Chapter 19
Chapter 19
All the investigation reports and the recovered chat logs landed on Damon’s doorstep the next
morning.
He’d gone out and bought duplicates of every single thing Emily once owned, putting them carefully back in their usual places. Every time he came home, for a split second, he could almost convince himself Emily was still around–her presence haunting the halls like a memory he couldn’t shake.
But once someone’s gone, they’re gone for good. Without Emily, the whole house felt cold and empty, stripped of the life and warmth she used to bring.
It took Damon ages to build up the nerve, but finally, he opened the files.
The most recent message was from the day Emily left–a secret video Lea had taken of him and Emily sharing a gentle kiss at the piano. There were messages attached.
“You probably don’t know this, but that’s Damon’s favorite spot. I’m not filming what happens next. Don’t think you could handle it.”
“Is it fun pretending to be clueless? How does it feel being the other woman? No matter what, you’ll always be the one hiding in the shadows. If you’re so desperate, maybe beg me, and I’ll let Damon visit you a few more times. How about that?”
Scrolling up, there was more–an endless stream of taunts, and enough intimate photos and videos to make his blood boil.
On social media, Lea had posted countless “happy couple” photos–every single one set so only Emily could see them.
Damon was shaking with rage, vision clouded with fury.
But then he clicked on another folder, and his anger froze into something colder, heavier. The blood in his veins felt like ice.
om the auction that night? Lea had hired them herself.
en, he’d shoved Emily to the ground, ignored the blood on her forehead, even forced drink when she clearly couldn’t handle it.
He remembered the sadness in her eyes, the way she gave that soft, hollow laugh after listening to his accusations.
Damon’s heart gave a painful jolt, and suddenly it felt like someone had carved out a piece of him–his whole body slick with cold sweat.
“Bring Lea in,” he said, his voice so low and sharp it barely sounded human.
Lea was dragged in a few moments later. When she saw the photos scattered across the floor, her face turned ghostly white. She dropped to her knees, crawling to Damon’s feet, her desperation raw and obvious.
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Chapter 19
“Damon, I’m sorry! I know I shouldn’t have done those things, but I only did them because I love you. I said those horrible things to her because I wanted to be with you–openly, not hiding. anymore. Please, Damon, I just wanted to stand by your side.”
Damon let out a cold, bitter laugh. He grabbed her chin so hard it left dark marks on her skin.
“How many times did I tell you? Anything I do for you–never in front of Emily. Didn’t you understand that?”
“She’s gone because of you. Now you get to deal with the consequences.”
He shoved her aside without a second thought.
But Lea, eyes red and brimming with tears, crawled back, her voice shaking.
“Damon, I’m pregnant with your baby. Please, for the baby’s sake–let me go. I’m begging you.”
He didn’t even look at her.
“Oh, I know you’re pregnant. So what? It’s just a kid–I can have as many as I want. Who do you think you are, thinking you get to have my child?”
“In fact, maybe you should get rid of this one. That way, you’ll have room for someone else’s kid, won’t you?”
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