Chapter 17
899 Words
*Late Morning*
Elena's POV
Elena stood in the garden near the fountain, trying to focus on the open book in her lap. But her mind wasn’t in the pages. It was in the way Damian had kissed the side of her head before leaving that morning. He hadn’t said where he was going. She just knew he had a meeting.
But what does it mean, why did he kiss her? Was it part of the contract?
She tried not to overthink it but ever since the gala and the scandal that followed, everything had changed slightly.
Damian had stayed with her a little longer every night, and had made it a point to make every rumor real. He had taken her shopping every once in a while with the media always around.
He didn't make any public clarification, no interviews or engagement announcement.
Elena ran her thumb over the corner of the book. She wasn't disappointed, she was scared that maybe this, whatever it was between them, had an expiration date.
That she was the only one feeling it shift into something real.
A sharp laugh drew her attention.
From the corridor behind the open balcony doors, she heard voices… one male, the other a female
She stilled.
“You should listen to me, Damian.” Vivian’s voice snapped. “You need to protect Blackwood's name and not let some evil woman by your side just because of custody rights and misplaced feelings..”
“This is not misplaced, Aunt. It’s a legal union.”
“A rushed one.”
“Still legal.”
“Until a judge calls it a fraud.”
Elena’s fingers curled tightly against the pages.
She didn’t mean to listen
“You don’t have to say it,” Vivian hissed. “But I know what this is, I have done some background check. She’s dying. This is your guilt playing savior but at what cost?”
A long pause.
Then Damian’s voice, quieter now. “Don’t you ever speak of her like that again.”
“You’re risking everything, Damian.”
“I’ll risk more before I let her be humiliated.”
Elena stood abruptly. The book fell from her lap. Her breath came in short puffs.
She turned from the garden, walking faster than she meant to, almost breaking into a run by the time she reached the stairs. She didn’t stop until she reached her bedroom.
She closed the door quietly behind her and locked it.
Damian's POV
Vivian had left abruptly. Her heels clicked down the marble hallway with the kind of finality that dared him to call her back, but Damian didn’t move.
His hand rested on the back of the chair, knuckles white.
He had kept calm longer than he thought possible. But the moment Vivian spoke Elena’s name with that tone, with that damn tone the switch had flipped. It always did when someone underestimated her.
He didn’t regret marrying her, not for a second.
Maybe he had made a mistake in not telling her enough of his family.
He checked the time. Emma was with Beatrice. Nolan had already informed him Elena hadn’t joined them for lunch.
A subtle twist of unease moved through his chest.
He went to the east wing.
Her door was closed.
He raised his hand to knock, paused…then knocked anyway, twice.
Silence.
He waited.
Then her voice, muffled. “I’m resting.”
“Elena,” he said softly. “Can I come in?”
A longer silence this time.
Then the click of the lock.
She didn’t look at him when she opened the door. Her eyes were swollen
He stepped inside and closed the door behind him.
She returned to the armchair beside the window and sat down without saying a word.
He stood a few feet away while watching her.
“Elena,” he said. “Did something happen?”
“No.”
He exhaled slowly. “Please don’t shut me out.”
“I’m not shutting you out,” she said quietly. “I’m just trying to understand what I am in this story.”
He narrowed his eyes
“I heard you and Vivian,” she added, barely above a whisper.
Damian closed his eyes for a second. Regret hit him like a whip.
“I didn’t want you to hear that.”
“But it was the truth, wasn’t it?”
“No,” he said firmly, crossing the room in two long strides. He crouched beside her chair, forcing her eyes to meet his. “She doesn’t speak for me.”
Elena didn’t flinch. “Do you regret it?”
“Marrying you?”
She nodded.
He reached for her hand slowly
“Elena,” he said again. “This isn’t about guilt or image. I know I didn’t make it clear before, but I’m not here because I pity you. We did get married for the benefits that comes with it”
A long silence passed between them.
“I needed to know.”
Damian exhaled, relief rippling through him like a storm breaking.
*Later That Day*
Emma's POV
Emma peeked around the corner.
She had come to show Elena her new book, one about stars and how they were born but she stopped when she saw them.
Elena and Damian.
She smiled.
Then turned and tiptoed away.
She didn’t want to interrupt the moment
- Writer
