The room suddenly became ice-cold, Amelia looked at the big windows and saw black cars waiting outside the gates like shadows standing still in the rain.
Her heart throbbed in her chest too quick and too loud.
“And they want Miss Laurent back at once.”
The employee’s nervous voice rang through the room.
Damien’s face stayed the same.
But there was something dangerous in his eyes.
“How many?” he asked quietly.
“Six vehicles, sir.”
Amelia’s throat constricted, this was more than just family rage.
In fact, her father had people out looking for her.
The rain was falling heavier outside, running heavily down the glass windows, security lights reflecting across the dark driveway.
Damien walked slowly to the window, One hand went into his pocket Calm and too bloody easy.
Amelia gave him a hard study.
“And you’re so relaxed now?”
Damien looked at her for a moment.
“Because panic makes people stupid.
It annoyed her the answer did.
“My father sent a security team to drag me home!”
Screaming won’t make them stop either.
Amelia opened her mouth to argue again, then stopped
Because he was correct, Again.
Damien looked completely in control.
Her chest was still rising unevenly from panic.
Like a man ten steps ahead of himself, The employee was fidgeting by the door.
“Sir… Do we call the police?
Damien kept his eyes on the gates outside.
“No.” Amelia blinked.
“What?
At last Damien looked at them.
“This is private.” “Private?” ‘That’s impossible!’ repeated Amelia.
“There are men outside your house trying to make me go back.
“They won’t get in.”
The room paused for a second at the confidence in his voice.
Amelia studied his face carefully nothing to fear, no breaks, Just cool confidence.
Damien looked at the employee.
“Tell security no one is allowed on this property without my permission.”
“Yes, sir.
The employee went off straight away, he closed the door quietly behind him.
Again there was silence.
Total silence.
Amelia hugged herself, her father’s voice still rang in her head, let me remind you what happens to people who oppose me.
She shivered.
Damien felt that right away.
“You’re cold.” ‘I’m scared,’ Amelia said faintly.
Even she was surprised at the honesty.
Damien watched her for a quiet moment, then walked to the fireplace.
He laid another piece of wood calmly.
Immediately the flames flared brighter, the room flooded with warm light.
But somehow it still didn’t take away the weight crushing her chest.
“You can still leave,” Damien said suddenly.
Amelia glanced at him sharply.
‘What?
If this is too much.
The words caught her by surprise.
She wanted to control him, manipulation and Tension.
No choice, Damien leaned lightly against the edge of the table.
“You don’t owe me loyalty for one kiss.
Amelia stared at him without a word.
Then slowly,
“Do you honestly believe my father would forgive me if I walked away from you now?
Damien didn’t reply at once, because they both already knew the truth.
Nope, there would be no forgiveness for her now, only punishment.
Amelia walked slowly over to the window.
The rain obscured the security vehicles outside, but she could still see men moving past the gates waiting and watching, like a hunter.
Her chest tightened with a sudden pain.
“I used to think my father was strict because he wanted me to be strong.” Her voice came out softly.
“But tonight.
She swallowed.
“Tonight I saw that he just wanted control.” Damien’s gaze remained on her.
“He cannot love without having something.”
The words weighed heavily on her.
Because they were true.” Sad but true.
Amelia glanced down at the expensive coat still draped around her shoulders.
Damien’s coat hot and safe.
All the opposite of what her father had made her feel tonight.
“Why do you hate him so much?” she asked softly.
For the first time, there was a real quiet in the room.
Not tense silence but a respectful silence.
Damien’s jaw tightened slightly.
His eyes dropped for half a second and came up again.
“That’s not a story for tonight.
Amelia saw the change immediately.
The hold-back.
Darkness.
Whatever had been between Damien and Richard Laurent…
It was more than a simple business rivalry.
Much deeper.
Before she could inquire further
Damien’s phone rang loudly, his answer was immediate.
“Yes.
His face became more severe.
“I see.” He put down the phone.
Amelia’s stomach turned immediately.
“What now?”
Damien shoved the phone back in his pocket.
“Your father called the press.
Her pulse was racing.
“What?” He’s calling you nuts.” The words came as a blow.
Amelia looked at him.
“He did what?
Damien’s voice was still calm.
“He’s making this look like a stress and jealousy breakdown over Victor becoming heir tonight.
Humiliation burned through Amelia’s chest like fire.
“No….
He’s trying to destroy your name before you can defend it.
Her breathing started to quiver again.
“That’s nuts.
“Strategic.
Amelia turned round sharply.
Her eyes now burned with anger.
Warm.
Ouch!
“He’s making a fool of me in public.
Damien moved in closer, slowly.
‘No.’ Amelia eyed him bitterly.
“No?”
“He’s making you the threat.
The words stopped her.
“He would ignore you if you were weak,” Damien went on softly.
The fire crackled softly close by, the rain beat harder on the windows.
Amelia stared at him without speaking.
Then all of a sudden there was a loud noise outside.
She jumped all around.
Suddenly there was a burst of voices from the security people downstairs, someone called out by the gates.
Amelia’s pulse exploded immediately, Damien turned back to the window.
“What’s happening?” she whispered.
One of the guards was downstairs outside, talking fast into an earpiece.
Another car had pulled up black, long and Known.
Amelia’s face was drained of all color.
“It’s my father’s car.
The mood instantly shifted.
Danger was in the room like smoke.
Damien’s eyes narrowed fractionally.
“He came himself.
Amelia instinctively drew back, her hands were suddenly cold.
“No…
She hadn’t seen Richard Laurent this angry for years and now there he was.
Damien Vale’s house.
Damien looked at her, calm.
“Stay here.” At once Amelia seized his arm.
“No.
She tightened her grip on the fabric of his sleeve.
“You don’t know him when he’s angry.
Damien looked down at her hand, which tightened its grip on him.
Slowly look back at her face.
“And you don’t understand how little that worries me.
His voice was so quiet it almost startled her.
Outside the great gates swung open.
Amelia’s stomach heaved, her father was moving ahead in the rain elegant, costly and threatening.
Just like Richard Laurent himself, the car stopped near the entrance.
Immediately several guards stepped out.
then finally-
Richard Laurent walked out into the rain.
Amelia held her breath for a second.
He looked angry, not loud, not raging and even worse, Fury and controlled.
The kind that destroyed lives slowly.
She could feel it from upstairs as the pressure lifted off him.
Damien looked at the door and then back to Amelia.
“Don’t come down.
Amelia shook her head right away.
“He came for me.
“Yes.”
Then I’m not going to hide while you go after him alone.
Their eyes met each other, again the tension stretched tight between them and then suddenly.
A loud knock sounded below one time, heavyweight and demanding.
The sound appeared to stop the whole mansion in its tracks.
Amelia’s heart was racing, there was another knock, It’s harder this time.
Finally Damien made for the door.
Amelia walked along behind him.
“You’re stubborn,” he muttered.
“Did you notice?”
He gave a faint breath that sounded almost amused and Close.
They descended into the great hall below them,
Nearby several security guards stood on edge, nobody looked comfortable.
There was another violent banging on the door.
Richard’s voice called out from outside.
“Damien.”
Chilly, sharp and dangerous.
Amelia froze a little at the sound of it, Her father didn’t often use that tone openly in public.
Damien walked calmly to the entrance.
Then he opened the door, cold rain air swept in immediately.
Richard Laurent was outside.
He stood in the storm, his expensive suit slightly wet with rainwater.
Victor was standing behind him.
Some of the security men did.
Richard’s eyes went straight to Amelia, the air was hard to breathe.
“Here you are.
His voice sounded fearfully calm.
Amelia made herself stay where she was.
“You shouldn’t be here.
Richard pretended she wasn’t there.
His attention wandered to Damien.
“Step aside.”
Damien stayed leaning casually against the doorway.
Victor took an angry step forward.
“You are meddling in family business.”
Damien’s face remained blank.
“She’s not yours to have.”
Richard’s eyes instantly turned black.
She is my daughter.
“And her decision was already made.” Now the rain was coming down hard between them.
Far off there was the rumble of thunder,Richard once more looked directly at Amelia.
“Come home.
The words did not have the air of a request, more like a directive.
Old fear crept slowly through Amelia’s chest.
Fear of childhood, the kind of thing she had been taught for years.
Follow and Shut up, Please don’t let him down.
Her fingers pressed hard against her sides.
Damien shuffled a little closer to her side, not in contact.
Right there, the silent support steadied her breath a little.
Amelia raised her chin.
“No,” she said.
Victor snorted.
“You’re making an idiot of yourself.
Amelia gave him a cold glance, not at all.
“I’m humbling you guys.
Richard’s face tightened up further.
“Do you think this man cares for you?” he asked sharply.
“You are nothing but a weapon against me.”
The words stung because part of her was afraid they were true, Amelia looked at Damien.
There was nothing in his face, that somehow made it worse.
Richard immediately caught the hesitation and smiled.
A cold smile.
“You see?” he breathed.
“Even now you’re not certain.”
Amelia’s chest tightened painfully, Because she didn’t know not her father, On Damien and about this setup.
About the only thing they had in common was revenge.
Richard stepped forward slowly.
“Come home, Amelia.” His voice was softer now, a little, Soft manipulativeness.
The voice he used when he wanted obedience, without violence, We can still fix this.
Amelia looked at him and said nothing.
Fix this up?
As if it never happened tonight?
As if he didn’t replace her in front of everyone?
Like he didn’t try to sell her to Edward Kane?
Her face contorted in pain.
“You broke this yourself.
Then rage consumed it once more.
A slight smile crept across Richard’s face.
“Don’t try me.” Amelia’s pulse quickened.
But before she could answer, Damien spoke suddenly beside her.
“She already gave you a response.
His voice was cold and sliced through the rain.
Richard looked at him slowly.
Something dangerous shifted in his eyes.
“You actually intend to keep her?
Damien’s stare remained firm.
“Yes.” Amelia was a little stunned by that one word.
Richard chuckled gently.
No jokes here.
“You just signed your own death warrant over this war.”
Damien’s face didn’t move.
“Then start the war.”
The silence that came between them was heavy.
The rain fell harder.
Again the thunder rolled over the city.
Richard stared at Damien for a long moment.
Then finally, He looked back at Amelia disappointment, rage and something more sinister.
“You are making a mistake you will live to regret.
Amelia’s throat tightened with pain.
“Maybe,” she still whispered.
Her gaze slowly shifted to Damien at her side.
But this time, this mistake is mine to make.” Richard’s face turned absolutely cold, then without another word-
He turned and walked back to his car, victor shot one last glare after Amelia before he followed him into the storm.
The car doors slammed, the vehicles moved away slowly through the rain.
And only after they had disappeared behind the gates, did Amelia know.
Her whole body was shaking.