All Chapters of After 18 Years, Mr. CEO Wants Me Back: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

"I met Damian yesterday.""What?" I set my cup down too hard, spilling some coffee on the table. "What did you just say? You met Damian? Why?""We talked for almost two hours at the cafe near here. He called me and asked to meet. At first I hesitated, but after thinking it over, I felt like I needed to hear what he had to say.""Have you lost your mind? You know exactly what Damian did to me, and you sat there having a chat with him? For two hours?" I asked, furious.Nicholas lowered his head, his hands gripping his knees."I know everything but...""But what? There's no but. You should hate him. You should be on my side, not sitting there all nice having a conversation with him!""I am on your side! But I also saw the other side. Damian regrets it, he's regretted it his whole life, and yesterday, when I saw him looking at Louis, I saw a man consumed by guilt.""I don't care. Regret can't bring back eighteen years. It can't bring back the nights when Louis had a fever and I was all al

The next day.I was going to make Damian feel the same pain I'd felt eighteen years ago. I was going to show him that I didn't need him, that I'd moved on and could be happy without him.I dressed more neatly than usual, wearing a cream-colored work dress that made me look elegant. I even put on a little lipstick, something I rarely did these days. I wanted Damian to see that I was fine, that I hadn't been destroyed by his departure.As I stepped out of the elevator into the apartment lobby, I was surprised to see Damian sitting on one of the lobby sofas, reading a magazine with a cup of coffee in his hand. He was wearing a plain white shirt with gray trousers, looking casual but still commanding.Damian looked up when he heard my footsteps, then smiled."Good morning, Dr. Alissa."I stopped, my brow furrowing. "What are you doing here?""I'm staying in this building. Apartment on the eighth floor, right below your unit," he said.I was stunned. "Did you deliberately rent an apartment

That evening, all hospital staff were invited to the main hall for the inauguration ceremony of the new ownership. Mr. Alan had announced that Damian Kingsley was officially the hospital's primary investor, and tonight was the official introduction night.I wore a simple but elegant dark blue long dress. I didn't want to look too flashy, but I also didn't want to look like someone who didn't care. Louis came with me, in a white shirt and black blazer that made him look very grown up."Mom, you look beautiful tonight," Louis complimented, taking my hand."You look handsome too. All the nurses will definitely be checking you out," I replied with a smile.We entered the hall, which had been beautifully decorated. Crystal chandeliers sparkled overhead, long tables were covered in white tablecloths with flower arrangements in the center. My colleagues had already gathered, some of them looking very excited.Damian stood near the stage, wearing a black tuxedo that made him look like a movie

The morning of the funeral arrived with a grey sky. Louis and I wore all black, standing beside the freshly dug grave. My tears had run out, but the pain in my chest still felt so real. Louis beside me held my hand tightly, his eyes puffy and red.Nicholas's parents arrived a short while later. Nicholas's mother—an elderly woman with white hair and a face that was always kind—came with trembling steps. I'd known her since the first time we met, she'd always treated me like her own child, and Louis, she'd always called him her "beloved grandson.""Mom..." I walked closer, reaching for her wrinkled hand.Nicholas's mother looked at me, her eyes full of tears. "Alissa, my child... Nicholas always said you were like a little sister to him. He loved you and Louis so much."I cried again, hugging the elderly woman. "I'm so sorry, Ma'am. I should have been able to take care of Nicholas. That night he wanted to pick you up, but I let him go alone."Nicholas's mother shook her head, her hand s

I sat down on the sofa, staring at the closed door. The house felt so empty without Louis. Tears streamed down my cheeks, but I didn't try to wipe them away. Let them fall. I deserved this. I'd kept the secret for too long, and now I had to face the consequences.My phone rang, a call from Damian. I let it ring until it stopped. I couldn't talk to him right now. Not after what just happened with Louis.A few minutes later, a message came in from Damian:"Alissa, I know you might not want to talk, but I'm here if you need anything. I love you."I stared at the message for a long time, then turned off my phone. I didn't want to read sweet words right now. I didn't want to think about marriage, about the future, about anything. All I wanted was time to be alone.I walked to Louis's room, opening the door slowly. His room was still messy as usual, books scattered on the desk, clothes on the chair, his favorite band posters on the wall. I sat on the edge of his bed, breathing in Louis's fa