5/5
48 Chapter 50
48 Chapter 50
Chapter 50 – The Uninvited Witness to a Scandalous Claim
My heartbeat thundered in my ears as I forced myself to keep walking beside Damien, hyperaware of that Bentley pulling into the driveway. Each step felt like I was wading through quicksand. If Elias Easton had witnessed that scene outside Julian’s apartment, I was doomed.
“Hazel?” Damien’s deep voice cut through my panic. “You’ve gone completely pale.”
I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry. “That car… I think I’ve seen it before.”
“Where exactly?” His eyes narrowed with concern.
There was no escape now. I’d have to face this head–on.
“Can we walk somewhere private for a minute?” I asked, barely managing to keep my voice steady. “I need to tell you something before we run into Mr. Easton.”
Damien nodded and smoothly guided me away from the main entrance toward a secluded garden alcove. Tall hedges created a natural barrier, and a stone bench offered a place to sit. The evening air felt cool against my flushed skin.
“What’s going on?” Damien asked once we were alone.
I took a deep breath. “That Bentley was parked outside Julian’s apartment building several months ago. I was there and… God, this is mortifying.”
“Whatever it is, just tell me,” he said gently.
“Julian and I had our worst fight that day. I found out he’d been meeting with Ivy secretly again, and I completely lost it.” I closed my eyes briefly, reliving the humiliation. “I was yelling things I shouldn’t have said, throwing the gifts he’d given me. And the worst part…”
“Go on,” Damien encouraged when I hesitated.
“When Julian said I was being ridiculous about his relationship with Ivy, I blurted out something I deeply regret. I told him I’d already slept with you. Multiple times.” I buried my face in my hands. “I don’t even know why I said your name specifically. You were just the most powerful, intimidating man I could think of in that moment.”
12:56
48 Chapter 50
Damien was silent for several seconds.
“And
you think Elias overheard this?” he finally asked, his tone unreadable.
“If that was his car, he must have. It was parked right there, and I wasn’t exactly being quiet.” I forced myself to look up at him. “I’m so sorry, Damien. It was a terrible lie, and now it might come back to haunt us both.”
To my absolute shock, Damien’s lips twitched. Then he started laughing–a rich, deep sound I’d rarely heard from him.
“Is that what had you so worried?” he asked when he finally composed himself.
“Of course I’m worried! He’s your family friend, and he thinks I’ve been sleeping with you!” I hissed.
Damien leaned closer. “Hazel, Elias already called me about this.”
My stomach dropped. “He… what?”
“The day after it happened. He called to tease me, asking when I’d managed to find time for a torrid affair without him noticing.” Damien’s eyes were twinkling with amusement. “He found the whole thing highly entertaining.”
My mouth fell open. “You’ve known all this time?”
“I didn’t know it was you specifically until just now,” he explained. “Elias described ‘a fiery woman with excellent taste in men‘ but never mentioned names. I had no idea it was connected to your ex–fiancé.”
I groaned and covered my face again. “This is even worse than I thought. I’ve been walking around for months not knowing you’d heard about my ridiculous lie.”
“If it helps,” Damien said, gently pulling my hands away from my face, “I was rather flattered to be the man you chose for your fictional affair.”
“You’re not upset?”
“Why would I be? You were trying to make your ex jealous, and you picked me as the man most likely to accomplish that.” His smile turned slightly wicked. “I consider it a compliment.”
Before I could respond, a voice called from behind us.
12:50
48 Chapter 50
“Damien! There you are–hiding the lovely Miss Ashworth away already?”
I turned to see a distinguished–looking man in his fifties approaching us. His silver–streaked dark hair and confident stride marked him as someone important, but it was the knowing gleam in his eyes that confirmed my worst fears.
“Elias,” Damien greeted him. “I’d like you to meet Hazel Ashworth.”
Elias Easton looked at me with undisguised curiosity and amusement. “Miss Ashworth, what a pleasure to finally meet you properly. I’ve heard… quite a lot about you.”
My cheeks burned. “Mr. Easton, I—”
“Please,” he interrupted with a chuckle, “after all we’ve been through–or rather, all I’ve overheard–I think we can skip the formalities.”
I wanted the ground to swallow me whole. “About that day-”
“A magnificent performance,” Elias declared, his eyes dancing with mischief. “I particularly enjoyed the detailed account of how Damien here apparently ‘ruined you for all other men. Quite the endorsement.”
“Elias,” Damien warned, though I could hear the amusement in his voice.
“I did not say that!” I protested, then paused. “Did I?”
“Oh, you most certainly did,” Elias confirmed gleefully. “Along with some rather specific compliments about Damien’s stamina and creativity. I’ve been tormenting him with the details for months.”
I wished for death. A quick, painless death right there in the garden.
“Mr. Easton, I was upset and saying things I didn’t mean,” I tried to explain.
“Clearly,” he agreed. “After all, Damien is far too proper to conduct affairs with engaged women.” He paused dramatically. “Though now that you’re single…”
“That’s enough,” Damien interjected, though his tone remained light. “You’ve had your fun, Elias.”
The older man sighed theatrically. “You always spoil my entertainment, Damien.” He turned to me with a warmer smile. “Miss Ashworth, please forgive my teasing. In all seriousness, it’s wonderful to meet the woman who has captured Damien’s attention.”
12:56
3/5
48 Chapter 50
Something in his phrasing made me pause. The way he emphasized “captured” suggested more significance than a casual friendship.
“I should return to the gala,” Elias said, sensing the shift in mood. “Your mother is looking for you, Damien. And Miss Ashworth?” He leaned in slightly. “I’m delighted to see your excellent taste in men has become reality rather than fiction.”
With that parting shot, he walked away, leaving me staring after him in mortification.
“I’m going to die of embarrassment,” I muttered. “Right here, right now.”
Damien touched my arm gently. “If it helps, Elias is known for his discretion despite his teasing. He won’t share this with anyone else.”
“Small mercies,” I sighed. “I can’t believe he heard everything.”
“He certainly enjoyed recounting it to me,” Damien admitted. “Though I suspect he embellished your praises of my… abilities.”
“Please stop,” I groaned, though I couldn’t help smiling at his playfulness. This side of Damien teasing, almost boyish–was something I rarely saw.
“We should join the party,” he said, offering his arm again. “But Hazel?”
“Yes?”
His expression grew more serious. “I’m curious why you chose my name specifically that day. Out of all the men in the city, why me?”
I hesitated. “I honestly don’t know. You were just… the most impressive man I could think of. Someone Julian couldn’t possibly compete with.”
Damien studied me for a long moment. “Interesting choice for someone you’d only met briefly through business connections.”
Before I could respond, Chloe appeared at the garden entrance.
“There you two are! Mom’s looking everywhere for you, Damien. The guests of honor are starting to arrive.”
As we walked back toward the main party, I noticed Elias watching us from across the lawn, a knowing smile on his face.
“He really seems amused by all this,” I whispered to Damien.
12:56
4/5
48 Chapter 50
“It’s more than amusement,” Damien replied quietly. “Elias has known me since I was born. He’s never seen me bring a woman to a family function before.”
I glanced up at him, startled. “Never?”
“You’re unprecedented, Hazel Ashworth,” Elias called as we passed him. “The one and only.”
I watched Damien’s profile as we continued walking, his jaw tightening slightly at Elias’s words. Something was happening here that I didn’t fully understand.
In that moment, I made a decision. The time for dancing around questions was over.
I must ask Damien Sterling clearly, his true purpose in approaching me and being good
to me.
Comment 0
0 Leave the first comment for this chapter.
图
Send Gift
Swipe
