Chapter 8

I felt my name slip from his lips as if it had stopped time. My feet immediately froze in place.

I turned around slowly, letting go of Nicholas's hand without meaning to. Damian stood before me, only a few meters away. His eyes were fixed on me, and for a moment, I saw the man I used to love.

"Can I help you, Mr. Kingsley?" I asked, my voice cold and professional.

Damian looked at me, then at Nicholas beside me. His eyes narrowed, studying Nicholas carefully. But then he shifted his gaze back to me, and his expression softened into something calmer.

"Actually, I'd like to talk to you about business. I heard that the plastic surgery department at this hospital is in need of the latest equipment for reconstructive surgery. I'd like to offer a donation. The latest plastic surgery equipment from Germany. I think it would be very beneficial for your patients," Damian said.

I stared at him suspiciously. Damian Kingsley, the man who left me eighteen years ago, now offering medical equipment donations? What was behind all this?

Mr. Alan, the hospital director, immediately stepped forward with a beaming face.

"Dr. Alissa, this is a wonderful opportunity! Mr. Kingsley is being very generous. The equipment from Germany is state-of-the-art, it could significantly improve the quality of our plastic surgery. I think you should hear him out."

I looked at Mr. Alan, then at Damian. I knew there was an ulterior motive behind all this. But on the other hand, new equipment would really help my patients. I couldn't ignore that just because of personal pride.

"Fine, we can talk about that later. But right now I'm on my break," I said.

Damian nodded. "Of course. I'll wait in the meeting room. Contact me when you're ready."

I didn't answer. I just turned and continued walking toward the cafeteria, Nicholas beside me. But the whole way there, I could feel Damian's gaze on my back.

In the cafeteria, I sat at my favorite table in the corner. Nicholas got food for both of us, fried rice and orange juice for me, a plate of pasta for himself. We ate in silence for a few minutes, but I knew Nicholas was waiting for me to speak.

"I don't trust him. He came with an excuse about donating equipment? After eighteen years? It's too suspicious," I said.

Nicholas shrugged. "Maybe he really does want to help. Or maybe this is his way of getting close to you. But you can't turn down that equipment, your patients need it."

"I know," I said with frustration. "That's why I agreed to talk to him. But I don't trust him. I'll never trust him again."

"You don't have to trust him, you just have to listen to what he has to say, then make the best decision for the hospital and your patients. You can keep things professional," Nicholas said.

I nodded, though my heart was still uneasy. After lunch, I walked back to my practice room with heavy steps. I needed to prepare myself for the meeting with Damian. I needed to remind myself that this was just business, nothing more.

But when I returned to my room and opened the door, I was startled.

Damian was already inside.

He was standing near my desk, his back facing me. In his hands, he was holding something, the photo frame of Louis that I'd always kept on my desk. The photo taken when Louis graduated from high school last week, in his gown and cap, with a wide smile on his face.

"Mr. Kingsley! What are you doing in my private room? This is very inappropriate!"

Damian turned around slowly, his eyes still fixed on the photo in his hands. His expression... I couldn't read it. There was something in his eyes, something deep and painful.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude. I just came early for our meeting, and the door was unlocked. I walked in to wait, and I saw this photo."

He held up the photo, staring at it with a longing gaze.

"Who is this in the photo?"

I walked quickly toward him and snatched the photo from his hands roughly.

"Give that back! That's my son!"

"Your son?" Damian stared at me with wide eyes. "Is this my son?"

I pressed the photo against my chest, shielding it from his gaze.

"He's my son, not yours. You never acknowledged him, remember? You said in court that he wasn't your son. You said you weren't sure. So don't ask who he is now," I said.

"Can I meet him?"

"No, you have no right."

"I'm his father."

"You only remember that now?" I laughed bitterly. "Eighteen years you disappeared. Eighteen years you never asked about him, and now you come and claim to be his father? You think it's that easy?" I asked.

Damian looked down, his hands clenching tightly at his sides.

"I know I've made many mistakes, but I'm here to make things right," Damian said.

"Louis doesn't need a father."

"Louis? His name is Louis? You were clever giving him that name," Damian said.

"Louis is Nicholas's given name," I said.

"Nicholas? The man holding your hand earlier? Is he your husband?" Damian asked.

"He's the one who raised Louis. He's the one who taught him everything. He's the one who was always there when Louis was sick, when Louis was sad, when Louis needed someone to talk to. You can't replace that just by showing up and bringing medical equipment."

Damian was silent, looking at me with regretful eyes.

"I'm not trying to replace anyone. I just want to be part of Louis's life. I just want to know him as his biological father," Damian said.

I stared at Damian, seeing the fragility in his eyes. I saw the man I used to love, the man who destroyed me, the man now standing before me with regret that might be sincere.

But I couldn't forgive him. Not yet.

"I don't want to discuss personal matters. As we agreed, we're talking about business and medical equipment. That's the only reason you're in my room," I said.

Damian nodded slowly. "Fine. Let's talk business."

But as he sat in the chair across from me, his eyes still lingered on Louis's photo, which I'd now placed back on my desk. I could see the pain in his eyes, the deep regret.

"Louis?" he whispered.

I took the photo and put it away in my drawer, as if I didn't want my son to be seen by his own biological father. But at that very moment, someone walked into the room.

"Mom? I came early because I'm hungry." Louis's eyes landed on Damian.

I saw Damian's expression instantly shift to something somber as he looked at Louis.

"Oh, you have a patient, Mom? Alright, I'll wait outside," Louis said.