Chapter 113 Good girl
JASMINE
Everyone else.
The words echoed in my skull. My eyes shot toward the large glass window of the hall.
Inside, the party was still alive with light.
Guests were laughing.
Music played softly.
And there, Near the center— Was Damien.
Talking with two relatives, completely unaware of anything happening outside. My heart twisted painfully in my chest.“Your beloved is right there,” the voice said suddenly.
My blood ran cold.
“I have an aim.” For a second I didn’t understand.
Then I saw it. A tiny red dot resting on Damien’s chest. So small, so subtle, no one else noticed it.
But I knew exactly what it was. “No!” The scream tore out of me before I could stop it.
My hand flew over my mouth instantly.
Inside the hall, Damien glanced around slightly but continued speaking, clearly unaware. Tears blurred my vision. “Please,” I choked.
“You love him,” the man chuckled darkly.
The sound made bile rise in my throat. “You forgot who you are,” he continued. “You forgot you are nothing.” I could barely breathe now.
“You don’t even deserve to be alive.”
My hands clutched the phone like it was the only thing holding me upright. “I almost told him to pull the trigger,” he added casually.
My entire body went cold.
“Please!” I sobbed. “Please don’t hurt him!”
A pause.
Then a pleased chuckle. “That’s better.”
My stomach twisted violently. “Now my love,” he continued softly, “I want you to do something for me.”
I felt sick hearing the pet names again.
“Okay?” he prompted.
My throat was dry. “O-okay.”
“Good girl,” he cooed.
I nearly gagged.
“Now once I end this call, I want you to walk out of the venue.” My heart hammered violently.
“There is a black car waiting for you.”
My eyes lifted slowly. Across the street.
A dark vehicle sat parked quietly beneath the streetlights. “I want you to get inside,” he continued. “And keep your mouth shut.”
My nails dug into my palm. “Any foul play…” he whispered. I looked back through the window at Damien. He was still smiling, still alive, still unaware of the chaos tormenting my heart.
“…and your beloved goes tik… tik… tik…
“Boom!.”
I clutched my ears as his sudden shout rang through the speaker. “Now go,” he said coldly. “You have fifteen minutes.”
My entire body felt hollow. “And you know daddy doesn’t like tardiness.”
The line went dead.
The phone slipped from my hand into my lap.
For several seconds I couldn’t move. Everything was spinning. Everything I had built these past six months… Everything Damien had given me…
Was over. I didn't even get the chance to tell Damien about everything, and now this was happening.
Slowly, painfully, I looked through the glass again.
At him. My heart broke quietly in my chest.
I needed to see him. For a long moment I remained seated outside the hall, the phone still lying lifeless in my trembling hands.
The world around me felt distant, like I was watching everything through a thick pane of glass. Laughter drifted from inside the venue, muffled and warm, completely unaware that my entire life had just shattered.
My gaze lifted slowly to the large glass window again. Inside, the party was still glowing with light.
Blue drapes shimmered under the chandelier. Gold decorations reflected the soft glow of candles.
People moved about in clusters of conversation and laughter, glasses clinking, music humming gently in the background.
And there he was.
Damien.
He stood near one of the tables, speaking to two older relatives. His posture was relaxed, one hand resting casually in the pocket of his trousers while the other gestured as he spoke.
The sight of him made my chest ache so violently I had to clutch at the fabric of my dress.
My eyes drifted lower.
The tiny red laser dot was still there. Resting against the dark fabric of his suit jacket.
Barely noticeable.
But I saw it.
And that meant whoever was holding the gun could see him perfectly. A sob caught in my throat. “Please…” I whispered to no one.
If I stayed here… if I tried to warn him…
That dot would disappear.
And the next thing I’d see would be Damien collapsing to the floor. My fingers curled into fists. I forced myself to stand. My legs felt like they belonged to someone else—weak and shaky beneath me. Every step toward the doors felt heavier than the last, like the ground itself was trying to hold me back.
But I couldn’t leave without seeing him.
Not like this. Not without saying goodbye in some way. I pushed the doors open and stepped back into the warmth of the hall.
The noise returned instantly—laughter, music, chatter—but it all sounded muffled in my ears. A few guests turned to look at me, probably noticing my pale face or tear-streaked cheeks, but I ignored them.
My eyes scanned the room desperately until they landed on him again.
Damien.
He was still there, still smiling faintly as he listened to his uncle speak. I swallowed the knot forming in my throat and hurried toward him. Every second felt like a countdown.
My chest tightened.
I didn’t know how many had already passed.
When I reached him, I didn’t think.
I simply lunged forward and wrapped my arms tightly around his neck, burying my face into his collar.
He stiffened in surprise.
The relatives he had been speaking to exchanged awkward glances before quietly excusing themselves, sensing something private in the moment. “Tesoro?” Damien’s voice came softly above me.
His arms wrapped around my back instinctively, pulling me close. “Hey… what’s wrong?”
His scent filled my lungs—clean soap and something warm that was uniquely him.
I inhaled deeply.
Once.
Twice.
Trying to memorize it. Trying to lock it inside my memory forever. My throat burned as I fought back the sob threatening to escape.
I couldn’t cry.
Not now.
If I broke down, he would ask questions. And if he asked questions… He might notice the laser, he might look outside, he might die. So I forced my breathing to steady. Slowly, I pulled away from him. Damien’s brows were furrowed in concern as he looked down at me.
His hand came up immediately, brushing gently against my cheek. “Jasmine,” he murmured softly, “you’re shaking.”