Chapter 17 – When Masks Fall

Vanessa knew something was wrong the moment the house went quiet.

Not peaceful quiet.

Alert quiet.

She stood in the hallway of the Stone estate, heels clicking sharply against marble as she watched staff move with unusual restraint. No one met her eyes. No one spoke unless spoken to.

Power, she realized too late, had already started slipping through her fingers.

“Where’s Aiden?” she demanded of a maid.

The woman hesitated. “Mr. Stone took him out this morning.”

Vanessa’s lips pressed thin. “Damien?”

“Yes, miss.”

Her nails dug into her palm.

Damien never took Aiden without informing her.

Never—until now.

At a private café across town, Damien sat with Aiden at a corner table, watching the boy carefully stir too much sugar into his hot chocolate.

“You don’t have to drink it if it’s too sweet,” Damien said gently.

Aiden shrugged. “Mum says sweet things don’t last long anyway.”

Damien froze.

“…Which mum?” he asked softly.

Aiden looked up, confused. “Both.”

Something broke—and healed—at the same time inside Damien’s chest.

“Dad?” Aiden asked suddenly. “Did I do something bad?”

“No,” Damien said immediately, reaching across the table. “You did nothing wrong. Ever.”

Aiden studied him seriously. “Then why does Vanessa get angry at me?”

Damien closed his eyes briefly.

“Because,” he said carefully, “she shouldn’t be around children.”

Aiden nodded, accepting that explanation with the simple logic only children had.

“Okay,” he said, sipping his drink. “Can I go to Mum’s house later?”

Damien smiled faintly. “Yes. You can.”

Always.

That afternoon, Daxton Stone convened an unexpected family meeting.

When Vanessa arrived, she was irritated—until she saw who was already seated.

Damien.

His parents.

And May Austin.

Perfectly composed. Calm. Untouchable.

Vanessa’s heart slammed against her ribs.

“What is she doing here?” Vanessa snapped.

Daxton didn’t look at her. “Sitting.”

May met Vanessa’s glare without flinching.

“Let’s begin,” Daxton said.

Damien stood first.

“This engagement is officially over,” he said flatly. “As of now.”

Vanessa laughed sharply. “You already said that. You don’t get to humiliate me like this—”

“You humiliated yourself,” Damien interrupted, voice cold. “This is about my son.”

Vanessa’s smile faltered. “Your son is fine.”

May stood slowly.

“No,” she said calmly. “He wasn’t.”

Vanessa spun toward her. “You have no right—”

“I have every right,” May said evenly. “To protect my child.”

The room stilled.

Daxton’s cane tapped once.

“Say it clearly, girl,” he commanded.

May’s chin lifted.

“Aiden is my son,” she said. “And Damien’s.”

Vanessa staggered back half a step. “That’s impossible.”

Damien placed a document on the table.

“DNA results,” he said. “Independent. Verified.”

Silence exploded.

Vanessa’s face drained of color. “You— you stole him.”

May’s voice sharpened for the first time. “You hurt him.”

Vanessa laughed hysterically. “He’s a child. Children exaggerate.”

“No,” Damien said, eyes dark. “They remember.”

Daxton leaned forward. “We have recordings, testimonies, and medical observations. Enough to ensure you never come near a child again.”

Vanessa’s breath came fast. “You can’t do this. My family—”

“Has already been notified,” Daxton replied calmly. “They won’t protect you.”

She turned to Damien desperately. “You loved me.”

Damien didn’t hesitate. “I loved the idea my grandfather forced on me.”

That was the final blow.

Security escorted Vanessa out as her screams echoed uselessly down the corridor.

When the doors finally closed—

Peace followed.

Later, Damien’s parents approached May.

His mother, ashley took her hands warmly. “You should have been here five years ago.”

May smiled softly. “I arrived when I was needed.”

His father, Lawrence nodded approvingly. “You raised a remarkable daughter.”

“And a remarkable son,” Damien added quietly.

May met his eyes.

Something settled between them—not tension.

Truth.

That evening, at May’s apartment, the children sensed the shift immediately.

Aiden clung to Damien’s side while Aria bounced excitedly.

“Does this mean we’re really family now?” Aria asked.

Damien crouched to their level. “We always were.”

Aiden looked up at May. “Mum… am I staying?”

May knelt and hugged him tightly. “Yes, sweetheart. You’re home.”

Lily wiped away tears discreetly from the kitchen doorway.

Sophia, leaning beside her, murmured, “Worth the wait.”

Later, after the children slept, May stood on the balcony alone.

Damien joined her quietly.

“I won’t rush you,” he said. “Or us.”

May nodded. “Good. Because we’re not something that survives rushing.”

He smiled faintly. “You’re extraordinary.”

She glanced at him. “I know.”

He laughed softly—free, unguarded.

For the first time.

Inside, two children slept peacefully.

Outside, the past loosened its grip.

And the future—

Finally had room to breathe.