Chapter 137 One thirty seven

Chapter 137 One thirty seven
Aria’s POV

By the time Damien arrived, Katie and Maeve were already dressed.

The earlier tension in the room had completely dissolved, replaced with something softer, something almost playful. Katie was trying to act normal, but the way her eyes kept drifting to Maeve gave everything away. Maeve, on the other hand, looked calmer, though the faint smile on her lips never really left.

And me?

I couldn’t stop giggling.

I didn’t even fully understand why. Maybe it was the shock finally wearing off. Maybe it was the fact that something so unexpected had turned into something… 
oddly sweet.

Or maybe I just needed something light to hold onto before everything else came crashing back.

When Damien stepped in, his presence immediately shifted the air in the room.
Not in a bad way.

Just… different. Grounding.
I looked up at him, my smile still lingering as our eyes met.

“Damien.”

He greeted us briefly, his tone calm, controlled as always. But I didn’t miss the way his gaze flickered between me, Katie, and Maeve, like he was silently trying to piece something together.

If only he knew.

I bit back another laugh at the thought.
He picked up my things without asking, like it was the most natural thing in the world, and gestured toward the door.

“Let’s go.”

I followed him without hesitation, my mood still unusually light.

Even as we stepped outside, I could feel his eyes on me. Watching. Observing.
Trying to understand.

The moment we got into the car, he didn’t start driving immediately.

Instead, he turned slightly toward me, his brows drawing together just a bit.

“Why are you in such a good mood?”
I tried to hold it in.

I really did.

But the memory flashed again—Katie and Maeve, their expressions, the way they had scrambled…

And I laughed.

A soft, uncontrollable sound that filled the quiet space of the car.

“They’re dating,” I said finally, still smiling. “Katie and Maeve.”

He just looked at me.
For a few seconds, he didn’t say anything at all.

Just… stared blankly.

Like he was waiting for me to say I was joking.

But when I didn’t, he gave a small, slow nod.

“I see.”
That was it. No questions.No reactions.
Just that.

Typical Damien.

He stepped out of the car then, walking around to my side and opening the door for me.

I smiled faintly and got in, settling into the seat as he closed the door gently behind me.

A moment later, he was in the driver’s seat, starting the engine. The ride to the villa was quiet, but not uncomfortable.
I leaned back slightly, watching the passing lights blur together outside the window, my thoughts drifting again.

From Katie and Maeve…

My fingers tightened slightly against my lap.

I had almost forgotten.

Almost.

By the time we arrived at the villa, the earlier lightness in my chest had begun to fade, replaced by something else.

Something heavier and real.

Damien parked the car, and we stepped out together, walking inside in silence.
The moment we entered, I felt it again, that shift.

Like stepping into a space where everything mattered more.

Where distractions faded instantly.

We had barely gotten inside when it hit me.

My eyes widened slightly.

Right.

My aunt.

I stopped in my tracks.

Damien took a few steps ahead before noticing I wasn’t beside him anymore.
He turned back, his gaze immediately finding mine.

“What is it?”

“Damien,” I called out.

His attention sharpened instantly.

“I’ve spoken to my aunt… about you wanting to see them.”

He didn’t interrupt.

He just looked at me, his expression giving me the space to continue.

I took a small breath.

“She said we can come tomorrow.”

A pause. “Saturday.”

The reaction was immediate.

His eyes widened slightly, the word forming silently on his lips before he said it out loud.

“Saturday?” I nodded. “Yes. Tomorrow.”
For a moment, he just stood there, staring at me like he was trying to process how fast everything had just moved.

And honestly? I understood. It was fast.
Too fast.

But there was no going back now.

“It’s too close,” he muttered under his breath, more to himself than to me.
I watched him carefully.

Waiting.

Then he exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair before looking back at me.

“But that’s fine,” he added, his tone steadier now. “We’ll go.”

Relief flickered through me.

“Let’s get some rest,” he continued. “We’ll need it.”

I nodded.

“Yes.”

Because something told me…

Tomorrow wasn’t going to be easy.

Without saying anything else, I turned and headed toward the room.

The moment I stepped inside, the quiet wrapped around me again, but this time, it felt different.

Heavier than before.

My mind was already racing ahead.

Tomorrow.

Meeting my aunt Gianna with Damien.

Telling him everything.

Or at least… starting to.

I closed the door behind me and leaned against it for a second, letting out a slow breath.

Then I pushed myself off and walked toward the bathroom.

A shower.

That’s what I needed.

Something to clear my head.

Something to ground me.

As the water ran over my skin, I closed my eyes, letting the warmth sink in.

But it didn’t wash away the thoughts.

It didn’t quiet the questions.

If anything… it made them louder.

By the time I stepped out, wrapping a towel around myself, my chest felt tight again.

Not from fear.

But from anticipation.

I changed into something comfortable and stepped out of the room, the faint smell of food reaching me almost immediately.
I paused.

When Damien was done in the kitchen, his voice carried softly through the house.

“Aria.”

I had been upstairs, sitting on the edge of the bed, lost in my thoughts without even realizing how much time had passed.

“I’m coming,” I replied, pushing myself up.
I walked downstairs, the faint smell of tea and toasted bread greeting me halfway down the steps. It was simple. Calm. Almost too calm, considering everything waiting for us.

Then walked toward the kitchen.

Damien was there.

Of course he was.

Moving around with quiet efficiency, like everything he did had purpose behind it.
He didn’t look up immediately, but I knew he had already sensed me.

“I made something light,” he said.

I leaned slightly against the doorway, watching him for a moment.