009: The Woman at the Gate

Elena stayed in the library after Damian left.

The photograph was still clutched tightly in her hands.

His reaction had told her everything.

The picture mattered.

Their past mattered.

And no matter how hard Damian tried to hide it, she knew there was still something between them.

But what exactly had happened a year ago?

Why had he suddenly disappeared from her life?

Why did he act as though he hated her one moment and cared about her the next?

The questions refused to leave her mind.

With a sigh, she carefully returned the photograph to the book where she found it.

There was no point searching for answers tonight.

Not when Damian clearly wasn't ready to give them.

The next morning, Elena woke earlier than usual.

Unable to sleep, she decided to take a walk around the mansion grounds.

The air was cool and fresh.

For the first time in days, she felt calm.

She followed a stone pathway lined with flowers until she reached the front gate.

Just as she was about to turn back, a sleek black car pulled up outside.

Elena stopped.

A woman stepped out.

Tall.

Elegant.

Beautiful.

She wore a designer dress and expensive jewelry.

Confidence radiated from every movement she made.

The guards immediately opened the gate for her.

Which meant she wasn't a stranger.

The woman entered as if she owned the place.

Then her eyes landed on Elena.

A smile appeared on her lips.

But it wasn't a friendly smile.

It was the kind that made Elena uncomfortable.

"You must be Elena."

Elena frowned.

"And you are?"

The woman extended her hand.

"Vanessa Hart."

Elena shook it politely.

The name meant nothing to her.

Yet something about Vanessa felt familiar.

Almost as though she had heard it somewhere before.

Vanessa's eyes traveled over Elena carefully.

"So you're the woman Damian brought home."

Elena stiffened.

The comment felt intentional.

"What does that mean?"

Vanessa laughed softly.

"Oh, nothing."

The answer only made things worse.

Before Elena could respond, a voice interrupted them.

"Vanessa."

Both women turned.

Damian was walking toward them.

His expression was unreadable.

Vanessa's smile widened immediately.

She crossed the distance between them and wrapped her arms around his neck.

Elena froze.

Damian gently removed Vanessa's hands but didn't seem surprised by the gesture.

Clearly, they knew each other well.

Too well.

A strange feeling twisted inside Elena's chest.

Jealousy.

She hated it.

Vanessa noticed.

And smiled.

"Damian, aren't you going to introduce me properly?"

Damian glanced at Elena before answering.

"Vanessa is a family friend."

Family friend??

The words should have reassured Elena.

Instead, they made her even more suspicious.

Vanessa linked her arm through Damian's.

"Your father invited me for dinner tonight."

Damian nodded.

"I know."

The familiarity between them was impossible to miss.

Elena suddenly felt like an outsider.

As though she didn't belong there.

That evening, dinner was far more uncomfortable than Elena expected.

Vanessa sat beside Damian.

Laughing at his jokes.

Sharing old memories.

Mentioning places they had visited together.

Every story seemed designed to remind Elena that Vanessa had been part of Damian's life for years.

And Elena had not.

Eventually, Damian's father entered the conversation.

"Vanessa has always been special to this family."

Vanessa smiled sweetly.

"You're too kind."

The older man chuckled.

"Not at all."

Then he looked toward Damian.

"In fact, there was a time when everyone expected the two of you to get married."

The room fell silent.

Elena's fork slipped from her hand and clattered onto her plate.

Her heart sank.

Vanessa's smile deepened.

Damian's expression darkened immediately.

"Father."

His tone carried a warning.

But the damage was already done.

Elena stared at him.

Waiting.

Hoping he would deny it.

Instead, he remained silent.

And that silence hurt more than any answer.

For the rest of the meal, Elena barely spoke.

The moment dinner ended, she excused herself and headed upstairs.

She didn't see Damian watching her leave.

Nor did she hear Vanessa whisper to him afterward.

"Looks like she's finally starting to care."

Damian's gaze remained fixed on the staircase.

His jaw tightened.

Because for the first time in a very long time...

He was afraid.

Afraid that Elena would discover the truth about why he left her a year ago.

And afraid that when she did...

She would never forgive him.