Chapter 28

Vivi's heart raced as she looked into Damien's eyes. The tension between them was palpable, electric. She knew she should push him away, tell him to leave, but her body betrayed her. She took a small step forward, closing the gap between them.

"Damien, we can't," she whispered, even as her hand reached out to touch his chest.

He caught her hand, holding it against him. "We already have," he murmured. "And I can't stop thinking about you."

Vivi's breath hitched. "What about Ava?"

Damien shook his head. "She's not you. She never will be."

Their faces were inches apart now. Vivi could feel the warmth of his breath on her skin. Everything in her screamed to close that final distance, to press her lips against his. But a small voice in the back of her mind reminded her of her responsibilities, of the consequences.

"Your father," she began, but Damien cut her off.

"Is downstairs, in his study. He won't be up for hours."

Vivi hesitated, torn between desire and duty. Damien sensed her indecision and pressed his advantage.

"Tell me you don't want this," he challenged softly. "Tell me you don't feel what I feel, and I'll walk away right now."

Vivi opened her mouth, but no words came out. She couldn't lie, not to him, not to herself. Instead, she surged forward, capturing his lips in a desperate kiss.

Damien responded immediately, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her flush against him. The kiss was passionate, hungry, filled with all the longing and frustration they'd been holding back.

When they finally broke apart, both gasping for air, Vivi rested her forehead against Damien's.

"We shouldn't be doing this," she said, even as her hands clung to him.

"I know," Damien replied, his voice rough with desire. "But I can't stay away from you anymore."

Vivi and Damien stood frozen for a moment, the weight of their actions settling over them. Vivi was the first to step back, smoothing her hair with trembling hands.

"This can't happen again," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Damien nodded slowly, though the look in his eyes suggested he didn't entirely agree. "I understand," he replied, running a hand through his own disheveled hair.

Just then, they heard footsteps approaching from downstairs. Panic flashed across Vivi's face as she quickly straightened her clothes.

"You should go," she urged Damien, who was already backing towards the door.

He paused at the threshold, looking back at her with an intensity that made her breath catch. "We're not done talking about this," he said softly before slipping out into the hallway.

Vivi took a deep breath, trying to compose herself as the footsteps grew louder. A moment later, Reginald appeared in the doorway, a stack of papers in his hand.

"Ah, there you are, my dear," he said with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "I was hoping we could discuss the upcoming charity gala."

Vivi forced a smile onto her face, pushing thoughts of Damien to the back of her mind. "Of course, darling. What did you have in mind?"

As Reginald launched into details about guest lists and seating arrangements, Vivi's mind wandered. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was standing on the edge of a precipice, and one wrong move would send her tumbling into the abyss.

Later that evening, as Vivi prepared for bed, she caught sight of herself in the mirror. The woman staring back at her looked conflicted, torn between duty and desire. She closed her eyes, willing herself to focus on her responsibilities – to her family, to Reginald, to the life she had chosen.

But as she climbed into bed, Damien's words echoed in her mind: "We're not done talking about this." She knew he was right, and the thought both thrilled and terrified her.

The next morning, tension hung thick in the air as the household gathered for breakfast. Vivi kept her eyes fixed on her plate, avoiding Damien's gaze. Reginald, oblivious to the undercurrents, prattled on about his latest business venture.

Damien pushed his food around, barely listening to his father. His mind raced with thoughts of Vivi, replaying their encounter from the night before. He knew they needed to talk, but finding a moment alone seemed impossible.

As the meal drew to a close, Reginald announced he had an important meeting to attend. "I'll be gone most of the day," he said, rising from his chair. "Vivi, darling, why don't you show Damien the plans for the new garden? I'm sure he'd have some excellent input."

Vivi's head snapped up, her eyes widening slightly. "Of course," she managed, her voice steady despite the sudden flutter in her chest.

Once Reginald had left, an uncomfortable silence settled over the room. Damien cleared his throat. "So, about those garden plans..."

"Right," Vivi said, standing abruptly. "They're in the study. Follow me."

They walked in silence, the air between them charged with unspoken words. As soon as the study door closed behind them, Damien turned to Vivi.

"We need to talk about what happened," he said, his voice low and urgent.

Vivi took a deep breath, steeling herself. "There's nothing to talk about. It was a mistake, and it can't happen again."

Damien stepped closer, his eyes searching hers. "Is that really how you feel?"

For a moment, Vivi's resolve wavered. The pull between them was undeniable, a magnetic force drawing them together. But the weight of her responsibilities pressed down on her, reminding her of all she stood to lose.

"It doesn't matter how I feel," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "This is the life I chose. I have obligations, to your father and to my family."

Damien's jaw clenched, frustration evident in the set of his shoulders. "And what about obligations to yourself? To your own happiness?"

Vivi took a deep breath, her heart heavy with the weight of her decision. She looked into Damien's eyes, seeing the hope and longing reflected there. For a moment, she allowed herself to imagine a different life, one where she could follow her heart without consequence. But reality crashed back in, reminding her of the promises she'd made and the people counting on her.

"Damien," she began, her voice soft but resolute. "I can't deny there's something between us. But we can't pursue it. My family needs me, and I made a commitment to your father."

Damien's jaw clenched, his frustration palpable. "But what about what you need? What about your happiness?"

Vivi shook her head, fighting back tears. "Sometimes we have to make sacrifices for the greater good. My family's well-being is more important than my personal desires."

She took a step back, creating physical distance to match the emotional barrier she was erecting. "I'm sorry, Damien. But this has to end. From now on, I'm your stepmother, nothing more. We need to respect the boundaries of our roles in this family."

Damien's expression hardened, hurt and anger flashing in his eyes. "So that's it? You're just going to pretend none of this ever happened?"

"We don't have a choice," Vivi replied, her voice cracking slightly. "Please, Damien. Don't make this harder than it already is."

For a long moment, they stood in silence, the air thick with unspoken words and unfulfilled desires. Finally, Damien nodded curtly, his posture stiff.

"Fine," he said, his tone cold. "If that's what you want, consider it done. Goodbye, Vivi."

With that, he turned and strode out of the room, leaving Vivi alone with the echoes of what might have been. She closed her eyes, letting a single tear fall as she whispered to the empty room, "Goodbye, Damien."