Chapter 16
ROSALIE
628
11
I stormed out of the lounge, my heels clicking against the pavement, each step fueled by frustration. The cool night air did nothing to cool the fire raging inside me. I could not believe him.
I muttered under my breath, my hands clenched into fists at my sides. “Of all the nerve. First, he shows up with those ridiculous gifts, as if throwing money at me fixes anything. Then he has the audacity to drag me out, make me sit through this farce, and completely ignore me the entire time.”
The image of that woman–Melanie, with her too–tight dress and overly sweet laugh–flashed in my mind, making my jaw clench. The way she leaned into him, her hand brushing down at his arm, giggling at everything he said. And Damien? He let her. Worse, he encouraged it, knowing I was sitting right there, stewing in silence,
“What was I supposed to do?” I muttered, kicking a stray pebble on the sidewalk. “Sit there like a damn fool while he let her paw at him?”
The thought made my stomach churn. I hated how much it got under my skin, how much it bothered me to watch him flirt so shamelessly. What irritated me even more was how smug he looked, like he knew exactly how much it affected me.
“Stupid. Selfish. Arrogant,” I hissed, listing off every insult I could think of as I waved down a cab.
The driver barely looked at me as I slid into the backseat, rattling off my address. The city lights blurred outside the window as the cab moved, but I couldn’t focus on anything except the anger bubbling inside me.
“Why do I even let him get to me like this?” I whispered, more to myself than anyone else. “He doesn’t care. Not really. I should’ve stayed home. Should’ve ignored him when he showed up with that stupid smirk and those stupid bags.”
My voice broke slightly, but I cleared my throat and leaned back in the seat, folding my arms tightly across my chest. No way was I going to cry. Not for him. Not after tonight.
When the cab pulled up to the house, I paid the driver and stepped into the gates of the mansion.
But my stomach tightened the moment I spotted Damien’s car already in the driveway.
“What the hell?” I muttered, frowning. I’d left him there. How had he gotten home before me? Was it because I had wasted time in getting a taxi? Or did he take a shorter route?
The house loomed ahead, its windows glowing warmly, but it felt anything but welcoming. My stomach twisted as I made. my way to the door, my heels clicking against the pavement.
“Please be asleep,” I whispered as I reached for the handle. “Or drunk. Or both.”
But I knew that in cases like these, my luck rarely shone.
I stepped inside, the door closing softly behind me, and froze.
Damien was standing in the living room, his arms crossed and his expression stormy. His tie hung loosely around his neck, and he looked every bit the man who always had to be in control.
“Where the hell have you been?” His voice was sharp, cutting through the quiet like a knife.
I hesitated, my hand still on the doorknob. “Where do you think I’ve been? I came home.”
19:38 Mon,17 Feb # C
Chapter 16
“You left” His tone was low, dangerous. “You walked out on me”
<32%
(+23)
“I had every reason to,” I shot back, my anger flaring again. “You spent the entire period we were there ignoring me, letting that whatever she is throw herself at you while I sat there like an idiot. Why would I stay?”
Damien stepped doser, his presence suffocating, “Do you even realize what you’ve done? Walking out on me like that? In public?Do you have any idea how that makes me look?!”
1 let out a bitter laugh, shaking my head. “Oh, of course. This is about your image, isn’t it? God forbid Damien Hale looks less than perfect in front of anyone. Never mind how you humiliated me.”
“Humiliated you?” he scoffed, his eyes narrowing, “You’re overreacting”
“Overreacting?” I threw my hands up, unable to contain my frustration. “You dragged me out tonight, made me sit through dinner, and then spent the whole time flirting with her. How is that not humiliating?”
“She works as one of my assistants,” he said flatly, as if that explained everything.
“And what exactly was she assisting you with tonight?” I snapped. “Fixing your tie? Laughing at all your stupid jokes? Putting her hand on your arm every chance she got?”
Damien’s jaw tightened, his hands curling into fists at his sides. “Watch your tone, Rosalie.”
“Or what?” I challenged, stepping closer. “You’ll do what? You’ve already made it clear I mean nothing to you. So go ahead. Prove me right.”
His eyes darkened, and for a moment, I thought he might actually lose his composure. But instead, he took a slow, deliberate step back, his expression cold.
“You’ve made your point,” he said, his voice icy. “Now, let me make mine.”
Before I could react, he grabbed my arm and dragged me toward the door.
“Damien, what are you doing?” I struggled against him, panic rising in my chest.
“You don’t walk out on me,” he said through gritted teeth, his grip like iron. “You don’t embarrass me like that and think there are no consequences.”
He yanked the door open and shoved me outside, the cool night air hitting me like a slap.
“Damien, stop! This is insane!” I yelled, pounding on the door as he slammed it shut.
The lock clicked into place, the sound final and unyielding.
“Damien!” I shouted, my voice cracking. “Open the door! You can’t do this!”
I pounded harder, my fists aching with the effort. “Damien, please! Let me in!”
Still, nothing.
I stood there on the porch, shivering uncontrollably as the night’s cold air wrapped around me like a merciless embrace. My thin dress did little to protect me, and my bare arms were already numb. Damien had locked me out, his actions final and unyielding. For a moment, I told myself he’d open the door. Maybe he was just making a point–another cruel game to remind me of his control.
But the minutes dragged on, and the realization hit me hard: he wasn’t going to let me back in.
2/3
19:38 Mon, 17 Feb
Chapter 16
4.勿 32%醬
11
The wind picked up, biting at my skin. My teeth chattered, and I wrapped my arms tightly around myself, trying to stave off the cold. My legs were trembling, but I stayed standing, unwilling to show any sign of weakness, even though he couldn’t see
- me.
“This is insane,” I muttered under my breath, pacing back to the door. I raised my fist and knocked again, harder this time.
“Damien!” I yelled, my voice cracking from the strain. “You’ve made your point, okay? Let me in!”
Silence.
The cold seeped deeper into my bones, and I pounded on the door again, harder. My breaths came out in short, white puffs as the night pressed in around me.
“Damien! Please!” I screamed, slamming my fist against the wood. “I’m freezing out here!”
My knees wobbled as I leaned against the door for support. The warmth inside the house felt like a cruel taunt. I could almost picture him sitting inside, completely unbothered, maybe even enjoying the thought of me out here, suffering.
“Damn you!” I shouted, my voice hoarse now. “You’re a monster! You know that?”
I pushed myself away from the door, pacing the small porch as my body shook violently. I felt dizzy, disoriented. My head pounded, and my breath caught in my throat as the cold began to overwhelm me. My legs felt like jelly, but I forced myself back to the door, banging on it again.
“Damien…” My voice broke into a sob. “You can’t do this. Please…”
I knocked weakly, my strength fading. My vision blurred, the edges darkening as the cold overtook me. My knees buckled, and I fell against the door, sliding down to the ground.
