Chapter 267 Chapter 267

Chapter 267 Chapter 267

Hailey's POV.

A decision I hated to be a part of but I wanted to hear his reply. I wanted to see who he was going to choose. Amaris or the lady who traded a life with him for safety.

I trailed my eyes to Damien, my heart racing in anticipation. He stood with his arms crossed, fingers wriggling on both sides of his arm like he was giving her question a thought. Isabella moved a step then turned back to tap Amaris on her shoulder as though convincing her that it was going to be alright.

“Amaris isn't coming to the city with us and that's final,” Damien spoke up, uncrossing his arms.

“I'm not taking that for an answer,” she persisted.

“Stop being ridiculous,” he gruffed.

Yet she didn't flinch or bat an eye. “I am not being ridiculous, son, I want what's good for you, for your daughter.”

He had a son too, I thought to myself. It felt strange that she left that part out.

“I'm asking you to choose for the better, who knows what Hailey's gonna do when you get into trouble again. I'm not hoping you get into trouble, I just have to be cautious,” she continued.

Her request felt deep even though I wasn't Damien. The air was tight in the room as his eyes circled on Amaris behind her. Was he giving her a thought? Was Isabella's manipulation working? I wanted to step in but I knew I didn't have to, this was between mother and son and I had no business butting in.

“You want my answer, mother?” Damien uttered, eyes squinted at Isabella. “I'm choosing Hailey.”

My chest suddenly felt light. A light smile seeped its way out of my lips and I beamed with controlled elation.

“This is not supposed to be a question, mother. She has a child with me. She helped us, she helped me that's why we are going back home in the first place. That's why I'm gaining back my turf,”

Isabella's mouth pressed into a thin line as she shook her head. “But she's a…”

“...the mother of my son,” Damien completed.

“You think this is about the baby?” She asked.

“Yes, it's about him and a lot of things included,” he replied. “It's about sticking to one person, it's about recognizing the efforts made. That's what I want,”

Amaris began sobbing in the back like a teenager locked up in her room. She knew what she was doing, wiping her eyes with slow, deliberate movement.

“Amaris,” Damien called with a gentle tone.

She looked at him and clutched her hands in her boobs. “I am aware you are in a plight right now, but respectfully I won't allow you move in to the city with us,”

He looked around the room and fixed his eyes back at her. “You can stay here for as long as you need. Make it your home for as long as you want and leave when you have to,” he said to her.

She nodded once, her tears trickling down her chin. “I got it. I won't follow you, you've done more than enough,” she glanced at Isabella and shook her head. They communicated with a thousand words in such a short time they stared at each other. Amaris turned her back to hide her face, but Isabella clamped her fist.

“Damien, you are making a mistake,” she stated.

“No, you think I am making a mistake, but I'm not. Everyone deserves second chances.”

“Second chances? What about Amaris second chance? She deserves it too,” Isabella pushed on.

I couldn't believe she was this bitter towards me. I lived in her mind rent free.

“She doesn't get one. What we had was a long time ago. I have nothing left for her. Our lives are two different paths, mother. And I am done with this discussion,” his tone rang with finality. “We shall not discuss this matter anymore. You have three options, mother. You can choose to come with us or stay with Amaris here. She'll need the company,”

I traced my step back but as I was about to excuse them, her shoe clicked on the floor “And what about the third option?” She asked with an icy tone.

“Go back to Italy,” Damien said coldly. He looked towards me and then at Marco. “I want everyone in the car in ten minutes.” He ordered, walking into his office afterwards.

I couldn't hold myself from cracking a faint smile. He chose me at the end. I had been scared for nothing.

“What's funny?” Isabella glared at me.

“Nothing,” I quickly answered.

“Then move along, I don't want to see your face!” She roared.

Out of respect, I walked out of the room to get seated in the car. She could be salty all she wanted but Damien had given his word.

An hour later, I sat in the passenger seat with both hands to myself as Benita helped with my baby. As soon as we got back to the mansion, I took a deep breath. The moment I stepped out of the car something shifted in me.

My breath went shallow. The walls felt like they were closing in, the hallways felt too narrow and I swore I could hear the light buzz above us with a flicker. We were finally back again to the beginning where it all started.

The lingering memory came fast and hard, flashing images I had fought to keep down. The crack of the shots that filled the air. The strange faces running in all directions for survival, bodies dropping like dominoes, hearts racing.

I thought that would be the end of my life but I was wrong.

It took a while to settle down with the faint smell of dust and hollowness. I stood at the lobby as the maids moved a few of my things to the room, our shared room. I couldn't stop thinking about what he meant.

Could this mean he had forgiven me? Were we going to move past everything that happened in the past? Was he worried that his mother chose to stay back with Amaris?

“Hey,” Benita joined me, holding a plate of fries. “I've been looking for you all over,”

I pressed my palms to my eyes and sighed heavily. “I don't feel alright, but I don't want to ruin this for everybody. I hate everything that happened, I shouldn't be a rift between mother and…”

“Hey!” Benita sounded rough. “She hated you way before this, so that's not a reason to feel bad. You don't have to be sad about it. She made her decision to stay with Amaris and travel back to Italy. He chose you and you followed him, that's what's important.

The tightness eased around my chest and I hugged her. She was right.

“Thank you, Benita.”

She returned my embrace and whispered in my ears. “I was kind of wishing we would clown her together. In silence of course. Did you see the look on her face when Mr Damien chose to go with you?”

“Benita,” I called, hitting her softly to stop but she continued with a wry smirk. “She looked like she had seen an edited pic of her for the first time,” she laughed.

“Oh my goodness,” I cracked up a little and brushed past her. We would have a lot of time to joke to ourselves but not now.

As I walked past the door, I bumped into a figure and bounced back.

“I'm sorry,” the voice said, turning to look me in the eyes as he wiped his hands clean from… blood. Dried blood with a metallic smell.

My eyes circled on the handkerchief. “Kai, you're back?” I asked with divided attention