Semua Bab Bound Unwilling : Bab 21 - Bab 30

The meeting was already wrapping up when the last board member filed out.Damien waited until the room was clear before turning to his father.“This could have been handled virtually. We covered most of it yesterday.”Malcolm leaned back in his chair, completely unbothered. “Some things need a room, Damien. Not a screen.”Damien looked at him for a moment then let it go. There was no arguing with Malcolm Rhodes when he decided something needed to be done a certain way. Even if he barely came into the office anymore, when he showed up everyone listened. That hadn’t changed.“Make sure the new deal comes through,” Malcolm said.“It will.”Malcolm nodded, flipping through the papers in front of him. A comfortable silence settled between them the way it did with people who didn’t need to fill every moment with words.Then Malcolm looked up.“How is your wife?”Damien met his eyes. “She’s good.”“I haven’t seen her since the wedding.” He leaned back. “Bring her around sometime.”“I will,

Night came quietly.Miriam brushed her teeth, moisturised, and went through her evening routine like every other night. Then she picked up her pillow and headed down the hall.The first guest room door was locked.She tried the next one.Locked.She went through every door on that floor. All of them. Locked.She stood in the hallway for a moment, pillow under her arm, then turned and walked back to the master bedroom.Damien was already in bed, phone in hand, completely unbothered.“Why are the guest rooms locked?”He didn’t look up. “I locked them.”“I can see that.” She kept her voice even. “I need the keys.”“No.”“Damien—”“I told you after the last time.” He set his phone down and looked at her. “You don’t get to shut me out like that again. The bed is big enough. You don’t have to speak to me. Just be close to me.”She stared at him.He held her gaze, completely calm, like this was a perfectly reasonable thing to do.She looked at the bed. Then back at him.Then she walked to h

They pulled up to Malcolm Rhodes’ mansion just before noon.Miriam looked through the window and said nothing for a moment.It was massive. More than she had expected — all stone and clean lines, perfectly maintained grounds stretching out on either side of the driveway. It made the Wellington house look modest. It made Damien’s house look like a starter home.They sat in the car for a few minutes before either of them moved.Damien glanced at her. “Ready?”She smoothed her dress. “Yes.”They got out.The front door opened before they could knock. The housekeeper stood in the doorway, in a neat uniform, face lighting up the moment she saw Damien.“Mr. Damien, welcome.” She smiled. “Your father is waiting in the sitting room.” Then she turned to Miriam, her voice softening. “Good afternoon ma’am. You are very welcome.”Miriam smiled. “Thank you.”They were led inside.Malcolm was already on his feet when they walked in.The sitting room was warm and well-lived in. He crossed the room w

She sat in the car for a moment after she parked.The Wellington house looked the same. Same gate, same driveway, same manicured hedges that Margaret insisted on keeping perfect. Nothing had changed from the outside.She took a breath and got out.The housekeeper met her at the door.“Miss Miriam.” Her face lit up immediately. “Welcome back.”“Thank you.” Miriam smiled. “It’s good to see you again.”“Your father is upstairs. Should I let him know you’re here?”“Give me a minute.” Miriam stepped inside.The sitting room was empty. She moved through the hallway, past the dining room, and followed the familiar smell of something warm all the way to the kitchen.Susan was at the counter, back turned, humming something low under her breath.She turned when she heard footsteps.The moment she saw Miriam her whole face changed.“My baby.”She crossed the kitchen in three steps and pulled her into a tight hug.Miriam held on.“I’ve been waiting for the day you will walk back through that door

She was on her second glass of wine when she heard his car pull into the driveway. She had been sitting at the head of the bed for the past twenty minutes, legs crossed and a wine glass in hand. Damien had texted her during her drive home, "Stepping out for a bit. Back in thirty minutes." After reading the message, she set her phone down and drove the rest of the way with a thought forming quietly in the back of her mind. By the time she pulled into the gate, she already knew what she wanted to do. She headed straight to the wine bar, picked a bottle with a good bite, and went upstairs. She took a shower, found the lingerie she had bought over a year ago from a store in town but had never worn, and poured herself a glass of wine. For once, she hadn’t overthought things. Now, sitting there on her second glass, she listened to the sound of his footsteps on the stairs. The door opened, and Damien stepped inside. He saw her and stopped, words caught in his throat. Whatever he had in