Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 51 - Chapitre 60

The morning after the calm night felt heavier than I expected. I woke up tangled in Damien’s arms, my cheek pressed to his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. For a moment everything felt peaceful, his warm skin, the faint scent of his cologne still clinging to the sheets, the way his hand rested possessively on my lower back even in sleep.But then I remembered the text. Lila’s latest message had been sitting in the back of my mind like a stone I couldn’t quite swallow. I hadn’t shown it to him last night. I’d deleted it instead, telling myself it was better not to ruin the moment. Now, in the quiet morning light, that choice felt like a secret I didn’t want to keep anymore.Damien stirred, his fingers flexed against my skin as he woke up. He pressed a slow kiss to the top of my head.“Morning, baby,” he murmured, voice still thick with sleep.“Morning,” I whispered back.He shifted so he could look at me, eyes soft and a little sleepy. “You okay? You feel tense.”

The first few days with Lila in the penthouse felt like living in a very polite pressure cooker.She arrived with almost no drama, just one small suitcase and a quiet “thank you” when Damien showed her the guest suite again. No tears, no grand apologies, no dramatic reunions. She simply unpacked, made her bed, and asked if there was anything she could help with around the house.Damien’s answer was short: “Stay out of my office and don’t touch anything that isn’t yours, and the staff would be back from their break today, so you don't need to help out with anything.”Lila nodded like a chastised child. “Understood.”I tried to play peacemaker. “She can help in the kitchen if she wants. I’m not exactly a chef and the staff won't be back till evening.”Damien gave me a look that said “don’t push it,” but he didn’t argue.The first morning, Lila woke up early and made breakfast, simple scrambled eggs, toast, fresh fruit, and coffee. Nothing fancy, but it smelled good and looked edible.Wh

The week with Lila in the house had settled into a strange, careful rhythm. She was polite, almost too polite. She made tea in the mornings, asked about my classes without prying too deeply, and complimented Damien on small things like the view from the balcony or the way the staff kept the penthouse spotless. Damien remained civil but distant, giving short answers, watchful eyes, never fully relaxing when she was in the room. I kept telling myself it was working. That giving her this chance was the right thing. That maybe, just maybe, it would help Damien let go of some of the pain he carried like armor.But I noticed some things that I did not want to think about, she was always searching for something, I once offered to help her look, she said it was not something serious and it was only jewelry.On Wednesday afternoon, I had my first session of the new seminar series at Columbia: “Advanced Legal Strategy and Ethics,” taught by guest lecturer Alex Thorne.The auditorium was packed

The morning after the toy room felt like my body was still humming with the memory of it. I woke up sore in the best and most embarrassing way. There were fresh, very visible hickeys on my neck and chest, dark purple marks that no amount of makeup or high collars was going to hide completely. My wrists and ankles had faint red lines from the silk ropes, and every time I moved, I felt the deep ache between my legs where Damien had claimed me so thoroughly.I stood in front of the mirror in the bathroom and stared at myself. The marks looked possessive and obvious, like a brand. Damien came up behind me, still shirtless, and wrapped his arms around my waist. He kissed the biggest hickey on my neck, right where it would be impossible to miss.“Beautiful,” he murmured against my skin.I gave him a look in the mirror. “You marked me like a territory map.”He smiled, slow and satisfied. “Good. Let everyone see.”I rolled my eyes but couldn’t hide the small shiver that ran through me. “You’r

Days passed, and it felt like we were balancing on a knife’s edge. Damien was more possessive than usual, not in the fun, playful way, but in the quiet, watchful way that made the air feel thicker. He didn’t hover exactly, but he was always nearby, always checking in, always touching me like he needed the reminder that I was still there, I tried to reassure him. I really did. But then Alex crossed a line.It happened during the third seminar session. After the lecture, while most students were packing up, Alex walked over to me with that easy, professional smile.“Elena, quick question,” he said, keeping his voice low so no one else could hear. “Those marks on your neck from the other day… they looked pretty serious. Are you really okay? If someone’s hurting you, you can tell me. I’m not just a lecturer here, I’m a mentor, I won't judge you.”I blinked, caught off guard. The hickeys were still visible, though fading. I touched my collar instinctively. “I’m fine,” I said, forcing a sma