my knuckles.
“You don't have to prove your worth to me.”
“I know.”
“But you wanted to prove it to yourself.”
I nodded.
He gave my hand a gentle squeeze.
“Then I'm proud of you.”
I looked at him.
“You're not angry anymore?”
“Oh, I'm still angry.”
I frowned.
“Why?”
“Because you scared me.”
I blinked.
“I didn't know I scared you.”
“You disappearing into a legal battle without telling me scared me.”
I almost smiled.
“I wasn't disappearing.”
“You know what I mean.”
I did.
For some reason, hearing that made something warm settle in my chest.
He cared.
Not because I was his girlfriend.
Not because he wanted to own every part of my life.
Because I mattered to him.
That thought scared me more than I wanted to admit.
The car stopped outside my apartment.
Damian didn't let go of my hand immediately.
“There's something else.”
“What?”
He looked at me carefully.
“Those messages.”
My smile disappeared.
“You saw them?”
“Yes.”
“I wasn't going to reply.”
“I know.”
“I didn't tell them anything.”
“I know that too.”
“Then what?”
His eyes hardened.
“I want to know who is sending them.”
I looked away.
“Damian—”
“I'm not asking you to hand me your phone.”
“Good.”
“But if they continue, tell me.”
I nodded.
“I will.”
He leaned closer.
“And Angela?”
“Yes?”
“Don't let people convince you that you're helpless without me.”
I stared at him.
“You're allowed to need me.”
My heart skipped.
“But needing me doesn't make you weak.”
I swallowed.
“And if one day you don't need me?”
He smiled faintly.
“Then I'll make myself useful.”
I laughed.
“You're ridiculous.”
“Probably.”
He leaned back.
“But I'm serious.”
I looked at him for a long moment.
I still didn't know if I loved him.
That truth hadn't changed.
But I was beginning to understand something else.
Love wasn't the only reason someone could become important.
Damian had become important to me long before I had figured out what to call it.
I opened the car door.
“Goodnight.”
“That's it?”
I turned.
“What?”
“No kiss?”
I rolled my eyes.
“You're impossible.”
“I've been told.”
I leaned down and kissed his cheek.
He caught my wrist before I could pull away.
“That was not a kiss.”
“It was.”
“That's an insult.”
I laughed.
“Goodnight, Damian.”
He released my wrist.
“Goodnight, trouble.”
I stepped out of the car.
I had barely reached my apartment door when my phone rang.
Benedicta.
I answered.
“What's wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong.”
“Then why are you calling me at this time?”
“I have information.”
I unlocked my door.
“What kind?”
“The media case.”
I stopped.
“What about it?”
“Someone is trying to make sure you lose.”
My stomach tightened.
“Who?”
“I don't know yet.”
I closed the door behind me.
“Benedicta.”
“Listen to me. One of the media houses suddenly changed lawyers.”
“So?”
“So the new lawyer is extremely connected.”
I frowned.
“How connected?”
There was silence on the other end.
Then Benedicta spoke.
“Connected enough that my family knows exactly who he is.”
I sat down slowly.
“Who?”
“He doesn't usually take cases like this.”
“Why?”
“Because he doesn't need to.”
I waited.
“Angela,” Benedicta said quietly, “someone powerful is backing them.”
My grip tightened around the phone.
“Do you know who?”
“No.”
A pause.
“But I'm going to find out.”
I stared at the dark window.
The case was supposed to be about lies written about me.
It was supposed to be about my name.
My reputation.
My right to defend myself.
But suddenly, it felt like something bigger had just stepped into the room.
And this time, I had a feeling it wasn't going to be easy to fight.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD