Chapter 139 139
“If you think I’m letting you walk back into that bastard’s house,” Damien said flatly, “you’re wrong.”
The protectiveness in his voice surprised even him. Why was he reacting like this? If it had been anyone else in her position, he would have helped them too. That’s all this was, he told himself. Basic decency.
“It doesn’t matter,” Jacqueline replied evenly. “He’ll find us sooner or later.”
Her calm unsettled him more than her tears had. The way she accepted it like this was just another storm she had learned to stand through made him wonder how long she had been enduring that kind of torture.
“I won’t let him take you,” Damien said firmly.
“He’s rich,” she answered without emotion. “He has connections everywhere. He plays the perfect gentleman in public charity events, donations, speeches about helping women and victims of abuse. No one would believe anything without solid proof. He’s built an image that’s the exact opposite of who he really is.”
“We’ll figure something out,” Damien growled, his voice dropping. “But you’re not going back to him.”
“Why are you helping me?” she asked, tapping her foot lightly against the floor. “If you expect something in return, say it now. I won’t accept help from someone who’s no different than Julien.”
The words hit their mark.
He flinched internally, the memory of his own cruel statements flashing through his mind again.
“I judged you unfairly,” he said quietly. “And I’m sorry. I don’t want anything from you. If this had been anyone else, I would’ve done the same.”
His gaze drifted to her feet again before he forced it upward.
“Right,” she murmured, standing.
She took a few steps, then paused. “Do you have Gilles’s number?”
His brows pulled together. “Yeah.”
He unlocked his phone, opened Gilles’s contact, and handed it to her.
“If you’re planning to tell them you went home, I already did. He asked earlier I was at the bar when he called. I told him you’d left. They looked worried.”
Her eyes lifted to meet his, surprise flickering across her face before she quickly looked away and returned the phone.
“Did he ask where I was?”
“Yeah. They were tense about it.”
A small, genuine smile curved her lips as she brushed her hair behind her ear.
Her friends were her safe place. They didn’t know the truth about her life, but with them she felt normal. Happy. Alive.
“Thank you,” she said softly. “I’ll sleep with Mathieu. I don’t want him waking up and thinking he’s been teleported in his sleep.” She paused, then added under her breath, almost mischievously, “Though… that would be an excellent prank.”
He stared at her.
Something twisted painfully in his chest.
Why did the purest souls endure the cruelest fates?
She walked into the guest room, leaving him alone in the lounge.
After a few minutes, he pulled out his phone and searched for Julien Bourdon.
Article after article appeared. The latest headline covered a charity gala an event Damien himself had attended. He hadn’t wanted to go that night, but his father, Fernando, had insisted he attend on his behalf.
Damien skimmed through the piece.
Julien Bourdon philanthropist, advocate for women’s rights, generous donor to shelters for victims of abuse and assault.
The hypocrisy made his blood boil.
“Bastard,” Damien muttered, jaw tightening.
What would happen if he went there right now and ended him?
Julien had crafted a flawless public image. Fundraisers. Galas. Speeches. Society saw him as a saint.
Now Damien understood exactly what Jacqueline had meant.
This wasn’t going to be simple.
But he couldn’t let Julien take her back.
She didn’t deserve this.
He hadn’t been able to save his mate.
But he would do everything in his power to save Jacqueline.
Running a hand through his hair, he exhaled slowly. He rose and headed toward his room then stopped.
His gaze shifted to the guest room door.
The urge to check on them won.
He twisted the handle quietly and peeked inside.
Relief softened his features when he saw her lying beside her brother. She was on her stomach, black hair fanned across the pillow, one arm draped protectively near Mathieu.
After a final glance, he shut the door gently and retreated to his own room.
He pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it aside before moving to the window. Leaning against the wall, he stared at Coco.
The bird chirped at him.
“Do you miss her?” he asked softly.
Coco chirped again.
“Yeah,” he whispered. “Me too.”
He pulled out his phone and dialed a number.
—
Jacqueline tried to roll onto her side.
Pain exploded across her back.
She gasped sharply, eyes flying open as she immediately shifted back onto her stomach. She lay still for a moment, blinking, staring at Mathieu sleeping peacefully beside her.
Memories of last night flooded back in fragments.
Her body felt rigid, stretched painfully tight. Even the smallest movement sent sharp waves through her skin.
With effort, she pushed herself up and slipped out of the room.
Dawn’s pale light filtered through the house. She had woken too early.
She made her way to the restroom.
Her back itched terribly. She needed to apply the ointment again.
After finishing, she found a new toothbrush tucked inside the small cabinet. She brushed her teeth, washed her face, and with difficulty lifted the oversized shirt to apply ointment as far as her hands could reach.
It wasn’t enough but it would have to do.
She stepped out of the bathroom, intending to return to Mathieu.
Then she heard movement in the kitchen.
A faint rustling.
Her heart leapt.
Maybe Damien was already awake.
She walked toward the sound carefully.
But the moment she stepped into the kitchen, her breath caught.
An unfamiliar man was standing there, rummaging through the cabinets.
Her heart dropped.
Her eyes widened in horror.