Now

Chloe inhaled the rich aroma of her second cup of coffee before taking another sip on the leather sofa. Damian's voice had just trailed off, the weight of his sad story—the reason he ended their relationship seven years ago—hanging between them.

Chloe stared at him, her dark eyes hard. "I have to be honest. It's all hard to believe."

"It's all true. My family is enough to make you wish you were never born."

"I feel sorry for you. But it doesn't excuse you for not telling me the truth. For covering up who you really are and the hellhole you were born into. No money in the world is worth it."

Damian's face tightened, his pupils dark with regret. "I did it to protect you. To protect my sister. From the monster—my mother. She's not just any mother, Chloe. She's a psychopath. A murderer and an abuser. The she-devil herself."

Chloe's grip on her coffee mug tightened. "What about Gemma? Are you marrying her?"

"No. I'm going to find a way to end it all. I promise you, I'm not marrying her," he said, his voice unwavering.

Chloe's eyes narrowed. "What about your dad? He doesn't like me very much. Will you tell him I'm back in your life? Won't that ruin the safety and financial security Hope needs through the protection offered by Grant?"

Damian sighed, running a hand through his tousled hair. "My dad doesn't know you. I'll make him understand—"

"Make him understand?" Chloe's bitter laugh resonated in the cool air. "You can't make him do anything he doesn't want to do. Let's be real. It's been years. Maybe it's time to move on. I can offer you the olive branch of friendship. Nothing more."

Damian's facial muscles ticked, his eyes blazing. "Friendship? I'll take it. But I won't stop there. I'm not over the pain of losing you the first time, and I don't want to lose you again. I need you in my life."

Her expression softened for a moment, a flicker of vulnerability in her eyes. "Is our special room still there at the club?"

Damian nodded slowly, his voice low. "Yes."

Chloe's voice dropped to a whisper. "Did you ever take Gemma there?"

"No," he said quickly. "She and I—"

"I don't need to know," she interrupted, holding up a hand.

Damian's voice softened. "She and I never came close to the uninhibited intimacy you and I had. It was never that way with her. You're very special to me."

Chloe's phone buzzed, breaking the moment. She glanced at it and laughed softly, a bitter edge to her voice.

"Is that him again? That guy?" Damian asked, jealousy creeping into his voice. "Who is he? What is he to you?"

She looked up, her eyes challenging. "His name is Chase. Chase Miller. You know him."

Damian's eyes widened in recognition. "Are you serious? Angelo is his uncle. Of course, I know him."

"Then you two must get along fine," Chloe said, her voice dripping with irony.

Damian's voice tightened. "Listen to me. I see Chase from time to time, and he's not the kind of man you want to be with. He's with a different woman at the country club every week. He'll break your heart."

"Like you did?" Chloe's voice was sharp, her eyes flashing with hurt.

Damian's face fell, his expression stricken.

"Relax, Chase and I are just friends," she assured, placing her empty mug on the coffee table.

"Just friends? Nothing more?"

Chloe averted her gaze, her silence loud and telling.

"Look at me. What's going on with you and Chase?" Damian demanded, his voice growing more insistent, almost frantic.

"He offered benefits. And I invited him to Lisa and Theo's wedding as my date."

"What? No. Uninvite him."

"No! I won't do that," Chloe replied, her chin lifting in defiance.

"I can't stand the thought of you with another man," Damian said, his voice breaking.

"But you left me for another woman!" Chloe's eyes welled with tears.

"I left to keep everyone safe. Whatever I had with Gemma, I tried to be civil, courteous, and a gentleman. I gave her pleasure, but I used her to forget my pain."

"Didn't you use me to escape your troubles too?" Her voice trembled.

Damian shook his head slowly. "No. With you, I was happy. Truly happy."

A tear slipped down Chloe's cheek. "So was I until you disappeared. You ghosted me when I needed you most, and you can't change that. You left me."

Damian's green eyes were wet with unshed tears, his voice raw. "I'm sorry. The choice I made was the hardest thing I've ever done. My life has been hell without you. You have no idea what I've been through."

"And you have no idea how hard it was for me. You could've told me the truth, but you weren't man enough."

"You're right, Chloe. I don't deserve you, and I'm not worth your time. But know this: not a day goes by that I don't regret losing you. Letting you go was my biggest mistake." Damian's broad shoulders slumped in defeat.

Chloe stood and smoothed her dress, her movements sharp and decisive. "It's late. I'm leaving."

She called a cab and walked to the foyer, her steps echoing in the stillness. As she opened the front door, Damian watched her, the weight of unspoken words pressing down on him.

"Chloe!" he called out.

She paused, her silhouette framed by the moonlight. "What?" she replied, her tone cold but wavering slightly.

Damian stepped forward, the muscles in his arms and shoulders flexing under his shirt while desperation etched his features. "What's next?"

The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating. Chloe turned her head, her brown eyes glistening in the dim light. "I don't know. But remember our room at the club? What we had?"

Damian squinted. "What about it?"

"I miss it," she said softly, her voice a mix of craving and regret. Without another word, she turned away, her long, black tresses flowing behind her as she slipped into the waiting cab.

Damian stood frozen, the door closing with a finality that echoed in his chest. Determination flared within him, bolstering him to fight harder and smarter for their love to thrive again. He watched the cab disappear into the night, his mind racing.

He would dismantle the chains that bound him to the Rocheforts and his mother. He would find a way, no matter the cost, without risking his sister's life. Winning back Chloe was non-negotiable, but he had to protect the fortress he built for his sister.

Damian's grip tightened on the brass door handle. The battle ahead was daunting, but he swore he would prevail.

For Chloe.

For Hope.

For the future they deserved.

***

A/N: Is there hope for Chloe and Damian? What will Damian do?