Five Years Too Late のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 11 - チャプター 13

By one-fifteen, the knot in my stomach had turned into pure anger. I had been standing by the front windows for over twenty minutes with my coat on and my bag in my hand, just staring at the empty driveway. I had tried calling Damian’s cell three times. Every single time, it went straight to his voicemail. I even tried his assistant and his direct office line, but nobody answered. The phone just kept ringing in the empty air. "I am just driving myself," I muttered to the empty hallway. It was the exact opposite of what he wanted. He had insisted this morning that we had to arrive together so everyone could see us as a perfect couple. But the clock was ticking, and the one thing you didn't do with Evelyn was keep her waiting. I grabbed my keys from the table and went out to my car. The engine started with a loud roar that echoed across the quiet yard. I hit the button to open the big iron gates at the end of the driveway and started heading down the path. But as I rounded the final

Damian’s hand settled over mine on the table, warm and heavy, as if nothing had happened. He picked up the menu, completely unbothered, while the cold diamonds around my neck seemed to grow heavier by the second."I think I’ll have the halibut," he told the waiter, his voice smooth and easy. He turned to me, his dark eyes sparkling with a perfect imitation of love. "What did you get, sweetheart?""The salmon," I answered, keeping my voice bright. "Eve recommended it.""Emilka has excellent taste, Damian," Evelyn chimed in, checking her watch with a smile. "Though I must say, you look like you need a proper vacation. The firm is working you to the bone.""It’s just the final push for the partnership transition, Mother," Damian said smoothly. He squeezed my hand under the table, his grip steady and firm. "Once the paperwork is finalized next month, things will quiet down. Right, Emilka?""Of course," I lied, looking right at him. "We just have to be patient."The waiter returned with Da