Chapter 102
Irene’s POV
A heavy silence reigned between the both of us as we stood staring at each other. It was thick with words that were yet unspoken and deep pain that was yet unresolved, sticking out like a sore thumb.
Our locked gazes were heated and tense, with both of us standing still, unsure of what to say to each other, not knowing what the other wanted to hear in this situation.
His presence was domineering.
“Irene,” he said to me in a soft tone that was filled with hesitation and a certain remorse, one that broke the silence. “I know that I have made a lot of mistakes with you. And I also know that every single thing that has happened with Eva, is far more than you should have to bear. But Irene, I want you to know that I love you. I desperately need you to know that,” he pleaded.
His words hit me harder than it should. But for some reason, it created a rift between us, bringing me far from me. The words drifted lightly to me as if I was trying to listen to him through a dense fog. I turned my eyes away from him as my heart filled with pain, torn between the pain of the past two weeks and the love that we had always shared.
How on earth did he expect me to blindly believe him when every damn thing seemed to be so broken between the both of
us?
“I do not know Damien if I can do this with you anymore,” I whispered to him in a barely audible voice. “I do not also know if I am strong enough to stay, especially now… that is if she is really carrying your child as she says in her womb.” The words felt like a poison on my tongue.
The thought of Eva being pregnant with Damien’s child, the idea of a constant reminder of her betrayal, was unbearable. My mind had already played with the possibility of walking away, leaving everything behind, even if it meant just losing him.
But then I looked at him. The lines of worry that were etched into his face, the genuine hurt in his eyes. He wasn’t the same man I fell in love with- he was just someone who had been broken too, just in a different way.
And for the very first time in the past weeks, I saw that his guilt was real, that the weight of what had happened had been crushing him just as much as they had crushed me.
Damien’s voice was filled with a quiet desperation as he took a step close to me. “Irene, I don’t even remember that night. I swear to you, I just don’t know how it happened. But if she really is pregnant as she claimed. I’m going to take responsibility for the child. But I don’t love her. I never have and I never will.” He declared boldly and I just had to blink back the tears that had been threatening to spill over.
Part of me wanted to believe him. Wanted to believe that this nightmare just wasn’t as black and white as it seemed. But the other part of me, the part that had been hurt and betrayed, wasn’t ready to let go of the anger.
“Damien, I don’t know if I can live with this,” I said, my voice shaking. “How do I stay and watch this unravel? How do I stay knowing she is winning?” I quizzed, wanting him to see things from my perspective.
“No, Irene. Eva hasn’t won,” he said quickly, his voice firm. “She hasn’t, Irene. You and I- we’re not finished. I refuse to just let her destroy what we have.”
He reached out, carefully brushing his hand against mine. The warmth of his touch sent a good kind of shiver through me, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I didn’t pull away. I didn’t recoil from his touch.
I wanted him. I missed him more than I realized.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, his thumb gently drawing circles on the back of my hand. “I’m so sorry for everything. For not being the man you needed me to be. But I’m still here and I’m still going to fight for us.” He boldly stated.
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Chapter 102
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His words settled in my chest, pushing through the thick and icy walls I had built around my heart. I could feel the honesty in his voice, the sincerity in his eyes. And even though my heart was still bruised, even though the pain was still raw, I couldn’t deny that a part of me still wanted him. still wanted us.
“I just don’t know what the future holds,” I admitted, my voice soft. “But I also can’t walk away from you, Damien. Not yet.” I expressed it honestly. Because I can’t just do that, I will never let Eva win this battle. I will prevail over all her plans and deeds.
“I’ll prove to you that we can get through this, Irene. Whatever it takes.” Relief flooded his face, and he let out a breath he seemed to have been holding for far too long.
And for the first time in weeks, I allowed myself to lean into him, resting my head on his firm chest. His arms wrapped around me, holding me close, and for a moment, I let myself believe that maybe, just maybe, we could find a way through this mess.
But even as I stood there, wrapped in Damien’s embrace, a part of me couldn’t shake the looming presence of Eva and her manipulative games. The knowledge that she might be carrying Damien’s child lingered at the back of my mind like a shadow, threatening to unravel everything.
I pulled back just enough to look up at his eyes, and quietly said, “I need you to promise me something,”
I paused a bit then continued.
“If Eva is truly pregnant, if this baby is yours, I won’t be able to be here for that, Damien. It would be unbearable for me.” I told him.
He nodded solemnly as his expression darkened. “I understand, Irene. But I’m going to find out the truth, Irene. Whatever is going on with Eva… I’ll get to the bottom of it.” His voice was rigid and I could see the determination swimming in his eyes.
I really wanted to believe him. I needed to believe that somehow, the truth would come out and we could finally put this entire nightmare behind us.
Before either of us could express ourselves more, the door swung open, and Eva burst into the room, her face pale and her eyes ridden with panic.
*Damien!” she gasped, her voice breathless. “It’s Lenora… she’s–she’s about to hurt herself!”
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