Chapter 58 You've Already Taken Everything
Chapter 58 You've Already Taken Everything
“That’s enough,” Mr. Volkov barked. “You’re just a bodyguard! Know your place!” He couldn't stand his sn being looked down on by such a nobody.
Damien turned his cold gaze toward him too.
“My place,” he said, “is wherever she needs protection.”
Elena covered her mouth, tears falling silently. Her chest tightened. For the first time after her mother’s death, she knew Damien was the best thing in her life.
Victor’s chest heaved. “Elena,” he snapped. “Get to your room. Right now. We will deal with this nonsense later.”
“Deal?” Damien repeated, his eyes narrowing. “Is that what you call this? Violence? Manipulation? Selling her life away so you can secure a merger?”
Victor stiffened, the truth hitting too close.
Damien stepped even closer, lowering his voice so only the three men heard, but Elena heard too.
“If you lift a hand toward her again,” Damien said, “you will answer to me. I don’t care who you are. I don’t care what name you carry. I will tear down every piece of power you think you have. Trust me, I could be the worst enemy you'd ever have at your back.”
Victor paled. Because for the first time… he believed him. He believed he was capable of what he said.
Damien turned back to Elena gently, a different man entirely now, and touched her cheek softly where the slap had landed.
“Come,” he said quietly. “Let’s go.”
Elena just nodded. She couldn't find her voice. Everything was overwhelming for her. Especially, as Damien going against her father openly for her sake.
But when she tried to walk with him, Victor exploded:
“IF YOU LEAVE WITH HIM, ELENA... I WILL FIRE HIM!”
Both Elena and Damien froze. In fact, everyone froze.
Victor’s face was red, furious, and out of control.
“You hear me?” Victor shouted. “Leave his side and go to your room with Caspian instead. He's going to be your husband soon! But if you walk away right now with this trash, you stop being my daughter. I will cut you off! I will disown you! I will—”
“Then disown me,” Elena whispered, and turned to face him once more, feeling exhausted from all the emotional drain.
The hall fell silent. No one dared to breathe.
“You’ve already taken everything else,” she said, her voice shaking.
“My voice. My choices. My freedom. My dignity. You even took the right to decide who I marry.” Her eyes overflowed again.
“You slapped me in front of strangers. You humiliated me. You betrayed me, father.”
She stepped backward until she was beside Damien. “I have nothing left to lose.”
Victor’s face drained of all color.
Damien’s hand hovered near hers, not touching at first, as if giving her the choice.
Then she reached for him. And he held her hand.
Caspian felt something inside him snap.
His fists clenched so tight his knuckles turned white. Jealousy burned in his chest like acid.
“No,” he muttered, shaking his head. “No, no, no… She’s supposed to be mine. She’s supposed to—”
Damien’s head turned sharply. But didn't say anything.
Caspian’s breath hitched at the look he was giving him.
Damien didn’t shout. He didn’t raise a fist.
He didn’t even move forward. He just looked at him.
And at that moment, Caspian understood why so many bodyguards in the mansion whispered about the Shadow with fear.
Damien then guided Elena away slowly, leading her toward the stairs, each step feeling like a declaration, each moment tightening the noose around everything Victor and the Volkovs had planned.
Before disappearing around the corner, Damien stopped, turned slightly, and spoke one final sentence, the sentence that pushed the entire situation past the point of no return.
“She’s not your property,” he said, his voice lethal.
Then he walked upstairs with Elena, leaving behind a stunned, terrified silence.
And downstairs, three powerful men realized…
They had just made an enemy out of the wrong person.
An enemy with no fear.
An enemy with no loyalty left to lose.
An enemy who would burn the world down for the girl they had tried to control.
How is that even possible?