Chapter Fifty Two

Damian had been struggling with the urge to ask a single question all night, and by morning, it was all he could think about.

Emily stood in front of Sophia's flat, observing as the grey morning enveloped Manhattan.

She had barely slept.

Damian didn't reject her because of it.

Infact, he had not rejected her at all.

However, he had made a very clear point by not saying anything.

The door was opened by Sophia.

"You're here ahead of time," remarked Sophia.

Emily said, "I couldn't sleep."

Sophia gave her face a look.

"Has Damian called?"

Emily said, "Yes."

"And?"

Emily averted her eyes.

He is eager to meet with me this evening.

Sophia waited patiently.

What Emily was actually asking was understood by her.

“Does he trust you?” Sophia asked but Emily replied, "He wants time," instead.

Sophia nodded her head slowly.

"Time has the potential to mean many different things," she said 

"I know," Emily said.

"What does it mean to you, then?" Sophia asked.

A weak grin was all that Emily could muster.

"I believe he's trying to make sense of everything," she replied.

Sophia understood that answer immediately.

She realized Emily was defending Damian from her just as much as she was defending herself.

Damian was by himself in his office on the other side of town.

He had gone through the identical document three times without understanding a word of it.

What his father's attorney had revealed about the prior meeting with Emily's father was still unresolved.

He was now thinking about a different issue, though.

Emily. The child she is carrying, and Ryan.

He didn't like the fact that he was thinking about Ryan.

Nonetheless, he had no choice because when he first had intercourse with Emily, she was still Ryan's wife.

Damian had believed the union was over.

However, there was a distinction between proving something and thinking it.

He received a call on his phone.

He checked and saw that it was from Emily.

He responded quickly.

"Is everything fine?" asked Damian.

Emily answered, "I could ask you the same thing."

"I've been considering it."

"So have I," Emily replied.

For a few moments, neither of them said anything.

"I want to see you," Damian finally said.

"Why?" Emily asked.

He almost admitted the fact that he was scared.

But instead he replied, "We need to speak."

Emily's heart tightened.

"About the baby?" She asked.

"Yes," Damian replied.

Her eyes were closed.

"All right."

"I don't want you to have the wrong opinion of me," Damian stated.

"Then don't make me wonder,” she replied.

Damian talked more softly this time and said, "I believe what you said to me."

"But?"

Damian kept quiet for a while.

Emily already got it.

"There's always a but with you," she stated.

"Emily..."

"Simply say it."

Damian gulped.

"When was the pregnancy conceived?" He asked. “It has not been confirmed,” she replied.

The words were really strong.

Emily stared at the wall for a moment.

"Do you think it could be Ryan's?"

"I'm not sure what I think anymore," Damian stated.

"But you're curious," Emily said.

"Indeed," he replied.

Emily refused to cry, even as her eyes began to fill with tears.

"This is what you should have told me yesterday," she said.

"I was scared," he admitted.

"About me?" She asked.

"About losing you," he said.

She gave a subdued chuckle despite the lack of humor.

"Are you wondering if my child is yours because you're afraid of losing me?" She asked 

"I understand how that sounds," he replied.

"It sounds exactly as it is."

"I'm not saying you did anything wrong," Damian said as he closed his eyes.

"So what are you saying?" She asked.

"I am just trying to wrap my head around it," he answered.

Emily's voice softened.

"Then understand this. I know who the father of my child is."

Damian tightened his fists and asked,

"Are you sure?"

"I have already told you that it is your child. And if you don't believe me, it is fine," she said.

They were both quiet for a few seconds.

Neither of them expressed what they really wanted to say.

Damian wanted to tell Emily that he loves her and Emily wanted to hear it from Damian.

Instead, she added, "Perhaps you should take your time."

There was a slight break in Damian's voice.

"I don't want time to make you drift away from me," he said.

Emily looked away and said, "Then do not let it." And ended the call.

Ryan was in the back of his vehicle outside Carter Holdings later that afternoon.

He had made an unannounced return.

No press was present.

There was no declaration.

The driver gave him a quick glance and asked, "Are you going in?"

Ryan said, "Not yet."

He looked in the direction of the building.

He was not prepared to meet Emily.

Not at this time.

He needed answers before anything else.

He heard his phone vibrate.

A message from his attorney arrived.

I came across the documents you were searching for. We need to talk about something.

He read the message slowly.

Then a fresh idea struck him.

Emily.

Damian.

The divorce.

Ryan sensed that something was occurring around him.

What it was, he simply had no clue.

Not at this time.

Emily appeared at Damian's apartment that evening.

Damian opened the door for her himself.

They stared at each other for a few seconds.

Damian then moved to the side and  said, "Come in."

Emily walked in.

Neither of them noticed the black sedan that had stopped across the street.

Ryan was seated in it as he watched Damian's penthouse.

He had no idea why he had visited that location.

However, something inside him got harder as he observed Emily walk into Damian's apartment.

He picked up his phone and said, "find out everything Damian is doing."

His driver answered with a nod.

Ryan raised his head and took another glance at the building.

"The truth is what I want this time," he said.

But he wasn't aware that the truth he was looking for was closer than he could have ever believed.