Chapter 22
When Giselle’s little entourage heard her remark, they burst into mocking laughter. Fuming, Olivia was about to go after them, but Clara quickly pulled
berback
Clara stayed calm and collected. She met Giselle’s gaze as she spoke in a flat, controlled voice. “The money was Damon’s idea. Just like those rumors about you—legit and true as they may sound.”
When Clara finished talking, she didn’t even glance at Giselle before yanking Olivia away.
Clara’s jab hit Giselle hard, making her snap. In a fit of rage, she shoved a passing waiter in their direction. The hot soup flew through the air. It was just about to spill all over Clara and Olivia.
Out of nowhere, Danois appeared. He pulled Clara and Olivia behind him, taking the full force of the scalding soup on his left arm. It wasn’t long before angry blisters popped up on his skin, and his face turned ashen.
Giselle hadn’t expected him to show up, and in a panic, she rushed over to check on his arm.
Fighting through the seating pain, Damon clenched his jaw and shot her a glare colder than ice. “I’ve let your past behavior slide out of respect for Mr. and Mrs. Sutton. But I won’t hesitate to make sure you learn your lesson if you keep this up.”
Giselle tried to explain, but he didn’t give her the chance. He turned and left with Clara and Olivia, both of whom were still shaken.
A blast of cold night air helped clear Clara’s head. Noticing the burn on Damon’s arm, she reached into his pocket, grabbed his car keys, and drove them straight to the hospital.
The nurse on duty blanched at the severity of the burn and immediately called for the doctor. It was already late, and Olivia had work in the morning. It took Clara quite a while to convince her to go home.
That left just the two of them in the ER. Clara turned to Damon, who was barely holding back the pain. She gently wiped the sweat from his forehead with a few tissues.
When he met her eyes, which were heavy with guilt, he tried to calm her with a shaky voice. “This isn’t on you. She’s holding a grudge because of me. If anyone should be apologizing, it’s me.”
Clara knew there was no use arguing about blame right now. Without a word, she went to get the prescription the doctor had given them.
By the time she got back, Damon’s wound had already been treated. The doctor rattled off a long list of aftercare instructions before finally letting them
Clara drove Damon home. Stepping back into the villa, she noticed the living room looked almost exactly the same as before, and for a moment, she felt dazed
Douglas lit up the second he saw her and hurried over. He was talking a mile a minute. “Mrs. Croft, you’re finally back! Mr. Croft’s been waiting for you this whole time…”
He stopped mid–sentence the moment he noticed Damon’s injury. “Mr. Croft what happened to your arm?”
Clara acted like she hadn’t heard Douglas‘ words. She handed hirm the medication, repeated the doctor’s instructions, and turned to leave.
Damon felt a hollow a ache in his chest as he watched her walk away. He wanted to call her back, but the words wouldn’t come.
Douglas felt a rush of desperation when he saw how defeated Damon looked. He didn’t think twice before chasing after Clara, catching up to her, and finally saying everything he hadn’t gotten the chance to say.
“Mrs. Croft, now that you’re back, please don’t leave again. For the past three months, Mr, Croft has done nothing but work and stare at the flowers you used to plant.
“At night, he tails in his sleep about how much he wants you back. He flies so he won’t even reach out…
sto Amethria every week just to see you, but he’s too afraid of disturbing you,
Clara had no idea. She had assumed Damon had moved on and started a new life without her
Hearing what Douglas said, her first thought was that it was ridiculous. Hadn’t Damon always been in love with Giselle? How could he possibly have done all that for her, his ex? She pushed the thought aside.
“Damon and I are divorced, Douglas,” she said in a firm voice. That chapter’s closed. What happens with the Crofts is none of my business anymore. And stop calling me Mrs. Croft–just call me Clara. It’s late. I should head out. Take care of yourself ”
