PTE

E'S

bing my eyes, and glanced at the clock on the nightstand. It was early-too

y feet. My heart was already racing, knowing what today meant

g his mother for the first time, and I'm living in his house. I'm not even married to

ir was a mess, my face still bore the faint imprints of th

king my head. "You can do this. Just... be

stairs. The house was quiet, the kind of serene silence that

. Maybe a cup would calm my nerves. But just a

ing down the o

t clung to him like a second skin, highlighting ever

voice low and gravelly

brain short-circu

g," I stammered, qui

he man who constantly got under my skin. The man

king my own cheek lig

, raising an eyebrow as he rea

oo loudly. "Absolutely nothing.

e amused smirks that made me w

saving me from fu

My eyes darted to Damien, but he just

hat?" he called

ing together. Was it her? W

ed the door, only to find on

nished organizing the dining area for the brunch la

d I nodded quickly. "Than

haling shakily. "Fals

entally preparing myself for what was undoubtedly going

t his mother. She's just a person... a terrifying,

dy downstairs, strode toward the door without so much as a glance at me. His movem

en and then a familiar, c

dn't think you could avo

-step. Evel

even a touch amused. "Mo

leasantries," she snapp

asked, feign

girl. Where is this Rose I'v

She was here. And

t home, anything to delay the inevitable. But before I could t

everything I expected and more. Tall, elegant, and exuding a kind of effortless power that made my hands sweat. Her da

utting through the air like

oat we

full name?"

id quickly, trying to

mild curiosity. Her eyes narrowed slightly. "I

made my skin crawl. Her lips pressed into a thin line, and though

continued, crossing her arms.

I replied, trying

ow. "You brought a journalist into the house? Really, Damien? What were you thinking? She could be a

ted, his voice calm but f

"Do you know how much this family has to lose, Damien? And you br

I had no idea how to defuse the situation. Every part

e was a sharpness to it that made her pause. "You haven't even allowed me to speak. How

at him, but she didn'

amien?" she asked fin

d," he said smoothly, a fain

but didn't

lightly. "Rose," he said gently, "why don't you

for the escape. "Yes, of co

es boring into my back. The tension in the room was

l, exhaling shakily. The meeting had gone exa