Damon's POV
Dread consumed me as I faced Maya. Her caramel eyes, normally warm and inviting, now resembled storm clouds. Those beautiful eyes that once looked at me with such adoration now held pain and betrayal—pain that I had caused. I was certain this conversation would be our last. My heart felt as though it was physically tearing apart in my chest, bleeding with the anticipation of losing her forever.
I had never been a liar before Maya entered my life. Honesty had always been fundamental to who I was. Yet fear had driven me to conceal truths that should have been shared from the beginning. The cruel irony wasn't lost on me—I had lied to prevent losing her, and those very lies might be what drove her away. The worst part wasn't even the prospect of her leaving; it was knowing I had hurt someone I cherished above all else.
