Chapter 41

Chapter 40

The morning sun sliced through the opulent drapes of Damien's bedroom, highlighting the dust motes dancing in the air. He stirred, the remnants of last night's restless sleep clinging to him like cobwebs. His mind still grappled with the missing watch, a constant ache he couldn't seem to soothe. A quick glance at the clock jolted him upright. He was running late. "Damn!" He muttered. He reached for the notebook beside him and stood up. Quickly he cleared his eyes and went into the kitchen without knowing what he needed there. He went out from there and tried focusing his thought.

As he rushed down the stairs impeccably dressed in his Vanquish Li bespoke suit, he found Aella already seated at the dining table, picking at her breakfast. The air crackled with unspoken tension, thicker than the freshly brewed coffee steaming in the centre. He thought about something but couldn't say it out.

"Morning," he mumbled, forcing a smile that tasted metallic in his mouth.

Aella met his