Chapter 87 Chapter 87
LISA'S POV
We jumped out of the door just as the entire building exploded, throwing us several feet in the air and tossing us back on the floor.
"Ugghh," I groaned out, coughing. Burning splinters fell around me, and I found it slightly difficult to move. And then I saw Vittorio running towards me, before he reached, another hand grabbed me and lifted me up.
A sliver of pain shot up my right leg, and I felt something sticky slide down my knee, but I refused to look. Damien looked razzled up, but still, he was okay.
"You were right, something was awfully wrong about this whole thing." There was a tinge of amusement in his voice. I looked up and shook my head.
"What gave it away? Don't tell me it was the explosion." I smiled as we limped slightly back to the car.
Back in the safety and comfort of the car, I felt glad that we were finally heading back. I think I had sustained enough injuries for one day.
Damien pulled out the paper he had found, and I peeped at it while I leaned against his shoulder. It was written in bold letters, "SOMEONE CLOSE TO YOU IS ORCHESTRATING YOUR DOWNFALL. TRUST NO ONE."
Damien's expression changed to its normal dark and gloomy face. This just didn't seem right. Why would anyone set him up with a bomb just to warn him?
Once we got back to the house, he remained quiet. He helped me out of the car and just to my room to get my wound checked and treated, but after that, he disappeared into his study alone.
Later that day, after I had rested, I went in search of Damien, but he was nowhere to be found. He wasn't in his office, he wasn't even in his bedroom.
"Hey, have you seen Damien?" I asked Duke as I approached the front door. He bopped his head and shrugged.
"Hey, Vittorio, have you seen the boss?" Duke asked
"Yeah, he's been acting really weird since we got back. He went out to the tent, don't know, but he hasn't been there in a while." I frowned.
"The tent?" I cocked an eyebrow at Duke, and he heaved a sigh.
"Yeah, the tent is where the boss keeps stuff he doesn't need anymore. Like a physical version of his past. I know, sometimes I think he has a sense of humor too, but he really never goes there. If he is there, then it's not looking good for any of us." Duke replied.
I wondered what was going through his mind. I knew what the problem was, but did he really not think anyone was trustworthy?
"Alright, thank you," I said and headed towards the back door instead. I had never heard of the tent before. Even moments when I explored the grounds, sneaking out, I had never happened upon something so conspicuous.
The tent was like the gray area in the whole map of the Paulo manor. It was situated at the back of the manor's quarters. My heart raced nervously as I approached the literal tent-like structure. Grey material and dark edges roped to keep it standing in place.
It was creative, marvelous, as well as sad. I caught his shadow moving inside, and I hesitated for a moment. Whatever was in there was not for me to see. If he wanted me to see it, he would have shown it to me. Besides, who liked visiting their pasts anyway.
I stared too long without realizing that the shadow had moved, changing positions. It wasn't until his large form emerged from the tent's door that I realised I was trapped.
Damien looked confused, upset, and irritated. "What are you doing here? Who told you I was here? How did you get here?" His voice held all the irritation I knew he felt.
"Damien, calm down, it is not like that. I..."
I swallowed, petrified that I had even been foolish enough to come. I opened my mouth to reply, but he beat me to it.
"Are you here to dig up more secrets to give yourself reasons to believe I'm the monster? Did Alexander put you up to this?"
"What?" I muttered in shock. He scoffed and let out a self-aware chuckle, and then his eyes turned wild. He pinned me against a tree in less than a second, and my feet were gradually leaving the floor.
"Damien..."
"I can't believe it, he got to you, didn't he? You made a deal with Alexander to pin me and get out, am I right?"
"Wait, what? No, what are you even talking about?" His accusations were becoming infuriating.
"Am I right?! This whole time! Did you know about the explosion? Is that why you felt guilty and wanted to leave? You were hoping I would die in there!" His hands rounded my throat, and he began to apply pressure.
"Damien stop, you're choking me!" I coughed, beating against his hand helplessly.
"I knew I should never have trusted you. I trusted you!" He pressed my wound, sending blinding pain throughout my body. My eyes watered, my vision blurred.
"Damien stop!" I kicked his groin and he let me go with a thud, my wound hurt terribly. I could not stop the tears from flowing.
Damien looker from me to his hands in shock, regret dainting his previously wild expression. He walked away from me as if scared that he had murdered me.
I sat there breathing heavily, wheezing from the pain he had inflicted on me. He was back in no time with a glass of water and some painkillers. I watched the terror in his eyes, they reflected mine.
"I'm sorry, I went too far." He said, after I took the painkiller. I held bacm my retort. I knew he was having a difficult time, and that was why I had come to begin with, and not to be choked to death.
"I would never betray you, Damien. I know that you find it hard to trust anyone now, but you and I are in this together.
I touched his hand. He flinched, retracting it.