Se connecterLouisa's Point of View"It's Claudia," he said, something apologetic already creeping into his voice. "She says it's urgent."I swallowed the words that were about to come out of my mouth, with force. I wouldn't let her get to me.Damien had explained. She was at a low point in her life and she needed— bullshit! I was pissed."Of course it is." I didn't bother hiding the bitterness this time, pulling my hand back from his."I have to take this.""You always do."He hesitated, torn between the phone and me, and for a second I almost hoped he'd just let it ring out, choose this moment, choose us, instead of her. He didn't. He stepped a few feet away instead, phone pressed to his ear, leaving me alone in the bedroom with the cup of warm water now going cold and a hollow ache sitting heavy in my chest.I couldn't hear most of it, just fragments carried on the breeze, his voice low and careful, long pauses where Claudia was clearly saying something he definitely considered significant. Per
Chapter 89Louisa's Point of ViewI kept to myself throughout the ride back home, not that I didn't want to speak or scream or do something, but I ended up with nothing.Just a full ache in my heart and the sting in my stomach getting more significant, as if reminding me of my situation, of how I'd failed."Are you okay?" Damien asked again, coming around to settle into the seat across from me, sliding a cup of water toward my hand like everything was fine.Like he hadn't just betrayed me, betrayed my trust.I didn't answer right away. I was still staring at where his phone sat on the dressing table. The screen had gone dark again, but the words from that email didn't blur out of my mind.Alternative surrogacy candidates."Louisa?" He leaned forward slightly, brow furrowing, finally picking up on something in my silence that he hadn't caught a moment ago."I saw your phone," I said finally, quietly, afraid of how much emotion would burst out if my tone went any louder. "The email."It
Louisa's point of view I slept for the majority of the flight. Before and after our... session, and everyone definitely knew what we had been up to, judging by the looks on their faces. "They all definitely know." "No, they don't." Even he didn't believe that himself. He drew me closer, planting a kiss on the top of my head, and it felt good. I let myself melt into it. And while I wasn't past his and Claudia's relationship, I wasn't worried about that now. It was just him and me, and he loved me. That was enough. The entire offloading and ride to the car was seamless. Damien held onto me the whole drive, which felt unusual but not terrible. It felt like something I wouldn't mind getting used to. Was this how vacation Damien acted? "You're extra touchy," I said halfway to the hotel. He dragged me closer, taking a deep breath against my skin, reminding me that I hadn't showered in twenty-four hours. Nasty! "Maybe I've just really missed you." He moaned into me, and my cor
Damien s Point Of View We ended up taking the night flight after missing the initial one, and I didn't regret it.We got to spend quality time together, and I also got time to think past the blur of everything that was going on.The two-year mark was coming closer, and I wasn't any closer to having a child.My eyes caught the text that had just popped up from Smith, my new lawyer.I had texted him in a rush of emotions last night after Louisa got her period. I asked him to keep an eye out for new surrogates.Looking back at it now, it might not have been the best next course of action, but it was all I could think of then.I had acted on impulse, but now… I turned to Louisa, who was sleeping next to me. It felt like I was doing something wrong.Like maybe I should have asked her thoughts about it first, or not done it at all. Maybe. Maybe.But I'd done it now, and there was no need to tell her, at least not until I had found a specific one."We've tracked down five potential women,"
Damien's Point of ViewLouisa waited for me outside the airport, our flight scheduled to leave in the next hour.She was on her phone, completely unaware of her surroundings even after I got close to her."Hey." She turned off her phone at the sound of my voice, but I got a glimpse of what she was doing before then.Texting Marcus.My jaw tightened against my will, and I did my best to just ignore it. It doesn't matter."Hey." She replied dismissively without looking at me, her eyes fixed on the terminal."I'm sorry I was late. I needed—""To tuck Claudia into bed?" She rolled her eyes.My chest tightened with anger. It was so unfair that she got to act like I was the terrible person for being with my childhood friend in her time of need when she was constantly texting another man."Don't you think you're being hypocritical?" I said, beyond myself."What?" She swung her head at me, giving me her first glance since I got there."You're being hypocritical. Acting all jealous about Claud
Louisa's Point of ViewJust like I had said, I followed Damien to be with Claudia while he comforted her and stayed by her side on her mother's memorial."Thank you for coming with me," Damien said as we parked outside a rich people's cemetery.I forced a smile, the best I could offer. "It's no issue."He nodded, hesitating for a moment. "Things with Claudia, it's complicated. She's very… fragile right now. Emotional…""I understand, Damien." I interrupted, and he shook his head."No, she might have some outbursts and throw tantrums. Just please, overlook it. For my sake. She needs people around her at this moment who wouldn't judge her." He took my hands in his, looking at me gently, like he was asking me to endure another woman's behavior.I swallowed. "Is there something you're not telling me?"He let me go. "It's not my story to tell. All I can say is Claudia is a great person going through a lot. Just keep that in mind, would you?"I nodded, extremely confused about whatever was







