Chapter 48: The Distance Between Them

Three days had passed since Damian Sterling and Evelyn Hartley unexpectedly met again at Collins International.

Neither of them had spoken since.

But neither of them had stopped thinking about the other.

On Monday afternoon, representatives from Sterling Group arrived once again at Collins International to finalize the details of their partnership.

This would be Damian and Evelyn's second meeting.

Unlike the first encounter...

Neither of them was caught off guard.

Yet the tension between them was no less intense.

Inside the conference room, Arthur Collins welcomed everyone with a smile.

"I believe we've resolved most of the outstanding issues."

"Today should be our final discussion before signing the agreement."

Everyone took their seats.

Evelyn sat beside Arthur, while Damian sat directly across from her.

Throughout the meeting, they remained completely professional.

They discussed budgets.

Timelines.

Investment strategies.

Not once did they allow their personal history to interfere.

But every now and then...

Their eyes met.

Only for a second.

Then both of them looked away.

Lucas Bennett noticed everything.

He could tell that something had changed in Damian.

The man who once ignored Evelyn now seemed unable to ignore her at all.

Two hours later, the meeting came to an end.

Arthur stood.

"Thank you, everyone."

"I believe we have the foundation for a successful partnership."

After the meeting ended, the executives gradually left the conference room.

Arthur Collins remained behind to discuss a few contractual details with the legal team.

Lucas Bennett received a phone call and excused himself.

Once again...

Damian and Evelyn were alone.

This time, the silence wasn't awkward.

It was familiar.

Damian slowly stood.

"I've been wanting to ask you something."

Evelyn looked at him.

"What is it?"

He hesitated.

Then asked quietly,

"Did you ever hate me?"

The question caught her by surprise.

She stared at him for several seconds before answering.

"I tried."

Damian frowned.

"Tried?"

She nodded.

"There were nights I wanted to hate you."

"It would have made moving on much easier."

She gave a faint, bittersweet smile.

"But hatred takes energy."

"And after everything that happened..."

"I was too tired."

Damian lowered his eyes.

Her answer hurt more than anger ever could.

"I know I don't deserve forgiveness."

Evelyn remained silent.

"But if I could change what happened..."

"I would."

She looked at him calmly.

"Would you?"

He met her gaze.

"Without hesitation."

A quiet laugh escaped Evelyn's lips.

Not because she found it amusing.

Because life could be cruel.

"It's strange."

She said softly.

"For three years of our marriage..."

"I kept waiting to hear words like that."

Her eyes glistened for just a moment.

"They came three years too late."

Damian's throat tightened.

"I know."

"And that's something I'll regret for the rest of my life."

Evelyn picked up her tablet.

"You know what I learned after leaving?"

Damian waited.

"Sometimes..."

"The greatest apology isn't saying 'I'm sorry.'"

"It's accepting that the other person may never be able to go back to who they were."

Her words settled heavily between them.

Damian didn't try to argue.

Because he knew she was right.

Evelyn walked toward the door.

Just before leaving, she stopped.

Without turning around, she said,

"I genuinely hope you find whatever it is you're looking for, Damian."

Then she opened the door and walked away.

Damian remained standing in the empty conference room.

For the first time...

He realized that asking for forgiveness was easy.

Becoming the man worthy of it...

Would be the hardest journey of his life.

Meanwhile, Evelyn walked back toward her office.

Her heart was calmer than it had been after their first meeting.

Talking to Damian still stirred old emotions.

But she had noticed something different.

He no longer looked at her with indifference.

He looked at her with regret.

Whether that regret would change anything...

She didn't know.

And for now...

She wasn't willing to find out.

Because protecting the life she had built for herself and Ethan mattered far more than reopening wounds that had taken three years to heal.