Ch 7

"My lawyers just sent over a copy of the finalized documents," Damon's deep voice broke the silence as he handed Clara a sleek tablet. "Julian has signed them. Unconditionally."

Clara stared at the screen.

There, in bold, hurried strokes, was Julian Vance's signature.

It had taken Damon less than a single day to bring an end to the marriage Clara had desperately fought to save for five long years.

A dull ache settled in her chest as she looked at the final page of the life she had once believed would last forever.

Yet beneath the grief, she felt the faintest hint of relief slowly finding its way into her heart.

"He... gave up just like that?" Clara whispered hoarsely, unable to tear her eyes away from the document.

"Men like Julian only know how to raise their voices at women they think are powerless," Damon replied coolly, his thumb gently stroking the back of Clara's hand.

"The moment he realized he could lose his wealth, his status, and his freedom, he crawled without hesitation. He never deserved to stand beside you, Clara."

Before Clara could answer, the phone resting on the center console rang sharply.

Damon glanced at the caller ID.

It was one of his security officers.

Without hesitation, he answered and activated the speakerphone.

"Report."

"Mr. Damon," the guard's calm voice echoed through the car, "Mr. Julian Vance is currently in the underground parking garage beneath your penthouse. He's heavily intoxicated and attempting to force his way toward your private elevator. He's demanding to see Mrs. Clara. Would you like us to hand him over to the police?"

At the mention of Julian's name, Clara's entire body stiffened.

She looked at Damon with widened eyes.

His expression, however, remained perfectly composed.

If anything, it grew even colder.

"Keep him there," Damon ordered.

"Don't let him anywhere near the elevator. I'll be there in two minutes."

"Damon, please don't do anything reckless," Clara interrupted quickly, gripping the sleeve of his shirt.

"He's drunk. Let the police deal with him."

Damon turned toward her.

A faint smile touched his lips.

It held no trace of amusement.

"He needs to understand something for himself, Clara."

His voice was calm.

"He needs to realize that he no longer has any place in your life."

---

The screech of tires echoed through the VIP parking level beneath the penthouse.

The moment Damon's car stopped, an incoherent shout rang through the concrete structure.

"Clara! Clara, get out here!"

Julian's voice was rough and slurred.

His business suit was wrinkled, his tie hung loose around his neck, and his face was flushed from alcohol.

Two towering security guards restrained him against one of the concrete pillars.

"You ruined me!" Julian screamed as he struggled helplessly.

"You used this man to destroy my company!"

Damon stepped calmly from the vehicle, buttoning his tailored jacket before walking around to open Clara's door.

As she stepped out, he instinctively rested a protective arm around her waist.

The moment Julian saw Clara standing beside Damon—held securely against his side—his face twisted with fury.

"Clara!" he shouted, struggling harder against the guards.

"So this is who you are? Not even a day after leaving me, and you're already sleeping with the man who destroyed your husband's life?!"

Before he could say another word—

Crack!

Damon crossed the distance in an instant.

His fist struck Julian squarely across the jaw, sending the drunken man crashing onto the cold concrete floor.

Julian groaned in pain.

"Damon, stop!" Clara cried, startled.

Damon ignored her.

He crouched beside Julian, grabbed the front of his shirt, and pulled him close until only inches separated their faces.

His voice dropped to a deadly whisper.

"Call her that one more time..."

His eyes never left Julian's.

"...and I'll make sure you never speak another word for the rest of your life."

Julian's confidence vanished.

Fear replaced it.

"D-Damon..." he stammered.

"She's... she's my wife..."

"She was your wife," Damon cut him off coldly, releasing his grip so Julian's head fell back against the concrete.

Standing once more, Damon calmly removed a silk handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the small trace of blood from his knuckles.

"You discarded her because her body changed."

His voice remained perfectly controlled.

"You destroyed her confidence."

"You chose another woman right in front of her."

He looked down at Julian.

"You forfeited every right you ever had to her."

Julian slowly turned his eyes toward Clara.

For the first time...

She wasn't looking at him with desperate hope.

There were no pleading tears.

Only quiet resolve.

And disappointment.

"Clara..."

His voice trembled.

For the first time, true regret settled into his heart as he realized he had lost everything—his fortune, his reputation, and the woman who had loved him without conditions.

"I'm sorry..."

He swallowed hard.

"I made a terrible mistake. Please... tell him to stop this. We can start over..."

Clara stepped forward until she stood beside Damon.

Without hesitation, Damon intertwined his fingers with hers.

Clara looked at Julian calmly.

There wasn't a single tear left.

"There is no starting over, Julian."

Her voice was steady.

"You were the one who drove me away that night."

"You were the one who told me I disgusted you."

She drew a slow breath.

"Now live with the choices you made... and with the secretary you chose over me."

She turned away without another glance.

Looking up at Damon, she spoke quietly.

"Take me upstairs, Damon."

"I don't want to stay here any longer."

At her request, the hardness in Damon's expression softened almost instantly.

A small, satisfied smile appeared on his lips.

Ignoring Julian's desperate pleas echoing behind them, Damon wrapped an arm around Clara's shoulders and guided her into the private elevator.

---

Silence returned as the elevator ascended toward the penthouse.

Clara leaned against the glass wall, exhausted, her eyes closing for a moment.

Then she felt Damon move closer.

He stepped into her space, bracing one hand lightly against the wall beside her.

His warm breath brushed gently against her neck.

"You saw it yourself, Clara," he murmured.

His cool fingertips lightly traced the side of her neck.

"He only wanted you back once he realized someone else treasured you."

His eyes met hers.

"He never truly loved you."

Clara slowly opened her eyes.

They were only inches apart.

"And you?" she asked softly.

"How are you any different, Damon?"

"You're chasing me because of a childhood promise... and because you refuse to lose."

A quiet chuckle escaped him.

Low.

Warm.

Almost amused.

He gently cupped her face in both hands and looked directly into her eyes with unwavering honesty.

"The difference," Damon whispered,

"is that I loved you when we were teenagers."

"I loved you when you belonged to another man."

"I loved you while you cried because he abandoned you."

"And I'll keep loving you no matter how your body changes... or how wounded your heart becomes."

His thumb softly brushed her cheek.

"To me, Clara..."

His voice became almost reverent.

"...you are the only person I've ever wanted to spend my life with."