003

~Damien's POV~

I pressed on the accelerator, feeling my anger bulb. 

I wasn't ready to return to Seattle, yet I did. 

I had to, all thanks to my foolish brother. 

I felt as though to suffocate. 

The air in the car was thick. 

My phone suddenly rang. I heard it yet I ignored it like a plague. I knew exactly who it was- my father. 

But how could I pick it up when I knew exactly what he wanted to say?

Thunder clapped loudly in the sky, and it soon started to pour heavily.

The phone rang repeatedly, as though intending to make me lose my sanity.

I slowed down a little, my eyes moving to stare at the phone screen inches away from me. 

But when I looked up again? 

“Shit!” I cursed, frantically honking before slamming hard on the breaks.

Bang! 

I still hit the person. 

Hopefully he or she isn't dead yet, I thought as I sucked in a breath. 

I slowly pushed the door open, my heart caught up in my throat as I slowly approached the person lying on the tarred road in the rain…it was a woman. 

Her dainty figure looked weak and her eyes were swollen. 

Something grappled at my cold heart and I walked over, checking her pulse before picking her up as I took her to the car. 

I occasionally glanced at her unfamiliar face as I hit the accelerator, wheezing to the hospital.

…

“Do you really not want to listen to your own father?” The old man's voice sounded on the other end, and I could feel a headache coming in. 

I pinched the space between my brows.

“I do not need a wife father, whoever told you that I wanted to marry that woman?” 

“But she's good for you. She's good for the family. She is perfect to make the Gray family stand strong. She will make a perfect Mrs Gray.” 

“The gray family does not need anyone to stand strong, father. Regardless of what my brother did, the gray family will still stand.” I said, my eyes glowing darkly, and I knew my aura had changed. A few nurses seemed to flee from the scene. 

“But…” 

“That's enough, I'm busy.” I said, and immediately ended the call. I did not have to hear him praise some random woman and make me marry her.

I walked towards the ward, my eyes glowing darkly before pushing the door open and walking in. 

There she was, lying on the hospital bed, her face pale as a ghost. 

Her lips were chapped and her eyes were swollen as though she had been crying.

My heart tugged painfully beneath my chest against my own will, surprising myself. The doctor had informed me earlier that her body seemed to be weak as a result of…an abortion?

I hadn't really hit her hard enough to make her unconscious. 

It only felt like she had ran away from the hospital without receiving any treatment and fainted from a minor collision with the car.

My heart suddenly stopped. 

She was waking up!

I watched as she stirred before her eyes fluttered open lazily. 

She struggled to take in the light, even squinting. 

I could feel her discomfort.

“You're awake.” I said as I walked over. 

She seemed to stare at me, confusion marrying her face and I felt my heart stop as she stared intently at me. 

“I…was the one who ran into you with the car.” I said. I knew it was partially my fault though. I shouldn't have picked up a call while driving. 

“Water.” She rasped, her voice barely audible, but I had caught it.

I immediately poured her a glass before going to call the doctor.

After checking her one more time, it looked like she only needed to rest, and I sighed in relief. 

…

Three days quickly passed, and today I pulled up in the driveway if the Gray family's mansion. 

As I walked into the living room, I caught sight of the one person I simply did not want to see. 

Anger flashed in my eyes as I stared at her talking to my father, who smiled.

“You're here? I called you because…” he started, but I immediately cut him off

“Let me guess, because you want us to proceed with the wedding as soon as possible?” I asked, and the man's eyes glowed darkly.

A raspy, yet mocking chuckle left my lips. 

Once again he had called me home because of this woman? 

I was slowly running out of patience.

“I cannot marry her, father.” I said.

“Then who will marry you! Do you think any woman will accept to marry a man like you!” The man yelled, and I stared at him darkly, my aura starting to morph. 

I knew exactly what he was talking about. Every woman in Seattle saw me as the cold Damien Gray. The one man who could chop off your arm for touching him. But of course, which woman would agree to marry me? 

“I will get a wife, father. But it will not be her.” I said, pointing at the young woman beside him, and I could see her eyes moisten. I did not care.

“You-” the old man started, but was immediately cut off by the sound of my phone ringing.

“Hello?”

“Sir, the woman has locked herself up and will not let any doctors in.” The man on the other end said, and my eyes turned even darker. 

“I will leave now.” I said, immediately hurrying out, and I could hear the angry voice of my father behind me. 

When I arrived at the hospital, I knocked on the door, but there was no response.

Knock! 

But there was still no response.

“Open the door.” I said, cursing under my breath. 

I stood rooted to the ground when the door finally opened with a click, showing the woman's clear gaze. 

There did not seem to be a hint of sadness or anything in those eyes. Just emptiness. My heart tugged. 

“Thank you…for taking me here.” She said as she walked over to the bed and sat down, and I could feel my heart calm inexplicably.

“I might never be able to repay you.” She said, her voice much clearer now, yet I could sense that it was trembling.

“You can repay me.” I said, and she turned, showing a hint of surprise.

I knew she wanted to know how. 

If she did not have money, then how could she repay me? Perhaps that was what she was thinking.

“Marry me.”