Chapter 48: No Disturbance

Chapter 48: No Disturbance

Damien’s POV

It's been a month… a month since the little bit of whatever that connected Anneliese and me had disappeared.

I used to love this kind of peace and silence, in fact, it always made me feel like I was in my own heaven.

No talking, no disturbance, nothing. It's what I've always wanted from the beginning, but now… I don't know what happened or why I detest it.

How did I even let my guard down and let all this happen?

I used to be this very strong person, with a heart as hard as a rock.

Love was the last thing on my mind.

I wasn't like that from the beginning… no, I used to be this charming teenage boy, kind-hearted and the one everyone called “the cute king of high school.”

Everyone wanted to be close to me and I wasn't against it. In fact, I made friends with as many as I could.

A lot of ladies back then in high school— I can even say all the ladies in high school wanted to be mine, but I went for one of them only.

Claudia.

Claudia was my first love. I was young and innocent then. I gave her all. I loved her so much. I was there for her always and so was she. We were the best couple in school back then.

There were days I skipped school to stay with her every time she was in the hospital. I used to believe she fell sick because of the change of environment since she was a transferred student, and she said it herself. Everything was so peaceful until one day I wish never existed.

It was a weekend and I got a call from Claudia, but when I picked up, it was her mother. She was crying.

Till now, I still can't explain how I got to the hospital.

And there she was… my Claudia. She was so pale on the bed and really tiny. She looked like a breathing ghost.

“D… Damien, they said I only have 3 hours left.” I can still remember the way her voice shook and how I felt my soul leave my body.

I got to know she had Lupus. My heart shattered again just remembering it.

I was so angry at first. So all the frequent sickness was not because of the change of environment? She had lied to me?

I felt hot blood run in my veins and at the same time,

I can still clearly remember how she asked me to sing the song I wrote for us.

With her in my arms, I started singing…

If we ever drift apart,

Know you still live in my heart.

Time may change the skies above,

But not the truth of how I love.

I’ll keep your name beneath my song.

A quiet vow that won’t grow thin.

And when the stars forget to shine,

I’ll still be yours, and you’ll be mine.

I wrapped my hands around hers as we sang together, with tears running down our eyes like our eyes were waterfalls of tears.

And at the last line… a large smile appeared on Claudia's face, her eyelids fell shut and the smile disappeared.

I passed out thrice that day. It felt like my heart had been stabbed with an axe over and over again. I was placed on oxygen for a week.

I couldn't believe it… Claudia is gone… gone forever. I won't be able to hold her hands anymore…

Since then, I swore upon her grave that I will never love any other.

I got sick for months and I became so weak. I needed a lot of therapeutic sessions to get better again.

Claudia's death made me so bitter that I hated LOVE so much.

I built an internal large wall to prevent myself from falling in love with anybody and it worked.

I never even had a crush on anybody since then. Yes, I fuck a lot of girls, almost every night, but there's not even a tiny bit of string there.

The wall kept growing stronger and stronger with every passing day and I became this crazy handsome billionaire heir who's got no thought about love. All I did was sleep, work, work again, work even more, make more money and fuck more than two pussies most nights.

I was enjoying my life with no fear until she came into the picture.

Anneliese.

She was that arranged bride I hated so much. I hated her that I wanted to strangle that turkey neck of hers the first day we met.

I swore to never talk too much to her and I was so happy about the 3 months plan and rules.

I thought everything would be fine, that my life would still be the same, but I was wrong.

Every little bit of Anne started reminding me of Claudia, like she was sent to torment me.

At first, I ignored it, but it became so obvious.

They had the same mouse-like laughter.

The same brown big eyes, though Anne's are much bigger.

They both have the same reaction to whenever I annoy them, that cute little angry face.

My mind shifted to our first kiss. I was drunk then, but I knew what I was doing though. I had 70% control of my actions, but I couldn't stop myself from kissing her.

Though I insulted her after it, the kiss led to the beginning of something.

I don't know how or why, but I started viewing her differently… not as my arranged little bride or as a replica of Claudia, but as Anneliese.

I hate to admit this so much, but I can say she created some little cracks on the wall I had built. With every giggle of hers, the way she was on my lap during the flight made the wall beg for mercy. The wall was cracking. I had to do something—push her away and rebuild it.

I succeeded. I pushed her away. She stopped talking to me. Whenever she sees me approaching, she will take another route.

I was happy I was able to rebuild the cracks, but a part of me ached for those bunny looks, the little arguments and the way she reacts to my teases.

No, I don't miss her. Maybe it's just because of the times we've spent together.

It will fade soon, I told myself.

But it's been a month now and we've grown so distant and it still makes me feel in a way I do not like.

I stood from my chair that I've been stuck on since morning.

I looked out of the window and I saw a large billboard that had been placed before my office, as if to torment me.

It was of Anneliese.

She had become a top model and I'm so proud of her.

She's a natural at it. She was born to model.

But I fucking hate how much I wish I could make things real.

I don't want to develop any stupid feeling I will later regret.

But it's getting more than I can control and it fucking has to stop.

I walked to my calendar and I saw today is the 26th. Oh my fucking goodness.

Today makes it exactly three months since we got married.

My heart started thumping in my chest.

I think it's the right time I end things before it gets out of control.