Chapter: 71: Way Back Home
Elena
I got back to Damien's place after being discharged from the hospital. Lilly was asleep in my arms. I put her to bed and headed to prepare the surprise meal I planned for Damien.
I decided to tell him the truth, I didn't want us to build our relationship on lies. I was nervous but I had to push that aside. My phone had been on silent and Damien had been the one calling me. I tried returning his missed calls several times but he didn't answer.
He must've been busy with the ball and couldn't pick up my calls I concluded. I was now done with setting the table so I decided to call again because it was already late and the ball should have been rounded up.
Picking my phone up I dialed his number and he finally answered. "Hello, Damien."
"Hello, Elena."
It wasn't Damien who answered. It was a woman and not just any woman, I knew that annoying voice anywhere. It was Sophia.
"Where is Damien? What are you doing with his phone?" I questioned her immediately.
"He's here with me… I guess he didn't miss you that much," she said her voice slow and sour sweet.
"Stop talking nonsense Sophia, I know you two went to the ball together. The only thing I don't get is why you're with his phone," I shot back.
She chuckled. "Oh about that, the ball ended hours ago and I and Damien took a detour." From her tone of voice, I needed no one to let me know she was enjoying this.
Then I heard a muffled voice that sounded like Damien in the background. " Just give Damien his damn phone Sophia!" My tone heightened.
"Poor Elena, Damien doesn't want to talk to you."
"Enough, Sophia. Stop with the games you're playing."
"You seem not to understand Elena," her tone became serious. "If another woman can take him away then I don't want him… that must ring a bell— right Elena." She threw my words back at me and before I could respond, text message notifications buzzed my phone.
The messages came from Damien. My fingers trembled as I opened them, my breath hitching in my throat at the sight of what Sophia sent.
They were images—images of both her and Damien naked. His arm was draped over her, his hand shamelessly grabbing her breast. The dim lighting, the disheveled sheets—it all painted a picture I didn't want to believe.
My stomach twisted violently. The air around me getting heavier, and my grip on the phone tightened. I couldn't utter a word.
"I guess he's now mine, right?" Sophia giggled. Her voice dipped with mock sympathy.
My fingers moved with immediate effect and I ended the call. I knew if I had said anything more I would not have been able to keep my cool.
I wanted to believe this wasn't real—that this wasn't happening to me—that Damien hadn't betrayed me, but the pictures were there. My mind screamed for me to look away, but my eyes were glued to the screen, forcing me to absorb every painful detail—the evidence of my failed choices.
Swallowing back the lump in my throat, I shoved the phone into my pocket. No one deserved to be treated this way. I was done.
I wrote my resignation letter and placed it where he would see it, right beside the meal I had painstakingly prepared for him. I couldn't hold back the tears that had been threatening to fall any longer. In that moment I wished I was numb and couldn't feel the pain that struck at my heart.
I knew I had to leave and this time for good. Grabbing a suitcase from the closet. My movements were disorganized and scattered, as I tossed in clothes—mine, Lily's—grabbing whatever. The noise from my actions caused Lily to wake up.
A small yawn broke through my haze.
"Mommy?"
I turned to see Lily rubbing her sleepy eyes, her tiny face scrunching up in confusion. She had noticed the suitcase in my hands.
"Are you going somewhere?"
I quickly wiped my tear stained face and forced a smile. I knelt beside her. "We are going back home, sweetie. Don't you miss Auntie Jenna?" I widened my smile.
"I do," she muffled out.
"Jenna also misses us and wants to see us," I said cradling her cheeks in my hands.
"Go get your teddy, okay?"
She nodded, padding off to find the stuffed animal Damien had won for her at the festival, while I zipped up the suitcase with finality.
I called a cab and we headed back home. By the time we arrived, I barely had time to catch my breath before I noticed a luxurious car parked close to the apartment and someone standing near the entrance.
My heart sank.
The Kingston family butler.
The older man stood tall, his posture stiff, his expression unreadable.
What was he doing here? If my father had sent him, then that could only mean one thing—he knew my whereabouts.
I didn't have the energy to deal with this now. I paid the driver and got my things out of the car. Before I got to my door, the butler approached me.
"Ms. Elena," he greeted with a small nod.
"Edmund, what are you doing here? You know what, I don't want to know. Go back to where you came from."
"I'm sorry miss but I can't do that," he replied and I turned angrily to look at him. "I'm not going anywhere with you, Edmund," I retorted, my voice firm.
"Ms. Elena, I'm not here to force you… your father—he needs you. It's urgent."
I held Lily in my arms as my grip tightened on the suitcase handle, dread churning in my stomach.
"What does he want?" My voice came out sharper than intended, but I didn't care. Not after the night, I had just had.
Edmund hesitated before speaking. "Your father—he is…