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.

“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 reach for his hand, my voice trembling. “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 can barely keep my fingers steady.

He studies me in silence, the faint crease between his brows deepening. For a moment, I see something flicker in his eyes—worry, maybe—but then he looks away, jaw tightening.

Five minutes later, his phone rings. He answers immediately, his tone clipped and serious.

“Alright. Keep me posted,” he says before hanging up.

“Was that about Cora?” I ask, my heart in my throat. “Do you believe me now?”

Damon exhales slowly, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “Jordan’s going over her test results right now. I’ll see to it that she gets every bit of treatment she needs.”

Then his eyes find mine—steady, deliberate. “You have my word, Elara. I won’t let anything happen to her.”

The tightness in my chest loosens, just a little. Relief rushes through me.

Maybe… maybe I’ve been too harsh on him. Maybe he does care, he just doesn’t know how to show it.

“You should go now before anyone sees you,” he murmurs, running a hand through his hair. “I’ll come home once things are settled here.”

“Promise?” I whisper, needing something to hold on to. “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,” he cuts in, his tone sharp again, “Don’t make this harder than it already is.”

Before I can say anything, another woman’s voice drifts in.

“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 about Danny being his son.

“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.”

———

An hour after Damon leaves, I’m still sitting in the same spot, trying to gather myself, when his assistant, Jordan, appears at the door.

I quickly wipe my face, unwilling to let him see just how broken I look.

“Uh… Damon, sir, asked me to take you home,” he says, his tone surprisingly gentle. “We can leave whenever you’re ready.”

For a moment, I almost laugh—bitterly. Part of me had hoped Damon would change his mind and come with me instead.

But of course, he didn’t.

I nod and follow Jordan out of the Blackwood estate.

We’ve barely been driving ten minutes when my phone buzzes.

Seeing Gwen’s name flash across the screen makes my pulse spike.

“Hello?” I answer instantly. “Gwen?”

Her voice trembles on the other end. “Mrs. Blackwood… something happened to Cora. She—she collapsed.”