Chapter 80 - Fear and Unspoken Regret

By the time Damon returned, the sun was nearly at its peak. He stepped into the room with a tray of food, his expression both hopeful and hesitant. A pang of guilt hit me—I regretted my cold demeanor toward him earlier.

“You both need to eat,” he murmured, his voice carrying a trace of uncertainty. “I brought you some steak, and some chowder for the baby.

Relief flooded me, and I managed a small smile. “Thank goodness. I was starting to think I’d starve to death.”

The tension in his face instantly eased, and before I could react, he leaned down and pressed a firm kiss against my lips. His warmth grounded me, even if only for a moment.

I pulled back and lifted our baby toward him. “Take him. I need to pee.

Damon accepted the baby into his arms without hesitation, but just as I turned toward the bathroom, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me back, his eyes locking onto mine.

“What is it?” I asked, my heart thudding at the weight of his stare.

For a moment, he said nothing, simply breathing me in. Then, after what felt like an eternity, he whispered, “Nothing.”

But I knew better.

“Tell me,” I urged, pressing my forehead against his.

He hesitated again before finally exhaling, his voice barely above a murmur. “I’m sorry.”

I blinked, taken aback. “For what?”

His gaze drifted down to my lips, as if searching for the right words. “I feel like I failed you,” he admitted. “I should’ve protected him. It’s my fault.”

A lump formed in my throat as his shame became palpable. It dawned on me how much he must have been holding in, staying strong for both of us. Losing our baby—especially under his own roof, in a house full of people—must have been soul-crushing.

I shook my head. “None of this is your fault. We still don’t know how Tessa managed to take him.”

Damon’s jaw tightened. “We checked the cameras. Luke thinks she got in and out through the back—its camera was shattered.”

“She knows this house inside and out,” I murmured. “She lived here before.”

“And I should’ve taken that into account. I should’ve doubled security, reinforced the cameras, done something—”

“Stop,” I cut him off, pressing a finger against his lips. “No more blaming yourself. The baby is safe now. She just wanted to scare us.”

Damon closed his eyes briefly, his grip on me tightening. “I’m so sorry,” he repeated, lifting my hands to his lips and kissing them with a desperate tenderness.

I let him for a moment, feeling the depth of his pain, before whispering, “Don’t apologize. Just bring me her head on a stick instead.”

Damon pulled away slightly, his expression unreadable—a mixture of concern and something else. Was he truly surprised by my darkness? Had he forgotten that less than a year ago, I had tried to kill him myself?

The following days passed in a tense, uneasy silence. Everyone in the house was on edge, as if expecting another attack at any moment.

Valia was still around, but I avoided her at all costs. Something about her presence unsettled me, and I wasn’t sure if it was instinct or hormones. Either way, I made a mental note to speak with Damon about when she would be leaving.

Malios, on the other hand, was impossible to avoid. His presence was suffocating—watching my every move, shadowing me like a silent guardian. I couldn’t even shower without him standing by the door, nor eat without him keeping an eye on every bite I took, as if I might choke on a spoonful of soup.

Maria, however, became a constant presence. More than I expected.

One evening, I found her nestled in the nursery, holding baby Damon in her arms as he slept. She had been there all day, and I’d assumed she had left hours ago.

“You don’t have to stay so long,” I told her, leaning against the doorway. “I’m sure Mason misses you.”

Maria looked up, startled. “Oh, no, he doesn’t mind. He’s a lot like you—he enjoys his alone time.”

“Still,” I insisted, stepping further into the room, “you’ve done enough. You’re here every day. I don’t want to keep you from your life.”

She smiled softly, pressing a kiss to the baby’s forehead. “He’s good company. This might be the best Friday night I’ve had in a long time.”

I chuckled, settling into the rocking chair beside her. “What about you and Mason? Have you two ever thought about having kids?”

Maria let out a low chuckle, though it lacked humor. Up close, I noticed the deepened stress lines on her face, the exhaustion hidden behind her eyes.

“No, no,” she murmured, shaking her head. “We’re too old for that now. And truthfully… we’ve both been through enough when it comes to our children.”

A somber silence stretched between us.

I hesitated before saying, “I guess I should start thinking about a real name for him soon, huh? He can’t be ‘Little Damon’ forever.”

Maria smiled faintly. “It’s growing on me.” Then, her gaze darkened slightly. “Hold him close, Ava. Never let him go. He’s your greatest weakness now, and everyone knows it.”

Something in her tone sent a shiver down my spine.

Uneasy, I straightened. “What are you saying?”

“You’ll be surprised how many people will use your love for him against you,” she said quietly. “A mother’s love is powerful—but it’s also dangerous. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for my children. Nothing.”

A realization hit me then—I hadn’t asked her how she felt about discovering that Tessa was alive.

I swallowed hard, choosing my next words carefully. “Maria… are you alright? I’m sorry I didn’t bring it up sooner—”

“It’s not your fault,” she interrupted. Her voice was steady, but there was an undeniable hollowness in her eyes. “Your baby was just kidnapped by my daughter, after all.”

The weight of her words settled between us like an immovable stone.

Maria stood abruptly, gently passing the baby into my arms. “I should get going before Mason starts thinking I’m having a secret affair.”

I managed a small smile at her attempt at humor, though it felt forced. “Do you need Bullet to drive you?”

“No, I have my car. I’ll be fine.” Then, just before she walked away, she turned to face me once more. “Please, Ava. Keep him close. Never let him out of your sight.”

The intensity in her eyes made my stomach clench.

“I won’t,” I whispered. “I promise.”

She nodded, but the weight in the air remained as she turned and walked out of the room, leaving me with a growing sense of unease that I couldn’t quite shake.