Chapter 19 Damian
1423 Words
Some people chased power.
Others inherited it.
Damien had buried it, bled for it, protected it… and learned that none of it compared to the quiet happiness of seeing one particular bracelet wrapped around one particular wrist every single morning.
Two months.
It had been exactly two months since their anniversary.
Two months since Skylar had looked at him with tear-bright eyes and whispered an apology for forgetting.
Two months since Damien had slipped a tennis diamond bracelet onto his husband’s wrist while he slept.
Skylar had never taken it off.
Not once.
Damien noticed.
He always noticed.
Every breakfast, the diamonds caught the morning sunlight whenever Skylar reached for the coffee pot.
Every dinner, they glittered when he passed Damien another serving.
Every evening in his office, the bracelet flashed whenever Skylar turned another page of his recipe notebook.
He never removed it.
Not for work.
Not for baking.
Not even while kneading dough.
It shouldn’t have mattered.
It mattered more than Damien wanted to admit.
Because it wasn’t the bracelet.
It was what it meant.
He wears it…
Every single day.
A small smile appeared on Damien’s face before disappearing just as quickly.
His assistant cleared his throat from across the office.
“Sir?”
Damien looked up.
“The outfits for this evening have arrived from the tailor.”
Ah.
Tonight.
The annual Business Excellence Awards.
One of the biggest corporate events of the year.
Months ago, the organisers had informed him he would be receiving one of the night’s highest honours for expanding his companies internationally.
He hadn’t mentioned the award to Skylar.
Only that there was an important event.
He wanted Skylar to discover it himself.
It somehow felt… more special.
“You can have them delivered to the estate,” Damien instructed.
“Yes, sir.”
As his assistant walked away, Damien glanced at the clock.
Nearly lunchtime.
Without thinking, he reached for his phone.
He smiled before the call even connected.
“…Hello?”
Skylar’s soft voice came through the speaker.
The sound alone eased something inside Damien.
“Hello, Sky.”
There was gentle background noise.
The familiar clinking of dishes.
Someone laughing downstairs.
The distant hum of an espresso machine.
His café.
“Have you eaten?” Damien asked automatically.
“I was about to.”
“Liar.”
A tiny laugh escaped the other end.
“I was.”
“You weren’t.”
“…I wasn’t.”
Damien chuckled quietly.
“I knew it.”
“I’ve been busy.”
“You always say that.”
“I really have.”
“And whose fault is that?”
“…Mine.”
Another laugh.
A brighter one this time.
Damien leaned back in his chair, enjoying every second of it.
“I wanted to remind you.”
“The event?”
“Yes.”
“I remembered.”
“You did?”
“I even laid your tie out this morning.”
Damien blinked.
“You did?”
“Mhm.”
“I thought you might forget.”
“I didn’t.”
There was a tiny pause before Skylar spoke again.
“I’ll be ready.”
“I’ll come home early.”
“Drive safely.”
“You too.”
“…Damien?”
“Hm?”
“I hope you have a good day.”
For reasons Damien couldn’t explain…
Those simple words settled somewhere deep inside him.
“You too, Sky.”
The call ended.
His office suddenly felt much quieter.
Much emptier.
His assistant poked his head back inside.
“Sir?”
Damien looked up.
“You’ve been smiling for nearly three minutes.”
Damien’s expression instantly became blank.
“I have not.”
“…You have.”
“I think you’re imagining things.”
His assistant wisely decided not to argue.
⸻
By the time Damien arrived home that evening, the estate looked almost peaceful beneath the golden light of sunset.
He stepped inside.
“…Sky?”
No answer.
Marta appeared from the hallway with a knowing smile.
“Master Sky is upstairs.”
Damien thanked her before climbing the staircase.
Halfway up—
He stopped.
His bedroom door opened.
And Skylar stepped out.
For a brief moment…
Damien forgot how to breathe.
Skylar’s usually loose hair had been gathered neatly into a sleek knot at the back of his head, revealing the elegant line of his neck.
Without the curtain of long hair framing his face, every delicate feature stood out.
His soft brown eyes seemed brighter.
His pale skin almost glowed beneath the warm hallway lights.
The tailored cream suit hugged his slender frame perfectly.
Simple.
Elegant.
Timeless.
The bracelet still rested against his wrist.
Damien stared.
Skylar noticed.
“…Is something wrong?”
“No.”
“Then…?”
“You look beautiful.”
Skylar froze.
A faint pink colour spread across his cheeks.
“…Thank you.”
His voice was barely louder than a whisper.
Damien had seen kings.
Politicians.
Business magnates.
International celebrities.
None of them had ever left him speechless.
Skylar did.
Every single time.
⸻
The drive to the venue was unusually quiet.
Not uncomfortable.
Comfortable.
Skylar spent most of it looking out the window.
Occasionally pointing at buildings that had changed.
Talking about a bakery he’d passed a week earlier.
About a café that had started selling lavender pastries.
Damien listened.
He always listened.
He found himself smiling more than speaking.
⸻
The ballroom glittered beneath enormous crystal chandeliers.
Hundreds of guests filled the hall.
Executives.
Entrepreneurs.
Investors.
Media.
The moment Damien entered, conversations shifted.
Respect followed him like a shadow.
People greeted him.
Shook his hand.
Congratulated him in advance.
Yet Damien’s attention kept drifting elsewhere.
To the man walking quietly beside him.
Skylar greeted everyone politely.
Smiled gently.
Never once tried to outshine anyone.
Yet somehow…
He still became one of the most noticeable people in the room.
People naturally gravitated towards him.
Not because he demanded attention.
Because kindness always found its audience.
⸻
The ceremony began.
Award after award.
Speech after speech.
Skylar applauded every winner sincerely.
Then—
“Ladies and gentlemen…”
The presenter smiled brightly.
“Our next recipient has redefined modern business leadership through innovation, discipline and international expansion.”
A photograph appeared across the enormous screens.
Damien.
Skylar blinked.
Then another photograph.
Another achievement.
Another company.
Another project.
His eyes widened.
“…Damien…”
He hadn’t known.
Not really.
He knew Damien was successful.
He hadn’t realised…
Just how successful.
“The recipient of this year’s Lifetime Excellence in Global Enterprise Award…”
A pause.
“…Mr. Damien luarrant.”
The ballroom erupted into applause.
Damien stood.
Before walking towards the stage…
He glanced sideways.
Skylar was already looking at him.
There was no fear.
No uncertainty.
Only something warm.
Something bright.
Pride.
Pure, unmistakable pride.
It hit Damien harder than the applause ever could.
He accepted the award.
Gave a short, composed speech.
Thanked his team.
His late father.
His employees.
Then—
His eyes found Skylar again.
“And finally…”
His voice softened.
“I’d like to thank the person who reminded me that a house can become a home.”
The room fell silent.
“I’ve achieved many things in business.”
“But the greatest blessing waiting for me every evening…”
His gaze never left Skylar.
“…is my husband.”
The applause became even louder.
Skylar’s cheeks turned crimson.
He looked as though he wanted the floor to swallow him whole.
Damien smiled.
It was worth embarrassing him just a little.
⸻
The drive home felt different.
Lighter.
Skylar couldn’t seem to stop talking.
“I didn’t know.”
Damien glanced at him.
“Hm?”
“The companies.”
“The awards.”
“The magazines.”
“You never told me.”
“I didn’t think I needed to.”
Skylar shook his head.
“No…”
His voice carried genuine admiration.
“I’m really proud of you.”
Three simple words.
Damien tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
“…Thank you.”
Skylar smiled.
A real smile.
One that reached his eyes.
“I mean it.”
“I know.”
Silence settled again.
Comfortable.
Peaceful.
As the estate gates opened before them, Damien realised something.
For years…
Every award had ended with another empty mansion.
Another lonely celebration.
Another expensive bottle of whisky.
Tonight…
He was going home with the only person whose congratulations had ever truly mattered.
And somehow…
That made this award the most meaningful one he had ever received.
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