Chapter 51: CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

Damon's POV

The soft hum of the air conditioning is the only sound in the room as I sit on the edge of the couch, fingers tracing the rim of the glass in my hand. I’m not sure what I’m supposed to feel right now. There’s this pit in my stomach, the kind that gnaws at you, pulling you in every direction at once. Winter has never been more elusive, more distant. I should be focusing on my recovery, on getting back to the game, but the weight of the unknown is heavier than any physical strain I’ve ever felt.

My thoughts keep coming back to Kai; the kid, my son. No, not my son, I remind myself. I’ve been told—no, convinced—that the kid isn’t mine. Yet something inside me isn’t letting go. It’s a feeling, a gut instinct that won’t let up. I know Winter well enough to see the cracks in her story, the small hesitations in her voice, the way her eyes dart away when I ask her about it. There’s something she’s still holding back. What if she’s hiding something? What if he really is mine?

I lean back, closing my eyes for a moment, trying to push the thoughts out of my head. But the more I try to ignore them, the louder they become. I thought about confronting her, bringing it up in one of our sessions, but every time I get close to it, I pull back. What if I’m wrong? What if I ruin everything with one careless question? I’ve already pushed her enough with my suspicions about Kai, and yet the questions keep clawing at me.

I can’t stop thinking about him. I can’t stop thinking about her. Winter—she’s been nothing but a mystery to me. And the more I try to uncover, the more it feels like I’m chasing shadows. She keeps everything buried so deep.

There’s also the lingering question of what to do with Sienna. I know she’s behind all of this—she’s been manipulating me for weeks, using those photos as leverage to pull me in different directions. I’d almost forgotten what it felt like to have control over my own life until she showed up, throwing me off balance, pulling my strings like a puppet.

She keeps coming back with these little reminders—little threats disguised as casual conversations, making me doubt myself, making me doubt Winter. It’s almost like she enjoys watching me unravel. I stand up and pace the room, running a hand through my hair, frustration mounting. I don’t want to be her pawn. I don’t want to fall back into that trap again. I just... I just need answers.

The doorbell rings, snapping me out of my spiraling thoughts. I hesitate before walking toward the door, already knowing who it is. Winter.

She stands on the other side of the door, her eyes scanning me briefly before she steps inside, that cool, guarded look in place. She’s wearing her usual professional demeanor—polished, calm, but I can sense the tension under the surface.

"Hey," she says, her voice soft but tight. "How’s your day been?" I shrug, trying to sound more casual than I feel. "Same as usual, still working through the exercises. Nothing to complain about."

She nods, but I can see the way her gaze flickers down, like she’s measuring me, trying to assess how I’m really doing.

"Good. Let me know if you need anything more from me."

There it is again. That distance. I should ask her about the therapy. We haven’t had a session in a while, and I’m feeling the absence of it more than I’d care to admit. "I think we should talk," I say before I can stop myself. "About everything, about Kai."

Winter’s expression falters for a split second, just enough for me to notice. Her lips press into a tight line. "I don’t know what else there is to talk about," she says, her voice steady but laced with something I can’t quite place. "We’ve already been over it." I take a step closer to her, the air between us thick with unspoken tension. "I don’t believe you," I blurt out. It’s out before I can stop myself, but the words feel like they’ve been building for weeks, begging to be said.

She stiffens, her eyes narrowing. "Damon, don’t—" "No," I interrupt, not backing down. "You’re hiding something. I can feel it. Why won’t you just tell me?" She exhales sharply, turning away for a moment like she’s gathering her thoughts.

I can see her clenching her fists at her sides. I don’t know if it’s frustration or guilt that’s making her shake like this, but I don’t like it. "I’m not hiding anything," she says, the words coming out more clipped than usual. "What do you want from me, Damon?"

I don’t know how to answer that. There’s a part of me that wants to demand the truth, to tear down the walls she’s put up. But I also don’t want to push her too far. The last thing I want is to make her pull away completely. "I don’t know," I admit.

"I just want... I want to know what’s really going on. I can’t keep pretending like everything’s fine when I know there’s more to this, to you." Winter turns back to face me, her expression unreadable. Her lips part as if she’s about to say something but stops herself. "I’m sorry, Damon," she says finally, voice quiet. "But I can’t give you what you want. Not right now."

There it is again; that wall between us. It’s like we’re standing on opposite sides of an invisible barrier, both reaching for something we can’t have. I want to push harder, but I know this isn’t the time. Winter is like a locked box, and no matter how many times I try to crack it open, it won’t budge.

"I need some space," she says, her voice softening. "I need to focus on my work." I nod, the weight of her words settling over me. She’s not going to give me what I need. Not today. Maybe not ever. I watch her walk out of the door, the click of the lock echoing.

My eyes shift to the area where she was standing, and I notice a piece of paper that wasn't there before. I pick it up to realize it's a note written in Winter's handwriting.

"The hardest truths are those we tell ourselves,

The ones we bury beneath excuses and silence.

But even buried, they grow roots.

Even buried, they rise."

I recognize the words; it's one of Violet's poems. It couldn't be, could it?

The weight of your world lies heavy tonight,

And I feel it too, in the dimming light.

Every breath you take, every step you hide,

Pulls me deeper, pulls me inside.

You wear your pride like armor, so cold,

Afraid to let anyone see what you hold.

But beneath the surface, where shadows lie,

I see the truth you can't deny.

You say you're fine, but I hear the sound,

Of a heart that's breaking, unbound.

I want to heal you, but you push me away,

Like the sunrise, you hide from the day.

Yet here I stand, unwavering, still,

Waiting for the moment, when time will heal.

You don't have to carry it all alone,

I'm here, I’ll stay, just let me show.

In silence, I’ll wait for you to see,

That you don’t have to be perfect to be free.

My love isn’t based on the pain you hide,

It's all that you are, no matter your pride.