Chapter 84
Violet's POV:
I didn't answer Daemon's question. I stepped around him and flagged down an approaching taxi that had just dropped off a passenger near the pharmacy entrance.
I gave the driver my address and slid into the backseat. Through the rear window, I could see Daemon standing in the parking lot, his blood-red eyes fixed on the departing cab. His jaw was clenched tight, and even from a distance I could see the tension radiating through his shoulders.
The taxi merged into evening traffic. My hands trembled as I clutched the pharmacy bag in my lap. Daemon had looked at me like he had some kind of claim on my life, like he had any right to demand answers.
We'd completed the rejection ceremony. The bond was severed. What I did was no longer his business.
The traffic light ahead turned red. I glanced at the side mirror and felt my stomach drop. Daemon's black sedan had pulled into the lane directly beside the taxi. Through the tinted windows, I could feel his gaze boring into me.
I deliberately turned my face toward the opposite window, refusing to give him eye contact. My heart was pounding harder than it should have been. The pregnancy hormones weren't helping—everything felt more intense than it should have been.
The light seemed to take forever to change. I could feel Daemon's presence like a physical weight. Part of me wanted to look, but I forced myself to keep staring at the darkened storefronts.
Finally, the light turned green. The taxi turned left while Daemon's sedan continued straight. I watched in the mirror as his car disappeared into traffic. My shoulders sagged with relief.
When I stepped inside my apartment, the smell of home-cooked food immediately hit me. Three dishes and a soup were laid out on the dining table, still steaming. Evan was sitting on the couch with a glass of warm water in his hands. His pale green eyes lifted to meet mine.
"I'm feeling better," he said, his voice still slightly hoarse.
I walked over and practically threw the pharmacy bag at him. "Take the medicine. Read the instructions yourself."
Evan caught the bag and pulled out the cold medicine, studying the dosage information. While he read, I spooned rice into two bowls. We needed to eat, have a normal conversation, and then Evan needed to leave.
We sat down at the table. For a few minutes, we ate in silence. The food was good, but I could barely taste it.
"I ran into Daemon and Kael at the pharmacy," I said abruptly.
Evan looked up from his food. He reached across and placed a piece of meat in my bowl. "Eat more."
I stared at the meat, frustrated by his calm reaction. "Daemon was interrogating me about who I was buying medicine for."
"So let him wonder," Evan said. "You don't owe him any explanations."
After a few more minutes, I set down my chopsticks. "You need to find a hotel as soon as you're feeling better. Tonight, preferably."
I couldn't risk getting entangled with anyone right now. Daemon was clearly still hovering around my life, and the last thing I needed was for him or Celeste to discover Evan was staying with me.
Evan nodded slowly, his gaze shifting toward the balcony. "Is it raining outside?"
I glanced toward the sliding glass doors. Fat droplets were beginning to streak down the glass. "Yes, it's raining."
Evan turned back to me with perfect innocence. "I came here so quickly that I didn't have time to buy a car yet. So in a little while, I'll be running a high fever, standing in the rain, dragging my suitcase down the street looking for a taxi."
The mental image made my resolve waver. But I forced myself to stay firm. "Can't you just call Daemon? He could come pick you up."
Evan put down his bowl and chopsticks, fixing me with a direct stare. "Call him and tell him what? That I flew all the way out here to chase his ex-Luna?"
I nearly choked on the piece of vegetable I'd just put in my mouth. I grabbed my water glass and took several gulps. "Evan Thorne, don't talk nonsense. There's absolutely nothing possible between us."
His pale green eyes didn't waver. "Everything in this world is possible, Violet. Don't be so quick to reject me."
My mind immediately went to the secret I was carrying—the daughter growing inside me. How could I not reject Evan? How could I even consider letting him into my life when I was pregnant with another man's child?
I stood up abruptly, my chair scraping loudly. "The dishes can wait until tomorrow. I need to sleep. You can stay in the guest bedroom tonight, but first thing tomorrow morning, you find a hotel. Understood?"
I turned and headed toward my bedroom, closing the door firmly behind me.
---
When my alarm went off the next morning, I got ready for work with mechanical efficiency. When I emerged from my bedroom, I noticed the guest bedroom door was standing open. The bed had been made with precise hospital corners. Evan's suitcase was gone.
Relief flooded through me. All the dishes from last night had been washed and put away. The counters were spotless. It was as if Evan had never been here.
When I arrived at the company, Linda appeared in my office doorway. "Celeste Morrison submitted her resignation this morning. Effective immediately. She's already cleared out her desk."
I nodded.
---
By the time I headed to the parking garage that evening, I was exhausted. I had just pulled my car door open when a sudden wave of nausea hit me. My stomach heaved violently, and I barely had time to slam the door shut and run toward the bathroom.
When the worst passed, I pushed open the stall door and froze.
Celeste and Riley were standing near the sinks.
Riley opened her mouth, but Celeste immediately grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the exit. "Let's go. We're going to be late."
They disappeared, leaving me with an uneasy feeling that Celeste might have drawn some conclusions from what she'd just witnessed.
---
When I got home, my phone rang. My mother's name flashed on the screen.
"Violet." Eleanor's voice was tight with anger. "Aiden just told me that Celeste Morrison is in Silver Ridge. What is that girl doing there?"
I closed my eyes. "She was here for school, Mom. She had an internship at Aiden's company. But she resigned today. She'll probably be leaving soon."
"And Daemon?" my mother demanded. "Is he there too?"
I didn't answer, which was answer enough.
"This is unacceptable," Eleanor said. "You've completed the rejection ceremony. They have no right to keep hovering around your life. I should call Daemon right now—"
"Mom, no," I interrupted firmly. "Please don't call him. I can handle this. You and Dad need to focus on your health, especially you. Getting upset isn't good for your heart."
There was a long pause. When my mother spoke again, her voice was softer. "You've always been like this, Violet. So determined to handle everything on your own. But sweetheart, you shouldn't have to face all of this alone."
"I'm not alone, Mom. I have you and Dad, I have my friends. And I'm stronger than I used to be. Trust me to handle this."
We talked for a few more minutes before saying goodbye.
---
The next several days passed in peaceful limbo. Daemon didn't contact me. Evan had presumably found his housing. My life felt almost normal.
The morning sickness continued but began to ease slightly. But even as the physical symptoms improved, a new worry took root. My stomach. In another two or three months, there would be no concealing the baby bump.
---
Saturday morning arrived sunny and clear. I decided to do some shopping and errands. I was heading toward the elevator when I noticed a moving truck parked outside. Workers were carrying furniture and boxes into the building.
The elevator doors opened, and I found myself face to face with Kael. His face lit up with surprise. "Violet! You live here?"
I stared at him, then glanced past him toward the open door of the apartment directly across from mine.
"You're moving in?" I asked.
"Yeah," Kael said, grinning. "This place is really close to my office. Actually, it's not just me—Daemon and I are sharing the place."
My heart sank. Were they moving in across the hall from me? Did that mean he and Celeste weren't actually cohabiting?
Kael must have seen something in my expression. "Is this going to be a problem? I know things are awkward after the rejection ceremony."
"It's fine," I said quickly, forcing a smile. "Congratulations on the new place."
---
That evening, around nine-thirty, I heard voices and laughter from across the hall. My curiosity got the better of me. I crept to my front door and peered through the peephole.
I recognized Daemon's tall silhouette immediately. Evan was there too, leaning against the doorframe with his usual easy smile. And Celeste, wearing a pretty blue dress that made her look even younger than usual.
So this was Daemon's housewarming party. A small, intimate gathering with his closest friends. And Celeste was right there in the center of it all, looking perfectly at home.
As I watched, Daemon turned suddenly, his blood-red eyes seeming to look directly at my door. I jerked back from the peephole, my heart hammering.
I backed away slowly, feeling foolish and pathetic. What was I doing, spying on my ex's housewarming party like some jealous stalker?
Around ten-thirty, I decided to get ready for bed early. I needed to stop thinking about what was happening across the hall, stop wondering whether Daemon would invite Celeste to stay the night, stop caring about any of it.
I had just climbed into bed when my doorbell rang.
Through the peephole, I saw a blonde woman I didn't recognize. One of the guests from Daemon's party. She had a warm, friendly face and was holding an empty bowl.
I opened the door a crack, keeping the chain lock engaged. "Yes?"
The woman smiled apologetically. "I'm so sorry to bother you this late. We're making a salad and realized we're out of salad dressing. Do you have any we could borrow?"
"I'm sorry," I said. "I don't have any salad dressing."
It was a lie, but she didn't need to know that. I had a full bottle of ranch in my refrigerator. But I wasn't about to contribute anything to Daemon's party, wasn't about to insert myself into their evening in any way.
"Oh, that's okay," Riley said, still smiling. "Thanks anyway. Have a good night."
"You too," I said, closing the door.
I returned to bed, pulling the covers up to my chin.
I fell asleep without realizing it.
---
I was jolted awake by a sound like the world splitting open.
Thunder—loud, violent thunder that rattled the windows. My eyes flew open, my heart already racing. Lightning flashed outside, illuminating my bedroom before plunging it back into darkness. The rain was battering against the windows.
I fumbled for my phone. 3:27 AM.
Another crack of thunder made me flinch violently. I'd always hated thunderstorms.
A loud crash from the living room made me yelp. I stumbled out of bed. The balcony door was standing wide open, rain pouring in, and my drying rack had been blown over.
I rushed toward the balcony and grabbed the door handle, trying to pull it shut, but the wind pushed back with force. The door wouldn't budge.
Thunder exploded overhead again. I screamed before I could stop myself. My hands were shaking violently, my breathing coming in short gasps.
I tried again to close the door, but another gust nearly ripped the handle from my grip.
I was going to have a panic attack. The tightness in my chest, the way my vision was narrowing—the overwhelming sensation that I needed to hide.
But I couldn't hide. The rain was soaking the living room floor.
I was still struggling with the door, tears streaming down my face, when I heard a voice from outside my apartment.
"Violet!"
Daemon's voice, sharp and urgent.
I let go of the balcony door and ran to the front door, fumbling with the locks. I needed help. I needed someone to close that door.
I got the chain lock off and yanked open the door.
Daemon was standing in the hallway, wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt, his dark hair disheveled. His blood-red eyes locked onto mine, taking in my tear-streaked face, my trembling hands.
"The balcony—" I started to say, but another flash of lightning lit up the hallway, followed immediately by thunder.
I must have made some sound because the next thing I knew, Daemon had stepped forward and pulled me into his arms.
His chest was solid and warm against my cheek, his arms wrapped around me protectively. One hand came up to cradle the back of my head, his fingers threading through my hair.
"Shh," he murmured, his deep voice rumbling through his chest. "It's just thunder. Don't be afraid."