Chapter 14%
When Damien returned home late that night, the entire house was shrouded in quiet warmth. A dim wall lamp glowed in the corner of the living room, casting a soft light over Victoria as she lay curled up on the sofa. She was sound asleep in the pink home clothes he had bought for her long ago.”
He then paused.}
For a second, Damien just stood there, staring at Victoria. The familiarity, the comfort, the long history between them. It all came crashing down on him in silence.
Damien reached for the blanket beside her and gently draped it over her shoulders. But just as the fabric touched her, Victoria stirred awake.
“Damien?” she murmured, her eyes half–closed with sleep.}
“Why did you come back so late?”
She reached out, grabbing the sleeve of his shirt in a sleepy, tender motion.
Damien’s mouth parted to speak, but he couldn’t find the words. His grip on the papers in his hand tightened unconsciously. It was a light rustle, the sound of the crumpling paper echoed like thunder in the quiet room.
Victoria blinked, catching sight of the document. Before Damien could react, she had already snatched it from his hand. Her eyes skimmed the title.
Divorce Agreement.}
Amelia’s name was on it.
Her lips curved up without hesitation.
“So she really did it,” she whispered, her voice colored with barely restrained glee.
“Amelia really gave my brother to me “0
The world tilted.
Damien’s expression changed instantly. His brows furrowed deeply.
“What did you just say?” he asked with a voice as cold as ice.
Victoria, still caught up in her happiness, didn’t notice the shift. Her cheeks flushed a light pink. She summoned all her courage and reached for his hand.”
“Damien, I’ve always liked you,” she confessed softly.
“Since the day you bought me those tampons when I got my first period at twelve… since you stayed with me when I was sick… since I saw you drinking alone at my engagement party … ”
Each word landed heavy in the air.
“I never thought of you as just a brother,” she whispered, eyes glistening.
“I only agreed to get married because I thought you didn’t feel the same. But now–“>
Damien’s hands trembled. Not from emotion, but from realization.
“What did you mean by … he cut her off with a strained voice.
“By Amelia giving me to you?“}
Victoria’s smile faltered. The light drained from her eyes. She hesitated.”
However, she eventually spoke, “It was… that night at the banquet… when you didn’t introduce her to everyone… I talked to her afterward, I said maybe she wasn’t meant to be with someone like you and she said…” Victoria looked down, her voice shrinking, “She said she’d give you to me.”
Damien stumbled back a step.
Crash!%
Damien knocked over the vase on the table. Shards of glass scattered across the floor, mirroring the sharpness now etched in his voice.”
“So it was you…” he said hoarsely.}
“You went to her?”
“Damien, wait, I-”
“Don’t you even shout my name!” he shouted as he gripped the crumpled divorce agreement tightly in his fist while trembling with rage.” “Why–why did you think you could make that choice for me?!“}
Amelia’s expression flashed before his eyes. It was the last time he saw her. But it wasn’t even anger. Instead, it was heartbreak. Finality. Disappointment that had nothing left to burn.
Damien hadn’t understood it then. But now now he did.”
Victoria stood frozen, her face pale as snow.
“I thought. “%
She whispered, “I thought you felt the same way… “1
Damien let out a shaky breath.
His voice was lower now, but unshakable, as he spoke, “Victoria, I won’t lie to you. I did have feelings for you once. Feelings I never
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should’ve had. But that was a long time ago.”%
He raised the crumpled paper. His grip was tight, but his voice steadied with clarity.
“My wife … “%
He said slowly.“will only be Amelia.“%
Victoria’s eyes filled with disbelief and pain, but Damien no longer looked at her.%
After that, Damien turned away. The broken pieces of the past scattered behind him. All he could think of now was Amelia. Her quiet strength, her silent love and the way she always waited… until she didn’t anymore.%
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