Chapter 113
Elena's POV
The hallway stretched before us, cold and suffocating. Damon stood rigid, his frustration radiating in waves that once would have sent me scrambling to fix things.
Not anymore.
He opened his mouth, then closed it. Finally, he exhaled hard through his nose. "Fine. Let's talk about the engagement."
My stomach turned. "What's there to talk about? Your mother already picked the dress designer."
"Elena—"
"I said I'd do it." I kept my voice flat, emotionless. "Isn't that enough?"
He studied me for a long moment, jaw tight. When he spoke again, the anger had drained from him, replaced by something worse—resignation. "I need you to do something for me."
Of course.
"My father's guards," he continued. "They're watching me. I need you to talk to them, get them pulled back."
I blinked. Of all the things I'd expected him to ask, this wasn't one of them.
But the irony was obvious. His father was so desperate to lock down this marriage that he'd put Damon under surveillance. Making sure he wouldn't run off with Scarlett.
"I'll talk to him," I said calmly.
Damon's shoulders relaxed slightly. Then his gaze turned searching again, and I felt my spine stiffen.
"You said before," he began slowly, "that you had someone you liked."
My pulse quickened. I forced myself to stay still, to show nothing.
"What happened with that?" he pressed.
The question hung in the cold air between us.
"It's over," I said.
"Who was he?"
I didn't answer.
He couldn't help but ask again. "Was he that good?"
"I never met anyone better than him."
Disappointment flashed in his eyes, quickly transforming into anger. Then he turned and left.
---
Damon's POV
I barely remembered the drive home. My hands were white-knuckled on the steering wheel, Elena's words looping endlessly in my head. I never met anyone better than him.
Who the fuck was he?
My phone buzzed. Scarlett. Again.
We need to talk about you and Elena's engagement.
I stared at the message. Scarlett had been pushing back hard. She called it a betrayal. Sent me walls of text about how I'd promised we'd find a way, how she couldn't believe I'd choose duty over love.
Love. Did I even know what that meant anymore?
I typed back quickly. It's just temporary. A formality. You know that.
Her response came instantly. Then why does it feel like you're choosing her?
I pulled the car into the underground garage and killed the engine. Went inside.
Scarlett texted again. I called her, letting her vent about the unfairness of it all.
"I'm doing this for us," I said, though the words felt hollow. "Once it's over, once the families calm down—"
"Then what?" Scarlett's voice was sharp. "You'll just divorce her? You think it works like that?"
I didn't have an answer. So I did what I always did—threw money at the problem. Transferred enough to her account to buy out half a luxury boutique. "Go shopping. Clear your head. I'll figure this out."
She hung up without saying goodbye.
I stood at the floor-to-ceiling window, thinking about Elena again. About the flower room where she used to hide as a kid, so quiet you'd forget she existed. About how she used to light up when I'd tease her, back when things were simpler.
Now she looked at someone else and said, I never met anyone better.
The sound reverberated through my ribcage. I pressed a hand to my chest, confused by the sudden ache blooming there.
She had someone she loved. So why did that make me feel like I was losing something I never knew I wanted?
---
Elena's POV
I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. I tried to sleep, but couldn't no matter what I did.
My phone buzzed. Lila.
Did something happen between you and Caleb?
How is he?
Still working late. Hasn't eaten. Living at the office basically.
My chest tightened. I wanted to call him. To hear his voice.
But I'd made my choice. I'd sent him that cold, final message.
What happened with you two? Weren't things fine just two days ago?
We separated. I went home.
Why!! Are you really going to get engaged to Damon?
My dad threatened me with my mom. She's already hurt. I can't ignore her.
So you're choosing to abandon him?
I gripped the phone, my fingers stiff.
Yes, once again I'd chosen someone else.
After a long time, I replied to Lila. He'll meet someone better suited for him.
Someone as good as him would definitely meet a better girl—at least one who had never hurt him, never deceived him. Their relationship could be pure, without any suspicion or doubt.
Definitely better than me.
But...
Just thinking about that possibility, my heart already ached faintly.
Losing him felt like losing everything.
---
The next evening, my father brought me to the Vance manor. They needed to discuss the engagement details.
The Vance house was crowded today. Isabella and a group of people were in the first-floor living room discussing the ceremony. Damon wasn't participating—he was holed up upstairs playing video games.
Half an hour later, my phone buzzed. Damon.
Can you ask Isabella about pulling back the guards? Seriously. I'm sick of being supervised.
I stared at the message for a long time, then replied. I'll talk to her.
Isabella didn't make it difficult. She readily agreed to withdraw the guards watching Damon.
While they continued discussing engagement matters, I walked toward the back yard, looking at the familiar old bell tower. My heart tightened again.
That was where they used to lock Caleb.
I didn't want to remember anymore. I turned to leave.
But the moment I turned around, I saw him.
Caleb stood in the distance, wearing a dark coat.
My breathing stopped.
He shouldn't be here. He never came to this house—unless forced.
We just looked at each other. Neither of us moved.
He walked toward me.
"Elena." His voice was low, controlled.
"Why... why are you here?" My voice sounded more strained than I'd expected.
"Your ceremony," he said, stopping a few steps away, hands in his coat pockets.
My chest seized with pain.
"You always come and go as you please," Caleb stared at me without blinking. "Dismissing me with a single message."