Chapter 86- Secrets Unraveling

I shouldn’t feel guilty for searching through Valia’s things.

That reminder echoed in my mind as I stepped out of her closet, heart pounding but spine straight. I wasn’t the one in the wrong here. She was a guest—no, a charity case—living under our roof, and she had the audacity to steal from us. From me. If anyone had a right to be panicked, it wasn’t her. It was me who had every reason to demand answers.

So I didn’t hesitate. I didn’t back down.

The moment I emerged from her closet, Valia stood frozen near the doorway, her face contorted in disbelief. Her wide eyes scanned mine, and her expression screamed of someone caught red-handed.

“What the hell is my stuff doing in your closet?” I snapped, my voice sharp and echoing in the silence between us.

She blinked. “Were you going through my things?”

The indignation in her voice set me off. The audacity. My fingers curled into fists at my sides. How dare she act like I had crossed the line?

“This is my house,” I spat. “I can go through whatever the hell I want. You’re lucky you even have a room here.”

“You had no right to touch my stuff!” she shouted back, her cheeks flushed with rage. “That’s a massive invasion of privacy!”

I took a step closer, my voice colder than ice. “We opened our home to you. We gave you a roof over your head when you had nothing. I welcomed you into my space!”

“It’s not your home!” she screamed. “It’s Damon’s! And if you call this a welcome, I’d hate to see what your idea of hostility is!”

“That’s Master Damon to you!” I shouted, cutting her off. The moment I said it, the room fell deadly silent, and the name hung between us like a knife. “Now tell me—why the hell are Damon’s shirts in your closet? Why are my nightgowns in there? And why in the world does Baby Damon’s onesie with Mama written on it belong to you now?”

“I—I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she stammered.

“Don’t lie to me,” I hissed. “It’s all in there. Don’t bother denying it—you thief!”

Her voice wavered. “It… it must’ve been a mistake. I didn’t mean to grab those things. It just happened when I was sorting the laundry—”

“Oh, really?” I shot back. “Because they weren’t just lying around. They were perfectly folded. Organized. Hidden in drawers. Do you always make such tidy mistakes?”

“I-I was confused. I wasn’t sure where everything went—”

“It’s not rocket science, Valia! If it’s a man’s shirt, it’s probably Damon’s. If it’s lace and silk, it’s mine. And if it’s miniature with tiny bunnies on it, it’s probably my baby’s!”

“I swear I didn’t mean anything by it,” she cried. “I was going to return them—just needed a few more days—”

“A few more days for what?” I yelled, my voice nearly cracking under the weight of fury. “What kind of person steals someone’s lingerie and then holds onto it like a souvenir? And why the hell do you have a stash of iron pills, iron drinks, and—God help me—an actual iron rock in your closet?!”

Her face went pale. “You had no right to go through that. That’s my personal business! That’s private—”

I let out a sharp, bitter laugh. “Private? You’re wearing my stolen nightgowns while cuddling up with Damon’s dirty laundry. Don’t lecture me about privacy, Valia. You crossed every line imaginable!”

“I told you, I wasn’t doing anything weird! I swear! It was all just a mistake, I was going to return them, I didn’t—”

I cut her off, moving past her and heading for the door. “We’ll see what Damon has to say about this when he gets home.”

As I reached for the door, her hand shot out, grabbing my arm with surprising strength. The sharp nails dug into my skin, making my muscles tense in pain.

“No!” she pleaded, her voice desperate. “Please, you can’t tell him. It’s not even that big of a deal—it’s just laundry.”

I yanked my arm free, the burn of her grip lingering on my skin. “Don’t touch me!” I hissed. “I knew something was off about you the moment I laid eyes on you.”

I was almost out the door when she spoke again, her voice carrying a hint of something darker, something I couldn’t quite place. “It doesn’t matter. You can tell Damon whatever you want. It’s too late.”

Her words hit me like a cold gust of wind. She stared at me with an unsettling gleam in her eyes, as if she knew something I didn’t. But I didn’t have the time to figure out what it was. I couldn’t be around her anymore.

I turned and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind me.

The hallway was empty, but as I made my way toward the stairs, I nearly collided with Malios, who appeared from around the corner, his expression filled with concern.

“Ava?” he asked, his hands reaching out to steady me. “Are you okay? I heard shouting.”

I brushed him off, my nerves frayed. “I’m fine,” I snapped, taking a step back. “Is Damon here?”

He hesitated for a moment, his brow furrowing. “I haven’t seen him. But I’ve been looking for you.”

“Why? What’s going on?” I asked, my frustration flaring once again.

Malios looked at me, confusion and worry written all over his face. “You disappeared last night. I was worried. You didn’t tell anyone where you were.”

“I was with Damon,” I said, the irritation in my voice growing. My patience was wearing thin. “What’s the big deal?”

“I just… It would’ve been nice to see you this morning. To know you were okay,” he admitted, his voice softer now, almost pleading.

“Don’t worry about me!” I snapped, stepping back, my anger growing. “My well-being is none of your concern, Malios.”

He shook his head, his eyes now narrowing. “Yes, it is. I’m paid to make sure you’re okay. You can’t just disappear without a word.”

His hands were on my shoulders again, a firm grip as he tried to shake some sense into me. “I need to know where you’re going, where you’re taking Baby Damon. You can’t just leave without telling me.”

I pulled away, my chest heaving with the weight of my anger. “Malios,” I sighed, struggling to keep my voice steady, “I think you’re getting too attached to your job. It’s making things… uncomfortable for me. I think it might be better if you moved on.”

His eyes widened, clearly hurt. “Are you asking me to leave?”

I nodded, the words tasting bitter in my mouth. “Yes. You’re becoming unprofessional. It’s not working. I’ll speak to Damon about finding another assignment for you.”

Before Malios could respond, Damon’s voice cut through the tension like a blade.

“What the hell is going on here?”

Both of us jumped, the weight of the situation crashing down on us as we turned to face him. Our hearts pounded in our chests as we stood on the brink of a confrontation that neither of us was prepared for