95 Chapter 98
Chapter 98 – A Centennial Return and an Old Rival’s Sting
I stared at Julian, fury boiling inside me at his blatant lie. His smirk only fueled my anger, but before I could unleash my wrath, Damien stepped forward, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to Julian’s agitated state.
“Mr. Grayson,” Damien said, his voice like ice, “if you’re quite finished making a fool of yourself, I suggest you leave before security escorts you out.”
Julian scoffed. “You can’t threaten me. This is a public building.”
“Actually,” I cut in, finding my voice, “this is a private residence with very strict harassment policies. My neighbors have already called security.” I gestured toward the cameras in the corner where the red light was now blinking rapidly.
As if on cue, the security guard emerged from his office, heading our way with
purpose.
Julian’s face paled slightly. “This isn’t over, Hazel. You can’t erase our history together.”
“History is exactly what you are,” I replied coldly. “And making up lies only shows how pathetic you’ve become.”
Damien placed his hand gently on the small of my back, a subtle gesture of support that sent warmth through me despite the tense situation.
“Is everything alright, Ms. Ashworth?” the security guard asked, eyeing Julian suspiciously.
“Mr. Grayson was just leaving,” I said firmly.
With one last venomous glance, Julian stalked out of the building, his shoulders rigid with anger.
Once he was gone, I turned to Damien, mortified. “Damien, I’m so sorry about that.
Julian is-”
“Not worth another second of our time,” Damien finished, his expression softening as he looked at me. His eyes traveled appreciatively over my emerald dress. “You look stunning, by the way.”
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Despite everything, I felt a blush creep up my checks. “Thank you,” I murmured. “You clean up pretty well yourself.”
A hint of a smile touched his lips. “Shall we?” He offered his arm.
Outside, Damien’s sleek black Bentley waited at the curb, drawing admiring glances from passersby. As we settled into the plush leather seats, I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the encounter with Julian.
“Are you alright?” Damien asked, his eyes searching mine.
“I’m fine,” I said automatically, then sighed. “Actually, no. I’m furious. I can’t believe Julian would make up such a ridiculous lie.”
Damien’s hand covered mine gently. “I never believed it for a second.”
The sincerity in his voice made my heart skip. “Thank you for that.”
“Besides,” he added with a slight smile, “my memory is excellent. I recall precisely
when we first met.”
As the car pulled smoothly away from the curb, I found myself relaxing into the comfortable silence between us. Damien had this way of making me feel safe, like nothing bad could touch me when I was with him.
After a few minutes, he spoke again. “I’m sorry your morning started this way. I brought something that might help.” He reached into a small compartment and pulled out a paper bag that smelled heavenly.
“You brought breakfast?” I asked, surprised and touched.
He nodded. “Your favorite cinnamon rolls from that bakery you mentioned.”
“You remembered, I said softly, genuinely moved by the thoughtful gesture. “Thank
you.”
As I bit into the warm, gooey pastry, Damien spoke again, his tone casual but his words anything but. “My mother asked about you yesterday,” he said. “She’s quite impressed by your resilience despite everything with your father.”
I nearly choked on my cinnamon roll. “Your mother knows about my father’s.
situation?”
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“My family makes it their business to know about people in my life,” he replied simply. “And you’re important to me, Hazel.”
The admission hung in the air between us, loaded with meaning.
“I hope that doesn’t bother you,” he added after a moment.
I swallowed hard. “It’s just… most people would run in the opposite direction. Ex–fiancé drama, father in prison…”
Damien’s gaze was steady on the road ahead. “I’m not most people.”
No, he certainly wasn’t. The man sitting beside me defied all expectations, from his quiet strength to his unwavering support.
“My family has its share of skeletons too,” he added, surprising me with the confession. “Perfect facades often hide complicated truths.”
I studied his profile, wondering what secrets the Sterling family might hold. Before I could ask, he changed the subject.
“Are you meeting anyone special at the centennial?” he asked.
“My old roommate Clara,” I replied, grateful for the lighter topic. “We were inseparable in college. She moved abroad after graduation, but she’s back for the celebration.”
Damien smiled. “I’d like to meet her.
The rest of the drive passed pleasantly, our conversation drifting to memories of our university days. I found myself laughing at Damien’s stories of how he’d skip lectures. only to ace the exams, much to his professors‘ frustration.
As we approached the university, traffic slowed to a crawl. Cars lined the tree–lined. avenue leading to the main campus, and people dressed in their finest attire streamed -toward the grand gates.
“This could take a while,” I observed, noticing the backup.
Damien simply smiled and turned down a different street, bypassing the main
entrance entirely. We pulled up to a smaller gate where a security guard immediately
recognized Damien’s car, waving us through to a private parking area.
“Perks of being a major donor?” I guessed.
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“Something like that,” he replied with a modest shrug.
When we stepped out of the car, the familiar scent of blooming magnolias from the university gardens enveloped me, bringing back a flood of memories. The campus looked exactly as I remembered it, but somehow more vibrant, decorated with banners celebrating the centennial.
“I should find Clara,” I said, checking my phone for messages. “We agreed to meet by the fountain.”
Damien nodded. “I have a brief meeting with the dean about a research grant. I’ll find you afterward?”
“I’d like that,” I said, surprised by how much I meant it.
His fingers brushed mine, sending a little tingle up my arm. “Save me a dance at the gala tonight?”
The warmth in his eyes made my heart flutter. “I’ll think about it,” I teased.
He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper that sent shivers down my spine. “I can be very persuasive when motivated.”
With that promising statement hanging between us, he gave my hand a gentle squeeze before walking away, cutting an impressive figure in his perfectly tailored suit.
I watched him go, a smile playing on my lips, before heading toward the central fountain. It didn’t take long to spot Clara’s bright red hair in the crowd. The moment she saw me, she let out a squeal of delight and rushed forward, enveloping me in a tight hug.
“Hazel! Oh my god, you look amazing!” she gushed, holding me at arm’s length to examine me properly.
“So do you!” I replied genuinely. Clara had always been vibrant, but living in Paris had added a certain sophistication to her style.
“Was that Damien Sterling I just saw you with?” she asked, her eyes wide with curiosity. “The Damien Sterling? Tell me everything!”
I laughed, linking my arm through hers as we strolled around the fountain. “We’re… friends.”
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“Friends who look at each other like that?” She raised an eyebrow skeptically. “Come on, spill! And that car! I nearly fainted when I saw you step out of it.”
“It’s complicated,” I admitted. “But he’s been wonderful to me, especially after everything with Julian.”
Clara’s expression softened. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t be there for you during all that mess. Julian turned out to be such a-
“Hazel Ashworth? Is that you?”
We turned to see a group of former classmates approaching us, familiar faces from our business program. Among them was Bianca Sinclair, my former rival who’d always gone out of her way to make me feel inferior.
“It is you!” exclaimed Natalie, one of the nicer girls from our year. “We were just talking about your fashion line. The pieces are gorgeous!”
“Thank you,” I said, genuinely touched.
“And we saw your arrival,” added another classmate with a wink. “That Bentley must have cost your husband a fortune!”
Before I could correct her assumption that I was still with Julian, Bianca stepped forward, her smile sharp as a knife.
“Given Mr. Grayson’s status, I’m afraid he can’t afford a car of that caliber,” she said. acidly, her eyes gleaming with malice. “Or did I miss something about your ex–fiancé’s. recent financial windfall, Hazel?”
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