جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 90

CHAPTER EIGHTY-ONEKatelyn was starting to regret telling Stella about the date. Not because Stella reacted badly.Quite the opposite actually The woman had reacted like Katelyn had just announced a royal wedding.“It’s your first date in years!” Stella said for probably the tenth time in the last thirty minutes while aggressively digging through Katelyn’s wardrobe. “You cannot dress like you’re going to buy groceries.”Katelyn sat at the edge of her bed looking deeply unconvinced.“It’s just dinner.”Stella whipped around so fast she almost smacked herself with a hanger.“Just dinner?” she repeated in horror. “Katelyn Winchester—”“It’s not Winchester anymore.”“You know what I mean.” Stella waved dismissively before narrowing her eyes. “This man has been orbiting around you for months looking at you like you invented happiness itself and you think this is just dinner?”Katelyn sighed tiredly.Avery had already been dropped off at Stella’s house earlier for a sleepover with Stella’s t

CHAPTER EIGHTY-THREEDamon was not pleased.The shock alone had nearly stopped his heart for a second.One moment the house had been dark and silent like always.The next—“Surprise! Happy birthday!”His work bag had slipped right out of his hand from the fright, dropping heavily onto the floor.Now he stood there staring at Genevieve while irritation crawled steadily beneath his skin.Exhaustion already sat heavily on his shoulders after the long day at work.This?This was the last thing he wanted.Genevieve either didn’t notice his mood or deliberately ignored it.She continued smiling brightly while carefully balancing the cake in her hands.“Happy birthday to you…” she sang cheerfully while walking closer.Damon bent down slowly to pick up his bag with a tired sigh.“Genevieve—”“Happy birthday to you…”His jaw tightened.Honestly, he had forgotten it was even his birthday.The realization alone irritated him further.Birthdays stopped mattering years ago.He had told Genevieve t

CHAPTER EIGHTY-FIVEDamon noticed the cameraman almost immediately.The man was good.Good enough that most people would never have spotted him.But Damon spent his entire adult life noticing details other people missed. Hidden agendas, concealed motives, subtle tells. It came with being who he was.So when he caught the faint movement behind one of the decorative curtains near the edge of the restaurant, he wasn't surprised.Genevieve had hired a professional.Of course she had.He almost sighed.The proposal hadn't even happened yet and there was already someone hiding nearby to capture every second of it.Still, Damon said nothing.Tonight wasn't about him.It was about giving Genevieve what she wanted.As she approached the table, he pulled her chair out for her.Genevieve's smile widened immediately.The cameraman's lens shifted slightly.Damon pretended not to notice."Why, Mr. Winchester," Genevieve said as she gracefully sat down. "You're being awfully gentlemanly tonight."Th

CHAPTER EIGHTY-SEVENSarah Winchester had not been this happy in years.She woke up smiling.The feeling remained with her through breakfast, through her morning tea, and through the countless phone calls she made throughout the day. Even the staff noticed the difference. The servants moved around her more confidently than usual, no longer worried about saying the wrong thing and earning her sharp tongue.For once, the matriarch of the Winchester family was in an excellent mood.And why wouldn't she be?After eight years of waiting, planning, praying, and sometimes outright meddling, everything was finally falling into place exactly the way she had always envisioned.The dining hall of the Winchester estate looked magnificent.Long tables stretched beneath elegant chandeliers. Fresh flowers decorated every available surface. Crystal glasses sparkled beneath the warm lighting while servants moved quietly between tables carrying trays of appetizers and wine.It wasn't technically a cel

CHAPTER EIGHTY-NINEDamon hated public appearances.Over the years, he had developed an impressive talent for avoiding them whenever possible. Charity galas, interviews, networking dinners, ribbon-cutting ceremonies, product launches—if there was any possibility of delegating the responsibility to someone else, he did so without hesitation.Unfortunately, today's event happened to involve one of Winchester Enterprise's newest expansion projects.Which meant there was no escaping it.The child-care company he had acquired years ago had grown far beyond what anyone initially expected. What had started as a baby-care brand had slowly evolved into something larger, with investments in children's nutrition, educational support programs, health initiatives, and school partnerships.According to his marketing team, today's visit was important.According to Damon, it was an unnecessary waste of his morning."Smile a little, sir."Damon looked toward the young marketing director walking besi