She would marry someone else one day.
Not because she wanted to.
Because the person who broke them was standing right in front of her.
Smiling.
Pretending.
Loving.
And she never saw it coming.
Neither did Damien.
Neither did anyone.
But the readers?
The readers would remember this moment.
The moment everything changed.
The moment they realized that family could hurt you more than any enemy.
---
The one hundred fifty-third week, Damien and Christabel confronted the person who had been trying to destroy them.
Not with anger.
With sorrow.
Because they weren't facing an enemy.
They were facing family.
---
The meeting was held in the penthouse.
Not the command center.
Not the building.
Home.
Where family was supposed to be safe.
Where family was supposed to love.
Where family was supposed to protect.
The person sat on the couch.
Unaware.
Unprepared.
Unbelieving that this day would come.
---
Damien stood by the window.
His back was to the room.
He couldn't look at them.
Not yet.
If he looked, he would break.
Christabel sat across from the person.
Her hands were in her lap.
Her eyes were red.
She had been crying.
She hadn't stopped crying since she saw the name.
"How long?" she asked.
The person looked confused.
"How long what?"
"How long have you been working against us?"
The person's face changed.
Just slightly.
A flicker.
A crack.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
---
Christabel pulled out the evidence.
The text messages.
The emails.
The IP addresses.
The bank records.
She laid them on the coffee table.
One by one.
Like a funeral.
Like a goodbye.
"We know."
The person stared at the evidence.
Their face was pale.
Their hands were shaking.
"I can explain."
"Then explain."
"I didn't mean—"
"You didn't mean what?"
The person was quiet.
---
Damien turned from the window.
His face was calm.
But his eyes were red.
He had been crying too.
He didn't cry often.
Almost never.
But today, he cried.
"You were family."
The person looked at him.
"We are family."
"You were family."
"What's the difference?"
"Intention."
---
The person stood.
Their hands were shaking.
Their voice was cracking.
"You don't understand."
"Then make us understand."
"I did it because I love you."
Damien laughed.
The sound was hollow.
"You love us?"
"I love you both."
"You tried to destroy us."
"I tried to save you."
"From what?"
"From each other."
---
The room went silent.
Christabel stared at the person.
Her heart was breaking.
Her hands were trembling.
She had known this person for years.
Had trusted them.
Had loved them.
Had called them family.
"You think we need saving?"
"I think you're destroying each other."
"That's not your choice."
"Someone had to make it."
"Not you."
"Then who?"
---
Damien walked to the person.
Stood inches from their face.
"You should have come to us."
"You wouldn't have listened."
"You don't know that."
"I know you."
"You don't know anything."
The person's eyes filled with tears.
"I know that I love you."
"That's not love."
"Then what is it?"
"Control."
---
Christabel stood.
Her legs were weak.
Her voice was quiet.
"I want you to leave."
The person looked at her.
"Christabel—"
"Leave."
"Please—"
"Leave. Now."
---
The person walked to the door.
Stopped.
Turned.
"I'm sorry."
"Sorry isn't enough."
"I know."
"Then why did you say it?"
The person was quiet for a moment.
"Because it's all I have."
---
The door closed.
The person was gone.
Damien stood in the middle of the room.
His hands were shaking.
His face was wet.
Christabel walked to him.
Took his hands.
"We're going to be okay."
"How do you know?"
"Because we have each other."
"Do we?"
She looked at him.
"Yes."
---
That night, Christabel put Lena to bed.
Not Damien. Her.
Lena was full of questions.
"Mama, why are you sad?"
"Mama's not sad."
"Your eyes are wet."
"They're tired."
"Why are you tired?"
"Because Mama didn't sleep."
"Why didn't you sleep?"
Christabel was quiet for a moment.
"Because Mama was saying goodbye to someone she loved."
---
Damien appeared in the doorway.
"She's asleep?"
"She's dreaming."
"Of what?"
"Of you."
He walked to her.
Took her hand.
"The person is gone."
"I know."
"They're not coming back."
"I know."
"Are you okay?"
She looked at him.
"No."
"Neither am I."
---
He pulled her into his arms.
"I love you."
"I know."
"I love you in ways I didn't know I was capable of."
She touched his face.
"I know. Because I love you the same way."
"Even after today?"
"Especially after today."