"I ain’t going over there this year, why don’t you take Ariel instead?" I casually tossed the opportunity over to Ariel, with my hands tucked into my coat pockets I believed she could use this chance.
Damon’s forehead creased creating a small mountain peak, and his eyes held a complex mixture of emotions. It was not quite outright displeasure, but a kind of restrained dissatisfaction.
"We’re not getting a divorce. I’ll take care of Ariel’s situation"
Honestly, upon hearing this, I felt like I was hallucinating. It sounded like he was choosing over Ariel. Wasn’t that just nuts? He was just going to ditch his dream girl like that?
"Damon, quit pulling my leg. Don’t give empty promises. No, they can’t even be considered promises "I calmly rejected him.
I turned to go inside, but Damon grabbed my arm.
"Let try" He pleaded for the first ti.
He’d never humbled himself like this, not even when he wanted a divorce in my previous life. I felt my heart skip a beat.
Could Damon really be in love with ? But there was no way he loved more than Ariel. If he had to give soone up, it would be .
I figured Damon was probably under pressure from his family and wasn’t ready to take on the world for Ariel yet, so he wanted to keep using to appease his family. That was the only plausible explanation I could think of..
"Don’t bother, go ho. My dad hasn’t co back yet. If he sees you here when he does, it would be awkward" I maintained my rationality.
Speaking of the devil, my dad was just out dealing with so ergency. My mom was busy cooking and didn’t know Damon was here. Upon seeing Damon, my dad’s face darkened as if he had seen so ill on. "What are you doing here?" He asked sternly.
"Hello, sir," Damon greeted politely.
"Don’t call that I can’t take it. You’ll have a new father–in-law soon, so go call him that my dad retorted without giving Damon any respect.
Fearing a scene, I quickly went over and took my dad’s arm. ’Dad, Mom needs help in the kitchen. You go, I’ll handle this."
My dad had promised not to interfere in matters between Damon and , so he reluctantly left.
"You’ve seen it. My family has a very bad impression of you, Damon. Even if we don’t divorce right now, there won’t be a happy ending. I’ve convinced my parents not to interfere in our affairs. You should go and explain things to your family" I told Damon calmly.
Damon looked at heavily "I don’t plan on getting a divorce. What is there to explain?"
"How much longer do you plan on wasting my ti?’ I blurted out "How can you be so cruel? Even if I agreed to marry you to please your grandfather and ease the pressure from your parents, you agreed to it too. You saw benefits in it. Why is it all my fault?"
Damon’s eyes contained a sudden surge of emotion. "Eliana, do you really not know what you’ve caused to lose?"
I looked at him uncomprehendingly. "Freedom?"
Damon scoffed. "Bullshit freedom"
He had a point. He was just as nonchalant after marriage, showing no restraint despite being a married man. Freedom was simply a matter of desire for him But beyond that, I really had no idea.
Just then, my phone rang. It was Lisa. Despite the tension between Damon and , Lisa had always been on my side. It would be rude not to answer.
I stepped aside to take the call "Eliana, are you coming over for the New Year’s Eve dinner with Damon?" Lisa asked.
"Um... I probably won’t make it this year." I hesitated before refusing
Lisa sighed on the other end "Co over. I have sothing to tell you. Maybe you’ll understand what Damon has been up to these past few years."
I glanced back at Damon, who was also looking at . After loving him for ten years, I beca intimately familiar with his life, personality, and preferences. What else could there be that I didn’t know? My curiosity was piqued
"Alright" I agreed. It would be good to know why Damon had been so cold to all these years before we finally ended things.
After hanging up. I told Ne, "Let’s go. We’re going to your parents’"
He didn’t say a word. He just turned and walked towards his car. I followed him, initially intending to sit in the front passenger seat but then deciding to sit in the back instead The front seat was Ariel’s by right, and I had no desire to compete with her for it, even when she wasn’t around
This caused Damon’s face to darken even more, but he didn’t comnt and just drove off towards their family house.
During the ride, I texted my parents, explaining the situation. Thankfully, they understood and just asked to return as soon as possible.
Due to the cold weather, snow, and occasional traffic jams, our journey took longer than usual. What would normally be a three–hour drive took us five hours. We missed lunch and had to wait until dinner.
"Hi, Mom "I greeted Silas and Lisa as warmly as ever
Honestly, after the Ariel incident, I felt even closer to them. The thought of losing such wonderful in– laws to soone else after the divorce made a bit reluctant to let go
"Eliana, you’re back" Lisa greeted, pulling my hand into hers and glaring at Damon.
Damon ignored her. He just took off his coat and sat down on the couch.
Silas snorted, turning his face away from his son to call over. "Eliana, co sit here."
Lisa and I sat down, and she asked, "How long was the drive? Did you eat on the way? I had the kitchen save so food for you. Have so now, and eat more at dinner."
"Sure" I nodded
After the food was served, Damon and I ate a bit to stave off our hunger. The atmosphere was a bit tense with Silas and Lisa watching us.
"Eat more, you’re too thin. It’s heartbreaking Lisa served so more food
"Thank you" I smiled at her warmly
Damon was scarfing down his food, not making a single peep, there was no eye contact either. After finishing, he went upstairs alone. Silas said he had so work to deal with in the study, leaving Lisa and in the living room.
"Eliana, hang on a sec."
A few minutes later, Lisa ca down from upstairs holding a leather envelope. With a puzzled look on her face, she opened the envelope and pulled out a few photos, handing them to . "Take a look at this."
I looked over the photos, and imdiately my expression changed, my mind was filled with shock. There were ten photos in total, each one hitting with a wave of disbelief and astonishnt like I’d never felt before. By the ti I’d seen them all, I was completely gobsmacked.
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