Chapter 5 The Rescue
Damien's POV
It was late in the evening, and I was sitting alone, enjoying the cool breeze outside my newly bought apartment.
I poured a glass of whiskey and stared out at the city lights below.
Four billion dollars.
Thank God the Kim deal had finally closed after several negotiations. Four billion dollars that would cement my position as the top players in the tech world.
To be honest,I should have been celebrating with my team.
Popping champagne and having a good time.
Instead, I was alone in my newly purchased mansion, drinking expensive whiskey that tasted like ash in my mouth.
I really wanna meet the girl again, the girl from the night.
Because none of it mattered without her.
I had sent an investigator to monitor her movement for me. I pulled out my phone and scrolled through the photos my investigator had sent.
Lara vacating the Ward mansion with a single box.
Her standing outside her father’s house—the same house I watched Lucas sell about four months ago.
And her collapsing on a sidewalk miles away from here.
My jaw clenched.
I’d failed her. Failed the promise I made to the man who gave me almost everything.
Six months ago…
I hide myself behind the cemetery,hide behind an ancient oak tree, watching her fall apart-Lara Montgomery.
She wore a black dress. Her face was pale,and hollow.
And when they lowered Richard's casket into the ground, she fell to her knees and cried her eyes out.
Lucas Ward stood beside her, doing nothing but checking his phone while his wife grieved. No comfort, no touch,absolutely nothing.
Heat rushed through me as my hands curled.
I'd been around Richard two weeks before he died. The great Richard Montgomery, reduced to bones and pain.
"Damien," he'd whimpered, gripping my hand. "I need you to promise me something."
"Anything for you, sir."
"My daughter." Tears dropped through his eyes.
"She's married to a monster. Lucas Ward.
When I'm gone, I know he'll destroy her."
"Mr. Montgomery—"
"Promise me you’ll protect my only daughter. Richard begged. “She has no one else but me. And now I'm dying.”
My throat was tight. "I promise, sir. I'll your daughter. No matter what."
He gave up the ghost three days later.
And I'd been secretly watching Lara ever since.
I drained my whiskey and poured another.
Watching. That's all I'd been doing. Watching her suffer while Lucas falling in love with another woman. Watching her lose weight, lose the excitement she carries.
I'd tried to help without revealing myself.
I'd bought several of her father's properties through shell companies, planning to return them to her eventually.
I also saw her two weeks ago on the highway when her brakes failed.
I'd been following her—making sure she was safe. When I saw her car swerving wildly through traffic, I didn't hesitate to act.
I pulled up alongside her on my motorcycle, I hid my face behind my helmet, and guided her to safety. Made sure she didn't crash.
Then I disappeared before she could see my face.
Before I could do something stupid like pull her into my arms and tell her I'd been in love with her for six years.
Six years. Since the day I walked into Richard's company as a twenty-two-year-old intern. Richard had taken one look at me—this kid with no connections, no money—and given me a chance.
He'd mentored me. Taught me literally everything. When I left his company to start Otto Industries, he'd been my first investor.
But the most incredible thing was when I set my eyes on Lara.
She'd been twenty-one, running through the office in a pink sundress, laughing at something on her phone. When she'd nearly crashed into me, she'd looked up with those incredible eyes and said,
“My bad, I'm kinda a mess today “.
Then she'd kept going.
I'd asked Richard about her that afternoon.
He just smiled. "That's my daughter, Lara.
She's going to take over the company someday."
"She's very beautiful," I'd said before I could stop myself.
Richard’s smile disappeared. "She's taken by Lucas Ward."
And that had been that.
Until that night at the hotel.
I'd been at the charity gala—the same one Lara and Lucas attended. When I got back to my hotel room around midnight, drunk and exhausted, I found her in my bed.
“You are in the wrong room”. I managed to say.
"I don't care," she whispered.
She was drugged. I could smell chemicals on her. I should have called security. Probably should have done anything except what I did.
But when she kissed me, when she begged me to make her forget…
I was weak.
When I woke up, she was gone.
The only evidence she'd existed was the diamond necklace on my nightstand. I've held that necklace every day since.
Searched for her obsessively.
And tonight, finally, I had another chance.
I headed outside for one last walkthrough of the property.
The mansion was massive—seventeen bedrooms, grounds that stretched for three acres. I'd bought it two weeks ago, mostly because it was only a few miles from where Lara had been living.
Close enough to keep my promise to Richard.
The December air bit at my skin as I walked the perimeter.
I was halfway around the east side when I saw her.
At first, I thought it was trash. Something dark crumpled against the curb.
Then it moved.
My heart stopped.
I ran to her.
"No, no, no, no—"
I dropped to my knees beside her.
Lara.
She was unconscious, curled in on herself, shivering violently. Her lips were blue. Her skin was pale as death. She wore only a thin sweater and jeans.
"Lara," I said, pressing my fingers to her neck.
She was still breathing. There was still pulse, but very weak.
I scooped her up—she weighed almost nothing—and ran back toward the mansion.
"Hold on," I said. "Just hold on. Please."
I burst through the front door and carried her straight to the master bedroom. I grabbed my phone and dialed a number.
Dr. Sarah Chen answered on the first ring. "Damien? Hope no problem,It's one in the morning—"
"I need you here. Now. Emergency."
"What happened?"
"Hypothermia, possible malnutrition. Just get here. Fast."
"Five minutes."
I hung up and turned back to Lara.
She was still shivering, her teeth chattering. I grabbed every blanket I could find and piled them on top of her.
"You will be fine," I said, smoothing her hair back. "You're safe now. I've got you."
She didn't respond.
I sat beside her, holding her hand, feeling her pulse flutter weakly.
And I prayed.
God please don't let her die. Please. Help me to spare our life, she deserves the best.
Dr. Chen arrived nine minutes later. She worked quickly—checked vitals, body temperature, and started an IV.
"Severe hypothermia," she confirmed. "Dehydration and also she hadn't been feeding so well. She's lucky you found her. If you stay longer than this before you see her,she might not have made it."
The words hit me like a physical blow.
"What do we do now?" I asked.
"Keep her warm. Monitor her vitals. I'll come back in the morning." Dr. Chen paused. "Damien... She needs more than medical care. This woman has been through something traumatic."
"I know," I said quietly. "I'll take care of her."
Dr. Chen left, and I was alone with Lara again.
I pulled a chair up beside the bed and watched her as she breathe.
What the hell had Lucas done to her?
I reached into my pocket and pulled out the diamond necklace. I'd been carrying it for four months.
I placed it carefully on the nightstand where she would see it when she woke up.
Then I sat back on my chair and waited. Waited for Lara to come back to life. Waited for her to look into my eyes and see that I had been there for her.
Four days.
Four days during which Dr. Chen came twice daily. Four days during which I barely left her bedside, always watching over her.
On the fourth day,it was almost night, her eyes finally opened.
I was reading through vital information that popped up on my phone when I heard her stir. I looked up immediately.
Lara blinked slowly, disoriented. Her gaze traveled around the unfamiliar room.
Then her eyes landed on me.
And widened.
She did recognize me.
I saw the exact moment she remembered.
The hotel room. That night. Everything.
"You..." she whimpered, her voice rough.
I leaned forward, my heart pounding. "I remember you too."
We stared at each other across the space between us.
And I knew—absolutely knew—that nothing would ever be the same again.