Chapter 28 – Masks and Fire

Evelyn chose her moment carefully.

She always did.

The underground parking lot of Stones International was quiet, polished marble gleaming under white lights. May stepped out of the elevator, tablet tucked under her arm, heels clicking softly as she walked toward her car.

“Still pretending you belong here?”

May stopped.

She didn’t turn immediately.

The voice behind her was silk wrapped around poison.

When she finally faced Evelyn, her expression was calm—almost polite.

“Good afternoon,” May said evenly. “If you’re lost, security can help.”

Evelyn laughed sharply. “You really are impressive. Playing house. Playing mother. Playing wife.”

She stepped closer, eyes burning. “But don’t forget—you were a paid body once.”

The words were meant to wound.

They didn’t.

May studied her quietly, then smiled.

“Is that what keeps you awake at night?” she asked softly. “The idea that I didn’t need to steal anything you lost on your own?”

Evelyn’s nails dug into her palm. “Damien will remember who he belongs with.”

May tilted her head. “People aren’t property.”

“You trapped him with children.”

May’s gaze hardened—just slightly. “Careful.”

Evelyn scoffed. “Or what?”

“Or you’ll realize,” May replied calmly, “that I don’t fight for attention. I fight for peace. And I win.”

A pause.

Then May added, gently but devastatingly,

“He didn’t choose me because I asked. He chose me because he finally learned what love feels like.”

Evelyn’s face twisted.

Before she could respond, a familiar presence stepped between them.

Damien.

His hand slid naturally to the small of May’s back.

Protective. Intimate.

Final.

“Leave,” he said coldly.

Evelyn stared at him. “Damien—”

“I said leave.” His voice was steel. “And don’t approach her again.”

The silence that followed was brutal.

Evelyn laughed shakily, eyes shining with unshed tears. “You’ll regret this.”

She walked away—but the echo of her heels sounded more like defeat than confidence.

May exhaled slowly.

Damien turned to her immediately. “Are you okay?”

She nodded. “I’ve faced worse storms.”

He searched her face. “I should’ve shut this down earlier.”

“You did,” she said softly. “Just now.”

His hand tightened slightly at her back.

They stood there longer than necessary.

Neither wanted to let go.

That night, the house felt warmer.

Aria slept curled against May, one arm draped possessively around her waist. Aiden slept in the next room, Damien’s jacket folded carefully beside him like a treasure.

Damien leaned against the doorway, watching May brush Aria’s hair gently away from her face.

“You make it look easy,” he said quietly.

“It’s not,” May replied. “I just choose love anyway.”

He stepped closer. “You always do.”

She turned. Their closeness felt inevitable now.

“You didn’t have to confront her alone,” Damien said.

“I didn’t,” May answered. “You came.”

He lifted her hand, pressing a slow kiss to her knuckles.

“I will always come.”

The words settled deep between them.

Later, on the balcony, city lights glowing below, May sat cross-legged with her laptop open.

Damien watched curiously. “You never rest.”

She smiled faintly. “Some habits keep me alive.”

Her fingers moved quickly, lines of code flashing across the screen—far too advanced for what she officially worked on.

Damien frowned slightly. “What are you working on?”

She closed the laptop smoothly. “Just… keeping sharp.”

He studied her for a long moment but didn’t push.

Trust had become their quiet language.

As he leaned down to kiss her forehead, May’s eyes drifted back to the closed screen.

Inside the encrypted system, a familiar symbol blinked to life:

S-CODED

A masked figure. A global leaderboard.

An invitation to an international underground competition.

May’s other life stirred.

Years ago, when grief crushed her lungs and survival was her only goal, she had slipped into the digital shadows.

There, she became untouchable.

Untraceable.

Unbeatable.

The world knew her only as S-Coded—a phantom hacker who dismantled systems, exposed corruption, and vanished before applause could follow.

No one had ever seen her face.

No one suspected May Austin.

Not Damien.

Not Daxton.

Not even Sophia.

And for now… she intended to keep it that way.

The next morning, Damien found Aiden in the kitchen, quietly helping May set the table.

“Dad,” Aiden said suddenly.

The word hit Damien like a held breath released.

“Yes?” he replied softly.

Aiden smiled. “Can we all stay like this… always?”

Damien looked at May.

She smiled back.

“Yes,” Damien said firmly. “We can.”

From the hallway, unseen, Lily watched them with pride swelling in her chest, since she came back she has notice the glow and happiness in her sister's face.

Her sister had survived hell.

And built heaven anyway.