Chapter 469 Scars Pt 2

Chapter 469 Scars Pt 2
AMELIA 

Damien and Ethan, however, have a lot to say to each other. I exchange a glance with Theo. I can tell she feels the same way as I do. We take our seats, Damien is sitting at the head of the table. I'm right next to him. He hasn't looked at Ethan since we walked in here, but Ethan's eyes haven't left his face.

He clears his throat and says, "I'm sure both of you know why I've summoned you here. You're entitled to your fair share and I'll gladly hand it over to you. The lawyers will take care of the legitimate part, I'll take care of the rest."

Ethan says, "Damien—"

"Concerning the properties we own, I'm not willing to sell them. Name your price, I'll pay you whatever you want. I want this resolved as quickly as possible."

Ethan sits back, resigned. Damien still hasn't looked at him. Penelope's eyes are glued to her lap. I glance at Theo and she's shaking her head. She wasn't expecting this. Perhaps she thought that they'd reconcile, in a way. But Damien's stubborn. He won't change his mind. Ethan hurt him and he won't ever forget.

This is an awkward moment for all of us.

He says, "I don't need any of the properties. You can keep them."

He nods. "I'll have to ask you to sign some papers, then. To make it official." It's clear that he doesn't trust Ethan anymore, and I can't blame him.

There's a tense moment of silence. I don't know where to look at this point. Ethan clears his throat and says, "I know that there's...I know nothing I say will right my wrongs. Fuck, I know that. I don't expect any of you to forgive me for what I did. I was a coward, a fucking coward. But for whatever it's worth, I'm sorry. So fucking sorry. An apology isn't enough, nothing ever will be, but unfortunately it's all I can offer you."

Theo scrunches her nose once. She's trying not to cry, it's obvious. She isn't even looking at Ethan. These past months have changed her entirely. She went from being a wild, free spirit to carrying all of us on her shoulders. While I nursed Damien back to life, she was out negotiating and working harder than anyone else. I felt guilty for leaving her, but I couldn't leave Damien's side. I physically couldn't.

I glance at Damien. He still isn't looking at Ethan, but heard what he said. He's so silent that I think he'll accept Ethan's apology, he'll leave this in the past. I'm wrong. He looks up and says, "Is there anything else anyone would like to add?"

After a beat, he gets up and leaves the meeting room. I glance at Theo again. I thought the meeting would last longer, but apparently not. I have to go after him. I have to make sure that he's alright. I rise from my chair, but Ethan's words stop me in my tracks. "Amelia, can you spare me a moment?"

I turn to look at him, but I don't sit back down. He says, "I never thanked you for saving me, I was a dick. I apologize for that. I'm sorry that you put yourself in harm's way because of me, I didn't deserve your mercy. I really didn't."

"I'm glad that my actions helped you, I really am. I don't wish you any harm. Well, I did, but that's in the past. I want you to know that I didn't do it for you, I did it for Damien. Everything I did was for him."

He nods, getting the message. I leave the room and immediately cross the lobby to get to his office. His back is to me. He's staring out the window, lost in though. I close the door behind me and walk towards him.

His exchange with Ethan tore a part of him right off. He doesn't have to say the words out loud. They were best friends, brothers-in-arms. I come up behind him and wrap my arms around his torso. I sigh and press my face against his back. I ask him, "Are you alright?"

He doesn't answer me right away. Then, he says, "I never thought this day would come. I didn't think I'd ever hate him."

His words stain my cheeks red for reasons I can't quite comprehend. No, I do actually. If I hadn't insisted on getting rid of Ash Rockford, maybe today's meeting would have gone differently. They'd be making up, not pushing each other away. I can't blame myself, though, because I did it for Damien. There's no guarantee that Ash wouldn't have found out where Damien was hiding. There's no guarantee that we'd be here if I hadn't interfered. I did what I had to do. I don't have any regrets.

As if sensing the direction of my thoughts, he turns to face me. "This isn't your fault. He should've never betrayed us."

"I know," I say, meaning it. "I just don't want you to be sad for the rest of your life because of this. I want you happy. I know Ethan meant a lot to you."

He smiles. "Sad? I have you, Amelia. As long as you're with me, I'm a happy man. I'll get over Ethan, in time. If it were you, I'd never recover. You mean more to me than anyone else ever will. You know that, don't you?"

I nod and lean into him. He kisses the top of my head. We hold each other for some time. I breathe his scent in, feeling much better.

We pull apart and he takes my hand in his. "Shall we?"