Chapter Three

Sophia bursts into the waiting room twenty minutes later. Her hair is messy and she is still wearing her work clothes. She sees me and pulls me into a tight hug without saying anything. I hold her like she is the only solid thing left in my world.

“I came as fast as I could,” she whispers. “How is your dad?”

“Stable,” I answer. My voice sounds tired. “He is in intensive care. The doctor says he lost a lot of blood but he will live.”

Sophia looks over my shoulder. She sees Damien standing near the window and Victoria sitting close to him. Her eyes narrow. She has never liked either of them.

“Come sit down,” she says and pulls me to the chairs on the other side of the room. “You look like you are about to fall over.”

I sit. My legs feel weak. Sophia holds my hand and rubs it gently. “Breathe Lila. You just got divorced. Your dad got shot. You do not have to be strong every second.”

Tears fill my eyes again. “Damien drove me here. He stayed. He even wiped a tear from my face. Why is he acting like this now? He said he hates me this afternoon.”

Sophia shakes her head. “Because you are finally leaving. Some men only want what they cannot have anymore. Do not fall for it.”

Before I can reply Victoria walks over. She looks perfect even in the hospital lights. Her eyes move between me and Sophia.

“Lila, Mom wants to speak with you,” she says softly. “She is worried.”

I stand up. Sophia stays right beside me like a guard. We walk to where Mom sits. Her eyes are swollen from crying.

“Your father is awake for a few minutes,” Mom tells me. “He asked for you.”

My heart beats faster. I go back into the room alone this time. Dad looks a little better. His eyes are open but weak.

“Lila…” he says. His voice is rough.

I sit next to the bed. “I am here.”

He looks at me for a long time. “The divorce… is it done?”

“Yes. It is done.”

He closes his eyes for a second. “Good. You suffered enough. I pushed you into that marriage. I thought it would fix things. I was wrong.”

His words surprise me. My father never admits mistakes. I squeeze his hand. “Just rest. We can talk when you are stronger.”

He nods slowly. “Victoria… she still loves him. Be careful daughter. Do not let history repeat.”

Those words stay in my head as I leave the room. When I return to the waiting area Damien is alone. Sophia went to get coffee. Victoria is nowhere in sight.

Damien walks straight to me. “How is he?”

“He spoke to me,” I say. “He is weak but okay.”

Damien nods. He looks tired. His hair is messy and his shirt is no longer perfect. “Lila… about what I said earlier today. I was angry.”

I laugh but there is no happiness in it. “You have been angry for nine years Damien. Why does it matter now?”

He steps closer. “Because you are really leaving. You packed your things. You took the papers. And suddenly I cannot breathe when I think about it.”

My chest tightens. “Do not do this. Do not say things you do not mean. I spent nine years waiting for you to see me. You never did. Now that I am done waiting you want to look?”

He reaches out and touches my arm. His hand feels warm. “I saw you. I just did not want to. Victoria was… easy. Familiar. You were the mistake I was forced to live with.”

The words hurt but I do not cry. “And now?”

“Now I watch you walk away and it feels wrong,” he says quietly. “You were always there. With Liam. In my house. In my life. I got used to it. I did not know I needed it until it was gone.”

I pull my arm away. “I am not coming back Damien. I am tired of being the second choice. I am tired of sleeping in a bed where you wished another woman was lying next to you.”

His grey eyes look straight into mine. For the first time I see something like pain in them. “What if I do not want you to be second anymore?”

My heart races. I hate how my body still reacts to him. Before I can answer Victoria comes back. She stops when she sees us standing so close. Her face changes.

“Damien,” she says. “The doctor wants to speak with the family.”

He does not move right away. He keeps looking at me. “We are not finished talking Lila.”

I turn away and walk toward Sophia who just returned with coffee. My hands shake when I take the cup.

Sophia whispers, “He is trying to pull you back in. Do not let him. You deserve better.”

I know she is right. But as I sit down and feel Damien’s eyes still on me I realize something scary.

My heart is not done with him yet. Even after everything. Even after I promised myself I was finished.

And that might be the most dangerous thing of all.