Taylor stepped out of the room where his blood had been drawn, his movements calm and deliberate. The sight of him immediately sent a wave of anger through Damian, who was standing across the hall, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. The hatred in Damian’s eyes was unmistakable, burning like a flame that refused to die.
Taylor caught the look, but he didn’t flinch. Instead, he walked closer, his steps steady, his expression unreadable. When he stopped in front of Damian, he let out a long sigh. “You still hold onto that hate,” Taylor said, his voice even.
Damian’s jaw clenched, his fists balling at his sides. “You think I shouldn’t?” he growled, his tone low but sharp. “You killed my sister. You destroyed my family.”
Taylor raised an eyebrow, his face calm despite Damian’s obvious rage. “And yet,” he said slowly, “here we are. You’ve impregnated my daughter. Tortured her. Manipulated her. Doesn’t that pay for the wrongs I’ve done to your family?”
Damian stepped closer, his shoulders squared, his voice dangerously low. “Don’t you dare try to turn this around,” he said. “Nothing you’ve done can ever be paid for. Not with blood, not with suffering. Not even with death.”
Taylor held his ground, his gaze steady. “I’m not asking you to forgive me,” he said. “I know better than to expect that. But I am asking you to think. Look at where we are now. You love Aurora, don’t you?”
Damian froze for a moment, his mind flashing with images of Aurora-her smile, her laugh, her soft touches. He didn’t respond, but his silence spoke volumes.
Taylor’s lips curved into a faint smile. “You see? Love changes things,” he said. “You wanted me dead for years. You probably still do. But if I had stayed in Aurora’s life-if I hadn’t left her mother-you and she would have never crossed paths.”
Damian’s glare deepened, his voice filled with venom. “Don’t you dare act like you did her a favor by abandoning her,” he snapped. “You left her and her mother to suffer. You left them with nothing.”
Taylor’s smile faded, and for the first time, his calm exterior cracked. He took a deep breath, his voice softer now. “I left because I didn’t want them dragged into my world,” he said. “You know what this life is like, Damian. The blood, the danger, the enemies… I didn’t want that for them.”
Damian shook his head, his fists tightening. “And yet she ended up in my world anyway,” he said bitterly. “She was sold, used, and nearly destroyed because of you.”
Taylor sighed again, his gaze dropping for a moment. “I didn’t know that would happen,” he admitted. “I thought her mother would keep her safe. I thought she’d have a normal life, far away from all of this.”
Damian took a step forward, his voice rising. “Well, you thought wrong,” he said harshly. “Aurora suffered because of you. Because of your choices.”
Taylor met his gaze, his voice steady once more. “And now, she’s with you,” he said. “She’s alive. She’s carrying your child. Isn’t that worth something?”
Damian let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. “You think that makes up for everything? For what you did to my sister? For what you did to Aurora and her mother?”
Taylor’s jaw tightened, his voice firm. “I didn’t say it makes up for anything. I’m just saying… we’re here now. And whether you like it or not, we’re connected. Through her.”
Damian stared at Taylor for a long moment, his mind racing. He hated the man in front of him with every fiber of his being. But he couldn’t deny the truth in his words. Aurora was the bridge between them, a connection that couldn’t be severed.
Taylor took a step closer, his voice softer now. “We have a long history, Damian,” he said. “One filled with blood and hate. But maybe… just maybe, it’s time to put that aside. For her.”
Damian didn’t respond immediately. His mind was a storm of conflicting emotions-anger, hatred, and a deep, aching love for Aurora. Finally, he spoke, his voice low and cold. “I’ll never forgive you,” he said. “But for Aurora, I’ll tolerate you. For now.”
Taylor nodded, his expression unreadable. “That’s all I ask,” he said simply. “For now.”
Taylor turned to leave, his movements slow and deliberate. But just before he stepped away, he glanced back at Damian, a faint smile on his lips. “You should be grateful, you know,” he said. “If I had stayed in their lives, you never would have met her. The love of your life.”
Damian’s fists clenched, his eyes narrowing. “Get out of my sight,” he growled.
Taylor chuckled softly, raising his hands in mock surrender. “As you wish,” he said, walking away without another word.
Damian stood there, his heart pounding, his mind racing. He hated Taylor with every fiber of his being. But the man’s words lingered in his mind, unsettling and undeniable.
He took a deep breath, running a hand through his hair. “This isn’t over,” he muttered to himself, his gaze dark and resolute. “Not by a long shot.”