ke this?" she asked, her v

aning back in his chair. "But I'm not exa

see you're good," she admitted, folding her arms. "But that does

amon's turn

her eyes. "My parents are just overreacting. But I can't lea

eadable. Then, with a faint smirk, he said, "The n

e on my way," Damon said, rising from the

wrist. Her grip was firm, urgent. "I'll pay you three times what y

nreadable face. It looked like he was weighing a heavy decis

led her e

ice would be better more... equipped, you know, for certain things

ebrow. "Do you pla

you sure you're a therapist?" s

early don't need my skills, this is me off duty." He gestured to him

h a smirk. "And who knows I might just seduce

most innocent soul. But Damon didn't flinch. In fact, something in hi

e was something about her presence subtle yet magnetic that captured his attention. The curios

ing anxiously just

oice laced with concern. "Is her condition

s, and beside her, her husband Peterson stood sti

eeds right now. It's interfering with the process. I suggest you bring her to my office. It's far mor

ghter," he said firmly, and Katherine nodded, her grip tightening o

ed back inside where their daughter sat, unmoving. Her stillness was unnatural, un

d, his voice steady as he approached Ariel. He positioned himse

but wrong. There was no joy in it. Only somethin

she said, her voi

nd gently. "Damon

"Doesn't matter,"

way out," she said. "There's going to be a lot of sneaking

nt in the room. Damon felt a flicker of unease not fear, but somethi

had already taken root in him, a dark and steady pull toward the storm brewing in her. He saw it clearly that deep, consu

didn't recognize it for what it was. To her, it was just an unsettling moment, a cold ripple in the atmosphere that made her certain th

ould have happened. The pain, the betrayal, the scars it had all been forced upon her. And if she was

hts and cleared his throat sha

ou at our next appointment," he s

g on him as he walked away. She was alrea

her expression hardening. Just you wai