Chapter 64 65

Chapter 64 65
Chapter sixty five

Damien Pov

Before I could fully process what I had just overheard, the door opened, and Helen stepped out. Her eyes met mine, and for a moment, I feared she might have realized I had been listening, but she only smiled, that same sweet, practiced smile she always wore.

“Damien, what are you doing here?” she asked, her tone light and teasing. “You’re not supposed to see me before the wedding.”

I forced a smile, my mind racing. I couldn’t confront her here, not when I didn’t have all the pieces. I had to pretend I hadn’t heard anything, at least for now. “I just wanted to see you before everything got started. Thought it might help with the nerves.”

Helen’s smile softened, and she reached out to touch my arm. “Don’t worry, everything’s going to be perfect. You don't have to be nervous, I am always here.”

I nodded, struggling to keep my voice steady. “Yeah, I’ll see you out there.”

She lingered for a moment, her eyes searching mine as if trying to read my thoughts. 

Tthen she simply turned and walked away, leaving me standing there with a storm of emotions swirling inside me.

I needed to think, to figure out what to do next. The wedding was about to start, and there wasn’t much time. 

I knew one thing for certain, I couldn’t let this wedding happen, not when Tess’s life was possibly in danger.

As I stood at the altar, the weight of my decision pressed down on me. The music began, and Helen started walking down the aisle, her smile radiant.

To everyone else, this was a perfect moment, but I knew it was anything but hell to me.

Just as the officiant began to speak, I noticed my brother Xavier at the back of the hall, his face pale and serious. He caught my eye and urgently signaled for me to come over. 

I hesitated for only a moment before I stepped back from the altar, confusion rippling through the crowd.

“What is it, Xavier?” I asked, my heart pounding.

“It’s Tess’s mom,” he said, his voice tight with urgency. “She’s been rushed to the hospital. She was shot multiple times.”

Time seemed to stop. Tess’s mom had been shot? Helen’s words echoed in my mind, and a cold fear gripped my heart. This was it…the plan Helen had mentioned. She had gone after Tess’s family, and I had to get to Tess before it was too late.

Without a second thought, I turned and bolted from the hall, ignoring the gasps and murmurs that followed me. 

Helen called after me, her voice shrill and filled with anger, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. Tess was in danger, and nothing else mattered.

I ran out of the hall, jumping into my car, my hands trembling as I started the engine. I had to get to the hospital, to Tess, to make sure she was safe. Everything else could wait.

As I sped down the road, the reality of the situation hit me hard. I had underestimated Helen’s obsession, her willingness to do whatever it took to keep me away from Tess. 

Now, I wasn’t going to let her win. I was going to protect Tess and her family, no matter what it took.

The tires screeched as I took a sharp turn, my heart hammering in my chest. The sun was setting, casting an eerie glow over the horizon, but all I could think about was getting to Tess. 

I gripped the steering wheel tightly, my knuckles white as the reality of the situation sank in. Helen wasn’t just jealous—she was dangerous. And I had been blind to it until now.

Images of Tess flooded my mind, her smile, the way her eyes lit up when she talked about something she was passionate about, the warmth in her voice when she spoke to me. 

I had let her down. I had failed to protect her, and now her mother was paying the price.

As I weaved through traffic, I couldn’t help but replay the conversation I had overheard. Helen had known about Tess and I child all along. 

She had orchestrated this entire charade, pretending to be the perfect bride while plotting to eliminate the woman I truly loved. 

The thought made me sick. How had I been so foolish? How had I allowed things to go this far?

When I finally arrived at the hospital, I didn’t bother looking for a parking spot. I left the car at the entrance, the keys still in the ignition, and ran inside. 

The sterile smell of disinfectant hit me as I burst through the doors, my eyes scanning the crowded lobby for any sign of Tess.

I spotted her in the corner, slumped in a chair, her face buried in her hands. She looked so small, so broken. 

My heart ached at the sight of her, and I quickly made my way over to her. 

“Tess,” I called out, my voice trembling.

She looked up, her eyes red and swollen from crying. The moment she saw me, a mixture of relief and pain washed over her face. “Damien,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. She stood up, and I immediately pulled her into my arms, holding her tightly.

“I’m so sorry,” I murmured into her hair. “This is all my fault.”

Tess shook her head, her fingers clutching at my shirt. “It’s not your fault. You didn’t know this would happen.”

“But I should have,” I said, pulling back slightly to look at her. “I should have realized what Helen was capable of. I never should have let it get this far.”

She let out a shaky breath, her eyes searching mine. “I don’t care about any of that right now. I just need you to be here with me.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” I promised, brushing a tear from her cheek. “I’m here, and I’m not leaving you again.”

She nodded, a small, sad smile playing on her lips. But the weight of the situation was still there, hanging over us like a dark cloud. “My mom… she’s in surgery. The doctors said she lost a lot of blood, but they’re doing everything they can.”

I swallowed hard, the gravity of the situation hitting me once again. “She’s strong, Tess. She’s going to make it through this.”

“I hope so,” Tess whispered, her voice cracking. “I can’t lose her, Damien. She’s all I have left.”

I tightened my grip on her, feeling a surge of determination. “You’re not going to lose her, Tess. And you’re not alone. I’m here with you, every step of the way.”

We sat down together, my arm around her shoulders as we waited for any news from the doctors. The minutes ticked by slowly, each one feeling like an eternity. I could feel the tension radiating off Tess, her fear and worry palpable.

Finally, a doctor approached us, his expression serious but not without a glimmer of hope. “Miss Bennett?” he asked, and Tess quickly stood up, her grip on my hand tightening.

“Yes, that’s me,” she replied, her voice trembling.

The doctor glanced between us before speaking. “Your mother made it through surgery. She’s stable, but we’ll need to monitor her closely for the next 24 hours. The bullet missed any major organs, but she lost a significant amount of blood. She’s going to need time to recover.”

Tess let out a breath she didn’t realize she had been holding, her knees almost buckling with relief. “Thank you,” she whispered, tears streaming down her face.

The doctor gave a small nod before walking away, leaving us to process the news. I turned to Tess, pulling her into my arms once again. “She’s going to be okay,” I said softly, rubbing her back in a soothing motion.

Tess nodded against my chest, her tears soaking into my shirt. “I don’t know what I would have done if she hadn’t made it.”

“But she did,” I reassured her. “She’s a fighter, just like you.”

Tess pulled back slightly, looking up at me with tear-filled eyes. “I’m scared, Damien. I’m scared of what else Helen might do.”

“I know,” I said, my voice firm. “But I’m not going to let her hurt you or anyone you care about ever again. We’re going to get through this together.”

Tess nodded, her grip on my hand tightening. “I trust you,” she whispered.