Chapter 8
I thought Dominic had finally left Pemberly for good. But to my surprise, he managed to team up with a colleague I once trusted, and together, they hatched a plan to deceive me.
When I stepped onto the lawn, I was completely caught off guard.
It was the weekend, and any good mood I had had disappeared the instant I saw him.
He had carefully recreated our wedding ceremony, capturing every detail perfectly. Wearing the custom suit I had designed for him, he stood quietly to the side. His warm smile was fixed on me, full of affection. “Nora, will you marry me?” he asked.
My coworkers erupted in cheers around us.
“Say yes! Say yes!”
A surge of anger boiled inside me. After all the harassment he’d put me through, how could he still think I’d say yes?
Damien’s eyes gleamed, a flicker of confidence shining through.
“Do you really think staging a wedding would make me forgive you?” I couldn’t hold it in any longer. In front of all my coworkers, I slapped him hard. The crowd fell silent. After a long pause, someone finally spoke up. “He said he was your boyfriend… That you two were just-”
“And you believed that?” I cut in sharply. “Aren’t you a lawyer? What happened to facts and evidence?”
The group exchanged uneasy glances, the silence stretching between us.
Damien stepped forward cautiously. Instinctively, I took a step back.
“I know I was wrong,” he said. “This wasn’t about forgiveness. I just wanted to make up for the past, hoping that it might bring a smile back to you. “This past year, I gave Astrid far too much attention. At first, I saw her merely as an inexperienced intern, someone who reminded me of the person I used to be.
“I couldn’t bear to watch her get reprimanded, so I found myself protecting her more than I should have.
“I thought I was falling for her, but deep down, I was too afraid to face the truth. That’s why I kept favoring her, again and again.
“It wasn’t until you left that I realized how wrong I’d been.
“You’ve always been the one I love. Not Astrid. I’ve never once considered marrying anyone else.
“If it would bring you joy, I’d celebrate this wedding 52 times over to make up for all the ones I missed.
“When you find it in your heart to forgive me, let’s make it official and finally register our marriage. Whether you want to stay in Pemberly or return to Aberton, I’ll be wherever you want.
“Wherever you go, I’ll be right by your side. I won’t ever leave you again.
“All I’m asking for is one more chance.”
As Damien spoke, tears filled his eyes, but inside, I was completely numb.
I had already given him 52 chances, and each time, he let them slip away.
He had blatantly loved someone else. Even if we were to try again, I knew he would eventually turn away and leave me behind once more. Some wounds weren’t meant to heal easily, after all.
When I decided to return to Pemberly, I knew that it was truly over between Damien and me.
“Keep dreaming,” I whispered as I met his gaze.
Without saying another word, I slipped into a taxi and left.
Damien didn’t try to stop me. He stood still for a moment before chasing after the car, his steps fading until he couldn’t keep up. Ultimately, none of it mattered anymore.
Chapter 9
After everything that happened, I told everyone at the firm I was done with dating. I wasn’t interested in entertaining anyone’s advances anymore. At this stage in my life, my career was the only thing that truly mattered to me.
Damien never came back. I assumed he had returned to Aberton without saying a single word.
In time, I found my rhythm in Pemberly. With each case I won, I steadily made a name for myself in the legal industry.
Coincidentally, a colleague at the firm discovered my connection to my parents. I braced myself, worried that they’d assume I got here through nepotism.
But instead, they smiled and said, “Well, that explains it. Talent must run in the family!”
“With parents like that, it’s no surprise you’re just as exceptional!”
Hearing their kind words, I let out a sigh of relief. It turned out I had truly made something of myself.
Soon after, I took some paid time off and set off to explore far and wide.
In summer, I basked in the sun of Halberon.
In autumn, I wandered through Jasperhollow, marveling at the breathtaking beauty of western Sandspire.
In winter, I spent quiet moments with my parents, enjoying the snowy landscapes.
And And with spring’s arrival, I climbed high up the mountains, embracing the fresh promise of a new year.
The years flew by, and before long, I had reclaimed my place as the top performer in the entire law firm.
My name was known throughout Pemberly, and those who could afford the best came straight to me.
Many tried to pursue me over the years, but I rejected every one of them without hesitation. Except for my family, I no longer trusted a single man.
For a long time, Damien had almost disappeared from my thoughts.
One day, a close friend invited me to visit Aberton. If this had happened five years ago, I’d have said no without hesitation. But now, I just raised an eyebrow and said, “Sounds perfect. I know Aberton like the back of my hand. I’ll show you around.”
Stepping off the piane, I was instantly struck by a sense of familiarity.
On the way to our destination, we happened to pass by the law firm where I used to work. I exchanged a nod with my friend and slipped out of the car to catch up with Audrey.
Five years had passed since we last met, and time had changed us both.
As my gaze settled on Audrey’s gold plaque on the honor wall, a smile tugged at the corners of my lips.
“Nora?” A familiar voice called out from behind me. I turned to see Audrey, her once waist–length hair now cropped into a sleek, short bob cut. She seemed more grounded than I remembered.
“It really is you!” she exclaimed as she jogged over and pulled me into a tight hug. “I’ve missed you so much these past five years,” she added.
I smiled. “I’m just visiting with a friend and thought I’d drop by to see you.”
Audrey chuckled. “You won’t believe it. Damien and Astrid both left the firm!”
For the past five years, Damien had struggled to concentrate during his court trials, resulting in nearly every case
being lost.
After Astrid purposely got pregnant with his child, she stopped showing up for work entirely, spending her days at home and gradually depleting their savings.
Damien was on the verge of breaking down, desperate to sever ties with her. But Astrid had become so dependent on his money that she couldn’t bring herself to let him go.
In just a year, their lives descended into complete chaos. Astrid even brought her family to Damien’s home, sparking conflict and pressuring him to consider marrying her.
Frustrated and worn down by a string of court defeats, Damien soon found himself under pressure from his superiors to step down.
By then, the entire city of Aberton knew about his fall from grace.
Eventually, he took Astrid back to his hometown and sold their house.
Twas surprised. After all his efforts to leave the countryside behind, I never expected him to return.
Audrey couldn’t help but chuckle. “That’s exactly how it should be!
“Remember how he treated you? Scumbags like him deserve nothing but misery.”
I smiled and nodded in agreement.
Before I realized it, my friend, who had been waiting in the car, came up beside us. “What are you two talking about?” she asked.
Audrey looked at me, a grin spreading across her face. “Is this the friend you told me about? She’s gorgeous!”
I smiled back. “Yeah. Why don’t you two get to know each other? We could all hang out together.” “Sounds perfect!”
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9
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