Chapter 114 Birdy
JASMINE
I forced a small smile.“I’m okay,” I said quickly, though my voice trembled slightly.
His eyes narrowed, clearly unconvinced. “You don’t look okay.” I didn’t give him time to question me further. Instead I leaned forward and pressed my lips against his.
The kiss surprised him at first.
Then his arms tightened around my waist and he kissed me back, slow and warm. I poured everything into that kiss, every ounce of love, every silent goodbye, every apology.
A single tear slipped from the corner of my eye as our lips moved together. When I finally pulled back, I rested my forehead against his.
Our noses brushed softly. Damien looked confused now, concerned.
His thumb gently wiped away the tear on my cheek. “Hey,” he whispered. “Talk to me.”
My chest tightened painfully. If I stayed any longer I would break, I would tell him everything.
And then he would die. I glanced briefly toward the window. The laser was still there. Still pointed directly at his heart.
My stomach twisted violently.
I had to leave, now. “I love you,” I whispered.
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
Damien froze slightly. His eyes widened just a little. I had never said it out loud before.
Not like this.
Not so suddenly.
“Jasmine—”
But I didn’t let him finish.
I leaned forward and kissed his cheek softly.
Then I stepped back. And ran.
My heels clicked rapidly against the polished floor as I rushed toward the exit. A few guests called my name in confusion, but I ignored them, pushing through the doors and back into the cool night air.
My vision blurred with tears, the black car was still there.
Waiting, just like he said. Its dark windows reflected the streetlights faintly, giving it an almost sinister presence. My chest rose and fell rapidly as I approached it.
For a moment I stopped a few feet away.
If I got inside that car… Everything would change.
I might never see Damien again. The thought nearly made my knees buckle. I turned my head slightly and looked back at the venue one last time.
Through the window, I could still see him.
He had moved closer to the door now.
His expression was confused, scanning the room as if searching for me. The sight broke something inside my chest. “I’m sorry,” I whispered.
Then I forced my feet to move again. The back door of the car clicked open. The interior was dark, silent.
My hands trembled as I slid inside.
The door shut behind me with a heavy thud.
And the moment it did, my body finally gave in.
I curled into myself on the seat, pulling my knees to my chest as sobs tore violently from my throat.
Everything I had fought for…
Everything I had hoped for…gone.
“He was right,” I whispered brokenly.
My entire body shook as tears soaked the fabric of my dress. “He always said I’d never be free…”
My nails dug into my arms as the memories came rushing back.
The training.
The control.
The fear.
I had been a fool to believe I could escape it.
That I could build a life. That I could love someone like Damien and not have my past come crashing back to destroy everything.
“He had all the control,” I choked.
“And I was stupid enough to think I could have it all…” A quiet chuckle suddenly echoed in the darkness beside me.
My sobs stopped instantly.
My head snapped up. Through my blurry vision I noticed something I hadn’t seen when I got in.
A shadow. Someone sitting in the backseat.
Watching me. My heart lurched violently into my throat. “Welcome back, birdy"
The familiar voice made every drop of blood in my body turn to ice. My eyes widened in horror.
Before I could even react— Something heavy swung toward my head. Pain exploded across my skull.
A sharp, burning sting that sent sparks across my vision. The world spun violently. My body slumped sideways against the seat as darkness crept into the edges of my sight. The last thing I heard before everything went black…
Was the sound of quiet laughter.
~
For a moment after Jasmine ran from the hall, Damien simply stood there. The music continued playing behind him, soft and romantic, the guests laughing and clapping as another couple took the dance floor. The party carried on as though nothing had happened.
But Damien barely heard any of it.
His eyes were fixed on the doors Jasmine had just disappeared through.
His chest still felt warm from her embrace, the imprint of her body lingering against him. The faint scent of her perfume clung to his clothes, familiar and comforting—yet the memory of the tears on her cheeks twisted painfully in his stomach.
Something had been terribly wrong. He could still see her face clearly. The way her eyes had shimmered with unshed tears, the way her hands had trembled when she held him. The way she had kissed him… desperately.
Like someone saying goodbye.
His jaw tightened.
And then the words echoed again in his mind.
I love you. Damien’s heart clenched.
She had never said those words to him before—not like that, not so suddenly, not with that look in her eyes. A cold dread crept through his chest.
Without thinking further, he turned and strode quickly toward the exit.
He pushed the doors open and stepped outside.
The cool night air hit his face instantly.
And that was when he saw her. Jasmine was just reaching a black car parked a short distance from the venue.
The door opened and she slipped inside quickly, almost like she was being chased. “Jasmine!” Damien called out sharply.
His voice echoed across the quiet street.
The car door slammed shut and the engine roared to life. Damien’s heart dropped. “Jasmine!” he shouted again, breaking into a run.
The car lurched forward. Tires screeched lightly against the pavement as it sped away from the curb. “Jasmine!”
Damien ran a few steps into the street, his voice cutting through the night. But the vehicle didn’t slow, didn’t hesitate. It disappeared down the road within seconds, its red tail lights shrinking into the distance until they vanished completely.