Chapter 59
སཾ ཊཱི, 42%,–
+5
DAMIEN
The bitter taste of lukewarm coffee clung to my tongue as I stared at the mug in my hand. For the fifth time in as many minutes, I debated tossing the damn thing into the trash. It wasn’t like I was drinking it anymore. It sat in front of me, forgotten as my thoughts spiraled. My office, usually a place of control and order, felt stifling today. The air was heavy, the papers on my desk were piling up, and my patience was thinner than I cared to admit.
A sharp knock at the door broke my concentration. Without waiting for a response, the door creaked open, and in walked Elijah, one of my oldest friends. His suit was immaculate as always, and the easy smirk on his face told me he was in no rush to leave.
“Busy?” he asked, already crossing the room to drop into the chair across from my desk.
“Not too busy to deal with you,” I replied dryly, leaning back in my chair.
“Good,” he said, ignoring my tone. “Because I’m here to break up whatever pity party you’re throwing for yourself.”
I shot him a glare, but he only laughed, leaning back in his chair with a smug grin. “What do you want, Elijah?”
He shrugged. “Just checking in. I’ve been hearing all kinds of interesting things about you lately, and I thought it might be best to get the story straight from the source.”
I knew what he was referring to before he even said it. The video, the pictures, the scandal. It felt like the whole world had seen the cracks in my marriage, and the internet wasn’t about to let me forget it.
“I’m sure you’ve already heard enough,” I muttered, pushing the mug of coffee aside.
“Oh, I’ve heard plenty,” he admitted, his smirk fading into something more serious. “But I want to hear it from you. What the hell is going on, Damien? One minute you’re the golden boy, and the next, you’re splashed across every gossip site like some reality TV drama. Embarrassing video? Drunken pictures of your wife? It’s messy, man.”
I rubbed a hand over my face, the weight of it all pressing down on me. “It’s a long story,” I said, my voice low. “Longer than you’ve got time for.”
Elijah gave me a pointed look. “I’ve got all the time in the world. Spill.”
I sighed, leaning forward to rest my elbows on the desk. “Someone’s been leaking really bad photos and videos of me and Rosalie. First her drunken photos were leaked to the internet and then a stupid video of me and my former PA surfaces the internet again. I don’t know who is behind all these, but I’m going to find out. That’s all I can focus on right now.”
“Someone?” he echoed, raising an eyebrow. “You don’t know who?”
“If I did, do you think I’d be sitting here talking to you? They’d already regret it,” I snapped, the frustration in my tone sharper than I intended.
Elijah held up his hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright. Don’t bite my head off. But seriously, Damien, this is bad. It’s not just about you–Rosalie’s dragged into this, too. How’s she holding up?”
The question hit harder than I expected. I leaned back in my chair, exhaling slowly. “She’s…not herself. She’s like a shadow of the woman I married. Quiet, distant, barely eats or sleeps. I don’t blame her. After everything that’s happened, how could
she not be?”
Elijah frowned, his usually sharp demeanor softening. “And your marriage? How’s that holding up?”
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Chapter 59
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“It’s not,” I admitted, the words heavy on my tongue. “It’s falling apart. Every day feels like we’re drifting further away from each other, and I don’t know how to fix it. I don’t even know if she wants me to.”
He let out a low whistle, shaking his head. “Man, that’s rough. But let me ask you something. Do you want to fix it?”
“Of course I do,” 1 said immediately. “I love her. I didn’t marry her just to let it all go to hell because of some…some leech trying to stir up drama. But it’s not just about what I want, Elijah. She has to want it too.”
“Well, what are you doing to show her that you’re still in this?” he asked, leaning forward, his tone sharper now. “Because from the outside, it looks like you’re spending more time putting out fires than actually fighting for your marriage.”
“You think I don’t know that?” I shot back, the anger flaring up before I could stop it. “I’m doing everything I can, but it’s n enough. Every time I try to talk to her, it’s like I’m talking to a wall. She doesn’t trust me anymore, and after everything that’s happened, I can’t even blame her.”
“Then earn her trust back,” he said simply.
I stared at him, my jaw tightening. “You make it sound so easy.”
“It’s not easy,” he admitted. “But it’s not supposed to be. Look, Damien, I get it. You’ve got a million things on your plate- business deals, this scandal, God knows what else. But none of that matters if you lose your wife. If you want her back, you have to fight for her. Not just with words, but with actions. Show her that she’s your priority.”
I ran a hand through my hair, the weight of his words settling heavily in my chest. “I don’t even know where to start.”
“Start by being honest with her,” he said. “About everything. No more secrets, no more half–truths. Lay it all out there, even if it’s ugly. She deserves that much, doesn’t she?”
“Of course she does,” I said quietly, guilt twisting in my gut.
“Then do it,” he urged. “And while you’re at it, figure out who’s behind this mess. Because as long as this person is out there, they’re going to keep coming for you–and for her. You need to shut it down before it gets worse.”
“I’m already working on it,” I said, my voice hardening. “I’ve got people looking into it. When I find out who’s responsible, they’ll wish they’d never even thought about coming after me or my wife.”
“Good,” Elijah said, nodding. “But don’t let your anger blind you, Damien. Focus on the bigger picture. This isn’t just about revenge–it’s about protecting what matters most.”
I looked at him, my frustration simmering just beneath the surface. “And what if I can’t fix this? What if it’s too late?”
“It’s only too late if you give up,” he said firmly. “You married Rosalie for a reason. You saw something in her that was worth loving, worth fighting for. If you’re still that man, then prove it. Show her that you’re not going to let this tear you apart.”
His words hung in the air, heavy with truth. I wanted to believe him, to believe that I could fix this mess I’d made of my life. But doubt lingered, a dark cloud that refused to lift.
Elijah stood, straightening his tie as he looked down at me. “You’ve got a long road ahead, Damien. But if anyone can figure this out, it’s you. Just remember–success in business means nothing if you lose the people you love in the process.”
I nodded, unable to find the words to respond.
As he turned to leave, he paused at the door, glancing back over his shoulder. “And for God’s sake, get yourself a decent cup of coffee. That stuff you’re drinking smells like regret.”
A faint smile tugged at the corner of my mouth despite the heaviness in my chest. “Thanks, Elijah.”
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Chapter 59
“Don’t thank me,” he said with a grin. “Just fix your damn life.”
The door closed behind him, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I leaned back in my chair, staring up at the ceiling as his words echoed in my mind.
He was right. If I wanted to save my marriage, I couldn’t sit back and wait for things to fix themselves. I had to fight for Rosalie, for us. And I had to do it now, before it was too late.
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14:34 Tue, 18 FED
Chapter 60
