Lahat ng Kabanata ng My Ex-Fiance's Cousin is My Baby's Father: Kabanata 21 - Kabanata 30

By morning, Damon believed Lyra had betrayed him.She just did not know it yet.The night before, Lyra had finally stopped fighting her feelings. After pulling away from their first kiss, she had returned to Damon and admitted what she had been too afraid to say.She wanted to be close to him.Damon had not pressured her. He had only asked her to be honest.So Lyra kissed him again.This time, she did not pull away.For one night, she allowed herself to forget the past, her fears, and everything she had carried for so long.She let herself believe that things between them did not have to remain complicated forever. Perhaps the anger and pain that had followed them for years could finally begin to disappear.But morning brought reality back.Lyra woke with her head against Damon’s chest and his arm around her. For a few quiet seconds, she stayed there and listened to his breathing.She felt safe beside him.That frightened her more than anything.She could not afford to feel safe with

Damon went straight home.He could have returned to the hotel and avoided everyone until the scandal died down.But he could not hide from his parents.Not after what had happened.He needed to face them.When Damon arrived, Vito was already there.The moment he stepped into the living room, his chest tightened.His mother sat with red eyes, while his father remained silent beside her.His mother stood.“How could you?”Damon stopped.“I’m sorry, Mom.”“How could you do this to us?”“I never wanted this to happen.”He walked toward her.“I didn’t know anyone would publish what I told her.”His mother shook her head as tears filled her eyes again.“I thought we had moved past this. Why would you tell someone? Why didn’t you come to us first?”Seeing her cry broke through Damon’s defenses.He lowered himself to his knees in front of her.“I’m sorry. I never meant for anyone to twist our story.”His father finally spoke.“You trusted someone outside this family with something that belong

Lyra’s lips parted, but before she could answer Damon’s question, Ruth’s crying drew everyone’s attention again.Across the yard, Ruth continued to act like the wounded sister while the guests whispered among themselves.Lyra looked around and understood exactly what Ruth had done.If she tried to defend herself now, everyone would think she was making excuses.So Lyra stopped trying.A small smile appeared on her face.“You think I’m cruel?”She lifted her glass.“Then I suppose this won’t change anything.”Before anyone could react, Lyra poured the champagne over Ruth’s hair and dress.Ruth gasped.A second later, a sharp slap echoed through the yard.Everyone froze.Eric rushed forward and shoved Lyra back.“What is wrong with you? Why do you keep bringing shame to this family?”Lyra steadied herself.She was not surprised.Her father had taken Ruth’s side before.Why would tonight be any different?Claire hurried between them.“Lyra, what happened?”Ruth immediately clung to Eric’

By morning, Lyra knew she had to fight.Susan’s warning from the night before was still fresh in her mind.Her name was on the approval record.At nine that morning, the board would meet to discuss what had happened.If Lyra could not prove her innocence, she could lose her job.But she refused to take the blame for an article she had never approved.Instead of going to Blackwood Corporation, Lyra drove straight to Empowered Magazine.The moment she entered, she went to the reception desk.“Tell every department head to meet me in the conference room.”The receptionist hesitated.“Now, please.”Ten minutes later, the department heads were seated around the conference table.Lyra stood at the head of the room.“Who released the article about Damon Blackwood?”No one answered.She looked around the table.“And who approved it?”The deputy editor finally cleared his throat.“The information came through our anonymous source line several days ago.”“Did you verify it?”“Yes. We compared t

Damon wanted to confront Vito immediately.But he stopped himself.He needed to see Lyra first.He pulled out his phone and called her.No answer.Damon stared at the screen.She had sworn she knew nothing about the leak, and he had refused to believe her.Now he knew she had been telling the truth.He had to make things right.Damon left his office.He did not know where Lyra lived, but he knew where she worked.If she was anywhere, she would be at Empowered Magazine trying to save her career.When Damon arrived, the receptionist directed him to Lyra’s office.He knocked once before opening the door.Then he stopped.Lyra sat behind her desk with her head lowered.Her shoulders shook as she quietly cried.Damon had never seen her like this.She was usually the woman who stood her ground no matter what happened.Seeing her broken because of something he had helped cause sent guilt through him.“Lyra.”She slowly lifted her head.Her eyes were swollen.The moment she saw him, her expre