Chapter 19

Damien stepped away from Ava, a mix of emotions swirling in his chest. He ran a hand through his tousled hair, trying to gather his thoughts. The room felt suddenly stifling, the air heavy with the scent of their encounter.

"I need some air," he muttered, hastily buttoning his shirt. Without waiting for a response, he strode out of the room, leaving a bemused Ava behind.

As he made his way through the mansion's winding corridors, Damien's mind raced. The guilt he'd been trying to suppress bubbled to the surface. Images of Vivi flashed through his mind, her smile, her laugh, the way she looked at him when they were alone.

He found himself on the balcony overlooking the sprawling gardens. The cool night air helped clear his head, but did little to ease the turmoil in his heart. Damien gripped the railing, his knuckles turning white.

Meanwhile, Vivi tossed and turned in her bed, sleep eluding her. The sounds of the party still echoed faintly through the mansion. She couldn't shake the image of Damien with that blonde woman, their easy laughter, the way they'd looked at each other.

With a frustrated sigh, Vivi threw off her covers and padded to the window. The sight of Damien on the balcony made her pause. Even from a distance, she could see the tension in his shoulders, the rigid set of his jaw.

For a moment, Vivi considered going to him. Her hand reached for the doorknob, but she hesitated. The memory of their last encounter, the hurt in his eyes when she'd pushed him away, held her back.

She retreated to her bed, hugging her knees to her chest. The complexity of their situation weighed heavily on her. Vivi knew she had made the right decision for her family, for their future. But as she gazed out at Damien's solitary figure, she couldn't help but wonder about the cost of that decision.

Vivi woke early the next morning, her mind still clouded with thoughts of the previous night. She moved through her morning routine mechanically, trying to push away the lingering images of Damien and the blonde woman.

As she made her way downstairs, she paused at the sound of voices coming from the kitchen. Curiosity got the better of her, and she crept closer, staying out of sight.

"I appreciate the offer, Ava, but I don't think it's a good idea," Damien's voice drifted out.

"Why not? We had fun last night, didn't we?" The blonde woman - Ava - replied, her tone playful.

Vivi's heart clenched at the confirmation of what she'd suspected. She leaned against the wall, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath.

"It was... a mistake," Damien said, his voice low. "I'm sorry, but I can't see you again."

There was a pause, then the sound of heels clicking on tile. "Your loss, handsome," Ava said, her voice closer now. "If you change your mind, you know where to find me."

Vivi quickly retreated as Ava exited the kitchen, managing to duck into a nearby room before she was spotted. She waited until she heard the front door close before emerging.

She found Damien still in the kitchen, leaning against the counter with a cup of coffee in his hand. He looked up as she entered, surprise flickering across his face.

"Good morning," Vivi said, aiming for a casual tone as she moved to pour herself some coffee.

"Morning," Damien replied, his voice guarded.

An awkward silence fell between them as Vivi busied herself with her coffee. She could feel Damien's eyes on her, but she couldn't bring herself to meet his gaze.

"About last night-" Damien began.

"It's none of my business," Vivi cut him off, finally turning to face him. "You don't owe me any explanations."

Damien's jaw clenched. "Right," he said, his tone bitter. "Because you made it clear where we stand."

Vivi flinched at his words, guilt and regret washing over her. She opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out.

Vivi turned away, her hands trembling slightly as she gripped her coffee mug. The tension in the room was palpable, thick with unspoken words and conflicting emotions.

"I should go," Damien said abruptly, setting his mug down with a sharp clank.

Vivi whirled around, surprising herself with the urgency in her voice. "Wait."

Damien paused, his hand on the doorframe. He looked back at her, his expression a mixture of hope and wariness.

"I..." Vivi started, then faltered. She took a deep breath, steeling herself. "I'm sorry. For everything."

Damien's shoulders sagged slightly, some of the tension leaving his body. He turned to face her fully, leaning against the doorframe. "Me too," he said softly.

They stood in silence for a moment, the weight of their shared history hanging between them. Vivi found herself taking a step closer, drawn to him despite her better judgment.

"This situation... it's so complicated," she said, gesturing vaguely. "I never meant for any of this to happen."

Damien nodded, his eyes never leaving hers. "I know. Neither did I."

Vivi bit her lip, struggling with the words she wanted to say. "I can't stop thinking about you," she admitted finally, her voice barely above a whisper.

Damien's breath caught audibly. He pushed off the doorframe, taking a step towards her. "Vivi..."

Damien hesitated, his hand hovering inches from Vivi's face. The air between them crackled with tension, but a flicker of doubt crossed his eyes.

"Vivi," he said softly, his voice rough with emotion. "I want to believe you, but..."

Vivi's heart sank as she saw the wariness in his gaze. She knew she'd hurt him before, pushing him away time and time again. The weight of their complicated situation pressed down on her shoulders.

"I understand," she whispered, fighting back the urge to close the distance between them. "I've given you every reason to doubt me."

Damien's hand dropped to his side, and he took a small step back. The loss of his warmth made Vivi's chest ache.

"It's not that I don't want this," Damien said, gesturing between them. "God knows I do. But I can't keep riding this emotional rollercoaster. One minute you're in my arms, the next you're telling me we can never be together."

Vivi nodded, blinking back tears. "I know. I've been unfair to you. To both of us, really."

She took a deep breath, gathering her courage. "But Damien, I meant what I said. I can't stop thinking about you. And I'm tired of fighting it."

Damien's eyes searched her face, looking for any sign of insincerity. Vivi held his gaze, willing him to see the truth in her words.

"What about your family?" he asked quietly. "What about my father?"

Vivi flinched at the mention of Reginald, but she stood her ground. "I don't know," she admitted. "I don't have all the answers. But I know that pretending I don't have feelings for you isn't working."

Damien ran a hand through his hair, conflict clear on his face. "Vivi, I want to believe you. But I'm scared. Scared that tomorrow you'll wake up and push me away again."