Damian sat in the grand living room of the mansion, his eyes cold as he stared at the papers laid neatly on the table before him. The sunlight streaming through the tall windows didn’t make the moment any less bitter. He had been waiting for this day, but now that it was here, he felt nothing.
Raphael sat nearby, watching his brother silently. He had always known Damian didn’t care for Lina, but even he could feel the tension in the room.
A knock on the door broke the silence. One of the maids entered, bowing her head slightly. “Sir, Mrs. Wolfe is here.”
Damian didn’t respond, only gesturing for the maid to let her in.
Lina walked in, dressed elegantly as always, but her face showed nervousness. She clutched her handbag tightly, her steps hesitant. Seeing Damian’s cold stare made her feel small.
“Damian,” she said softly, her voice shaking. “I… I think we should get this over with quickly.”
“Sit,” Damian said, his tone flat.
Lina sat across from him at the table, her hands trembling slightly as she reached for the papers. She glanced at him, hoping to find some emotion in his face, but he was unreadable.
“You wanted this,” Damian said, breaking the silence. His voice was sharp, like a blade cutting through the tension. “So, here it is.”
Lina swallowed hard. “I didn’t want it to end like this,” she said quietly.
Damian raised an eyebrow. “Really? You tried to drug me. You almost killed me. And now you want sympathy?”
Lina flinched at his words. “I… I didn’t mean for things to go so far,” she stammered. “I was just desperate. I wanted you to care about me.”
Damian laughed coldly, leaning back in his chair. “Care about you? Lina, I never loved you. This marriage was forced on me by my father. You knew that.”
Tears welled up in Lina’s eyes, but she blinked them away. “I didn’t know what else to do,” she admitted. “I thought… maybe if I could make you see me, things would change.”
Damian’s eyes narrowed. “You thought manipulating me was the answer? You’re lucky I’m letting you leave with your life.”
Lina looked down at her hands, her voice trembling. “I know I made mistakes. But Damian, I’m still human. I deserve a chance to move on.”
“Then sign the papers,” Damian said, his voice cold and unyielding.
Lina reached for the pen, her hand shaking as she signed her name on the dotted line. Each stroke felt heavy, as if she were cutting away the last ties to a dream she had once believed in.
When she finished, she looked up at Damian. “Will you ever forgive me?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Damian stared at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. “No,” he said finally. “But I won’t waste my time hating you either. You’re just another chapter I’m closing.”
Raphael, who had been silent the whole time, finally spoke. “Lina, you should leave now. This is over.”
Lina nodded slowly, rising from her seat. She turned to Damian one last time. “I hope you find happiness, Damian,” she said softly. “Even if it’s not with me.”
Damian didn’t respond, his eyes already back on the papers. Lina’s shoulders sagged as she walked toward the door, her footsteps echoing in the silent room.
After she left, Raphael leaned back in his chair, letting out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding. “Well, that’s done,” he said, looking at his brother.
Damian nodded, his expression still hard. “She’s gone now,” he said quietly.
“You don’t seem happy,” Raphael observed.
“It’s not about happiness,” Damian replied. “It’s about cutting off what doesn’t belong.”
Raphael studied his brother for a moment before standing up. “Do you think she’ll stay out of your life now?”
“She’d better,” Damian said, his tone dark. “Because if she tries anything again, I won’t be so forgiving.”
Raphael nodded, placing a hand on his brother’s shoulder. “At least this part is over,” he said. “You can focus on what really matters now.”
Damian didn’t respond, his thoughts already drifting to Aurora and the child she was carrying. For the first time in a long while, he felt like he could breathe.