Chapter 33 Truly Despicable
Can people change? Damian had wondered more than once; had Ashley really changed, or had she been pretending all along?
She used to be like a mindless puppet, mindlessly obedient to him. And to think that she turned to law despite her low intellect; wasn't she scared to destroy her clients' businesses?
What baffled him even more was how Ashley managed to secure a spot in a graduate program at Rochester. He seriously doubted whether it had something to do with her father donating a library to the school.
But after leaving him for three years, she had seemingly awakened.
Jessica's hypnotherapy skills might be average, but as a psychologist and an outsider, her perspective could be clearer.
"Do you want to hear my interpretation of this matter?" she asked Damian.
He grunted an affirmation.
Jessica didn't dare to probe too deeply, fearful of intruding on his privacy and facing his displeasure. Still, she could guess at the possibilities. Doubting if someone can really change usually relates to shifts in love, family affairs, social interactions, or a business partner's altered behavior.
"In my opinion, people are self-interested beings who are drawn to what is advantageous to them and away from harm. Consider love as an example. The excitement and novelty of the pre-marriage romance frequently wear off, and many married people begin to wonder if their spouse's feelings have changed. You can always reach the person standing next to you, which might eventually cause complacency. Or maybe throughout the courting stage, one might put on a facade to impress the other, becoming an idealized version of themselves, only to show their genuine selves after tying the knot."
Damian interjected, “A facade?”
“Yes, it happens. Some guys will bend over backward to woo a girl, doing all the things she loves, showering her with affection, until she's moved enough to marry him. But once the marriage certificate is signed, the facade is ripped away, and he becomes overly critical of his wife; she's not the woman he fell in love with, which creates a huge emotional gap."
Without a clear answer and not wanting to be too blunt, Damian reflected on his own situation. It’s like saying 'a friend of mine ran into his ex and found she had changed,' Jessica would surely read between the lines.
'A friend...' That's a lame excuse.
Why should he care if Ashley still loves him? If he doesn't love her, that should be the end of it.
He fell silent, and after a short wait, Jessica asked, “Shall we continue with the hypnotherapy?”
Damian didn't close his eyes, “Hypnosis doesn't seem to have a profound effect on me.”
Jessica's heart skipped a beat, fearful he might say he didn't want to continue their sessions. Nervously, she asked, “Damian, has your sleep improved lately? Have you managed to get a good night's rest?”
There had been one night he'd slept well before a phone call from Hayden woke him up and he hadn't slept soundly ever since.
"Just once."
Relieved, Jessica probed, “What did you do before bed? Maybe we can recreate that scenario.”
Damian replayed the night. He had gone out, had a drink at the club, came back and ran into Ashley at the entrance of his building where they had an argument, then he took a bath at home...
"Nothing special."
“Did you smoke before going to bed?”
He overlooked that detail, “No.”
Jessica made a note, "Let's try this, Damian. Try not to smoke before going to bed. Nicotine stimulates the brain and can prevent you from relaxing. If it works, maybe you can gradually cut back on smoking during the day.”
Damian was noncommittal but open to giving it a try.
His phone rang at that moment.
Hayden's name flashed on the screen, seen clearly by Jessica. She discreetly excused herself from the bedroom, sensing the need for privacy.
"My dear Mr. Hearst, you busy?" asked Hayden.
"Just catching some z's," Damian said, propped against the headboard.
Hayden raised an eyebrow in astonishment, “Heading to bed this early? What did you do today that's got you so wiped out? Is there someone whose allure you couldn't escape?"
Damian responded with a hint of sarcasm, "Your mind is always in the gutter, eh? Are you really a doctor or just wearing that uniform for nothing?"
With a chuckle, Hayden said, "I'm just looking out for you, man. Years without a little action and you're not worried you'll get pent up? As a doctor, let me remind you, a dry spell can lead to some real mood swings; you're so irritable, could it be the lack of a woman's touch?"
"Are you out of your mind?"
Hayden, grinning mischievously, said, "Whoa there, fiery as a firework; that's not good for your health. And here I am, pulling a night shift at the hospital; it's been one heck of a shift tonight!" His voice lifted with a sly enthusiasm.
Damian scowled, "Get straight to the point!"
"I ran into Ashley," Hayden revealed.
Damian's voice grew colder, "Her injuries haven't healed yet?"
It had been half a month. Ashley always thought she was so clever, was she now incapable of taking care of herself?
With a mix of concern and exasperation, Hayden sighed, "It seems like she's just not lucky in Rochester; she gets hurt or gets caught in a fire." She has tonsillitis and a high fever right when she is recovering, and she becomes so disoriented that she can hardly speak. If I hadn't been there to see a patient in the ER, she wouldn't have even made it to outpatient care."
A puzzling concern edged Damian's question, “She was alone?"
Where was the lawyer she dined with before?
"I was wondering the same thing. She must have a friend, or at least a coworker, even if her parents aren't here. Why is she alone whenever she gets sick? But when you think about it, after the scandal her family went through, it's no surprise her fair-weather friends have kept their distance. She seems to be ostracized."
Damian retorted, "But she has you, doesn't she? Every time she's in trouble, there you are, rushing to her side, a regular Good Samaritan. Why don’t you cover the Astor family’s debts then?"
"You realize she's your ex-wife, right?"
"And do you remember she's my ex-wife?" Damian's annoyance was palpable.
Hayden let out a long, exaggerated sigh, "Last time I let it slip that it was you who saved her; you think she showed any gratitude? People often remember kindness, even if they appear tough on the outside."
Damian hadn't saved her for gratitude or acknowledgement and didn't intend for Ashley to find out.
On second thought, now that she knew, the polite thing would be to show some appreciation.
But no, Ashley displayed no thankfulness, held herself aloof, flew off the handle at the slightest provocation with a flaring temper.
"People don't appreciate what you do, yet you still play the smart guy; pushing it isn't going to win you any favors."
At the end of the day, Hayden's loose lips were to blame. Should’ve kept his mouth shut. Could a grown man like him really be hurt by keeping a little secret?
Hayden got a reminder and was seriously bummed out, “Alright! Seems like you and Trinity are all lovey-dovey. My bad for bothering you. Gonna hang up now. Got the graveyard shift tonight and I need to hustle home for some sleep.”
Contrast to the usual, Hayden ended the call first.
Eager, he shot a message to Christian Brin: [Wanna bet?]
Seemed like Christian was already on his phone, replying instantly: [What?]
Hayden: [Ashley’s getting IV drip at the hospital. I tipped off Damian. Think he'll show?]
Christian Brin: [No, he won’t.]
Hayden: [I bet he will. He plays it cool but his action betrays him.]
Christian Brin: [What's the wager?]
Hayden: [If you lose, I’ll take the girl your company just signed to the club next time.]
Christian's company had just signed a newbie: a junior from the dance academy and a dance award winner this year. She was supple, pretty, and had the innocent vibe that seemed to ooze charm.
Christian Brin: [And if you lose, your yacht at Pier Street is mine.]
Hayden had recently bought a yacht moored at Pier Street. Not too big, but the ambiance was spot-on, complete with a lounge and a bedroom, perfect for candlelit dinners, stargazing over the sea with a glass of red, and especially cozy to bring someone special for a little turbulence over the waves.
When Christian had a tour inside the yacht, he had joked, “Man, you really wear your heart on your sleeve.”
Hayden: [Deal!]
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