The car rolled to a slow stop in front of Uncle Joe's mansion.
It wasn't the flashy kind of wealth that screamed for attention. No bright lights. No loud design.
Just quiet power.
A wide, old-style structure stood tall under the night sky, its dark stone walls giving off a cold, commanding presence. The compound was massive, surrounded by tall iron gates and ancient trees that swayed slightly with the night breeze.
Dim lights lined the walkway—just enough to see, but not enough to feel comfortable.
It felt… controlled. Calculated.
Like every corner of the house was watching.
"Same old man…" Damian muttered under his breath as he stepped out of the car.
Fred and Nico exchanged glances but followed quietly.
Inside, Uncle Joe sat on his favorite chair, his walking stick resting beside him, flipping through the pages of a newspaper like nothing in the world could disturb him.
Then he looked up.
A small smile formed.
"Damian… my boy. You came really late."
He slowly rose, grabbing his walking support.
Damian's gaze shifted immediately—to the walking stick.
Studying it.
Confirming something.
"It was you…" he said slowly.
"You are the CEO of Aureum."
A pause.
Then—
"Of course, son. Come here, give me a hug," Uncle Joe said, spreading his arms wide.
Damian walked toward him and hugged him.
"I never knew… I always thought you could control so much because you had enough shares."
Uncle Joe chuckled.
"My boy… the way you walked into that room, the whole drama with Ethan's father…"
He laughed.
"I liked it."
Damian pulled away and sat down.
"Uncle Joe… I have so many problems right now."
He leaned forward, hands on his head.
"Janaya… my mom… Ethan… everything…"
A pause.
"…and Victor Kane," Uncle Joe added calmly.
"Oh! That's a forgotten story," Damian scoffed.
"I threatened to leak things about him. He signed already that he wouldn't be involved with me again."
"Damian…" Uncle Joe's voice dropped slightly.
"Victor doesn't back down easily. You think he would let you go just like that?"
"That's his cross to carry," Damian replied.
"I already have the deal. I'm not really interested in his drama."
Uncle Joe leaned back slightly, studying him.
"That girl… Janaya. She broke you?"
"Theresa told you?" Damian asked.
"I know more than you think I know, Damian. I nurtured you to this point. I know when things are not right."
Damian exhaled slowly.
"Okay… you won."
A pause.
"She betra—" he stopped himself.
"…I miss her so much."
His voice softened.
"No one has ever gotten to me this bad. It's looking like I can give up everything just for her."
"Damian…" Uncle Joe said calmly,
"She did all of that for you. She wanted to protect you. But she isn't fully at fault."
"How?" Damian asked immediately.
"When you love someone, you tell them the necessary things. If she had known about your power fights, maybe she wouldn't have gone to meet Ethan."
"She might have leaked it. Have you considered that?" Damian shot back.
Uncle Joe sighed slightly.
"Yes… I blame myself for training you this way. But sometimes, you just have to trust who you claim you love."
He smirked.
"Unless she's one of those ladies you plan to dump later?"
Damian shook his head slightly.
"No, Uncle… I'm just scared."
A pause.
"For the first time, I'm loving someone wholeheartedly… and she's connected to all my problems."
He looked down.
"It's making me want to give up on love."
"If you love her… then prove it by fighting for her," Uncle Joe said firmly.
"She is also stuck in this mess because of her greedy parents."
He chuckled.
"You both have something in common… greedy parents."
"Uncle please…" Damian said, almost laughing.
"My dad wasn't greedy though."
Uncle Joe raised a brow.
"Oh? He isn't?"
A pause.
"But he left your mother for a woman in power too… Delilah."
He leaned back slightly.
"She controls the eastern border and directs the military. No political meeting is held without her presence."
"The first woman in power."
Damian frowned slightly.
"I hope she isn't as powerful as you are though?"
Uncle Joe smirked.
"I can't stand where she stands."
"What?" Damian blinked.
"I can't stand where she stands…"
A pause.
"…because she is at the East."
Silence.
"Arghh… those dry jokes again?" Damian sighed.
"Can we sleep over here?" Damian asked.
"This house holds so many memories."
"Yes, son! Get a mat," Uncle Joe replied casually.
"A mat??" Damian, Fred, and Nico echoed at the same time—they had been quietly eavesdropping.
"You want to sleep on the couch?" Uncle Joe asked, laughing.
"Can I at least have my old room?" Damian asked.
"It's rented out to my books… but you can manage," Uncle Joe replied, already walking away.
Fred looked worried.
"Boss… is this a joke?"
"Don't mind him," Damian said, shaking his head.
"Let's go to my old room. We can manage there tonight."
The next morning, Damian and his men rushed out in a hurry.
"Sir, Janaya has been discharged. Do you want to go pick her up?" Nico asked as he opened the car door for Damian.
"No. Let's see where she goes after she's discharged," Damian replied, stepping into the car.
"I bet it's her parents' place," Fred said with a small smile.
"I bet it's our place," Nico fired back immediately. Their eyes met like a fight was about to start.
Damian smirked slightly.
"Boring bets… you guys won't maybe add money?"
"I bet my salary this month," Fred said boldly.
"Sealed!" Damian said immediately, not even waiting for Nico to confirm.
"This seems interesting."
He leaned back.
"Nico, drive."
The journey home felt longer than usual.
Nico's grip on the wheel tightened slightly. He was already calculating losses in his head. He had promised his new girl so many things for her birthday…
And now his salary might be gone because of a bet he didn't even properly agree to.
Finally, they arrived.
Damian stepped out first. He was tired—from the drive, from everything, and from the sleepless night at Uncle Joe's place.
He entered the house, heading straight for the stairs without looking around.
Fred and Nico followed behind him.
Then—
"Babe… Damian…"
Janaya's voice.
Nico froze for a second—then jumped.
"Oh oh! Looks like I won the bet, Fred!" he said, grinning like a child, unable to hide his excitement.
Fred sighed, clearly disappointed.
Damian stopped.
Slowly… he turned.
His eyes met hers.
For a brief second, everything else faded.
He had missed her.
More than he wanted to admit.
But after everything… he didn't know how to react.
So he looked away—
—and continued walking upstairs.
Fred and Nico exchanged a look, then quickly signaled to Janaya.
👉 Go.
She didn't hesitate.
She followed him.
"Damian… can you please let me explain?" her voice came, soft but desperate.
He stopped.
Turned.
Walked back to her.
"I've missed you."
His hands came up, gently holding her face.
"You don't need to explain anything. I understand it wasn't your fault."
A pause.
"And honestly… I thought I could stay without you."
He let out a faint breath.
"But I was wrong. It was torture."
Tears gathered in her eyes.
"I'm sorry… I thought it would calm everything down. I just didn't want to drag you into my mess."
Then—
It happened.
Damian pulled her closer and kissed her.
Not rushed, not desperate—
Just a quiet, lingering kiss… like he was afraid she would disappear again if he let go too soon.
His hand rested lightly at the side of her face, his thumb brushing against her skin.
His other hands placed on her curves, pushing her over.
And for a moment—
Everything else didn't matter.
And just like that…
A storm that almost broke them—
settled.
Nico clapped his hands softly from behind.
"Love wins… and I win money too."
Fred shot him a look.
And just like that—
They were back together.