CHAPTER SIXTY THREE

CHAPTER SIXTY THREE
He knew it was true. Had always known it, if he was honest with himself. But watching her struggle, seeing her in pain—he couldn't just walk away.

A knock at the door startled them all.

Alexandra frowned. "Who could that be? Thomas is still outside."

Adrian stood. "I'll check."

He moved to the door and looked through the peephole. His jaw tightened. "It's Damon Hartley."

Alexandra's entire body went rigid. Her breath caught audibly. "What? Why would he—"

"Should I send him away?" Adrian's hand was on the doorknob, but he waited for her answer.

Alexandra's mind raced. Part of her wanted to say yes, wanted to hide from him, from the feelings he stirred up. But another part—a part she was trying hard to ignore—wanted to see him. Needed to see him.

"No." The word came out before she could stop it. "Let him in."

Adrian's expression was unreadable as he opened the door.

Damon stood there. He looked different than he had at the hospital. More composed, but his eyes held the same intensity. He wore a dark blue shirt that brought out the color in his eyes, and his hair was slightly messed up like he'd been running his hands through it.

"Mr. Hartley." Adrian's voice was cool, cold. "What can we do for you?"

"I came to see Alexandra." Damon's eyes moved past Adrian to find her on the couch. Something in his expression softened when he saw her. "If she'll see me."

Alexandra stood slowly, her hands smoothing down her shirt—a nervous gesture. "It's fine, Adrian. Let him in."

Adrian stepped aside reluctantly. Damon walked in, and the door closed behind him with a soft click.

Margaret, sensing the tension, quietly excused herself. "I'll go over to the kitchen. To make something for us to eat."

Adrian hesitated, clearly not wanting to leave Alexandra alone with Damon. But her look told him she needed him to go. With obvious hesitation, he followed Margaret out of the room.

And then it was just the two of them.

Damon and Alexandra stood there, several feet apart, the air between them charged with everything unsaid.

"You shouldn't be here," Alexandra said, but her voice lacked conviction.

"I know." Damon took a step closer. "But I couldn't stay away. Not after yesterday. Not after—" He stopped himself. "Chris told me about James."

Alexandra's face paled. "How the hell did he know—"

"Don't blame Chris. Alicia told him, and he told me." Damon took another step. "Alexandra, why didn't you say something? When I was at the hospital, why didn't you tell me?"

"Because it's none of your business. And I'm going to give Alicia a piece of my mind for saying something personal about me to a stranger," Alexandra said, but her voice cracked on the last word, betraying her.

"None of my—" Damon's hands clenched at his sides. "That little boy matters to me. I have spent time with him. Got to know him. And now he's missing, and you think I wouldn't want to help?"

"I don't need your help." Alexandra wrapped her arms around herself, a defensive gesture. "I have Thomas. I have Adrian. I have—"

"But you don't have me," Damon interrupted, his voice rough. "And maybe you don't want me, but I'm here anyway. Because whether you acknowledge it or not, whether you want it or not, I care about what happens to you. And to James."

Alexandra's eyes filled with tears. "Don't do this. Please don't do this right now."

"Do what?" Damon moved closer still. They were only a few feet apart now. "Care about you? Try to be there for you? I can't turn it off, Alexandra. Believe me, I've tried."

"You have no right—"

"I know I don't!" Damon's voice rose, then he caught himself, bringing it back down. "I know I have no right to anything from you. Not after what I did. But I'm asking anyway. Let me help. Let me be here for you."

"Why?" Alexandra's voice broke completely. "Why now? Why do you suddenly care after five years of nothing?"

"Because I never stopped," Damon said, the words seeming to tear out of him. "I never stopped thinking about you. Never stopped regretting what I did. And when I found out you were here, that you were Alexandra Sterling—" He shook his head. "I couldn't stay away. I tried. God, I tried. But I can't do it anymore."

"You left me." The accusation came out as a whisper, but it cut deep. "You left me standing there in front of everyone. Do you have any idea what that did to me?"

"I know—"

"No, you don't!" Alexandra's voice rose, years of pain pouring out. "You don't know what it felt like to stand there waiting, hoping, thinking maybe you were just anxious. And then realizing you weren't coming back ever again. That you'd chosen to abandon me."

Tears streamed down her face now, unchecked. "Everyone stared at me with pity. Whispering. And I just stood there like an idiot in a dress that cost a fortune, waiting for a man who didn't love me enough to tell me what I did wrong."

"I did love you—"

"Then why?" Alexandra's voice cracked. "Why did you leave?"

Damon's jaw worked. He wanted to tell her everything—about his father's lies, the fake photos, and her father's involvement in his mother's death. But something held him back. Not yet. She wasn't ready to hear it yet. She needed time to process, to heal.

"I was wrong," he said instead, his voice thick with emotion. "I was so wrong, and I don't have words to explain how much I regret it. But I'm here now. And I'm not going anywhere."

"You can't just—" Alexandra shook her head, backing up slightly. "You can't just waltz back into my life and expect everything to be okay. It doesn't work that way."

"I know it doesn't." Damon followed her retreat, closing the distance again. "I know I have to earn your trust back. Earn the right to be in your life. And I will. However long it takes."

They were close now. Too close. Alexandra could smell his cologne, could see the flecks of darker blue in his eyes. Her heart was racing, her skin felt too hot.

"I can't do this right now," she whispered, but she didn't move away. "James is missing. Tisha is dead. Everything is falling apart.”

"I know." Damon's voice was soft now, gentle. His hand came up slowly, carefully, giving her time to pull away. When she didn't, he cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing away a tear. "I know you're drowning right now. Let me help you stay afloat."

Alexandra's breath hitched. The touch of his hand against her skin sent electricity through her entire body. She should pull away. Should tell him to leave. Should—

"Why does it have to be you?" The question came out broken. "Why do you still have this effect on me after everything?"

"Because some things don't change," Damon said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Some connections don't break, no matter how much we want them to."