Davina arrived at the famous pub in town with her driver to pick up her coworker, who was hungover.
"Do I owe Irene for providing me with an excuse to leave Camille's lackluster divorce party?" Davina mused, contemplating the questionable celebration.
Spotting Irene unconscious on the sofa, Davina enlisted the help of her driver to carry her. As Davina gathered Irene's belongings, she caught sight of a familiar figure sitting alone.
"Damian?" Davina squinted her eyes, making sure she had correctly identified the identity.
Handing Irene's bag to her driver, Davina instructed, "Please take Irene back to her house. I'll take a taxi home. There's someone here I need to speak to."
"Yes, Miss."
"Thank you for your assistance."
With Irene and the driver out of the pub, Davina hurried towards Damian, who had been sitting on the same chair for over an hour.
"Damian? Damian!"
Damian turned towards the voice, startled by Davina's furious expression.
"Damian! What are you doing? Planning to drown your sorrows in alcohol? Drinking won't solve your problems," Davina scolded, snatching the vodka bottle from Damian's grasp. Though Damian didn't shed tears, Davina could sense his overwhelming frustration. Damian winced in frustration at his lack of a detailed plan for seeking revenge on his ex-wife.
"You don't understand anything. Give me back my vodka," Damian protested, not wanting to argue with Davina.
Davina settled onto the chair next to Damian. The pub was relatively quiet that night, allowing Davina to focus on engaging Damian in conversation. "Are you truly going to let a deranged woman like Camille ruin your life?"
"Tonight, I want to celebrate my divorce by getting drunk. I have no time for anything as pitiful as that," Damian replied bitterly.
"Then let me join you in your celebration," Davina proposed.
Damian observed Davina's appearance from head to toe. She was still clad in an elegant black and white blouse, her short white skirt accentuating her beautiful legs. As Damian took another glance, he couldn't help but notice that Davina exuded a more sophisticated charm than Camille. Could she come from a reputable family?
"I recall that Camille is your best friend. Why aren't you taking her side?" Damian inquired.
"Bottle of Cristal and two glasses, please," Davina requested from the bartender.
"Yes, Miss. Coming right up!" the bartender obliged.
"You haven't answered my question," Damian pressed.
The seriousness of his inquiry slightly took Davina aback. She had assumed Damian was merely teasing her.
"How could you truly understand your ex-wife if you didn't even know she had cheated on you before your wedding day? Drink this. Let's elegantly drown our sorrows," Davina suggested, tucking away Damian's vodka bottle and offering him the glass she had received from the bartender. Tonight, Davina wanted their conversation to be sober.
As Camille's best friend, Davina could no longer keep Camille's secret from the person who had the right to know the truth—Damian. She not only fulfilled her role as a divorce lawyer, legally separating couples, but she also felt a moral obligation to help them navigate this separation more clearly, given her involvement from the beginning.
"You must be joking," Damian uttered incredulously.
"Tonight, I will speak to you as Davina, not the lawyer who handled your divorce case. So, there will be no breach of ethics in revealing client secrets," Davina assured, inviting Damian to raise his glass for a toast.
"Speak as Davina. Davina sounds more appealing than Claire's lawyer," Damian agreed.
"Cheers!" They clinked their glasses before savoring their respective drinks.
"Ugh, I wish I could drink myself into oblivion tonight. Unfortunately, I have work tomorrow," Davina lamented, gazing at her glass with a hint of sadness.
Davina gazed at Damian intently, her eyes locked on his. At that moment, she grasped certain truths that Damian's gaze conveyed. She understood how love had transformed into a painful wound in his life and how a harsh reality had shattered the beauty of his dreams. Camille had succeeded in tarnishing Damian's self-esteem.
Even years later, the innocence radiating from Damian was palpable to Davina. Someone like him needed a significant event to escape his current circumstances. If Damian failed to change, he would continue encountering individuals who mistreated him.
"I can't bring myself to tell you this while we're sober," Davina murmured, shaking her head, unable to bear witness to the persistence of Damian's pure expression.
"What must I do to uncover the truth?" Damian inquired, desperate for answers.
"Grant my request," Davina implored.
"I will give you whatever you desire." Damian's mind immediately gravitated towards offering money or material possessions to fulfill Davina's wish. Monetary concerns held no importance to Damian, regardless of the sum involved.
"Very well. Consider it a debt. I will bill you later."
"So, can you reveal it now?" Damian's anticipation was evident, eagerly awaiting any unknown facts.
Davina retrieved an envelope from her bag, a meticulously prepared collection of evidence she had assembled over time. Aware of Damian's deep love for his ex-wife, Davina knew that mere words would not suffice without tangible proof.
Damian's eyes widened in surprise, his mouth agape, as he looked at the photographs Davina presented. What Damian had witnessed that fateful night—Camille engaging in a sexual encounter with Marcel—paled in comparison to the damning evidence before him. Davina's proof substantiated even worse transgressions than Damian had initially perceived.
"Do you wonder why Camille accepted your proposal? In her darkest moments, Camille knew you were the one person who would still do anything for her. In her eyes, you were simply a loyal fan, unwavering in your devotion to your idol. Having such an ardent admirer is heartening."
"As you may know, Camille's family life has been tumultuous. Her father was a person with alcoholism who frequently subjected Camille, her mother, and her sister to abuse. Her friendships were no better, as Camille gained notoriety for her habit of seducing other people's boyfriends. And Marcel? He is my fiancé. Who could resist the allure of a man with great wealth?"
"Marcel is your fiancé?" Damian's response was filled with disbelief, his contempt evident. This particular information shocked Damian, as did most of Davina's revelations.
Finally, Damian's curiosity was satisfied as to how Davina managed to enter the penthouse apartment while Camille and Marcel were engaged in their illicit activities. It became clear that Davina had been able to blend in seamlessly due to her intimate connection with Marcel.
Davina let out a scornful laugh, finding the situation utterly ludicrous. "I never anticipated that you would be more taken aback by the fact that Marcel is my fiancé rather than the revelation of your wife's infidelity."
"Do you entertain the idea of an open relationship?" Damian inquired earnestly.
Davina chuckled at Damian's innocence. "What kind of woman do you take me for?"
"Then why did you become engaged to him?" Damian persisted in his questioning.
"Save your inquiries for now. Tonight, I will solely focus on your wedding," Davina evaded, refusing to respond directly.
The envelope contained dozens of photographs, each capturing Camille in various men's company. Every image was time-stamped, corroborating the story Davina had recounted.
"Please, continue," Damian urged.
"The essence is that while the world turned against her, you remained the only brandishing flowers for Camille. Just a day before marrying you, Camille sought solace in my apartment, succumbing to the whims of a stranger. I've also heard rumors about her dissatisfaction with your intimacy. Given the extent of her promiscuity, it must have been a remarkable experience for her."
Damian blinked rapidly, trying to absorb the shocking revelations. Davina moved her seat closer to Damian, their proximity intensifying their connection. With their noses nearly touching, they felt each other's breath. Briefly ensnared in their shared gaze, Davina redirected her attention and hastily downed her drink, seeking to conceal her transgression.
"But there is one crucial reason. Camille despises you because she claims your wealth is insufficient for her extravagant desires. Were you unaware all this time that Camille indulges in luxury items procured from the men she associates with?"
"Do I appear to be a man of limited means?" Damian asked Davina, seeking her opinion.
"You strike me as a man who surpasses my wealth," Davina promptly replied.
Damian smiled at Davina's response. Allowing her to finish her drink, he focused back on the photos in his hands. The conversation with Davina that night had provided Damian with a mental list of vengeance plans.
"Let the game begin, my ex-wife."
"Was I truly so naïve in those days? Even now, I struggle to comprehend how I could have once loved Camille. Perhaps I was deluded," Damian mused, his thoughts drifting back to a time of lost innocence. In the beginning, Damian's suspicions festered, convinced Camille was unfaithful due to his shortcomings as a man and husband. However, as the truth unfolded, it became painfully clear that Camille had never harbored genuine feelings for Damian. She had played with his emotions from the very start. Since their divorce, Damian's life had revolved around the confines of the opulent mansion, dedicated to immersing himself in the study of the company. WW Technology, a colossal enterprise valued at a staggering 100 billion dollars, demanded his utmost attention and caution as he prepared to face the challenges that lay before him. A soft knock echoed through Damian's workroom, followed by the graceful entrance of Atlantis. With a proud gleam, Atlantis beheld the documents spread before D
Davina had just arrived home after a long day at work. Exhaustion consumed her every muscle and bone as she collapsed onto the couch in her penthouse apartment. "These lawyer duties are draining. I'm exhausted," she said, feeling overwhelmed. Attempting to rest her eyes briefly before preparing dinner, Davina's plans were interrupted by the sound of the doorbell. "Hopefully, someone has important business with me," she mused aloud. Davina opened the door to find Marcel dressed formally, indicating that he had come straight from work. Without saying a word, she ushered him into the penthouse apartment. Marcel surprised her as she poured water into a glass, embracing her from behind. "We've been engaged for two years. Isn't it time we set a wedding date?" he asked, refusing to release his hold on her. Davina couldn't help but express her disbelief. "Do you truly want to marry me?" Marcel gently kissed her neck, responding, "Of course I do. You're the best." Turning to face him,
"Revenge?" Davina inquired with a determined glint in his eyes. "Yes, revenge," Damian affirmed. "You witnessed firsthand the upheaval my marriage caused. I believe you'll comprehend why I seek retribution on both Camille and Marcel." Davina nonchalantly chewed her food, her thoughts focused on the flavors dancing on her palate, rendering her unable to engage in Damian's conversation fully. "I understand your motive regarding Camille, but as far as I know, you and Marcel have no connection," she pondered aloud. Accepting Davina's lack of interest, Damian allowed her to savor her bento dinner in solitude. Observing her enthusiastic consumption, he couldn't bring himself to touch his meal. "Eat slowly, and I’ll never steal your dinner. If you eat in a rush, you might suffer from a stomachache," Damian advised, extending a tissue as he noticed a hint of food residue staining Davina's lips. Davina gently wiped her mouth with the tissue, her tone laced with appreciation. "It's been q
On weekends, Damian would come to the company. Before assuming the CEO role, he had to go through all the company's documents. Damian purposely did this on the weekend to avoid employee disturbances.Today, Damian brought in the top audit team in the country despite the disagreement over the cost with Atlantis. Ultimately, Damian used his savings to cover the expenses not included in the company's annual budget. The audit team will reveal all the corruption data today.As Damian entered the lobby, memories of Camille humiliating him in front of a crowd by pouring food on him resurfaced in his mind."Young Master, let's go," Nick interrupted Damian's thoughts."I'm coming!" Damian followed Nick into the elevator.Damian and Nick worked through the company's files while waiting for the audit team to finish examining the financial data transparently. Damian searched Marcel's office and found a photo of Davina and Marcel together hidden in a drawer."Even after seeing this evidence, I cou
Davina repeatedly checked to confirm that the man standing before her was Damian. Although Davina had always found Damian's geeky appearance endearing, she had never seen him look so immaculate. A thought crossed Davina's mind – where had Damian learned such beautiful words for his proposal? Was he a natural at charming women? Ever since Damian approached her, Davina had been lost in daydreams, finding it hard to believe this situation was happening.The proposal had also caught Atlantis and Nick off guard, leaving them just as surprised as Davina. "Davina?" Damian called out, breaking her reverie."Huh?" Davina snapped back to reality, only to realize that a crowd of onlookers had gathered around them.Damian extended his hand, revealing a ring. Davina's gaze seemed to convey a silent message, questioning whether they had discussed this before. She was torn about what to do, but at the same time, she couldn't bear to let Damian stay on his knees for too long.If Davina were to reject
"This feels like a nightmare. There is no way nerdy Damian could be the rightful successor of a large company. And the thought of Damian proposing to my best friend, Davina, is unimaginable." Camille pondered in the company's medical room, trying to understand what had transpired after regaining consciousness."No, no, it must have been a terrible dream. I have known Damian for three years of our marriage, and he has always been a geeky, ordinary guy. There's no way he could be a CEO." Camille tried to convince herself amidst the lingering confusion.Just then, Marcel entered the medical room, his tone unkind. "How could my fiancée be involved with your husband?" he questioned.Camille felt a shiver run down her spine, realizing it wasn't just a bad dream. "So, it wasn't a dream after all?" she whispered, the reality sinking in.Marcel tightened his grip on Camille's hand. "Why did Damian propose to my fiancée?" he asked, enraged."I don't understand why you are angry with me. You saw
Upon observing Marcel's serene presence on the sofa, a cascade of concern furrowed Davina's brow. The extraordinary calm that enveloped Marcel ignited Davina's already brimming suspicion and fear. Glimpses of Marcel's thoughts danced behind Davina's eyes, especially after witnessing the public acceptance of Damian's proposal. Today, wearing an ethereal white dress intended to veil the still-fresh scars, Davina resolved to alter her appearance. Shedding the delicate attire, Davina donned a loose-fitting sweater and trousers, meticulously innovatively arranging her locks. Determined to shield herself from the formidable force of Marcel's presence in her abode, Davina busied herself with concocting honey-infused water to alleviate the hangover-after effects. The avoidance of Marcel became her sole objective.After an enduring silence, Marcel finally broke the tension with his questioning gaze. "Have you betrayed me by accepting the proposal from that oddball?" he inquired, piercing the
Damian had been waiting for hours at his message location, but his new fiancée-to-be never arrived. Despite the long wait, he couldn't help but wonder, "Did something happen to Davina?"Approaching Damian after three hours of waiting, Nick said, "I told you that woman looks unbelievable. You're not unemployed, Damian, but you're back to being a young master."Damian turned to Nick with curiosity. "Have you met Davina before? Why such a dislike for her?"Silent and unable to answer, Nick gave Damian a sense that today was not the day to press him. But Damian made a mental note to ensure Nick answered his questions honestly another day. "Give me the car keys. It would be best if you went home. I'll visit Davina on my own."Hesitant to hand over the car keys, Nick voiced his concern. "Are you sure it's okay to go alone? Wouldn't it be better if I went with you?""I'm giving you half a day off, so use it to rest," Damian replied, pulling out a debit card for Nick to buy necessities using