Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 31 - Chapitre 40

The park near Elena’s apartment was quiet in the late afternoon sun. Victoria arrived early, her usual elegant composure softened by nervous anticipation. She carried a small, carefully wrapped gift, a soft stuffed penguin, Leo’s favorite animal according to the investigator’s report. She sat on a bench facing the playground, her hands folded tightly in her lap. Elena arrived a few minutes later, holding Leo’s hand. The boy was bouncing with energy, chattering about the ducks he had seen on the way. When Leo spotted the elegantly dressed woman on the bench, he tilted his head curiously. “Mama, who’s that?” Elena knelt down to his level, her voice gentle but steady. “This is Mrs. Vale. She’s a very nice lady who wanted to meet you. Can you say hello?” Leo gave a shy but polite wave. “Hi. I’m Leo. I’m five.” Victoria’s eyes filled with tears she quickly blinked away. She smiled warmly and held out the small gift. “Hello, Leo. It’s wonderful to meet you. I brought you somet

The invitation arrived two days later. It was a formal card from Elena’s mother, delivered by courier to both Elena’s apartment and Damien’s hotel. A small family gathering, a casual dinner at a private venue near the conference center to celebrate Marcus’s recent business success. Nothing extravagant. Just immediate family and a few close friends. Elena stared at the card for a long time, her stomach twisting. She knew exactly why her mother had sent it. This was no coincidence. Victoria had clearly spoken to her parents. The net was tightening, pulling the past back into the present whether she was ready or not. She almost declined. But Leo had overheard her on the phone with her mother and immediately got excited. “Is Uncle Marcus coming? Can I wear my new shoes?” Elena couldn’t say no to the hope in his voice. So she accepted. The evening arrived too quickly. The private dining room was warm and softly lit, with long tables set for a relaxed family-style meal

Leo was in heaven. The children’s fair had massive building stations with glowing magnetic blocks, a story-time corner with giant pillows, and a whole section of interactive city-building games. He ran from one activity to the next, eyes wide, dragging Damien by the hand the entire time. “Mama, look! Damien helped me make the tallest tower yet!” Leo shouted, pointing proudly at a wobbly structure of neon blocks. Damien stood behind him, one big hand resting lightly on Leo’s shoulder, steadying the tower so it wouldn’t fall. His eyes kept flicking to Elena, soft and uncertain, like he was afraid she’d disappear if he looked away too long. Victoria stayed close to Elena, giving her quiet space while watching her grandson with open adoration. “He’s so much like Damien was,” she murmured. “Same focus. Same little frown when something doesn’t work.” Elena didn’t answer. She couldn’t. Her throat felt too tight. Every time Leo called out for “Damien,” every time Damien knelt down to h

Elena couldn’t sleep. It was well past midnight. Leo was breathing softly in the next room, but she lay wide awake, staring at the ceiling. Damien’s schedule was still on her nightstand, right beside the first letter. Two pieces of paper that somehow felt heavier than the five years of silence between them. She picked up her phone and opened the message thread. His last text still sat there, unanswered: "’ll wait as long as you need." Her thumbs hovered over the keyboard for a long time before she typed a single line. "Are you awake?" The reply came within seconds, like he’d been waiting. "Yes. Can’t sleep either." Elena bit her lip, then typed again. "Come downstairs. Just for a minute. Don’t wake Leo." She didn’t wait for an answer. She slipped on a hoodie over her thin sleep shirt, padded quietly out of the apartment, and took the elevator down to the small lobby. Damien was already there when the doors opened. He looked rumpled, dark hair messy, wearing t

The kiss didn’t stop at the kitchen counter. Damien lifted Elena off the counter like she weighed nothing, her legs wrapping around his waist as he carried her straight to the bedroom. The moment the door clicked shut behind them, years of hunger took over. He set her on the bed and followed her down, kissing her like he was trying to rewrite the past with his mouth. Elena’s hands were everywhere — tugging at his sweater, sliding under the fabric to feel the hard muscle she remembered so well. “Damien” she gasped as his lips moved to her neck. “I know,” he growled against her skin. “I know we’re not fixed. I know this doesn’t make anything right. But fuck, Elena… I need you.” She pulled his mouth back to hers, silencing him with another deep kiss. Her hoodie and sleep shirt came off in one frantic motion. Damien’s sweater followed, then his jeans. When he finally settled between her thighs, skin to skin, they both shuddered. It wasn’t slow or gentle. It was five years of