The mansion was quiet, the kind of heavy silence that seemed to press against the walls. Damian stood in the study, his back to the door, staring at the large map spread across the desk. His fingers traced the edge of the table, his thoughts far away.
Aurora’s face haunted him.
He clenched his jaw, gripping the edge of the desk tightly. How had she been there? Who had brought her? The questions swirled in his mind, filling him with anger and frustration.
The door creaked open behind him, and Lina’s voice broke the silence.
“Damian,” she said sweetly. “Are you in here sulking again?”
He didn’t respond.
Lina stepped inside, her emerald gown swishing softly as she walked toward him. She placed a hand on his shoulder, her fingers curling against his suit. “You’ve been like this since the wedding,” she said softly. “What’s wrong?”
Damian shrugged her hand off, his movements sharp. “Don’t touch me,” he said coldly.
Lina blinked, her smile faltering. “Excuse me?”
“I said, don’t touch me,” Damian repeated, his voice low and dangerous.
Lina crossed her arms, her expression hardening. “What’s your problem, Damian? You’ve been nothing but cold since we got married. Don’t think I haven’t noticed.”
Damian turned to face her, his dark eyes narrowing. “Noticed?” he said, his tone mocking. “How observant of you.”
Lina’s lips tightened, her patience wearing thin. “I’m your wife now,” she said firmly. “You can’t keep shutting me out.”
Damian let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. “Wife? Is that what you think this is?”
“Yes,” Lina snapped. “And you need to start treating me like one.”
Tension Rising
Damian stepped closer to her, his towering presence making her take a small step back. “Let me make something very clear,” he said, his voice cold. “This marriage is a deal, not a love story. You don’t get to make demands.”
Lina’s eyes flashed with anger. “I don’t deserve this,” she said sharply. “I’ve stood by you, Damian. I’ve done everything you wanted.”
“You’ve done everything you wanted,” Damian shot back. “Don’t act like this marriage was some selfless act. We both know why you’re here.”
Lina’s cheeks flushed with anger. “And why are you here, Damian? Because it’s certainly not for me. Who are you really thinking about when you sit here brooding all night?”
His jaw tightened, but he didn’t respond.
Lina smirked, her tone turning mocking. “Oh, I know,” she said. “It’s her, isn’t it? That little girl you couldn’t save. Is that what’s eating at you? That she’s gone, and you’re stuck with me instead?”
“Don’t,” Damian warned, his voice dangerously low.
“Don’t what?” Lina pressed, stepping closer. “Don’t tell the truth? Face it, Damian-you’re obsessed with her. But she’s gone. And she’s never coming back.”
Something inside Damian snapped. His hand shot out, grabbing Lina’s wrist in a vice-like grip.
“Watch your mouth,” he growled, his voice shaking with rage.
Lina winced, trying to pull her arm free. “Let go of me!” she demanded.
But Damian didn’t let go. His grip tightened, and his other hand rose, striking her across the face. The sound of the slap echoed through the room, sharp and shocking.
Lina stumbled back, her hand flying to her cheek as her eyes widened in disbelief.
“You hit me,” she whispered, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and shock.
Damian’s chest heaved, his fists clenched at his sides. “You don’t get to talk about her,” he said coldly. “Ever.”
A Breaking Point
Lina straightened, her cheek red from the blow, but her eyes burned with fury. “You’re pathetic,” she spat. “You hit me because you can’t deal with your own failures. Is that it? Does hurting me make you feel better?”
Damian’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing.
Lina laughed bitterly, shaking her head. “You think you’re so strong, don’t you? But you’re just a coward. You can’t even admit how much you miss her.”
“Enough,” Damian snapped, his voice rising.
“No,” Lina said sharply, stepping closer despite the danger. “You don’t get to shut me up. Not this time. You married me, Damian. You made this choice. If you can’t handle it, that’s your problem.”
His hand twitched, but he didn’t raise it again. Instead, he turned sharply, his back to her.
“You should leave,” he said coldly.
Lina hesitated, her breath shaky, before letting out a bitter laugh. “Fine,” she said. “But don’t think this is over.”
She turned and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
Alone with His Thoughts
Damian stood in the silent room, his chest heaving with suppressed rage. He ran a hand through his hair, his mind racing. Lina’s words echoed in his head, taunting him.
He had hit her. The thought made him sick, but it hadn’t stopped him. She had pushed him, and he had snapped.
But it wasn’t just Lina. It was everything. Aurora. The wedding. The endless weight of guilt and failure.
He sat heavily in the chair by the fireplace, his head in his hands. He couldn’t shake the image of Aurora from his mind-the way she had looked at the party, fragile and lost.
“Where are you?” he whispered, his voice breaking.
The flames in the fireplace flickered, casting shadows across the room. Damian clenched his fists, his determination hardening. He couldn’t let this continue. He had to find her, no matter what it took.
And when he did, he would make things right-no matter the cost.