Chapter 78

Chapter 78

Ava’s POV

I didn’t want to leave my room. I didn’t want to see anyone, hear anyone whisper, or feel those burning stares that made my skin crawl. But Sandra insisted—no, dragged me out. She had this gentle firmness in her voice that made it impossible to refuse.

“Ava, you haven’t eaten,” she pleaded softly. “You’ll fall sick, and that will only make everything worse.”

I didn’t want to make anything worse for her. She’d been the only person willing to sneak her phone into my trembling hands. The only one who spoke to me with kindness since the scandal broke. And even though my chest felt hollow and my stomach twisted with dread, I couldn’t bear to see disappointment on Sandra’s face. She didn’t deserve that.

So I nodded. “Fine. I’ll come.”

She gave a relieved sigh, took my hand like a mother guiding a terrified child, and led me out of the room.

The moment we turned the corner into the dining hallway, the world fell silent.

It was suffocating.

Every head turned toward me—maids, guards, servers, even some of the household staff who never paid attention before. Their eyes weren’t warm or curious. They were sharp. Suspicious. Mocking. Like I was something filthy dragged in from the street.

I swallowed hard.

Sandra squeezed my arm gently but even that didn’t stop the heat crawling up my neck. I felt exposed. Naked. Like I was on a stage I never auditioned for.

When we entered the dining room, my heart dropped further.

Chandeliers glowed elegantly overhead. The table was beautifully set with gold-rimmed plates and steaming dishes. Laughter hummed from different corners—their laughter. The privileged, the wealthy, the ones whose opinions could ruin or revive a person with a single whisper.

And then… the laughter died.

All because of me.

My feet froze for a moment. My throat tightened painfully. I wanted to turn around. Run back upstairs. Hide underneath my blanket and cry until my chest caves in.

But Sandra nudged me gently. “Sit beside me.”

I forced myself to move.

The chair felt too big. The room felt too small. The air felt too heavy.

I kept my eyes down. I didn’t want to see their expressions. I didn’t want to see the judgement. But even with my gaze glued to my lap, I could feel the whispers.

“That’s her.”

“The gold-digger.”

“Imagine the audacity.”

Poor. Unworthy. Manipulative.

The words were never spoken aloud, yet they echoed around me like ghosts.

When the servers brought the meal, I lifted my fork, but my hand trembled. The scent of the food should have made me hungry—Sandra even prepared something mild, hoping I’d eat—but my appetite had long evaporated. My stomach knotted painfully each time I tried to swallow.

I looked up briefly.

Everyone was enjoying their dinner. Eating heartily. Drinking. Laughing again.

As if nothing had happened.

As if I wasn’t sitting right here being torn apart on every corner of the internet.

As if Vanessa hadn’t destroyed my name within hours.

I poked the edge of my plate again. One bite. Two, maybe. Nothing stayed down. I chewed mechanically, tasting nothing.

And the thoughts wouldn’t stop.

Will people still hire Damien?
Will this ruin his company?
Will I ruin everything for him?

Because if Damien’s business deals fell through because of me… I didn’t know how I would live with myself.

I had never cared about status. Never cared about mingling with the wealthy. All I ever wanted was to work hard, help my mom, build a simple life, and maybe—just maybe—find someone who loved me without conditions.

I never imagined I’d be seen as a leech, a fraud.

And worst of all—what if Damien believed even a fraction of what was circulating online?

My chest squeezed painfully.

I couldn’t eat anymore. I placed the fork down, trying to focus on breathing evenly.

Then the dining doors opened.

The atmosphere shifted immediately.

Damien entered.

The room straightened, stiffened, almost vibrated with sudden alertness. His presence always carried weight, but tonight… Tonight it felt like a storm rolling in.

He didn’t glance at anyone.

Not the servers.

Not the guards.

Not even me.

His eyes were locked on Vanessa.

She was seated near the center of the long table, wearing a bright red dress and an even brighter smile. A smile that looked rehearsed. Victorious. As if she’d already won whatever sick game she was playing.

She lifted her glass slightly. “Damien—”

SLAP.

The sound struck through the room like lightning.

My heart jumped violently.

Everyone froze.

Vanessa gasped, hand flying to her cheek, eyes wide with disbelief and humiliation.

“You— you slapped me?” she stammered.

I felt my breath lodge in my throat. My eyes darted between them, stunned, confused, terrified of what would come next.

Damien’s voice dropped into something cold enough to chill bone.

“You disgust me.”

My heart pounded harder.

He didn’t raise his voice. He didn’t have to. The power in his tone smothered the air.

“You leaked lies about Ava,” he continued, “to destroy her reputation and drag mine with it.”

My breath hitched.

He knew. He really knew.

The entire table went silent. No one dared to move, not even Vanessa.

Damien leaned forward slightly, every word slicing the air.

“You will publicly apologize. Tonight. You will take responsibility for the chaos you caused. For the shame you brought into my home.”

Vanessa looked around helplessly, searching for support. But no one met her eyes.

Then she snapped back toward him. “You’re doing all this because of her?”

Her voice trembled with anger and humiliation.

Damien didn’t even blink. “Yes.”

My stomach twisted. I didn’t know how to process any of it. The way he said it. The way he defended me without hesitation. The way he struck someone for lying about me.

Vanessa’s face contorted in rage. “She’s ruining you, Damien!”

He slammed his palm on the table. The plates rattled. Several people flinched.

“Get out before I embarrass you further.”

She gasped. Tears welled in her eyes. But she rose abruptly and stormed out, her heels clacking violently against the marble floor.

When the door slammed shut, the entire dining room breathed again.

But I couldn’t breathe.

I was frozen.

Shaking.

Confused beyond words.

Why had he done that?

For me?

Because of me?

Sandra nudged me. “Ava,” she whispered carefully. “Eat a little.”

I stared at my plate again, but I wasn’t seeing food anymore. The scene kept replaying in my mind—the slap, the accusation, Damien’s voice, Vanessa’s expression.

I lifted my gaze slowly.

Damien wasn’t looking at Vanessa’s empty seat.

He was looking at me.

Directly.

His eyes held something unfamiliar—something intense, unreadable.

He didn’t speak.

He just said quietly, “Eat, Ava. You need your strength.”

My throat tightened so painfully it was almost unbearable.

But I nodded.

And for the first time since the scandal broke…

I took a real bite.

Because maybe—just maybe—
I wasn’t as alone in this as I thought.