Chapter 41 Chapter 41

Chapter 41 Chapter 41
~ Elena’s POV
His lips were on mine before I even had the chance to process what was happening. Damian’s hands were firm on my waist, his touch desperate, almost trembling. I pushed against his chest, trying to pull away, but he wouldn’t let go.

“Damian,“ I gasped, turning my face aside. “Stop.“

He froze, then pressed his forehead against mine, his breathing ragged. “I’m sorry,“ he whispered. “I shouldn’t have done that. I just—“ His grip loosened, his voice breaking. “I can’t stand seeing you look at me like I’m a monster.“

I stayed still, my heart thundering painfully in my chest. I didn’t want to look at him, not when I knew one glance would melt every wall I’d built to keep him out. So I kept my eyes on the floor. “You hurt me,“ I murmured.

“I know.“ His voice was hoarse. “And I’ll spend my life making up for it.“

He stepped back slightly, then gestured toward the couches. “Sit,“ he said quietly. Reluctantly, I followed. The study somehow felt colder than always, as if the walls themselves were holding their breath alongside me. A chill ran through me when I watched Damian walk to his desk and return with a stack of files. He placed them on the table between us, the top instantly stealing my breath.

My father’s file. I almost wanted to run away from it, to deny his death, but I didn’t.

I stared at it, my fingers curling into my lap. Every horrible possibility spun through my mind, every fear clawing back to the surface.

“Why are you showing me this?“ I whispered, trying to hide the fact that I was on the verge of crying once again.

“Because you deserve to know the truth,“ he said. His tone was calm, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of hesitation. He sat beside me and reached for my hand. I almost pulled it away, but his touch was warm, grounding, and somehow, I let him hold it.

He took a slow breath. “It wasn’t me, Elena. I didn’t order your father’s death. Carlo did.“

The name sent a cold shiver down my spine, remembering the time he kidnapped me and slapped me so hard I almost started seeing stars in the middle of the day. “Carlo?“

Damian nodded. “He wants power, as you already know. And your father…..he was in the way. He was your father, the closest person to you. Carl met him and tried to get him on his side, but he refused and was on his way back home to tell you everything. But Carlo didn’t want anyone to know, so he spread a different story……one that made me the villain. Even Isabella believes it.“

My heart thundered painfully when I remembered how I stood over her, aiming a gun at her head. “Isabella doesn’t know?“

“She knows pieces,“ Damian admitted. “But not the truth. The day of the funeral, the only reason I let her go was because her grief was real. She thought I was the one who killed your father, and she hates me for it. I can’t blame her,“ he took a breath before continuing. “I’m a man of principles, Elena. I don’t harm those who are grieving.“

I bit the inside of my cheek to stop my voice from shaking uncontrollably. “Then why….why did you have the file? All those details, the photos, the information that you can’t get unless you’re the one planning everything.“

He tightened his grip on my hand. “Because I got it minutes before the accident. Someone inside Carlo’s circle leaked it to me. I tried, Elena, I tried to stop it. But by the time I reached my men, it was too late. Your father was already gone.“

His voice cracked on the last word, and my throat closed. Seeing him like this broke my heart, and his condition was enough proof he wasn’t lying.

I couldn’t speak. My thoughts were a mess, a maze of betrayal and doubt. After a long silence, I finally managed. “Then why were your men there that night? I saw the reports, Damian. They were at the site. Marco was one of them.“

He nodded slowly. “Because I sent them. Not to hurt your father, but to catch Carlo. I had a tip that he’d be there himself, overseeing the job. I wanted him alive. But by the time my men arrived, the car had already crashed. Your father….“ He stopped, his jaw tightening and a vein popping from his forehead. “He wasn’t breathing. If they stayed, they’d have been arrested, and Carlo would’ve succeeded.“

Tears blurred my vision, but I forced myself to breathe.

“I know this is too much,“ he said quietly. “You have every right to hate me for keeping it from you. But, Elena….“ His voice softened. “I swear to you, on my mother’s grave, I didn’t kill him.“

I stared at the file again, then at him. Something deep in me wanted to believe him. Against all reason, I wanted to trust that this man…..flawed, broken, dangerous….hadn’t been the cause of my father’s death. His swearing on his mother’s grave was one of the most prominent evidence that he wasn’t lying.

My voice came out smaller than I intended. “So all this time, you were protecting me?“

He nodded. “Every move I made since the day we got married was to make sure you’re under my protection.“

“And Luca? Isabella? Liz?“ I asked, my tone rising with each name.

He exhaled. “Luca’s alive. I had him beaten, yes….but he’s recovering. I sent him far away so he couldn’t repeat his mistake again.“

I blinked, startled and shocked, he kept his promise. He continued, “And Liz….. she's doing what you asked me to let her do. As for your mother, she’s in London with Mary. Safe. Comofrtable. Guarded. I check in on her every week.“

My lips parted. “You…..check on her?“

He gave a faint smile. “You think I’d ever stop watching over people who matter to you?“

I almost scoffed, but stopped myself. Because it wasn’t arrogance…it was simplicity. I swallowed hard. “Is there anything else you’re hiding from me?“

He hesitated, just long enough for my pulse to spike. “There’s one more thing,“ he took a breath, “but I can’t tell you yet. I need time…..to get the paperwork, the proof. You’ll have it soon, I promise.“

I leaned back against the couch, my heart heavy. “You know I’ll lea—-“

His expression shifted suddenly, darkening. “Don’t misunderstand me, pup. Not telling you doesn’t mean you can leave me.“

I froze. “What?“

He leaned closer, eyes hard. “You’re not leaving, Elena. Not now. Not ever.“

My breath hitched. “You can’t—“

“I will burn alive anyone who helps you escape. Every single one of them. I don’t care who they are.“

“Damiam,“ I whispered, staring at him in disbelief. I didn’t know what to say.

Suddenly, the ground trembled. A low boom shook the air, rattling the furniture in the room. Damian’s head whipped toward the door. “Shit,“ he cursed under his breath.

My heart stopped. One look at his face told me everything. This wasn’t trivial.