Chapter 129 The wall
Emotionally… That was another story.
“Where’s Darcy?” Jasmine asked after a moment, her voice light, almost like she was trying to keep things normal.
Richelle smiled faintly. “She’s on her way,” she said. “She hasn’t been home in a while, but the moment she heard you were back, she dropped everything.”
Jasmine nodded in understanding. “That sounds like her.”
They fell into a brief silence then Richelle reached out, taking Jasmine’s hand in hers. “I’m really happy you’re fine,” she said softly. “We can finally put everything behind us.”
Jasmine’s gaze drifted, unfocused, distant and suddenly she was back at the cellar. The darkness, the smell, the sound of chains, the sting of the whip against her skin. Her breath hitched, her fingers tightened in Richelle’s grasp. “Jasmine?”
Richelle’s voice pulled her back. Jasmine blinked rapidly, forcing the images away before the tears could fall. “I’m here,” she said quickly, her voice slightly strained.
Richelle frowned, concern deepening in her eyes.
She squeezed Jasmine’s hand gently. “Do you feel okay?” she asked softly. “Like… really okay?”
Jasmine hesitated, for just a moment then she nodded. “I’m fine.”
Richelle didn’t look convinced but she didn’t push.
Instead, she shifted closer, her shoulder brushing against Jasmine’s “You don’t have to pretend with me,” she murmured.
Jasmine swallowed. “I’m not pretending,” she said quietly.
But even to her own ears…It didn’t sound entirely true. Upstairs, Damien placed Jasmine’s things back into her room slowly, his movements more deliberate than necessary. Everything was exactly how it had been, untouched, preserved.
Like he had been waiting for her to come back and fill the space again. He paused by the bed, his gaze lingering on the sheets. Memories flooded his mind.
Her laughter, her warmth the way she would curl into him without hesitation. His jaw tightened “She’s back,” he muttered under his breath.
“She’s here.”
But why did it feel like something was still missing?
His phone buzzed in his pocket but he ignored it.
A few seconds later, it buzzed again, and again.
With a sigh, he pulled it out, his expression hardening the moment he saw the name on the screen...Dominic.
His eyes darkened slightly. The phone continued vibrating in his hand, he stared at it for a moment longer.
Then he declined the call, slipped the phone back into his pocket and walked out of the room. Damien descended the stairs slowly, his expression composed, but there was a tension in his shoulders that hadn’t been there before.
The moment he stepped into the living room, his gaze found her.
Jasmine. She sat beside Richelle, her posture relaxed on the surface, but he noticed the small things, the way her fingers twisted together in her lap, the way her gaze occasionally drifted off before snapping back like she had caught herself slipping.
It didn’t sit right with him, not at all. Richelle looked up first, offering him a small smile. “She was just asking about Darcy,” she said.
Damien nodded faintly, his eyes never leaving Jasmine as he moved closer. “She’s on her way,” he replied, his voice calm.
Jasmine looked up at him then, her lips curving into a soft smile, one that didn’t quite reach her eyes. "Welcome back,” she said quietly, like she was unsure if she was allowed to say it.
His chest tightened. “I should be saying that to you,” he murmured, stopping in front of her.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The air shifted, Richelle noticed it. She cleared her throat lightly, rising to her feet. “I’ll go check on dinner,” she said, glancing between them before walking away, giving them space.
Silence settled in again. Damien crouched slightly in front of Jasmine, his hands coming to rest on her knees. "Look at me,” he said softly.
She did, slowly. Her eyes met his, warm but guarded, like she was holding something back. "You sure you’re okay?” he asked, his thumb brushing lightly against her knee.
She nodded. "I told you, I am.”
“You hesitated,” he pointed out, his gaze narrowing just a fraction.
Her lips parted, then closed. “I’m just… adjusting,” she admitted quietly. That was the most honest thing she had said so far.
He exhaled slowly, his grip on her tightening just a little. “You don’t have to adjust alone,” he said, his voice firm now. “Whatever it is, you tell me.”
Her eyes softened. “I know.”
But she still didn’t say more and that frustrated him not because he wanted to control her but because he could feel it, the distance, the wall.
And he didn’t know how to break through it without pushing her further away.
Before he could say anything else, the sound of the elevator opening echoed through the house.
“Jasmine?” Darcy’s voice.
Panicked, hopeful. Jasmine’s head snapped toward the sound, her body going still for half a second before she pushed herself up from the couch.
“Darcy?”
The next moment, Darcy came rushing into the living room and just like Richelle had done earlier, she didn’t hesitate.
She threw her arms around Jasmine, pulling her into a tight embrace. "Oh my God,” Darcy breathed, her voice shaking. “You’re okay… you’re actually okay.”
Jasmine let out a small laugh, though it trembled slightly, her arms wrapping around Darcy. “I’m okay."
Darcy pulled back just enough to cup her face, scanning her like she needed to see for herself.
“You scared the hell out of us,” she said, her voice cracking.
“I’m sorry,” Jasmine whispered.
Darcy shook her head immediately. “Don’t. Don’t you dare apologize.”
She pulled her into another hug, tighter this time.
Damien stood back, watching the scene unfold.
His jaw clenched slightly, there was something darker, possessive, she was his, his to protect, his to keep safe and yet he hadn’t. The thought gnawed at him.
Darcy finally pulled away, wiping at her eyes before laughing softly. “You look… different,” she admitted.
Jasmine tilted her head slightly. “Different how?”
“Stronger,” Darcy said after a moment.
Jasmine stilled, for a brief second, something flickered in her eyes. Then it was gone “Maybe,” she said lightly.
Richelle returned shortly after, announcing that food was ready, but Jasmine shook her head gently. “I’m not really hungry.”
Damien’s gaze snapped to her. “You need to eat,” he said immediately.
She looked at him, then nodded slightly. “I will. Just… later.”
He didn’t like that but again he didn’t push, not yet.