Chapter 127KYLE"Yes," I said quietly, shame flooding through me, as I repeated his words, trying to get him to see what was at risk here. "Your fiancée. Which is why you shouldn't be talking to me right now. Why we shouldn't—""Don't," he interrupted sharply, cutting through my words as I flinched back. "Don't tell me what I should or shouldn't do. I've spent three days wondering if you were okay, where you were, if something had happened to you, if you'd decided to disappear because of what happened between us, back then in the Met Gala, especially with how complicated it turned out to be, Evelyn being your family member.""Nothing happened between us," I said automatically, the lie feeling hollow even as I spoke it.Darius laughed, but there was no humor in it, he looked like he was trying to control his anger as his teeth were clenched and his fists were too as well. "Really? That's the story you're going with? Because I'm pretty sure something very definitely happened between
Chapter 126KYLEI nodded, knowing she was right even as everything in me rebelled against the idea."You deserve better anyway," she continued, her voice gentle but firm. "You deserve someone less complicated. An average guy who isn't engaged to your toxic cousin, who doesn't come with family drama and supernatural politics. Someone who can love you openly, publicly, without fear of consequences.""I know," I said quietly. "I know you're right. It's just...""Hard to let go of something that felt real," she finished for me. "I understand. But sometimes the right thing and the hard thing are the same thing."We sat in silence for a moment, both of us processing the weight of everything we'd shared. Then I remembered the bag I'd brought with me."I brought you some things," I said, reaching for it. "Books, your favorite tea, some of that lavender lotion you like. And chocolate. Lots of chocolate."Her face lit up like a child's at Christmas. "You smuggled chocolate into a mental insti
Chapter 125KYLEShe released me and moved back to her chair, gesturing for me to sit on the bed with her as well. We had to make this look like a proper visit, like I was trying to connect with my deranged mother even though she barely recognized me and was violent, and sometimes calm when not too agitated.Just in case Evelyn was watching through the security cameras or listening at the door."I saw you on television," she said, a genuine smile breaking through the sadness on her face, her cheeks smiling so wiem it looked like it hurt. It had been a long time since I saw her look this happy. "Two nights ago. At that fancy event—the Met Gala. You looked so handsome, Kyle. So incredibly handsome in that suit."My face flushed with embarrassment and pleasure, a part of me pleased that she had seen it. "You saw that?""They let us watch television here," she said, gesturing to the small TV mounted on the wall, the volume lowered but the TV v was on, displaying a channel on Animal disc
Chapter 124KYLEThe private mental institution where they kept my mother was exactly what you'd expect from a facility that catered to wealthy families with "problematic" relatives they wanted hidden away from the public, the stain they called them. Pristine white walls, sterile hallways that smelled of disinfectant and despair, and an endless ticking of the grandfather clock, always invincible, no matter how hard you search for it and staff members who were paid extremely well to look the other way and never ask questions about their patients' circumstances, or to leak out information to the press.I hated this place with every fiber of my being."Remember," Evelyn said as we walked through the security checkpoint, her voice low and sharp filled with contempt, "you have thirty minutes. Don't upset her. Don't ask her inappropriate questions about her days, here. Leave it alone. And for God's sake, don't let her cause a scene that embarrasses the family."I nodded silently, keeping
Chapter 123ISABELLADamon's expression hardened, his arm tightening around me protectively. He hadn't seen Janice yet, hadn't noticed her watching us, but his response was immediate."If you find anything unpleasant in this house, in your home, just say the word and I'll have it removed instantly," he said, his voice carrying that edge of authority that made it clear he wasn't joking. And was ready to get rid of anything that I hated. "You shouldn't have to deal with anything that makes you uncomfortable."That was when Janice decided to make her move, descending the stairs slowly acting like she was an angel descending from heaven, her expression was carefully schooled into something neutral despite the white-knuckled grip she'd had on the railing moments before.From the way her fists clenched at her sides as she approached, I knew she'd heard Damon's comment and it had hurt her. Knew it had been targeted at her. Knew he would remove her from this house, from his life, without a
Chapter 122ISABELLAHe brought my hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to my knuckles, keeping it there for a few more seconds before he pulled away and continued speaking. "You're not leaving this house without security again. I don't care if you think it looks suspicious or weird. Your safety is more important than appearances."I wanted to argue, wanted to insist I didn't need constant supervision all the time, and protest that I was not incapable of taking care of myself but the memory of running through that alley, of strong hands grabbing me, of the terror that had flooded my system when I realized I was being hunted—it was too fresh. Too raw."Okay," I agreed quietly nodding my head as I agreed with him. "Security detail it is."Damon looked surprised by my easy acquiescence, his eyebrows rising slightly. He looked like he was already prepared to have an argument with me about why it was important for me to have guards. "Really? No argument?""Really. No argument." I squeezed h