2025-01-07 04:47:25Damien smiled when he registered the shock on Evelyn’s face when his question got to her ears.
He thought nothing could shake her. Her eyes widened and she turned her back to him, probably to recollect her thoughts. He wanted to laugh. “Let’s get one thing clear,” Evelyn said, spinning to face him, her voice firm. “You are not to touch me until I decide I’ve fallen for you. Is that understood?” Damien tilted his head, his lips quirking up in a faint smile. “Crystal clear,” he said, his tone calm. His nonchalant attitude seemed to irk her more. Evelyn crossed her arms, glaring at him. “I mean it, Damien. No casual touches, no overstepping boundaries. You’ll respect my space.” “I said I understand,” Damien replied, leaning forward with his hands in his pocket, “Honestly, I have no problem waiting. It’s your call, wife.” Her lips tightened, her brow furrowing as though his agreement had taken the wind out of her sails. For reasons Evelyn couldn’t quite explain, his easy acceptance only added to her frustration. “Good,” she muttered, turning away to collect herself. Damien stood, brushing imaginary dust off his jacket. “If that’s settled, I think we’re done here. You’ve got my number if you need anything.” She didn’t respond, and he took her silence as permission to leave. “I’ll see you around, Evelyn.” With that, he walked away, leaving her standing there with a faint scowl on her face. Damien returned home to find Claire standing at his door. She was all smiles, holding a bottle of wine in one hand and a neatly wrapped box in the other. “Claire?” he asked, surprised. “Hi, Damien!” she chirped, stepping forward as if expecting a warm welcome. “I thought I’d drop by. You’ve been so hard to reach lately.” He stepped aside to let her in, noticing his mother watching from the kitchen with a warm smile. “This is a surprise,” Damien said cautiously. Claire set the wine and gift down on the table, her smile widening. “Well, I thought we could catch up. Maybe talk about the gifts that woman sent you, something about tens of millions?” He frowned, sensing an undertone to her words. “How do you know about that?” Claire’s smile froze, and she tilted her head, feigning innocence. “Oh, it’s been going around. You know how people talk. Those rich people can’t keep their mouth shuts, not if their life depends on it.” “I returned it,” Claire’s face lost all of its color as she stared at him, “what do you mean you returned it?” She asked, “Please tell me you haven’t lost your mind somewhere in there? Are you insane?” Damien didn’t answer, his face unreadable. His mother, Margaret, stepped into the room, wiping her hands on a towel. “Claire, it’s so good to see you again,” Margaret said warmly. “Won’t you stay for dinner?” Claire’s gaze shifted to Damien, her demeanor suddenly stiffening. “Dinner? Oh, I don’t think I can stay long. I just came by to…” Her voice trailed off as she seemed to reconsider her words. Margaret raised an eyebrow, sensing the shift. “It’s no trouble at all,” she said, ignoring Claire’s hesitation. “We’d love to have you.” Claire’s forced smile returned. “That’s kind of you, Mrs. Cross, but I really must be going.” She grabbed her things abruptly, her attitude now far less pleasant since she wasn’t getting what she wanted. As soon as she left, Margaret turned to Damien, a question in her eyes. “What was that about?” “Nothing important,” Damien said, brushing it off. Margaret wasn’t convinced, but before she could press further, Damien said, “Actually, I need to tell you and Sophie something.” His younger sister Sophie poked her head out of her room, curious. “What’s up?” He took a deep breath. “I got married.” The room fell silent. Margaret blinked, and Sophie’s jaw dropped. “Married?” Margaret finally echoed, her voice tinged with shock. “To who?” Sophie added, looking both astonished and intrigued. Damien pulled the marriage certificate from his jacket pocket and handed it to his mother. Margaret’s eyes widened as she stared at the photo of Evelyn, her elegant features and confident gaze practically leaping off the page. “She’s beautiful,” Margaret said, her voice soft with awe. “How…when did this happen?” Sophie snatched the certificate, examining it with wide eyes. “Is this real? Are you serious?” Damien nodded. “We met while I was in the military. It’s been a long time coming, but we kept it quiet for personal reasons.” Margaret’s eyes filled with sentimentality. “Oh, Damien, you’ve always been so private. But why didn’t you bring her here sooner?” “She’s busy,” Damien said smoothly. “She’s a senior executive at a big company. Her work takes up most of her time.” Margaret smiled proudly, though concern flickered in her eyes. “She must be extraordinary to have captured your heart. I’d love to meet her.” Damien hesitated, knowing the complications that would arise if Evelyn had to face his family. “She’s not much for social events,” he said carefully. “But I’ll see what I can do.” Margaret nodded, though it was clear she wouldn’t let the subject drop easily. “Just let her know she’s always welcome here.” Sophie, however, was still staring at the certificate, her expression filled with skepticism and a little fascination. “So, when do we get the full story? This doesn’t seem like you, Damien.” “Maybe someday,” Damien said with a small smile. His phone vibrated with a text message from Evelyn saying that they needed to visit her grandfather and announce their marriage officially. Damien had no issue with it since it was time he met the man anyway. “Mother, I have to go. My wife needs me,”
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The drive to her grandfather’s estate was taking so long. Evelyn sat stiffly in the back seat, her fingers gripping the hem of her dress as she occasionally glanced at Damien. He was calm as ever, leaning back in his seat, his eyes focused on the rolling scenery outside. “Why did you agree to come?” she finally asked, it was ridiculous since she was the one who invited him but she didn’t think he would agree to it. He smirked faintly, not shifting his gaze from where he was staring at, “Why wouldn’t I? Your grandfather seems like an interesting man and I want to meet him. She pursed her lips, unsure if she should be grateful or annoyed by his casual demeanor. Most people quaked at the thought of meeting Richard Sterling, but Damien seemed utterly unfazed which bothered her for some reason. When they arrived at the sprawling estate, the butler greeted them and ushered them into the grand sitting room. Richard Sterling sat in his usual armchair by the fireplace, a cup of tea re
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Evelyn Sterling adjusted her silverware, her polished calm masking the irritation she felt inside. Across from her sat her three friends, Amelia, Vivian and Victoria each impeccably dressed and accompanied by their equally ostentatious husbands. Tonight’s dinner was meant to be a casual gathering, but Evelyn knew better. These dinners always devolved into competitions of who had the wealthiest, most accomplished husband. Tonight, however, the stakes felt higher; because this was the first time she’d be introducing Damien to her friends.Something she has been avoiding since she walked in there with him. Damien sat beside her, calm as always, his hands loosely folded on the table. His quiet confidence only made Evelyn more aware of the condescending glances being cast in his direction. “So, Evelyn,” Amelia began, her voice lilting with faux curiosity. “We’ve all been dying to know about your husband. You never even told us you got married, I can see why you hid it from us, so what d
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It was past midnight when Damien quietly slipped through the front door of the house. He stopped short when he saw Evelyn sitting on the couch, her legs tucked under her and a book in her lap. Their gazes met and she smiled. “You’re late,” she said gently, setting the book aside as she stood. “I know,” Damien replied. He dropped his bag near the door and rubbed the back of his neck. “Sorry about that.” “Are you tired?” She asked with concern written all over her face. “Completely,” he admitted with a faint smile. “It’s been a long day.” He left the rest of the details. Evelyn hesitated, biting her lip. There was so much she wanted to say, but the fatigue etched across his face made her pause. “You should get some rest.” He nodded. “Thanks for waiting up, Evelyn. Goodnight.” With that, he climbed the stairs to his room, his body swaying under the fatigue. Evelyn stood at the base of the stairs, watching him disappear into his room. She had been waiting for hours, re
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Damien stared at his blind date, Claire Harris, now comfortably seated on his couch. He wasn’t sure which was more exasperating, her unwelcome presence or her smugness. He counted to ten in his head so maybe it would be nothing but a dream. Something about her rubbed him the wrong way, she was arrogant and downright disrespectful. His earlier experience with her told him all he should know about her. Thank goodness his eyes were opened to the kind of person she would be once they are married. “What are you doing here, Claire?” Damien asked, his tone as calm as he could muster. “I’m here for dinner,” she said nonchalantly, examining her manicured nails. “My mother is friends with yours. They thought it’d be lovely if we spent more time together.” “What?” She laughed airily, “oh don’t bother to be in the dark about this. I understand what’s going on perfectly and I am sorry about the water I threw on you. It was out of anger, a pretty woman such as myself shouldn’t be ke
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The taxi dropped Damien outside of the Ling estate. He stepped out of the car with his medical bag slung over one shoulder as he approached the butler waiting at the entrance.It’s been three days and he was right on time for his check up. They entered the mansion, and he was surprised that the once lifeless mansion was now had staff bustling about.It looked like the madam’s health worked with the energy in this house. “Mr. Cross,” the butler greeted him with a respectful bow. “Thank you for coming.” “How is Madam Ling doing?” Damien asked as they walked through the halls. “She’s improved remarkably,” the butler said with a smile. “She’s even been sitting up in bed and speaking more frequently. She specifically asked to speak with you after your check-up today.” Damien nodded, pleased to hear the news. “That’s good progress. Let’s see how she’s doing.” The butler led him to the madam’s room, where she was propped up against mountain of pillows. Her complexion still looked a litt
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Chapter Seven
Evelyn Sterling adjusted her silverware, her polished calm masking the irritation she felt inside. Across from her sat her three friends, Amelia, Vivian and Victoria each impeccably dressed and accompanied by their equally ostentatious husbands. Tonight’s dinner was meant to be a casual gathering, but Evelyn knew better. These dinners always devolved into competitions of who had the wealthiest, most accomplished husband. Tonight, however, the stakes felt higher; because this was the first time she’d be introducing Damien to her friends.Something she has been avoiding since she walked in there with him. Damien sat beside her, calm as always, his hands loosely folded on the table. His quiet confidence only made Evelyn more aware of the condescending glances being cast in his direction. “So, Evelyn,” Amelia began, her voice lilting with faux curiosity. “We’ve all been dying to know about your husband. You never even told us you got married, I can see why you hid it from us, so what d
Chapter Six
The drive to her grandfather’s estate was taking so long. Evelyn sat stiffly in the back seat, her fingers gripping the hem of her dress as she occasionally glanced at Damien. He was calm as ever, leaning back in his seat, his eyes focused on the rolling scenery outside. “Why did you agree to come?” she finally asked, it was ridiculous since she was the one who invited him but she didn’t think he would agree to it. He smirked faintly, not shifting his gaze from where he was staring at, “Why wouldn’t I? Your grandfather seems like an interesting man and I want to meet him. She pursed her lips, unsure if she should be grateful or annoyed by his casual demeanor. Most people quaked at the thought of meeting Richard Sterling, but Damien seemed utterly unfazed which bothered her for some reason. When they arrived at the sprawling estate, the butler greeted them and ushered them into the grand sitting room. Richard Sterling sat in his usual armchair by the fireplace, a cup of tea re
Chapter five
Damien smiled when he registered the shock on Evelyn’s face when his question got to her ears. He thought nothing could shake her. Her eyes widened and she turned her back to him, probably to recollect her thoughts. He wanted to laugh. “Let’s get one thing clear,” Evelyn said, spinning to face him, her voice firm. “You are not to touch me until I decide I’ve fallen for you. Is that understood?” Damien tilted his head, his lips quirking up in a faint smile. “Crystal clear,” he said, his tone calm. His nonchalant attitude seemed to irk her more. Evelyn crossed her arms, glaring at him. “I mean it, Damien. No casual touches, no overstepping boundaries. You’ll respect my space.” “I said I understand,” Damien replied, leaning forward with his hands in his pocket, “Honestly, I have no problem waiting. It’s your call, wife.” Her lips tightened, her brow furrowing as though his agreement had taken the wind out of her sails. For reasons Evelyn couldn’t quite explain, his easy acc
Chapter four
“Come,” Evelyn motioned to him, she knew with the right persuasion, he would accept the gifts. They walked back to the sitting room. Damien stood in the middle of his modest living room, frowning at the gifts sitting on his coffee table. Somehow, they had increased and now, the whole place looked like Santa vomited all over it. He also noted that Claire had left. The gifts alone looked expensive enough to feed him for a month. He sighed, crossing his arms over his chest as Evelyn’s assistant stood awkwardly near the door. “This is too much,” Damien said finally, “Take it back.” The assistant looked bewildered, her brow furrowing as if she hadn’t anticipated this reaction. “Mr. Sinclair, Miss Sterling wanted to express her gratitude for your assistance last week. She—” “I helped because it was convenient, not because I expected anything in return,” Damien interrupted. “I don’t want any gifts, especially not something that looks like it costs as much as my entire apartme
Chapter three
Damien stared at his blind date, Claire Harris, now comfortably seated on his couch. He wasn’t sure which was more exasperating, her unwelcome presence or her smugness. He counted to ten in his head so maybe it would be nothing but a dream. Something about her rubbed him the wrong way, she was arrogant and downright disrespectful. His earlier experience with her told him all he should know about her. Thank goodness his eyes were opened to the kind of person she would be once they are married. “What are you doing here, Claire?” Damien asked, his tone as calm as he could muster. “I’m here for dinner,” she said nonchalantly, examining her manicured nails. “My mother is friends with yours. They thought it’d be lovely if we spent more time together.” “What?” She laughed airily, “oh don’t bother to be in the dark about this. I understand what’s going on perfectly and I am sorry about the water I threw on you. It was out of anger, a pretty woman such as myself shouldn’t be ke
Chapter Two
Red with embarrassment at being misdirected, Damien searched the cafe once again for his actual date. Damien’s steps slowed as he approached the correct table, where a woman in a sleek red dress tapped her manicured nails impatiently against the wooden surface. She looked up, her sharp features set in an expression of annoyance. “You’re late,” she snapped, folding her arms. Damien forced a smile. “Apologies. I had a mix-up earlier—” She didn’t let him finish. “Typical. You can’t even show up on time, and they expect me to give you a chance? Let me guess, another emergency at your little clinic?” Damien’s jaw tightened, but he remained calm. “I work at a hospital. And yes, my job can be demanding.” The woman scoffed, her voice dripping with disdain. “A gynecology nurse. What kind of man does that? Honestly, this is ridiculous. My parents must be out of their minds.” “Yes, I am sure it is beneath you but I love my job. Can we get on with the date now, please?” The wo
