For the last time, I looked at Noah, who was watching us, and said between sobs,
Emily: "Even though we were married for two days, he didn't touch me like you said."
I turned to Damon, holding his hand tightly.
Emily: "Take… me… out of here."
I sobbed hard, my heart breaking at what Noah had just accused me of. Damon's jaw was tight, his eyes impatient, as though barely holding himself back from tearing the world apart.
We entered the living room, and that's when I saw his eyes clearly — red with rage. He was nowhere near calm, but I had no strength left to talk to him. Leaving him there, I walked to my room, locked the door, and collapsed onto the floor, sobbing.
How had my life turned upside down like this?
How had my family turned out to be my adopted family?
How had the man I loved with all my heart abandoned me and thought of me like… like I'm some whore who could do anything with any man?
I cried for hours until I heard a knock on my door. I glanced around the dark room and realized I hadn't even turned on the lights.
Emily: "Who… who is that?"
Damon (from outside): "It's me… Damon."
I quickly wiped my tears, got up, and unlocked the door. He stood there with food in his hands.
Emily: "I'm not hungry."
Damon: "Who said this is for you?"
He shrugged and entered the room. Switching on the lights, he sat on the bed and started eating as though nothing had happened. I stared at him blankly. Was he for real? Just a few hours ago, he had been a storm of anger, and now… he looked so calm.
He glanced at me, then back at his plate.
Damon: "Do you want some? …Here, come and eat."
He smiled — and it was the first time I had seen him smile at me.
Emily: "No thanks."
I smiled weakly and walked toward the window, staring up at the sky, hoping my grandfather was watching over me.
Then I felt him behind me. His presence was unmistakable — his scent, his warmth — and when I turned, he was holding a glass of juice, offering it to me.
Damon: "At least drink this juice. Or else…"
Emily: "Or else what?"
He stepped closer. I instinctively stepped back. Every time he came near, I found myself retreating — but why?
He leaned close to my ear, his voice low and husky.
Damon: "Or else… you can't even imagine what I can do to drain your remaining energy. Eventually, you'll have to eat something to regain strength — even just to stand on your own feet."
My cheeks burned as I finally understood the double meaning behind his words.
Emily: "You're shameless."
I avoided his piercing gaze.
Damon (smirking): "I can be even more shameless, honey. Do you want to test?"
Oh, God… I swallowed hard, feeling the heat rise to my face. His lips were too close. His shirt, half unbuttoned, exposed a perfectly sculpted chest that made my stomach twist.
I quickly grabbed the glass and poured the juice down my throat to stop myself from thinking such things. But he didn't stop unbuttoning his shirt.
Emily: "Stop it! See, I had the juice… so now, please… uhh… leave."
My eyes betrayed me, wandering over his abs — art carved by the gods. He just stood there, watching me.
Emily: "Damon, don't make—"
But suddenly, I felt heavy. My eyelids fluttered.
Emily: "Dam—"
And then, everything went black.
I woke up to the sound of knocking. My eyes felt heavy, but my body… strangely rested. I stretched, feeling refreshed — then reality hit.
What happened last night? How did I sleep so peacefully?
I turned my head — and froze. Damon was sleeping beside me. My head was on his chest, and my hand was wrapped around him.
And he was just in his boxers.
Panicked, I checked myself — my clothes had been changed. I quickly grabbed the blanket and wrapped myself. Damon stirred, his movements making my heart pound faster.
Emily (thinking): Did he… did he drug me just to sleep with me? He forced me to marry him. He can do anything to get what he wants.
Emily: "Damon…"
I tried to wake him, but instead, he wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me close.
Emily: "Damon, wake up."
He opened his eyes and lazily reached for his pants on the floor. He didn't even look at me as he got dressed. My anger boiled.
Emily: "Damon… who changed my clothes?"
My voice came out more like a whisper. He stayed silent.
Emily (frustrated): "Last night… last night, did you drug me?"
He just kept staring at me, confused.
Emily: "Did we have sex last night?"
He took a step closer.
Damon: "You don't remember anything from last night?"
Emily: "No — that's because you drugged me to sleep with you! How can you do that, Damon? You forced me to marry you and now you did this?"
I clenched my fist and punched his chest. It hurt. His chest felt like a wall of stone, and he didn't even flinch.
He grabbed my hands — just as someone knocked impatiently on the door.
Damon (snapping): "Who the hell is that? Come in!"
The door opened, revealing Jack, Mia, and Stella. Mia quickly covered Stella's eyes when she saw Damon in boxers, and even Jack turned away, embarrassed.
Oh God. This was beyond humiliating.
Damon picked up his clothes and went into the bathroom. As soon as the door shut, they all turned to me, teasing and making faces.
I explained everything to Mia while Damon came out of the bathroom. Stella immediately held his hand and left with him.
Emily (grumbling): "Is she my sister or his?"
Jealousy stabbed me as I watched them leave.
Later, Ava came to call us for breakfast, but Damon and Stella were missing. Ava said they were in the study.
Curious, I walked to the study and froze outside the door when I heard them talking.
Stella: "You left him like that? I should have been there. I would have punched him in the face and kicked his ass!"
Peeking in, I saw Damon feeding her ice cream while laughing.
Damon: "What should I do then? Your sister was a crying mess. I wanted to kill that bastard for talking about Emily like that."
Stella: "I know… but why did you call me last night to come here with Jack and Mia?"
Damon: "Even though I gave her sleeping pills, she'd start everything again in the morning. I needed help, so I called her little treasure."
He patted her head affectionately. Stella smiled at him — and for a moment, I felt a strange warmth in my chest. Maybe he really hadn't done anything last night.
I knocked on the door and entered. Both Damon and Stella looked guilty, like kids caught red-handed.
Emily: "Stella, do you want to make your teeth even worse?"
Damon (muttering): "It's just one ice cream…"
The scene almost felt like a mother scolding a child and a father trying to defend her. It weirdly felt… nice.
Emily: "This time, I'll let it go, but next time, I'm definitely taking you to the dentist."
They nodded, and I told them breakfast was ready.