Semua Bab The Stranger My Heart Belonged To: Bab 21 - Bab 30

DAMON’S POVI wasn’t sure why I called her in. Not really.I told myself it was about the breakfast issue—that idiotic little mishap that wouldn’t have even made it to my desk if it weren’t for the fact that it involved him. My grandfather.But somewhere between checking my watch and hearing her knock, I knew the truth.I just wanted to see her.“Sit,” I said, and watched the way she moved—like she was trying to shrink and disappear but couldn’t help carrying herself like she had a spine made of glass.Breakable, maybe. But still sharp.She sat.Her eyes flicked toward me, cautious but steady, and that infuriatingly calm face didn’t flinch.I leaned forward slightly, studying her. “You should be afraid of me,” I said again, voice lower this time. Then I added, “Especially if you keep playing with the truth.”A flicker crossed her face. Subtle, but I caught it. A crease in her brow. She disagreed.My jaw tensed. “You don’t agree?”She hesitated. I could see it—her instinct to fire back

SADIE’S POV.Typical bullies—they only have courage when they outnumber you. The moment someone stronger appears, they scatter like roaches.I caught a glimpse of Angelica’s face—this isn’t over. I don’t know when I’ll finally be free of them.When they finally left, I realized I was still wrapped in Damon’s arms.I stepped back quickly, lowering my gaze as my fingers brushed away the lingering touch of his suit. “Thank you,” I said quietly, the words catching on the tight knot in my throat.I bowed slightly, more out of instinct than grace.I couldn’t bring myself to look at him. My cheeks burned, and I hated how exposed I felt. Like he could see every part of me I tried so hard to hide.He didn’t move. His voice came a moment later, calm but firm.“You’ve left their house, haven’t you?”I nodded. “Yes, sir.”A silence followed—not sharp, but heavy. Like something was trying to settle between us and neither of us wanted to name it.“I’m sorry if… if my personal life has interfered w

SADIE’S POVThe silence was almost kind. Almost.I sat on the edge of the sofa across from the hotel’s half-bedroom, half-boardroom setup—unsure if I even belonged in the room, let alone the story unfolding inside it.The screen of my laptop cast a dull, flickering light across my hands, catching the tired angles of my reflection in the dark glass.Outside, London blurred—a mess of gold and blue lights dancing like ghosts. But all I could feel was him. The weight of his presence beside me. The noise of his silence.One suite. One bed. One thick, choking wall of tension.And him. Damon Prince.He sat at the table like it was any other work night—stoic, focused, immune. Typing. Reading. Correcting. Like the bed didn’t exist. Like I didn’t.Like we weren’t trapped in the same breath, the same storm.I tried not to come undone. Tried to convince myself this was just a glitch in the system—some innocent booking error. Not fate. Not cruelty. Not him.But the second I saw that single, king-s

The Next MorningDAMON’S POVThere was one bathroom.One goddamn bathroom in the entire suite, and we had a full day of meetings ahead.I’d woken up first—on purpose. I gave myself twenty minutes to shower, shave, and get dressed before she even stirred.She didn’t say a word when I stepped out, just gave me a quick nod and locked herself in without a glance.The sound of water running behind that closed door did more damage to my self-control than I cared to admit.I’d seen her last night. Sweaty. Shaken. Small.Now she walked out of the steam like nothing had happened.Sadie wore a standard white blouse and a high-waisted pencil skirt.Professional. Technically modest.But on her—on that body—it was a problem. The fabric clung to her waist, hugged her hips. Her blouse tucked in too neatly, molding against the curve of her chest.She had no idea what she looked like.. But she didn’t do it for attention. She didn’t even glance in the mirror.I was the problem.We barely exchanged a wo

DAMON POVI didn’t know if I should be relieved she was talking again—or fucking terrified by the way she was talking.The drug didn’t knock her out. No.It did something worse.It cracked her wide open.Sadie was back—but not the version I’d gotten used to. Not the polished, wary, too-careful girl who guarded every inch of herself like letting me in meant bleeding out. No.This was feisty and seductive Sadie.The Sadie who didn’t give a damn what people thought. Reckless. Sharp-tongued. Wild-eyed like she was dragging ghosts behind her and daring the world to say something about it.She leaned against the wall outside the hotel room, swaying a little, but her smirk was intact.Her shirt hung open where two buttons had surrendered to whatever chaos she’d been through, teasing just enough skin to short-circuit my brain.I stood in front of the door, fists clenched around the keycard, jaw locked so tight it hurt.I just wanted to get her inside. Get her safe. Get the fucking world to le