Chapter 4: How. Could. You

Mia

Damon’s voice cut cleanly through mine. I turned to him.

On his usually impassive face was something I couldn't read, but perhaps it was my imagination. Soon after he looked at me harshly.

“Don’t be unreasonable Mia.” he said, “Athena is staying. Why would she need to leave when her family is here? Don't ever say something so ridiculous. In matters like these you shouldn't interfere.”

My lips remained slightly parted, but no sound came out. Whatever I had wanted to say dissolved quietly. 

“Exactly,” Mara smiled, settling back down satisfied. “She has been family far before you came. You'd better know your place.”

With that, the atmosphere reverted to its previous state. Athena, and Mara spoke without a care in the world, their laughter filling the space. Damon looked away eating. It was as if everything was normal.

Only I remained frozen in place, my heart sinking.

I didn't stop looking at him as he ate without a care in the world.

 In just one day, every single opinion I held was crumbling.

And now, the man who once promised to protect me, had let me be flayed, disregarding me like air.

I lowered my gaze slowly, forcing my fingers to relax around the fork even though they trembled faintly.

It wasn't until I made it into the darkness of our bedroom— my bedroom, with how little time he spent in it— that the tears I'd been holding back finally fell. I curled into the sheets, sobbing silently until it hurt, the memories of everything today circling my mind.

I didn't know how much time passed till my tears dried. Through the sheen, my eyes remained on the bedroom door. It was unlocked, but did that matter?

Recently, even during the days he came home, he would stay in his study of the guest room. But he also knew how I was when upset. 

In the past, when I was even the slightest bit upset no matter what he was doing, he would stay beside me. Even if he didn't apologise or say a word, his warmth and presence would be enough. It was the one thing I'd grasped after years of living alone.

Would he come now?

The question felt like a joke, considering the past several months, yet my eyes remained at the door. Wishing. Hoping for SOMETHING.

I didn't know how long I waited until I eventually drifted to sleep. When I woke up the next morning, the space beside me remained empty. 

 >>>>>>>

The weeks that followed blurred together. As they agreed on, Athena began staying in the mansion.She acclimated quickly like a fish to water until the maids within it couldn't go without speaking her name. Mara and Damon soon began taking her out to places. Damon, who rarely came home these days, now returned every night, but it was always with Athena in tow, having gone for another outing 

The three of them looked harmonious. Happy.

My life, however, was falling apart.

Following that night, the line between Damon and I had deepened into a chasm. Between his time spent with Athena and in the story, I rarely ever saw him unless it was in the company. Unlike the last time, there was no sliver of love, as if the last two years didn't exist.

 We were like strangers.

The pregnancy announcement I had anticipated remained unspoken. I didn't get the chance when he was barely so I remained alone with the knowledge of our baby.

The only thing that kept me going was burying myself in work. More specifically, the upcoming Zenthros project.

It was one of NovaTech’s biggest upcoming tech projects. One which, under Damon's approval months, I had created and drafted every step of the way. Its success wasn't only going to bring NovaTech to greater heights but also truly show my capabilities.

Most importantly, it was something that was fully mine. My creation. My figurative child, in a sense.

Over the past few weeks, I had dedicated myself towards creating its proposal and presentation to ease the maelstrom of emotions inside me. Every single moment that I wasn't resting or eating, I poured myself into it.

And it was actually taking off. In a week's time, the initial proposal would be seen amongst the board of directors. That good news was the sole consolation and the only light in the midst of my crumbling life.

A new day had come. Thanks to my persistent morning sickness, I came later than usual. As soon as I arrived in my office, hands ready to close in on the physical files, I froze as I felt nothing.

The project files. They were gone. 

My breath hitched in a mix of panic and disbelief. What the hell? 

I stood up, trying to make sense of it when the door opened.

“Ma’am, there —”

 “What happened to my files on the Zenthros project?”

My voice was quiet, yet heavy, stopping her in place. I turned to meet Jenny's gaze.

I was never careless and didn't even dare bring anything from work home, which could only mean that someone had taken it. There were very few people who had access to my office and Jenny would have spotted them. 

When I looked up, she remained in place, looking both hesitant and uncertain along with a trace of what looked like…pity?

“Ma’am, the project was reassigned. All the proposal details, both physical and digital, were ordered to be transferred this morning.” She hesitated, “Mr Nova ordered it yesterday. I'm sorry. I- I thought you were aware Ma'am.”

The words slammed into me. My head buzzed.

“You said it was transferred.” I spoke numbly, “Transferred to who?”

Her anxious gaze flicked for a moment before she spoke.

“He signed it off to Miss Nova, his sister. She was announced as a new employee in the project department this morning, which is what I came to tell you.”

For a moment, everything went quiet. And then…

Rage. Pure, unadulterated rage.

He knew exactly how much that project meant to me. Even during his silent treatments, I had spoken passionately about the project. From the beginning, I had handled everything myself. Every detail. Every revision. Even when my body felt weak, when the nausea wouldn’t stop, I still worked hard on it. 

He KNEW.

And he gave it away. 

The frustration built up over the weeks of his neglect, his avoidance whilst doting over Athena, burst through. 

I couldn't hear or think of anything else. I barely noticed Jenny calling after or the eyes that followed me as I passed them. All I knew was the fury bubbling up within me and a single thought.

How dare he?

When I reached his office I flung the door open without fanfare and slammed it behind me. I didn't care about politeness anymore. 

“How. Could. You?” I spat.

Damon looked up, his expression composed. Unflappable. That infuriated me more.

“Miss Dawson,” he said, voice measured, “Barging in like this is unprofessional—”

“Cut the crap!” I fought the urge to reach out and shake him.

“I suppose you're here because of the announcement,” he said, “Athena wanted to try a hand in the company I gave her the proposal to gain experience. With it being near completion, it’s a good opportunity for her.”

“So my project was the sacrificial lamb.” I laughed bitterly, “You know how hard I worked on it. You know—”

“She’s family, Mia,” he snapped, "and it's just a project. You can handle another one.”

Those words, doused my fury to nothing. 

Just a project. My months of hard work were given away for her but it was nothing to him.

He didn't care.

Looking at the ground, a hollow despair filled me. I let out a short, bitter breath.

“Damon.” I said his name, my chest tightening, “I fell in love with you two years ago because you were kind and sweet. Then you suddenly changed, pushing me away just to reel me in again. I used to think that if I held on things would go back to the way it was. But now…I don't know anymore. Do you even care about me?”

He didn't answer, and I huffed bitterly, looking up to meet what I knew would be an indifferent gaze.

But what I met wasn't indifferent.

In his gaze, something flickered, just like it did in that dining table weeks ago. It was so brief, I wasn’t sure if it was real. 

It looked like a STRUGGLE.

A knock rang abruptly, startling me. I turned just enough to see Damon's assistant, Gregory enter. 

“Sir, you received a call from Mr Grey. He said he wants to talk to you.”

I vaguely recognised that name as Marcus, Damon's mentor, but couldn't think of anything else.

Afterwards, the young man turned to leave, but not before his gaze flicked towards me in what looked like pity.

 I wasn't bothered about anyone else hearing us—Damon’s office, like most, was soundproof, but that look meant the news had spread. 

The door shut. I turned back towards Damon to find that that look in his eyes had disappeared, like it never existed.

He stood up, indifferent, and reached for his suit.

“You should go back to your office. Let it go Mia.” he said, passing by. His jaw clenched as he looked away.

“This is for the best.”

I remained frozen in place as he walked past me. I'd never felt more alone.