Chapter 53
640 Words
CHAPTER 53
ANGELA
For a few seconds, neither of us spoke.
Damian was still holding my hand.
His eyes stayed on mine, as though he was trying to understand everything I wasn't saying.
Then he looked toward the papers on the table.
“Tell me something.”
“What?”
“Have you shown these to anyone else?”
I hesitated.
“Benedicta.”
He nodded slowly.
“Anyone else?”
“No.”
“Good.”
I frowned.
“Why?”
“Because I don't want these getting into the wrong hands before I know exactly what we're dealing with.”
I nodded.
He picked up the papers again.
“Do you recognize any of these names?”
I looked at the documents.
“No.”
“Any of the account numbers?”
“No.”
“The emails?”
“I've seen some of them before, but they're not written the way I would write them.”
He studied the pages.
“Someone went to a lot of trouble.”
“I know.”
“They wanted you to look guilty.”
I wrapped my arms around myself.
“That's what scares me.”
He immediately looked at me.
“You said you weren't afraid.”
“I said I was scared of what would happen if they released these.”
His expression softened.
“You don't have to hide that from me.”
I looked away.
“I don't like being afraid.”
“Nobody does.”
“I've always handled things myself.”
“I know.”
“And now…”
I stopped.
“Now what?”
“Now I have you.”
His eyes stayed on me.
I swallowed.
“And I don't know how to feel about that.”
He moved closer.
“You don't have to figure it out tonight.”
I looked up at him.
“You make everything sound easy.”
“It isn't easy.”
“Then why do you sound so sure?”
“Because I'm not going to let fear make your decisions for you.”
My chest tightened.
“What if I make the wrong decision?”
“Then we'll deal with it.”
“We?”
“Yes.”
That single word made me look away again.
He gently turned my face back toward him.
“Angela.”
“Hmm?”
“You don't have to carry everything alone anymore.”
I nodded.
But the guilt returned almost immediately.
Because he meant every word.
And I still hadn't told him the whole truth.
He released my face and glanced toward the clock.
“Have you eaten?”
I shook my head.
He frowned.
“Why not?”
“I wasn't hungry.”
“That's not an answer.”
I gave him a small smile.
“You're starting already.”
“Starting what?”
“Acting like my boyfriend.”
He smiled.
“I am your boyfriend.”
The smile disappeared from my face.
Not because I didn't like hearing it.
Because I wasn't sure I deserved it.
Damian noticed.
His expression became serious.
“What's wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Angela.”
I forced myself to meet his eyes.
“I'm just tired.”
He watched me for another moment before nodding.
“Then eat something and sleep.”
“You're not staying?”
He raised an eyebrow.
“Do you want me to?”
I immediately looked away.
“I didn't say that.”
“But you asked.”
“I was just asking.”
He smiled slightly.
“I'll stay for a little while.”
I nodded.
We moved toward the kitchen together.
And for the first time since the threat began, I wasn't completely alone with my thoughts.
But even with Damian beside me...
The secret still sat heavily inside my chest.
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