Chapter 52

Damien didn’t answer Emily’s question. He sighed quietly and drove the car to his house. No one spoke during the ride. Emily looked out of the window. She had the feeling that Damien didn’t want to invite her. Now she regretted that she had insisted on seeing Victoria.

“Damien,” she called.

“If you don’t want to...”

“You’re not meeting Victoria. I’m just inviting you to my house.” Emily pursed her lips. This time she wasn’t going to talk Damien into letting her see Victoria.

“Call your tutor. Tell them you’ll be late.” Emily did, as Damien said. After that, the ride was quiet again.

They arrive at Damien and Victoria’s house. Emily looked at the mansion with open mouth. The large yard with the water fountain, not to mention the three-story house. Now Emily could see the true meaning of riches. The girl gasped as a burly man opened the door for her. Emily controlled her expression. She got out of the car and immediately saw Damien walk into the house without a care in the world. The girl followed him with wide strides.

“Damien,” Damien’s steps were stopped by the call.

“You stay here,” Damien said without looking at Emily. Damien called his housekeeper. It was two middle-aged women who immediately approached Damien.

“Take her to the living room.” The two housekeepers nodded, but rounded their eyes when they saw Emily.

“Miss Victoria,” one of them said in shock. Damien closed his eyes for a moment and continued on his way to see Victoria. He wanted the people in his house to assume that Emily was Victoria. He walked to the elevator and stepped inside. The man stuffed his hands into his pockets. Why was he bringing Emily here? He exited the elevator as soon as the doors opened. The man sighed heavily. How could he be persuaded by Emily’s words?

Damien saw two nurses standing guard not far from Victoria’s hospital room, writing. The doctor must have left. He had missed the doctor’s appointment that afternoon. If he hadn’t taken Emily shopping, Damien would have met the doctor who was treating Victoria.

“Good afternoon, Mister Miller.” The nurses greeted him.

“How is Victoria?” Damien asked. Somehow the man’s heart didn’t whisper hope as it usually did.

“Still the same, sir.” The nurse named Kathrine replied. Damien entered Victoria’s room. He approached Victoria’s gurney and looked at the woman who was his wife with an uncertain gaze. For a year and a half, he would see a scene like this. Victoria with medical equipment on her body to keep her alive.

“Is it time to let you go, Victoria?” Damien voiced. He watched Victoria’s heaving chest, indicating that she was still breathing, but it was pointless if she didn’t show any change.

“You’re alive, but it’s like you’re dead. Am I pushing you too hard to live, Victoria?” Damien rubbed his face in annoyance at the thought of Emily being in their house. To be honest, Damien was starting to think about Emily. It was difficult for him to resist touching her. He was saved because the excuse of acting like husband and wife in public could make Damien take Emily’s hand and kiss the girl. Do you think Damien would feel bad thinking about another girl while in the same room with his wife? The answer is no. He doesn’t feel bad because Damien feels nothing but a friend’s affection for Victoria.

“My plan is going well, Victoria. Soon your father and stepbrother will be out of the company. I’m still considering whether they can stay in your house.” Damien changed the subject because he had already made up his mind. This would be Damien’s last conversation with Victoria.

“Goodbye, Victoria.” The man left Victoria’s room after saying goodbye. Damien walked past Victoria’s nurses and entered the elevator. He pulled his cell phone from his pocket and texted Doctor James.

“I’m ready to release Victoria.” That was the message.

***

Emily looked at Damien and Victoria’s wedding photo in the living room. Emily looked closely at Victoria. She looked elegant and beautiful, a happy smile on her face. As for Damien, the man wasn’t smiling at all. He was just staring straight ahead.

Emily’s breath caught as she felt two hands around her waist. She turned her head and looked at Damien in confusion. Why is Damien suddenly like this? He seemed to ignore her earlier.

“In this house you have to act like Victoria,” Damien said softly against her neck. Emily’s heart skipped a beat as Damien gently kissed her neck.

“It’s still the same story. You lose your memory and all you remember is me.” Emily’s heart felt like it was going to explode.

“Damien,” Emily’s hand trembled against Damien’s muscular arm. How could she play the role of Victoria in their house?

“Let me be this way for a while.” Emily’s hand stopped to let go of Damien’s embrace.

“The people in my house must be surprised and astonished to see you suddenly appear. They must think their host has returned.” Emily let Damien hug her from behind. Ever since Damien had left, the people in this house had been looking at her as if they had seen a ghost. Emily ignored their stares. Fortunately, none of the workers in Damien’s house made a sound to question her. Damien’s servant left after serving her tea and snacks.

Having had enough, Emily let go of Damien’s embrace and turned her body to look at the man.

“Damien,” Emily said as she saw the face of the man who had paid her. The man looked as if he had just made a difficult decision. Damien smiled weakly as Emily put a hand over his face.

“You can talk to me,” Emily said quietly. She had a feeling this had something to do with Victoria.

“I’ll listen.” Damien shook his head. He was over it. Emily didn’t need to know what he was doing. The man raised his hand and stroked Emily’s left cheek.

“It’s time for you to go home,” Emily gave Damien a confused look.

“We’re not going home together?”

“I still have business here. The driver will take you home.” Emily removed her hand from Damien’s face. She didn’t know why she felt disappointed that she couldn’t go home with him.

“Hurry up,” Damien pleaded.

“Don’t keep your tutor waiting any longer.” Emily gave Damien a long look. She didn’t want to leave him. But she had no reason to stay there.

“Alright. I’m going home now.” Damien smiled slightly. He watched as Emily picked up her bag from the sofa and left the living room. Just as Damien was about to follow her, his cell phone rang. Damien saw Doctor James’ name on his phone screen.

“Good afternoon, Damien.” The doctor greeted him.

“Good afternoon. What time can you get here?” Damien didn’t want to rush things. But the sooner was done for Victoria, the better. Damien had been wrong not to listen to the doctor’s advice.

“Are you sure you want to remove all the equipment from Victoria’s body?”

“I am sure. When can you do the procedure?”

“Around seven in the evening. As soon as my work at the hospital is done, I’ll be there immediately.” Damien nodded. That was better than James saying he could only do it tomorrow.

“Would you like to be present for the procedure?” Damien was silent. He was thinking of an answer to James’ question.

“No,” Damien replied confidently. He didn’t want to see Victoria, the woman who was his closest friend, die.

“Let me know when everything is done.” Damien tucked his cell phone into his pocket as soon as the call ended. He quickly walked out of the house to catch up with Emily. Hopefully the girl hadn’t left yet.

“Stop the driver!” Damien ordered one of his bodyguards. The car Emily was in hasn’t left yet. Damien went to the back door and opened it.

“Get out. Let’s go home together,” Damien said. There was no resistance from Emily. She had been so obedient to Damien all day.

“Are you done with your business?” asked Emily as soon as she faced the man.

“Yes. Let’s go.” Damien took Emily’s hand and managed to get Emily’s heart pounding again.