CHAPTER 19
Damien’s POV
I had been sitting in my car for what felt like an eternity, parked in the shadows outside the apartment.
Through the window, I saw them–Celeste and Theo.
Laughing softly. Cooking together. Moving in sync like they had done this a thousand times before.
Like a damn couple.
I tightened my grip around the glass of wine in my hand, the bitter taste doing nothing to wash away the unease clawing at my
chest
The call from Mark echoed in my mind.
“Sir, we checked everything. The footage at Ravencrest is gone–completely inaccessible. There’s no official record of anything
out of the ordinary. But… we did find traces of Mr. Theo Mercer ”
That bastard had been involved in my marriage.
I should’ve known. Celeste’s sudden discharge, her newfound hostility, the way she had completely changed toward me–none of
this was a coincidence.
He got to her.
Manipulated her while she was weak. Twisted her against me.
And now, he was here, inserting himself into her life like he belonged in it.
How could he be so shameless?
My free hand formed into a fist against my thigh..
Suddenly, I watched Theo reach out–tucking a loose strand of her hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering far too long.
Like I didn’t exist. Like she belongs to him.
No, I couldn’t take it.
Without another thought, I shoved the car door open and strode toward the apartment, my pulse hammering.
She was mine. I refused to accept her leaving me.
Before I could fully register my actions, I was already pounding on the door. My heart thundered in my ears as footsteps approached.
The door swung open. And the moment I saw Theo’s face, the moment I saw her standing behind him—
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I snapped.
My fist shot out, grabbing him by the collar. “Is all this because of you?” I growled “What did you do, Mercer?!”
Celeste’s eyes widened in shock. But I didn’t care.
Theo wrenched himself free, his jaw clenched, but he didn’t strike back.
“I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about,” he said coldly, straightening his shirt like I hadn’t just tried to rip it off him.
I took a threatening step forward, my blood boiling. “Don’t play dumb with me, Mercer.” My voice was low, sharp as a blade. “The sanatorium. The missing records. The surveillance footage wiped clean. Everything covered up. That was you, wasn’t it?”
A flicker of something–calm, infuriatingly collected–passed through his eyes.
Celeste stepped between us. “What are you even saying, Damien?” she demanded, her voice laced with frustration.
I ignored her, my glare locked on the man who had been circling my wife like a vulture since the day she walked out of my life.
“You were there,” I accused. “You were behind it. How else would she have gotten out so easily? How else would all traces of her stay suddenly vanish?” My fists curled at my sides, my breath heavy. “You think I wouldn’t notice?”
Theo didn’t blink. If anything, he looked bored. Bored. Like I was nothing more than a mild inconvenience standing in his way.
“I don’t have time for your delusions,” he muttered.
His nonchalance only made the anger in my chest burn hotter.
Celeste moved before I could react, stepping directly in front of Theo, blocking him from my view,
“Leave, Damien,” she said firmly, her voice as sharp as ice. “I don’t know what you think you’re doing, but I won’t let you bring
your temper tantrum here.”
A bitter laugh scraped my throat, though there was nothing remotely amusing about this.
“You think I’m just throwing a tantrum?” I shot back, taking a step forward, forcing her to look at me. “You think I don’t have a
reason to be here?”
Her expression didn’t waver.
“You reek of alcohol,” she said flatly. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but if you’re here to make a scene, take it somewhere
else.”
My jaw locked. She thought I’m just drunk? That I’d come here just to cause trouble?
I was livid. She wasn’t just defending him. She was shielding him.
I shifted my gaze to Theo, who remained maddeningly composed, his arms crossed loosely, like he was watching an argument he
already knew he would win.
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“Answer me,” I demanded. “Or is she already warming your bed, just like she did mine?”
Celeste sucked in a sharp breath, fury flashing across her face.
But I wasn’t finished..
“Or was this going on long before?” I pressed, my words seething with anger. “Before the marriage? Before the scandal? Before she played the devoted wife? Tell me, Mercer–was I just the idiot funding her little love affairs while she slept with you and other
men behind my back?”
Celeste’s entire body went rigid, her breath hitching as if I had just struck her. For a split second, raw hurt and disbelief flickered
in her eyes–bare, unguarded–before it was swallowed by blistering fury. Her hands clenched at her sides, her entire frame trembling, not with weakness, but with barely restrained rage.
I took another step toward her. “Tell me the truth, Celeste,” I pushed, my voice rough. “This entire time… You made a fool out of me, didn’t you?!”
Her lips parted slightly, as if she was about to say something–maybe deny it, maybe confirm my worst fears–but then her lips
pressed into a thin line.
“No,” she finally bit out. “But it doesn’t even matter now, does it?”
And then she did something I never thought I’d see
She reached back, her fingers lightly brushing against Theo’s wrist, like a silent reassurance.
Suddenly, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. For a few seconds, no one said anything.
Theo just stood there, composed, detached, his lack of response only making the fire inside me burn hotter.
That smug bastard.
“Speak, damn you!” 1 barked, stepping closer, my fists curling so tight my nails bit into my palms. “Or is that smug silence your way of admitting it? You played the long game, didn’t you? Lurking in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to steal what’s mine–like a pathetic, lovesick lapdog?”
Still, nothing.
I let out a sharp, mocking laugh. “What, no defense? No grand speech about how you ‘saved her? Or are you just too damn proud of yourself for finally getting her into your bed? Tell me, Mercer–was she worth the wait? Or was she just another conquest for you to collect like the rest of your leftovers?”
Celeste took a step closer, her eyes blazing. “You can say whatever the hell you want about me, Damien, but you will not insult the people who actually help me!”
I couldn’t believe she was defending him. “I’m not talking to you!” I yelled.
Theo came forward then, his eyes flashing with cool disdain. “I don’t waste words on idiots.”
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Something in me snapped, making me finally lunge for him. But before I could so much as reach him–a sharp crack echoed
through the air.
Pain bloomed across my cheek. My head whipped to the side..
It took me a second to process what had just happened.
Celeste had slapped me. Hard.
