Aaron’s EndgameDamian’s POVThe afternoon sunlight felt deceptively serene through the penthouse windows, as if nothing dark was ever brewing. But I felt it in my chest, a soft pressure, like a pulse warning me something was wrong. I gripped the court paperwork in my hand, proof Blake’s claim had been tossed but my heart beating wouldn't stop. It felt good to win, but I knew that peace was fragile.Leo and I walked in with cautious steps, his little smile was shaky but real. The living area was warm with laughter. Eliot and Lila were curled together on the couch, huddled over a laptop. The way they smiled at each other made me feel at home.A quiet happiness spreads through me, the kind that can only be felt when you're finally with safe people.“Hey," I said softly, trying not to show how happy I was.They looked up, shocked, and then smiled when they saw me and Leo holding the file.“We won!" Leo yelled with pride in his voice. I stepped forward presenting the official ruling. Eli
Rebuild BeginsDamian’s POVThe hospital walls began to feel alive, as if they were beating with the weight of everything that had happened inside them. It had been a week since Eliot woke up, and I had spent every night with him. I did not want to miss any of it. I watched as the color returned to his face, the sharpness settled back into his eyes, the rhythm of his breathing grew stronger.But no matter how happy I was, there was a knot in my chest that wouldn't go away.“Mr. Vale,” the doctor said during morning rounds, adjusting his stethoscope as he looked from Eliot’s chart to us. “He’s stable now. We’re discharging him today—but he needs to be monitored closely for a few more weeks with enough rest. No stress.”Eliot gave a half-smile. “No stress? Have you met him?” He nodded toward me, teasing gently.I chuckled, even though part of me didn’t feel like laughing. “Hey, I’m officially unemployed now. I’m the definition of stress-free.”The doctor smiled, not understanding what
The ReunionDamian’s POVThe lights in the hallway moved quickly, making it hard to see. My heart felt like it was trying to break free as it pounded against my ribs. Leo’s voice still echoed in my mind, shaky with disbelief. “He’s waking up. You should go.”I couldn't remember how I got my keys or how fast I left the building. My thoughts were fuzzy, my body locked in one motion: go. Eliot. I drove like a madman. The city passed in a smear of red lights and honking horns. I didn’t care. I couldn’t afford to. My breath caught in my throat, shallow and uneven. I hadn’t cried since Eliot slipped into that coma. I told myself I had to be strong. For him. For everyone. But the moment the hospital came into view, a sob nearly broke free.He’s alive. He’s coming back to me.The parking lot became fuzzy around the edges as I drove the car into park and jumped out of the driver’s seat. The automatic doors slammed open, and my shoes hit hard against the linoleum floors as I sprinted throu
The Power ShiftDamian’s POVI stood in the sterile, dimly lit corridor of the hospital, staring at my father’s room door which was closed now, a silent wall between us. I didn't have any intention of going back inside after placing the resignation letter on his beds. Now that I have submitted the letter, It didn't matter to me anymore if he read it or not. I had made my decision and I wasn't going back.My footsteps echoed as I walked toward the elevator. The weight of everything pressed on my shoulders: Eliot's motionless body in another part of the hospital, Vale’s future dangling on a thread, we barely stopped Vera now, nobody knew what may happen tomorrow. But in that weight, there was some else: Clarity.I was done living my life based on what other people wanted.The next day, Thorne asked to meet. He didn’t say much in the message, he just gave a time of meeting and place which was the top floor of the Vale headquarters. I knew he had seen the letter. Or my father had handed
Maxwell’s RegretMaxwell's POVThe soft, golden light coming in through the blinds was too warm for the cold weight on my chest.The hospital television hummed quietly in the background, the image flickering slightly. I had turned down the sound all morning because I couldn't stand the noise, but something stirred me to listen to what was being broadcast and I heard his voice.Damian’s voice.I froze.He was standing behind a podium with reporters crowding in, microphones cramming around him. My son. His posture was confident, chin lifted high. But his eyes... his eyes were dimmer. Not weak. Just worn out."This is the secret I have been keeping for years. I tried to become the man my father wanted. And all it got me was a broken heart and a broken company.”I couldn’t breathe. Did he just reveal to the world who he was? I tried to sit upright in bed, but my chest ached, and my legs felt like iron. My fingers dug into the sheets.“This city deserves better. This company deserves bett
The Public ReckoningDamian’s POVThe morning sunlight pierced through the broken windows of the warehouse, slicing into the darkness like a sword. Leo sat at his desk, with his headphones still wrapped around his neck, and his eyes heavy with sleep. We had been watching the news all night, seeing how the world was changing after the chaos we caused.The room was filled with silence. Not the comforting one that comes after a storm, but the eerie, loaded hush of a city holding its breath.I stared at my phone screen as the latest trending headline flashed across social media:“Caught! Vale Heiress Fakes Pregnancy Scandal.”It hit like a sledgehammer. In seconds, the internet went crazy. Hashtags flew across every site. There were so many comments that I couldn't read them all. And just like that, the video of Blake mocking Eliot’s assault was pushed aside by something shinier, scandalous, and more salacious.Lila.The person who was by my side through hell and worse.And all it took w