Chapter 25 MR. DADDY.
\~~~SERENA.
Even long after Damien returned to his seat, people were still looking in our direction, murmuring, clapping, and cheering softly like the moment had not ended for them.
It made my skin itch.
Uncomfortable, I placed my hand on Damien’s arm and leaned closer, lowering my voice.
“I need to use the bathroom.”
He glanced at me, calm as ever. “Should I come with you?”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” I snapped through clenched teeth.
He lifted a brow slightly and then nodded his head.
“Melissa, follow my…”
“No,” I cut him off quickly before he could finish speaking to the woman seated with us. “Come on. I’m not a baby. I will find my way.”
I patted his shoulder lightly and stood up before he could insist.
Walking away felt like breathing again.
Finding the restroom wasn’t difficult. The signs were clear, and the hallway was wide and polished. I stepped into the grand restroom and froze for a second.
This place alone could fit five to eight of my former apartment and I was not even exaggerating.
I moved to one of the wash basins and turned on the tap, letting cold water run over my hands. I washed them again and again like the water could calm the shaking inside me.
My reflection stared back at me. Perfect makeup, perfect hair, and a woman who looked put together.
But inside, my heart was still racing.
After a while, when my breathing finally steadied, I dried my hands with a disposable towel and walked out.
I hadn’t gone far when suddenly, a hand clamped around my wrist and I was yanked back so roughly that I screamed.
“Who the fuck are you?!”
The person stopped abruptly and shoved me against the wall.
Ryan.
I sucked in a sharp breath, anger replacing shock instantly.
“Are you insane?” I snapped.
“Hi, Serena.”
“You are crossing your boundaries,” I said coldly. “How the fuck are you even here?”
“I was here before you and my uncle arrived,” he replied bitterly. “Before you caused a scene.”
“This better be the last time you pull this shit with me,” I warned, pushing off the wall and turning to leave.
He grabbed me again, harder..
“Cut off the marriage.”
I stopped and slowly turned to him. “Excuse me?”
He straightened, adjusted his hair, his shoulders lifting in forced pride.
“Call off the wedding. I will take responsibility for you.”
I stared at him. “Have you been drinking?”
“I will divorce Lisa,” he said quickly. “Yes, I will. And I will marry you right away. That is what you want, right? You have always wanted that.”
I laughed softly, dry and humorless, “You are so unbelievable.”
“It is you who is unbelievable,” he snapped. “No matter how much you crave a family, I didn’t expect you to stoop so low, settling for someone like my uncle.”
“And what kind of person is your uncle?” I asked calmly.
“You don’t want to know,” he scoffed. “Damien is not who you think he is. How could you be so stupid to believe everything that comes from an old and manipulative man like him? I knew you were naive, but I didn’t believe you were this stupid, and so low too. No, I didn’t expect you to be so desperate just because you got to taste just a pinch of his wealth. You were a good girl and all of a sudden, you are with a ma…”
I didn’t let him finish before I let my palm respond to him.
I slapped him so hard that my palm hurt but I didn’t care.
“Don’t you dare,” I said, my voice shaking with fury.
He stared at me, stunned, then rushed on.
“This is the first time he is showing up at his own award ceremony, you know? Most times, he sends his assistants, but, today, he came with you. What does that mean? He is trying to brainwash you totally! And you, you are letting him win!”
“Who cares if he wins?” I shot back.
He blinked. “What?”
“He can win. Lose. Do whatever he wants. What does that have to do with me?”
“What? You don’t understand what I am saying?” Ryan hissed.
“That man is just trying to entice you with his wealth. Damien will discard you once he is done with you. He has no use for you. Do you not see him? You are so beneath him that you would never have dared to breathe near him on a normal day, but suddenly, you are here, playing fiancée!”
I swear, those words hit a nerve.
They hurt in ways I didn’t expect, fuck.
“So?” I crossed my arms tightly. “So what?”
“Sere…”
“So what if he uses me?” I interrupted. “I am using him too. What is the problem?”
He looked at me like I had grown another head.
“You are sick.”
“It is so funny how you think you have a right to have an opinion about this. You actually know what I think?”
“I don’t care what you think.”
“You’re a coward,” I continued. “ You are stupid, low, and bitter. You hide behind excuses and lies. A stupid mama’s boy who thinks with his head only, just not with the one on his neck. You couldn’t even face me properly, yet here you are acting brave.”
“Serena,” he whispered, shocked.
“So save it. You stay here and you think you have what it takes to lecture me? Oh, Mr. Daddy. Rush home and fulfil your daddy duties, please. You have a son and a heavily pregnant wife. Have you no shame?”
“It is you who is shameless,” he snapped. “And irresponsible.”
I shrugged, adjusted my bag.
“And you who thinks of divorcing his wife barely after a week of announcing her publicly just to win me back thinks he is responsible?”
I laughed.
“Oh, what a clown you are, brother-in-law.”
I turned and walked away.
He didn’t call me back and I was glad for that.
When I returned to our table, Damien leaned closer and whispered,
“Did you lose your way?”
“I stayed long, didn’t I?” I smiled faintly.
He studied me, his gaze sharp.
“Is something wrong?”
Ryan’s words crashed into my head again.
“Damien will discard you once he is done with you.
“ You are so beneath him that you would never have dared to breathe near him on a normal day”
Fuck it.
I closed my eyes and then leaned over the table, grabbed my glass of champagne, and gulped it down at a go.
“More,” I whispered to Damien, dropping my glass cup in front of him.
Damien watched me for a moment, lifted the bottle of champagne, and then quietly refilled it.
I took the glass, my fingers trembling slightly.
I didn’t know why Ryan’s words hurt.
It wasn’t supposed to, to be honest.
But, it did.