Chapter 15 Damien

Chapter 15 Damien
I tried to calm my storming heart. A single tear escaped her lashes, tracing a delicate line down her cheek. I leaned closer, brushing it away gently. My gaze fell on the clock—10 p.m. That was enough time to call it a night on a date. I couldn’t just leave her here, alone, while she slept. Not in this neighborhood. I decided to call Alex.

“I had to bring Ella home. How soon can Sophia get here?” I asked, my voice edged with urgency.

“What happened to her?” Sophia’s voice came through, concerned.

“She’s sleeping now. I want you here before I leave,” I snapped, angry at her for leaving Ella alone.

“We’ll be there in an hour,” Alex said, the slur in his tone made me know he was tipsy.

“Make it thirty minutes,” I barked, ending the call before the words could betray any more impatience.

I watched her sleep. Ella looked impossibly peaceful, like an angel unaware of the storms that raged outside her room. My eyes roamed over the small, cozy home, pictures of them together lined the shelves, silent evidence of a deep bond. Fashion magazines stacked neatly beside her bed, a sketchbook filled with designs. I opened it carefully; rows of clothing sketches stared back, but one design made me pause—a leather jacket. The thought of her hands, her mind, her creativity weaving something like this… it made my chest tighten. I could already feel my fingers clenching at the thought of anyone daring to hurt her, to destroy a part of her soul.

A knock at the front door pulled me from my thoughts. I had locked it from inside. Opening it, Alex stumbled in, collapsing onto the couch.

“Hey, man,” he mumbled. I didn’t bother responding, my irritation simmering.

Sophia entered, she went straight to the room checking up on Ella. She sighed, concern etched into her features, and walked out.

“What happened to her?” she asked softly.

“I saw her walking late… alone,” I emphasized, watching her bow her head, guilt pressing against her.

“I offered to bring her home,” I added, softening my voice.

“Thank you,” she said, the appreciation in her eyes brief but real. “She had an awful day.”

My curiosity piqued, I pressed further. “So… what happened?”

She hesitated before speaking. “She was bullied. We created our individual dresses yesterday. She won first place, but this morning… someone ruined her dress.” Her voice cracked like fragile glass.

Anger flared instantly. Who dares touch her work? Pride mingled with fury, and I felt the tight knot of possessiveness coil in my chest. My fingers itched to confront whoever had done this.

“What’s the name of your school?” I asked.

“Havenbrook Fashion Academy,” she replied, eyebrows raised, glancing at Alex who shrugged. I let the information settle.

“Thank you for bringing her home. I’ve already said more than I’m supposed to,” she murmured, tiredly.

“One more question—who is Antoine?” I asked, forcing my tone to sound casual.

Her eyes widened. “What did she tell you about him?”

“She said it in her sleep,” I replied, tight-lipped.

“Oh! I don’t know much about him, but she holds him dear,” she said with a mischievous smile. I clenched my fists until my knuckles whitened, suppressing the surge of jealousy and the possessive instinct clawing inside me. I left before I said too much.

I decided to ride a little, the road beneath me a blur as I tried to settle my thoughts. At home, I took a quick shower, wearing only shorts, and sat on the balcony, staring at the pool below. My mind couldn’t rest, so I called Camille, thinking maybe Havenbrook could be one of hers.

“Hey, bro,” she answered instantly.

“How did your date go?” I asked, curiosity mixing with concern.

“Did you call me at midnight just to ask about my date?” she asked, suspicion lacing her tone.

“Yes and no,” I said.

“Well, it went well. He was cute and funny. I was an hour late, but it didn’t faze him. He’s such a sweet man,” she gushed. I could almost picture her making those love-struck faces.

“That’s great,” I said, my focus already shifting.

“So… what’s the other thing?”

“Do you own Havenbrook? It’s a fashion academy,” I asked. She paused, then laughed lightly.

“Just hold on, I’ll check the name,” she replied.

“Do you not know the name of your own schools?” I teased.

“I’ve seen it. Yes, it’s mine—two academies with that name. One here, one in Canada,” she said.

“Good,” I said, a flicker of satisfaction in my chest.

“Ok… why do you ask?”

“There was an incident at the branch here. A student ruined another’s project,” I said. Her gasp came through the line.

“I’ll look into it tomorrow, but how do you know this?” she asked, surprised.

“The ruined dress belonged to a friend,” I said firmly.

“Who could this friend be? You don’t have any friends aside from Sebastian,” she mocked.

“It’s Ella,” I said, the possessive edge in my voice sharp as a blade.

“Who’s Ella?” she asked, genuinely surprised.

“The girl from the race and cafe,” I answered. Laughter burst from her side of the line.

“Yeah… we made up, settled our differences,” I said, keeping my voice even.

“That’s great. I’m happy you’re finally interested in a girl enough to fight for her,” she said, still laughing.

“Yeah, very funny, Cami. Goodbye.” Her laughter grated on me, yet I couldn’t help but smirk at her teasing.

“I’ll make sure justice is served for your girlfriend,” she said, still laughing.

“She’s not my girl…” I muttered, but the line went dead before I could finish.

“We’re just… friends,” I whispered to the empty room. My chest hurts.

I debated running a background check on Ella to find out who Antoine was, but the thought of digging into her life without her consent made my chest tighten. I would ask her myself. The thought of someone else holding a place in her heart made my jaw ache with anger.

I lay down, exhaustion crushing me, closing my eyes, only for a dream to seize me in its grip.

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I was drunk—or at least, I knew I was. A celebration swirled around me, a whirl of color, laughter, and light. Faces blurred, emotions collided. I was at the center, yet untethered, floating above it all. Something prickled in my chest—an unease I couldn’t place.

I tried to leave, to move forward, but the world tilted violently. I slammed into my car, the engine roaring like a beast in my veins. I sped down an empty road, exhilaration and recklessness coursing through me. The headlights of another car appeared out of nowhere, the driver’s head low, oblivious. My hands shot to the wheel, heart hammering, but it was too late. The scratch of metal against metal. The screech of tires. My car veered off course, tearing into a tree. Pain exploded in my hands, my vision blurry, seeing red through the blood in my eyes I could make out the other car, it crashed too.

Smoke curled through the night like sinister fingers. Red lights danced in my vision, the world melting into chaos. I called 911, my voice strangled with panic. Then darkness claimed me.

I woke drenched in sweat, heart thundering, every nerve on fire. My safe world had felt suddenly fragile, broken. Sleep refused me. I glanced at the clock—2 a.m.

I needed peace, a moment alone. Swim trunks on, I leapt into the pool, letting myself sink into the cold embrace of water. Darkness surrounded me, silence absolute. I sat cross-legged at the bottom, holding my breath, letting the water press against every muscle. The world blurred, the chaos of my mind quieting to nothing. For a few precious moments, it was just me.

When I surfaced, lungs burning, the night air filled my senses. Still restless, I stayed a while longer, letting the cool night calm the storm within. Then, finally, I returned to my room, still haunted by
the nightmare. I couldn't sleep, so I turned on the lights, deciding to continue my work from where I stopped yesterday.