As soon as the drunk man fell to the floor after Emily threw him down, Daniel moved quickly to subdue him, tie his hands behind his back, and drag him away from the clinic in front of many witnesses.
“Where is Daniel taking him?” Emily asked curiously.
“To a place that, if you knew about it, you’d wish you’d never heard of it,” Damian replied with a cold smile.
Chills… Suddenly, a shiver ran through the entire clinic.
Then Damian turned toward the clinic visitors with a piercing gaze.
“Anyone who tries to cause a disturbance in this clinic, or harm the people inside, I guarantee will receive a fitting punishment,” Damian said with a smirk on his lips.
Aackkk Everyone in the clinic simply bowed their heads in acceptance of the order.
‘Is he a psychopath?’ Emily thought.
As if Damian had a split personality—one of a cold, sadistic man—he then turned back toward Emily with a warm smile.
“It’s time for lunch, isn’t it?
I want to take you somewhere,” Damian suggested.
“Just the two of us?” Emily asked hesitantly.
“Yes,” Damian replied firmly.
“Why?” “Just because I want to.” “Where?” “A place where you can eat lots of sweet desserts.” “Come on, let’s not waste any time!” Emily immediately picked up the shoe she’d been using as a baseball earlier.
Damian chuckled at Emily’s behavior—she just couldn’t resist the temptation of cakes and ice cream.
The two of them walked together toward downtown.
…… Throughout the walk, Emily could feel Damian’s thoughtfulness—the little gestures he made.
He walked on the outer edge of the sidewalk, always making sure Emily didn’t brush against other passersby, or even just adjusting his pace to match hers.
Honestly, Emily’s heart was beating wildly at being treated this well, because this was the first time she’d ever experienced it.
“I was worried you’d be sad, but you seem really lively today?” Damian asked, breaking the silence.
“Haha, I’ve always been a workaholic.
Work is where I take my mind off things,” Emily chuckled.
“You know, you’re a pretty strange girl,” Damian said.
“But I like it…” he added, almost as if talking to himself.
“…Huh?” “There’s the restaurant.” Damian pointed to a two-story restaurant painted pink, trying to change the subject.
The restaurant they both went to was just a 7-minute walk from the clinic.
It was set back a bit from the street and quiet, but the place was very comfortable and looked nice and cool.
Various houseplants were displayed in every empty space, complemented by landscape paintings hanging on the walls.
Strangely, though, when Emily walked in, there was no one there—even though it was lunchtime.
They sat down at a table near the window that seemed to have been set up in advance, as various foods and drinks were served immediately after they took their seats.
“Eat up,” Damian said, sipping a glass of wine with elegance.
Emily immediately began enjoying the various types of pastries that had been served.
“This is so good, it’s make me want to cry,” Emily said, chewing the food in her mouth.
Damian just watched Emily, who was busy trying everything in front of her, like a squirrel that had found a treasure trove of nuts.
“But isn’t this strange?
This place is nice, the food is delicious, but why is there no one here?” Emily asked, still scooping up ice cream.
“Because I rented out the whole place,” Damian replied nonchalantly.
“…WHAT DID YOU SAY?” Cough… cough… cough… Emily choked on her food when she heard Damian’s words.
Why would he go to the trouble of renting out the entire building just for lunch?
“Here, use this,” Damian said, pulling a blue handkerchief from his pocket.
Emily quickly took the handkerchief and wiped her lips.
“Why did you go to all that trouble?” Emily asked, panicked.
Damian set the glass he was holding down on the table and gently touched Emily’s right hand, which was resting on the table.
“Huh?” “Can’t you read my mind yet?” Damian asked.
“Excuse me?” “I like you, Lady Emily.
I’ve liked you ever since we first met,” Damian replied, his eyes brimming with confidence and warmth.
This isn’t some hidden-camera prank, is it?
In her entire life, she’d never received a confession of love from anyone.
Especially not from someone as handsome as Damian.
And what did he say?
Love at first sight?
I thought that only happened in soap operas or romance novels.
“I don’t understand what you mean, Damian,” Emily said, her face flushing with embarrassment.
“I don’t understand either, Lady Emily.
But I don’t know why—you’re always on my mind.
Have I gone crazy?” Damian asked, gazing deeply into Emily’s eyes.
Yes.
You’ve gone crazy.
“I’m already engaged, and you know that,” Emily replied, pulling her hand away from Damian’s grip.
“But you never wanted that engagement—wasn’t it forced on you by King Killian?” Emily couldn’t deny it because it was true.
“And I heard that two months ago you even tried to take your own life because you refused that engagement.
I can help you break free from Cedric, Emily,” Damian said earnestly.
Emily was taken aback by Damian’s words, but she couldn’t deny them.
It was true that the real Emily had done it, but she hadn’t.
At some point, Cedric had become someone important to her.
“I appreciate your feelings, and I’m very flattered.
I’m so grateful, but I also want to apologize…” Emily said slowly.
“It’s not you that my heart desires,” she stated firmly.
Hearing Emily’s answer, Damian felt as if the ground beneath his feet had crumbled.
“Can’t you consider me just a little?
I’m sure I can make you happy,” Damian pleaded with a sorrowful look in his eyes.
Emily simply lowered her head upon hearing Damian’s words.
It’s true that being with Damian felt wonderful; he always knew what Emily was thinking.
His words and smile were like a soothing breeze.
But for Emily, she wasn’t sure when exactly it started—Cedric’s gaze felt like waves that swallowed her up and dragged her deep into the ocean of his love.
She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t break the surface; she was trapped there, waiting for Cedric to take pity on her and save her from this one-sided love.
There was no salvation for Emily’s feelings.
It wasn’t until she received Damian’s confession of love that she finally realized.
Even though Damian promised happiness and freedom, Emily knew that no matter where her body went, her heart was already bound to a certain place.
If only she could choose, Emily wouldn’t want to fall in love.
Perhaps this is what Damian is feeling right now as she is also unsure, since this is her first experience.
So she tries to reject Damian in a way that causes him as little pain as possible.
“I won’t ask you not to like me or not to think about me, because I know full well that’s impossible.
I just want to tell you to take it slow—let your heart heal over time,” Emily replied, gently patting the back of Damian’s hand.
Damian bowed his head; there was a moment of silence, and just as Damian raised his head again to say something, an unexpected person suddenly appeared before them.
Grand Duke Cedric, who usually appeared composed and dignified, was standing before Emily and Cedric, panting as if he’d just been running.
“Cedric?” Emily couldn’t believe her eyes, but there he was, right in front of her.
“What are you doing here?” “I never said I’d let you go,” Cedric said, staring deeply into Emily’s eyes.
“…Huh?” Emily asked.
Now she understood why the female leads in most dramas seem to have poor hearing and always ask the male leads to repeat themselves.
Because all of this was just too absurd.
Even though she heard it clearly with her own ears, it seemed so hard to believe.
“Don’t go with him.
I’ll never let you go,” Cedric replied, gazing intently at Emily’s face.
Then Cedric’s gaze fell on Emily’s hand, which was touching Damian’s.
It was an unpleasant sight to his eyes.
Cedric immediately pulled Emily’s hand, helping her stand up from her seat so she was standing behind him.
Then he glared at Damian, who was still sitting in his chair.
“Don’t you dare touch Emily.
Because from the very beginning, she’s been mine, and she always will be,” Cedric said coldly.
Then he turned around and took Emily’s hand, leading her out of the restaurant.
Unable to resist Cedric, Emily could only follow his lead without saying a word.
What the heck is this?
It’s like a scene straight out of a soap opera.
“Cedric, where are we going?” Emily asked.
“Somewhere where we can talk alone in peace,” Cedric replied without looking back, continuing to walk while never letting go of her hand.
… Damian, left behind at the restaurant, could only sit and watch as Cedric and Emily climbed onto a carriage and left the place.
Then he raised his glass and drank the wine inside.
“I can’t believe there’ll come a time when this alcohol tastes sweet,” he said with a bitter smile.