All Chapters of The Past Between Us: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

The hospital waiting room was too quiet, and the air smelled like disinfectant and fear. My father had been shot, and I kept repeating the words in my head, but they still didn’t feel real. Only hours ago I had walked out with divorce papers in my bag, thinking that was the worst thing that would happen today, and now this. Damien drove me here, and he barely spoke the entire ride, his hands locked on the wheel, eyes never once looking at me. Now he stood a few feet away with his arms crossed, his face empty, like this was just something he had to do. My mother was folded into a chair in the corner, eyes red and swollen from crying, and Victoria stood beside her in a perfect coat with perfect calm, as if none of the chaos could touch her. “What did they tell you?” Damien asked, his voice flat. “Mom just said to come fast, that he has been shot,” I answered, and my voice came out weaker than I expected. He gave one short nod. “I’ll find the doctor, sit.” I sank into a hard

I was staring at my phone, at the Unknown Number still glowing on the screen, and my hands wouldn’t stop shaking. That distorted voice was still looping in my head. “Bring the drive, or your son dies.” “Who was that?” Damien’s voice came from right behind me, and before I could answer Victoria was already there, her hand sliding onto his arm like she had every right to. “What’s going on?” she asked, tilting her head like she actually cared. I swallowed, my mouth dry and forced the words out, “It was a threat. They said if I don’t bring some drive tonight, they’ll hurt Liam.” Victoria looked surprised but she couldn’t hide the smirk, and Damien didn’t move at all. He just stood there, blank…looking at me like I was the new problem he’d have to clean up. “This is exactly why you can’t leave right now,” he said, direct and final, “you’re dragging problems everywhere you go.” The words hit me like a slap, and I stumbled back until the wall caught me. “I just walked in on you with he

I stood in the living room. I was still holding the phone, the photo of Liam asleep in his own bed was on the screen. Damien’s face went blank, for the first time I saw fear on his face. Before I could speak he cursed under his breath. He grabbed my arm and pulled me close. “We are not going anywhere right now.” I tried to argue then the headlights cut across the windows, doors slammed outside. Footsteps ran up the porch then the front door crashed open. Two officers walked in with guns. One of them grabbed Damien’s arm. “Damien, you need to come with us, new evidence came up about the shooting.” I became really scared. “No, wait. He did not do this.” I hated myself for saying it, even after everything, a part of me still wanted to protect him. Damien looked at me. Fear was there for one second then it was gone. “Lila, go to the other apartment. Stay with Sophia and call Marcus Hale.” They put handcuffs on him and took him away. I stood there until Sophia came, took my hand a

Victoria looked like she had not slept in days. Her voice cracked as she screamed Damien's name again. Damien opened the door but kept one arm around my waist pulling me tight against his side. The possessive grip said everything, I was his now… no more pretending. “Victoria, go home,” he said coldly. She laughed. A harsh broken sound. “Go home? After everything I did for you? After I spent years watching you play house with her?” Her eyes locked on me with pure hatred. “You think I do not know what is happening in there? You think I do not see the way you look at her now that she finally left?” Damien's hand tightened on my hip. “This is not about you.” “It has always been about me!” Victoria stepped closer. Her voice dropped to a venomous whisper. “Nine years ago I made sure you never wanted her. I planted the stories, I paid people to say she trapped you with that first pregnancy.” “I made sure your family believed she was the villain and you… you believed it because it w

The hospital lights were too bright. I paced the waiting room with blood still on my hands, Damien's blood. Sophia sat in the corner watching me... looking scared but calm at the same time… she had already taken care of Liam and called my mother. “He will be okay,” she said quietly. “He is strong.” I could not sit still; every second felt like forever. The doctors rushed Damien into surgery the moment we arrived. The bullet had gone through his shoulder…they said it missed anything vital, but he had lost a lot of blood. I touched my stomach. Our baby, the one I had not even told him about properly yet. He had guessed… he had seen the test but we never got the chance to talk about it. My mother arrived with Victoria behind her. Victoria looked shaken. Her eyes were red and puffy for once she did not glare at me, she just stood there quietly. “How is he?” Mom asked. “In surgery” I whispered. “He took a bullet for me.” Victoria stepped closer, her voice was soft for the fi