Chapter 6

[Elara]

I turn, only to find Damon staring me down.

“I—” Before I can say something—or even try to explain myself—he looks around, grabs my hand, and drags me into an empty room at the back of the villa.

“Didn’t I tell you to skip the dinner?” he growls, brows furrowed deeply. “Why the hell did you still show up?”

“I needed to talk to you—”

“About what?” His tone sharpens. “You really think this is the time to play your little games?”

I swallow, forcing the words out before he cuts me off again. “It’s about Cora.”

That makes him pause—just for a heartbeat.

“I’ve been calling you all day,” I say quickly, my voice trembling. “Believe me or not, I’m here to talk about Cora. I called you many times, but you didn’t answer. You can check if you still don’t believe me.”

He takes out his phone, as if my words made him realize that I might be right. But then he puts it back inside the pocket of his suit jacket. He shakes his head instead. “Why didn’t I know that you could be so manipulative?”

“What?” What the hell is he on about now?

“You know very well that during the family dinner no one is allowed to check their phones. And you still have the audacity to use that as an excuse to humiliate me. Why didn’t I know you had it in you, Elara? What more are you hiding?”

I don’t know what to say anymore. I don’t know to explain myself either.

“Is that what you think of me?” To say we’ve been married for five years—what a joke. “That I would stoop so low just for your attention?”

“Wouldn’t you?” he asks, and I feel like laughing out loud.

“Fine. Think whatever you want,” not that I can change your mind with any kind of reasoning. “But you need to hear me out. It can’t wait.”

“Since when did you start calling the shots in our relationship?” He grabs my jaw—hard enough for it to hurt. Then he lets go. “But fine. Let’s hear it. I’m actually curious to hear your reason for becoming so bold all of a sudden. You said it’s about Cora…?”

“Yes!” Before I can even stop myself, the words tumble out of my mouth. “Cora… Cora is seriously ill. She has a heart condition, and the doctor suggests performing surgery as soon as possible.”

“What?” He looks dumbfounded, his eyes surprisingly wide. “This isn’t one of your silly tricks, is it? I swear to God, Elara, if you’re saying something like this to mess with me—”

“Do I look like an idiot to you? What kind of mother would use her child to mess with her husband?” I practically scream, and for once, he flinches—even if it’s just a little.

He takes out his phone and dials someone. “Get me Cora’s recent medical report. Tell me what’s going on with her.”

He hangs up, probably waiting for his assistant to arrange the information.

“Damon,” I hold his hand. “Please. We don’t have time to waste. Why don’t you come with me and talk to the doctor yourself? He needs us to sign the consent form, and I’m… I’m really scared.” So scared that I don’t even know if I’m capable of holding that damn pen.

He doesn’t say anything, just looks at me, frowning.

Five minutes later, the call he’s been waiting for arrives.

Damon answers, his expression serious. “Alright. Keep me posted.”

“You believe me now?” Once he hangs up, I ask.

He looks away, rubbing at his jaw. “Don’t worry. Jordan has gone through Cora’s case. He’ll do everything to help. Just ask him if you need anything.”

Relief floods through my veins, and for once, a small smile slips across my lips. Maybe I shouldn’t have judged him so harshly. He doesn’t seem so bad now that I’ve seen this caring side of him. Maybe…

“You should leave now before anyone sees you,” he says, running a hand through his hair. “I’ll come home once I’m done here.”

“Promise?” I don’t know why, but I feel like he’s giving me the whole world. Perhaps that’s why I dare to get a little more greedy. “Let’s go together. Cora would love to see you. She’s been wanting to spend more time with you. This way…”

“I said I’ll be home tonight. Stop sounding so miserable,” he snaps, back to being annoyed.

My smile falters. “But Damon—”

“Damon? Are you in?” Hannah’s voice arrives from outside the room, cutting me off very conveniently. “Your uncle told me you were here. Is everything okay? It’s been a while since you left.”

I stare at the door, suddenly remembering her conversation with Damon’s mom.

I turn my gaze back to Damon, wondering if Danny’s actually his son—and how long he’s going to keep it from me.

But I’m never able to gather the courage to ask him about it.

Neither about the divorce, nor Danny’s true parentage.

“I’ll be there shortly. You go ahead and keep my mom company,” Damon tells her, though he makes sure to give me the look—just to remind me not to say a word.

The fact that he’s trying to hide me like I’m some dirty little secret, despite being his legal wife, while flaunting his first love and their child born out of wedlock in front of his entire family—it’s downright humiliating.

But once again, for the sake of Cora, I swallow my pride.

“No. I’m not leaving without you—” She whines.

“Hannah!”

But one word for him and she goes silent for the next three seconds.

“Okay. Come soon.”

After she leaves, Damon once again turns to me. “Wait for me. I’ll send someone to fetch you.”

“Alright.”

Five minutes after Damon leaves, I’m still sitting in the same room, trying to pull myself together, when Damon’s assistant, Jordan, shows up.

I quickly wipe my face, not wanting him to see how pathetic I am.

“Uh… Damon, sir, asked me to take you home,” he says, sounding sympathetic for once. “We can leave whenever you’re ready.”

And here I thought maybe he’d change his mind and come home with me first.

Nevertheless, I nod and follow him out of the Blackwoods’ residence.

Only ten minutes have passed during the drive home when my phone goes off.

Seeing Gwen’s name flash on the screen makes my heart go all sorts of crazy.

“Hello!” I answer in a flash. “Hello?”

“Mrs. Blackwood… something happened to Cora. She—she collapsed.”