Chapter Five

I walk back into the hospital with my heart heavy. Sophia stays right beside me like a shield. Damien still stands near the police officers. His face looks pale and tight. Victoria hovers close to him again. She touches his shoulder and whispers something. I look away fast. I cannot watch that anymore.

The officer turns to me. “Mrs. Harper, we need to speak with you too. Just a few questions.”

I nod even though I want to run. We move to a quiet corner. Damien tries to follow but the officer stops him. “Alone please.”

I sit down. My hands twist together in my lap. The officer asks about my father’s business deals. About any fights with Voss Enterprises. About the divorce. Each question feels like another weight on my chest.

“I do not know much about their business,” I say honestly. “I stayed out of it. Damien and my father never got along but I never thought it would come to this.”

The officer writes everything down. “We will check the contract details. For now stay safe. If you remember anything call us.”

He leaves. Damien comes straight to me. “What did they ask you?”

“About you. About the company fight.” My voice sounds flat. “They think it might be connected Damien. If your people did this I swear…”

“I did not order anything like that,” he says quickly. His eyes look desperate. “I argue with your father all the time but never violence. Never. You know me.”

“Do I?” I laugh but it hurts. “I thought I knew you for nine years. I thought if I loved you enough you would love me back. I was wrong about everything.”

Victoria appears behind him. Her eyes are red. “This is all happening because of the divorce Lila. You shook everything up. Dad was fine until today.”

“Stop blaming her,” Damien says sharply. He turns to Victoria. “Go sit with your mother. I need to talk to Lila alone.”

Victoria looks shocked. Tears fill her eyes again. She walks away but not before giving me a look full of hate. It cuts deep. My own sister. The woman he always wanted.

Damien sits beside me. Close. Too close. “Lila I am scared too. Not just for your father. For us. For Liam. When you left the house today with those papers I sat in my car for twenty minutes. I could not drive. The thought of coming home to no you… it broke something in me.”

I stare at the floor. “You had nine years to feel something. Nine years of me cooking your meals. Nine years of me smiling for Liam while I cried in the shower. Now you feel empty? Good. Now you know how I felt every single day.”

He reaches for my hand. I pull away. “Do not touch me. Not now.”

“Please,” he whispers. His voice cracks. “Let me come home with you tonight. Let me help with Liam. Let me show you I can be different.”

Before I can answer my mother walks over. She looks exhausted. “Lila your father is asking for Damien.”

Damien stands up fast. I follow them into the room. Dad looks weak but his eyes are sharp when he sees Damien.

“You,” Dad says. His voice is rough. “Did you do this to me?”

Damien freezes. “No sir. I swear on Liam’s life I did not.”

Dad coughs. It sounds painful. “You never wanted my daughter. You made her miserable. If your dirty business caused this I will destroy you from this bed.”

The words hang heavy in the room. I feel tears again. “Dad stop. Please rest.”

Dad looks at me. His face softens a little. “You deserve better Lila. Take Liam and go far away. Do not let this man pull you back in.”

Damien looks like someone hit him. Real pain shows on his face. “I know I do not deserve her. But I am asking for a chance. One real chance.”

Dad closes his eyes. “Get out both of you. I need to sleep.”

We leave the room. The hallway feels too bright. Too loud. Sophia waits with coffee. She gives one to me and glares at Damien.

My phone rings again. It is Liam. “Mom I cannot sleep. I miss you. Is Dad with you?”

“Yes baby. We are both here. We will come home soon.”

Damien hears and his face changes. Something soft moves across it. “Let me drive you home. Please.”

I am too tired to fight. We say goodbye to my mother and Victoria. Victoria does not look at me. She only looks at Damien with sad eyes.

The drive home is quiet. Liam is already asleep when we arrive. Damien carries him to bed like he always did. I watch from the door. The sight still hurts. It looks like a real family. But it never was.

When Liam is settled Damien comes to the living room. I stand by the window.

“I am staying on the couch tonight,” he says. “I do not want you alone.”

I want to say no. I want to scream at him to leave. But the truth is I am scared too. Scared of the shooting. Scared of what comes next.

“Fine,” I whisper. “But do not think this means anything Damien. I am still done.”

He nods but his eyes say something else. He lies down on the couch. I go to my room and close the door. I cry into my pillow until I have no tears left.

Sleep does not come easy. When it finally does I dream of Damien chasing me. I run and run but he keeps getting closer. In the dream he catches me and says he loves me. I wake up with my heart racing.

The next morning I walk out to the kitchen. Damien is already there. He made coffee. He looks tired but determined.

“Liam is still sleeping,” he says softly. “Can we talk before he wakes up?”

I take the coffee. My hands shake a little. “Talk then.”

He steps closer. “I called my lawyers. I am fixing the business mess with your father’s company. And I am going to prove to you that I want this marriage. I want you Lila. Not as second choice. As my wife. As the mother of my son. As the woman I was blind to for too long.”

My heart beats fast. Hope tries to rise but I push it down. “Words Damien. I need more than words.”

He looks straight into my eyes. “Then give me time to show you actions.”

Before I can answer the doorbell rings. Sophia stands there with bags of food. Behind her two police officers wait.

“Mrs. Harper,” one says. “We need Damien Voss to come with us for questioning. New evidence came up overnight.”

Damien’s face goes white. He looks at me. Real fear in his eyes.

My stomach drops.

This nightmare is getting worse. And I do not know who to trust anymore.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​