All Chapters of He Hurt Me, Now He Wants Me Back: Chapter 281 - Chapter 287

Damien ShawThe last few days have been great. Simple. Quiet. Honest.Away from the scrutinizing eyes of the public. Away from boardroom whispers, tabloid poison, the insatiable mouths of people who don’t know a damn thing about us. About her.The world’s been trying to convince me I’m losing the woman I love. That Imogene’s not safe. That she’s dangerous. A murderer. A liar. Unfit.But now?Now she looks like herself. She feels like herself.She’s smiling as she folds the last piece of clothing into her suitcase, humming under her breath. God. When was the last time she smiled like that? When was the last time I saw her move without fear in her spine?I stand there for a second, just watching her. Watching the woman who fought tooth and nail to survive something most people would’ve never come back from. But she’s still here.The doctor was right. A change of environment, a little peace, space to breathe—this is what she needed. Not more meds. Not another psych eval. Not another god

Damien Shaw We arrive just after sunset. The abandoned industrial site sprawls ahead like a graveyard of rusted steel. I step out of the black van, boots crunching against gravel, heart pounding so hard it drowns out the voices on the comms. The SWAT team fans out around me—silent, disciplined, lethal. My eyes scan every corner, every shadow. Somewhere inside that building is Imogene. Somewhere in there are Kia and Lily.I adjust the earpiece, my voice low but sharp. “You know the plan. Secure the perimeter. Locate Kia and Lily. No one pulls a damn trigger unless I say so.”A chorus of affirmatives answers back.The building groans with the wind as I move in, weapon holstered but ready. It smells like mildew and oil—old decay wrapped in cold air. The walls are lined with corroded pipes, graffiti, and silence. Flashlights cut through the dark like blades. I don’t breathe easy until I hear a whispered voice in my earpiece.“Targets located. Trunk of a black sedan. Both alive, sed

Imogene ScottI feel it before I see it.A soft twitch. The slightest movement beneath my cheek.I jolt upright, eyes snapping open. My neck aches from sleeping in the chair, and my hand is still wrapped around his. Damien’s fingers are curling slowly around mine.My heart starts pounding.“Damien?” My voice is barely a whisper.His eyelids flutter. Then those dark eyes, still a little glassy, still groggy, finally find mine.A lazy, familiar smile curls at the corner of his mouth. “Told you I’d carry your burden,” he rasps.I break.I don’t even try to hold it in. Tears fall freely down my cheeks, and I laugh and cry all at once as I clutch his hand tighter and lean forward to press my forehead against his.“Don’t ever do that again,” I sob. “Don’t you ever scare me like that again.”“I’m not going anywhere,” he murmurs. His voice is hoarse, but his thumb brushes my hand gently. “You think I’d miss meeting our babies?”I shake my head, still crying. “I was so scared.”“I know,”

Imogene ScottLater that nightThe house is quiet—well, mostly.We’re all curled up in the living room watching tv. Theo’s nestled between Damien and me, legs sprawled over both our laps like a lazy prince. Isla’s curled up in the oversized armchair with her favorite blanket—pink, sparkly, and ragged from love. And Lily, of course, is sitting with her arms crossed and her nose turned up like she’s way too grown for movie night, but she hasn’t moved from her spot next to me since the opening credits started.Some animated movie plays—something with talking animals and way too many fart jokes. I’m not really watching. My eyes keep drifting to each of them. Their faces lit up, mouths moving, popcorn fingers reaching across laps. This. This is peace.Theo suddenly turns his little head up toward me. “Mommy, do you think fish ever get sad they can’t blink?”I blink. Damien chokes on his water.“What?” I say, trying not to laugh.“I mean,” Theo continues seriously, “if I couldn’t blink,