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Chapter 123 – Reclaiming Her Narrative, Embracing the Night
I stared at my phone in disbelief, watching the video of Mrs. Landon kneeling before me play out on screen. The camera angle cleverly omitted her venomous words, capturing only her pleading posture and my apparently cold rejection. My stomach churned with anger and disgust.
“They’re trying to destroy me,” I whispered, looking up at Damien who sat beside me on my couch. He’d arrived within twenty minutes of our call, bringing a calm determination that anchored me amid the storm.
“And they will fail,” he said simply, his voice steady and certain.
I scrolled through more posts, each one more twisted than the last. It was clear the Grayson family was orchestrating a full–scale attack on my character, desperate to salvage their son’s reputation by destroying mine.
“This is Julian’s doing,” I said, my voice hardening. “He can’t stand that I’m moving on.”
Damien’s jaw tightened. “I can make this disappear. One call and—”
“No,” I interrupted, surprising myself with my firmness. “I don’t want to hide or have things erased mysteriously. That only makes me look guilty.”
I stood up, pacing across my living room as determination replaced my panic. For too long, I’d let others control my narrative – Julian, Ivy, the Graysons, my father. This
time would be different.
“I’m going to fight back. My way.”
Damien watched me with an expression I couldn’t quite read – something between pride and concern. “What do you have in mind?”
I grabbed my laptop from the coffee table. “I’m going to tell my story. The whole truth. With evidence.”
“Are you sure?” Damien asked quietly. “Once it’s out thereâ€TM”
“I’m done hiding,” I said, my fingers already flying across the keyboard. “They want a war? I’ll give them one.”
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For the next three hours, I crafted what I jokingly called my “little essay” — a comprehensive account of my six–year relationship with Julian, including dates, receipts, medical records of my blood donations, screenshots of his messages begging me to take him back, and a timeline of events leading to our divorce. I included witness statements from hospital staff confirming I’d been Julian’s blood donor for years, and even attached the divorce papers highlighting Julian’s infidelity.
Throughout it all, Damien remained by my side, offering suggestions for clarity but never once trying to dissuade me.
“What do you think?” I finally asked, pushing the laptop toward him.
He read through it carefully, his expression thoughtful. “It’s honest. Factual. And devastating to the Graysons‘ narrative.” His eyes met mine. “But are you prepared for the attention this will bring? Not just to you, but potentially to us?”
I hadn’t missed how the tabloids had already begun speculating about my relationship with the mysterious tycoon who’d defended me at the courthouse.
“Are you worried about being associated with me?” I asked, suddenly uncertain.
He laughed, the sound warm and genuine. “Hazel, I publicly announced my intention to marry you. Being associated with you is exactly what I want.”
My cheeks warmed at the memory. “Then I’m ready. Let them talk. I’d rather be defined by the truth than destroyed by lies.”
With one final deep breath, I hit publish.
By noon the next day, my post had gone viral. My phoné buzzed constantly with notifications as people shared my story and offered support. Victoria sent a voice message that consisted mostly of excited screaming and colorful curses directed at the Graysons. Chloe texted a string of celebration emojis and “QUEEN BEHAVIOR OŸ“”
Even more satisfying were the messages from former clients and industry contacts, many offering collaborations or expressing support for A&G Bespoke. The tide of public opinion had shifted dramatically in my favor.
Around 3 PM, my phone buzzed with a text from Julian.
“You’ve gone too far. My family doesn’t deserve this. I thought you were better than
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this, Hazel.
I stared at his message, feeling nothing but distant pity for the man I once loved. Without bothering to reply, I blocked his number and deleted the conversation. The past was finally behind me.
When my doorbell rang that evening, I already knew who it was. I opened the door to find Damien leaning against the frame, devastatingly handsome in a perfectly tailored
black suit.
“Ready to celebrate?” he asked, his eyes warming as they took me in.
I smoothed down my midnight blue gown, a creation of my own design with a plunging back and delicate beading that caught the light when I moved. “More than ready?
The city streets were packed with New Year’s Eve revelers as Damien navigated his sleek car through downtown. After thirty minutes of crawling through traffic, he glanced at his watch.
“We’re still ten blocks from Skyview Tower,” he said, frowning slightly. “At this rate, we’ll miss the first part of the celebration.”
Пlooked out at the sidewalks filled with laughing people making their way to various destinations. “Let’s walk,” I suggested impulsively. “It’s a beautiful night.”
Damien’s eyebrow arched in surprise. “In those heels?”
“I’ve marched through worse in higher ones,” I assured him with a smile. “Besides, I want to experience the city tonight. Féel its energy.”
He pulled into a nearby parking garage, and minutes later, we joined the throngs of people on the sidewalks. The night air was crisp but not unbearable, the sky clear and dotted with stars barely visible through the city lights.
Damien kept his hand firmly at the small of my back as we navigated the crowds, his touch both protective and possessive in a way that sent pleasant shivers up my spine. For once, I didn’t mind the possessiveness. It felt right, somehow.
“You’re staring, I noted, catching him watching me instead of where we were walking.
“You look beautiful tonight,” he said simply, making my heart flutter with the sincerity in his voice.
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As we approached Skyview Tower, the city’s tallest building with its famous revolving restaurant at the top, I realized the enormity of what awaited us. “The top floor is exclusively reserved for your party?” I asked, suddenly nervous about mingling with what would undoubtedly be the city’s elite.
“Our party,” he corrected gently. “And yes. The best view of the city deserves the best company.”
The glass elevator ascended smoothly, offering a breathtaking panoramic view of the city lights below. Halfway up, I gasped as hundreds of drones suddenly illuminated the night sky, forming intricate patterns and shapes that danced above the cityscape.
“Look!” I pointed, momentarily forgetting my nervousness. “I’ve never seen a drone show this impressive before.”
The drones shifted, creating a cascade of falling stars before transforming into a perfect replica of the city skyline. “It’s incredible,” I murmured, mesmerized by the display.
Damien watched my reaction with an amused smile. “Is that so? This is all child’s play; one of my company’s subsidiaries handled it.”
I turned to him, eyes widening at his casual revelation. The elevator continued its ascent as I stared at him, suddenly realizing just how vast the world he inhabited truly
was.
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