Chapter 42: Chapter 42 I Dont Want Anything From You
SOPHIA’S POV
Damien’s hand was still wrapped around my throat.
We were too close now. Close enough that I could feel his body heat.
I forced myself to breathe. I could feel his dominant aura rolling from him in waves. I had no choice but to submit and my wolf whimpered inside .
I could keep fighting but I rembered Lance. I was here because of him.
“Please,” I said quietly. “Leave Lance alone.”
My voice sounded small, but I ant every word. Damien’s mouth curved into a cold smile. There was no warmth in his eyes. No rcy.
“Why would I do that?” he asked calmly.
My stomach twisted. I swallowed my pride. It tasted bitter, but I did it anyway.
“What do you want?” I asked. “I’ll do anything.”
The words hurt to say. I hated that I was begging. I hated that I had been pushed this far.
Damien stepped even closer to .
Our bodies were practically pressed against each other now. His alpha presence filled the room. My wolf growled softly. She was angry but trapped.
“Anything?” he repeated. “That’s a dangerous word, Sophia.”
I lifted my chin and looked straight into his eyes.
Don’t flinch. Don’t show weakness.
“Na your price,” I said.
For a mont, he just studied my face. His eyes moved slowly, like he was cataloging every crack and weakness inside .
“I don’t want anything from you,” he said at last.
I panicked.
“No,” I said quickly. “I’ll sign sothing. An NDA. I won’t speak about the hospital. I’ll stop the divorce for now, temporarily. Whatever you want.”
Please. I’ll give you anything. Just leave him alone.
But Damien just shook his head.
“You really don’t understand your position,” he said.
For a mont, it felt like I couldn’t breathe.
“This isn’t about Lance,” he continued calmly. “It’s about the consequences of your actions.”
“What actions?” I asked. “What are you talking about ?”
“You had the nerve to leave
Sophia,” he mused, “surely you didn’t think it would have a cost did you?”
“Damien-”
“My decision stands,” he said. “Lance stays fired.”
My throat burned. Tears stung at the back of my eyes. How could soone be so cruel?
“He didn’t do anything wrong,” I whispered.
Damien leaned closer then lowered his voice. “Neither did I.”
Sothing broke inside my chest. Before I could stop myself, I said, “You’re cruel.”
His smile got wider. Before he turned away, he delivered the final blow.
“Keep trying to fight ,” he said quietly, “and it won’t just be Lance next ti.”
I was shocked. Was he threatening ?
Then he walked away.
I stood alone, shaking. My wolf curled inward, whimpering inside . She couldn’t believe what just happened.
Sohow, I made it to my car sohow.
I sat there for twenty minutes without moving. My hands gripped the steering wheel until my knuckles turned white. My chest hurt. My eyes burned. I wanted to scream. I wanted to drive straight into sothing solid just to make the pain stop.
This is my fault. Lance is paying for . Everyone pays for .
I thought about calling him.
What would I even say? Sorry your life is ruined because you were kind to ?
I drove ho on autopilot. The road blurred past . My mind raced through impossible solutions.
Maybe I can find him work sowhere else. Maybe I can loan him money. Maybe I can fix this.
But I knew better. Damien’s reach was long.
Anything I touched and he knew about it, he would poison.
When I got ho I didn’t rest. I got to work looking for sothing to help Lance. Anything.
I made lists of hospitals, research centers and other dical firms. I searched wrongful termination laws. I looked for whistleblower protections. Every door slamd shut before I even touched it.
I thought about the dia but I knew Damien’s dia team would destroy .
I scrolled through my contacts. Most of them weren’t really mine. They were his.
I called one forr colleague and begged her to do sothing.
“I’ll see what I can do,” she said.
I knew that ant nothing. I texted Lance.
: “I’m so sorry. I’m working on this. Please don’t give up.”
No response.
Then my phone rang. Ashley’s na lit up the screen.
I forced my voice to sound normal as I picked up.
“Hey, sweetheart.”
“I need you to pick
up after school tomorrow,” she said harshly.
My heart sank.
“Honey, I can’t tomorrow,” I said gently. “I have to work.”
“You always have to work,” she snapped.
“I know,” I said. “I need this job. Ask your father-”
“I don’t want Dad!” she shouted. “I want you!”
I closed my eyes. I didn’t need this right now. I had a lot on my plate. I forced myself to calm down by taking deep breaths.
“Baby, please...”
“You don’t even care about
anymore,” she said cruelly, “You used to pick
up every day,” she said. “Now you’re too busy being a bad mom.”
The words cut deep because part of them were true.
“That’s not fair,” I said. “I’m doing my best—”
“Your best sucks!” she scread.
I heard Damien in her voice.
“I miss you,” I said softly. “What if we do sothing this weekend? Just us?”
“Dad’s taking
to the beach house,” she said flatly.
Of course, he was.
“Goodbye mom,” she said again and hung up.
I stared at the phone uselessly.
I had failed my daughter too.
I was failing everyone.
I thought about calling Damien back. I could go back to him. I could survive. But I knew the truth. Going back would kill .
I was still lost in my thoughts when I heard movent outside. I stepped out and saw father walking quickly down the driveway, scanning the street. He looked like he was looking for sothing or soone.
“Dad?”
He turned to face . “Sophia. Have you seen Klara?”
“No,” I shook my head.
“Oh she was supposed to be back from school by now. Has Marco forgotten to pick her up?”
Maybe he had.
“Don’t worry Dad. Go in. I’ll go pick her up.”
I got in my car and zood off to the school. As I entered the gate I saw her. She was sitting on a swing, humming softly.
“Klara!” I called.
She looked up and smiled. “Aunt Sophia!”
I felt so relieved.
“Daddy didn’t co to pick you?”
She nodded.
“Okay. I’m here now. Let’s go.”
I carried her in my arms and we both went to the car. In the car, Klara began to chat happily.
“Art class was fun!’ she squealed. “I saw a caterpillar today.”
“Did you now?”
We were at a traffic light and it shone red so I stopped. And I glanced right.
That’s when I saw her.
Ashley.
In a luxury car.
And she was.... crying.
I had to blink twice to make sure I was seeing correctly.
What was wrong?
Just then the traffic light turned green.
A horn blared.
Klara squealed.
I drove forward.
Then I glanced back again but the car carrying Ashley was no longer there.
Atleast she’s safe, I told myself.
But guilt followed
all the way ho.
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