I asked him again, sitting on the bed.
"Damon, how did you find out?"
"Why do you want to know?" he asked, sounding more pissed than concerned.
"Because I'm the victim here, and he's after my husband and family," I said, holding my neck collar. Even though I had difficulty speaking, I didn't want to show him. I knew he'd just get more worried.
"On your birthday, Mrs. Williams got a text from an unknown number saying: 'Make Emily cry or I'll kill your daughter Stella.' So she did what she could do and left the party. It was for the best that you suggested not to throw a big party, otherwise it would have been so hard to find out..."
I blinked, trying to absorb everything he said, but none of it was sinking in.
"Tell me everything," I demanded.
He sighed and continued.
"When I was on a business trip, Mrs. Williams called me saying she wanted to discuss something serious. I went to your home after coming back. She showed me that text and told me everything. Only our family and friends were at the party... For an outsider to do such a thing is IMPOSSIBLE," he groaned the last word.
"I sent my men behind every family member to observe them. Ethan's actions were suspicious. Months back, we caught one of my men helping someone against me, but he killed himself before saying anything. That man joined my security after working for Ethan. So I started to follow Ethan personally."
He paused, then continued.
"One day Ethan went to a suspicious place. When he left, I went there and asked them, but they denied everything. So my men and I started killing them one by one until one of that gang opened his mouth. 'He wants us to kill this woman.' He showed me a file about you. But by then it was too late — they had already started their work."
My stomach twisted. In just a few minutes, they started to follow me? I shivered just thinking about the accident.
"He also told me there are two groups working for Ethan, but they never contact each other. If one misses the target, the other group will complete it," Damon said.
My heart sank.
"That means... that black car belonged to one group, and the truck that hit me belonged to the other group?"
"Yes. It took some time to find the other group, so I told you to stay at home. But you wanted to do the opposite of what I say, right?"
I looked at him, guilt spreading across my face.
"But that day, I was saying that I'm going to the airport... but you left without listening to me," I said, turning away.
"Oh, now it's my fault?" he asked.
I was about to say something back, but we got interrupted by Alex knocking on the door.
They talked about something, and Damon came back to me.
"I have a meeting. Clients are here. I'll be back in thirty minutes."
While leaving, he told Alex to take care of me.
Sam came in along with Alex.
"Damon has an office here?" I asked.
"He has offices everywhere — according to his mood and work," Sam replied, making them both laugh.
"I guess I didn't introduce myself properly. Hi, I'm Sam, Damon's friend," he said, extending his hand.
"Yeah, I know you from the party. Mrs. Wilson told me about you three," I replied.
They smiled at each other and then started talking about their high school days, trips, and Sam being a Romeo every week.
"Alex, you're Damon's friend... you don't have any problem being his secretary?" I asked, curious.
"First of all, we don't trust anyone. Being his secretary, I don't have a problem because we want to develop this empire into something the world hasn't seen before. And our intentions are pure."
It was good to hear they were loyal to each other.
A nurse came to give me medication, and I drifted into deep sleep.
Four Months Later
I wore a knee-length red A-line dress for our wedding anniversary. I had been waiting for this day to propose to Damon. I thought about proposing after I fully recovered, and now I could finally walk without a wheelchair or anyone's help.
I finished my makeup and stepped outside to find Damon waiting for me.
He had told me he didn't want a party tonight — just me. Somehow, it felt like he had read my mind because I had planned to propose to him in private.
I linked my arm with his, and we got into the car. The ride was silent — I was hella nervous and couldn't speak a single word.
The car halted in front of a restaurant. Damon led me into a private, spacious room. A single table stood in the center, surrounded by roses and candles.
"This looks so expensive," I whispered.
"Stop worrying about expensive things. Even if I gift you something expensive, you get scared like you don't want it," he said in a low voice.
We sat at the table, and the chef brought my favorite food.
"This is my favorite!" I said with joy.
"I know," he replied simply.
After finishing my meal, Damon stood up.
"Come. I prepared fireworks for you. Let's watch together."
I smiled and gave him my hand. We stood side by side watching the fireworks, and for a moment, I forgot about proposing.
When I finally turned to tell him, he was gone.
I turned around — and my jaw dropped.
Damon was on one knee, holding a ring. Behind him stood our families and friends, holding flowers.
"Emily, will you be my wife till my last breath?"
Tears streamed down my face.
"Yes!" I said, covering my mouth with both hands.
He waited for my hand, but I was too emotional to give it. He stood up, wiped my tears, and asked softly,
"What happened?"
"I was... I was about to propose to you today... but I was scared of being rejected," I admitted.
"I know. I did all sorts of bad things to scare you like this, but I'm sorry. I won't do that in this lifetime," he said.
"No... You're so good to me. I'm not enough for you... I was just scared of losing you," I said through tears.
"I love you, Emily. Once I'm yours, I'm yours. I'll stay loyal and committed to you — only you. Don't be afraid of losing me. I won't leave you. You are the Queen of my heart, Emily Williams. I'll love you till my last breath."
"I LOVE YOU TOO!" I said quickly.
"Can I?" he asked, waiting to put the ring on my finger.
I extended my hand, and he slipped the ring on. Everyone clapped.
"Wait a second," I said, running to my purse. I pulled out a ring I had bought months ago.
"Can I?" I asked, slipping it onto his finger.
"When did you buy this?" he asked.
"Four months ago," I replied with a shy smile.
He didn't reply. Instead, he kissed me with such urgency that I nearly lost my balance.
I heard our families cheering and clapping, shouting "Wooow!"
Damon left my lips only when he was out of breath. He cupped my face in both hands and said softly,
"Emily, just give me some time. I will tell you everything about me. I just need the courage to share it with you."
I nodded.
"Take your time. I won't force you. Tell me whenever you are ready."
I already had an idea from his reaction. He never mentioned any past love until now, but I guessed there was someone he loved in the past.
We bid farewell to everyone and went home. Damon held my hand the entire way and led me upstairs to his room. This was only my second time coming into his room.
He went into the bathroom to take a bath while I looked around. The big frames in the room were still covered with cloth. He had told me he needed time, so it didn't bother me — I knew one day he would tell me everything, even about those frames.
I jumped onto the bed and started scrolling through my social media. Suddenly, I got a video call from Mia.
Me: "Hey!"
Mia: "What am I hearing, girl?!" she asked, more excited than me.
Me: "Yes!" I said, showing her my ring.
Mia: "Awww, I missed it!"
Me: "By the way, who told you first?" I asked, curious, because I wanted to tell her myself. This was supposed to be our moment.
Mia: "Jack sent me a video of Damon proposing to you," she said, shrugging.
Mia: "Wait... where are you?"
Me: "In my house. Why?"
Mia: "That room is not yours... then? Did you shift to his room?" she asked, sounding nosy.
Just then, Damon came out of the bathroom wearing only a towel around his waist, another towel in hand as he dried his hair.
I was busy admiring his body when Mia's voice brought me back.
"Mily?" she said suspiciously.
I quickly cleared my throat.
"Mia... umm... I'll call you back tomorrow, okay? Bye!"
I cut the call immediately. Damon went to the closet and came back wearing a plain T-shirt and night pants.
I realized I still had to take a bath. I went to the door to go to my room, but he asked,
"Where are you going?"
"My clothes are in my room... I need to take a bath," I said.
He smirked.
"I already told Ava to pack your luggage and arrange everything here in the closet."
"Oh... thank you," I said and went straight to the bathroom.
After my bath, I wrapped myself in a towel and came out. Damon was working on his laptop, so I tiptoed to the closet and picked out a T-shirt and night pants.
As I turned to change, I saw Damon standing there.
The intensity in the air grew heavy. I was standing in just a towel, and the way he was looking at me made my body heat up.
He started walking toward me, and I instinctively stepped back. He came closer and brushed his lips against mine, sending shivers down my spine.
I closed my eyes and heard him whisper,
"You know what I'm waiting for, right?"
I opened my eyes, turned my face away shyly, and blushed.
When I looked back at him, he kissed me without warning. I dropped the clothes in my hands as I held onto his shoulders for balance.
He deepened the kiss, his tongue demanding entry, and I let him in.
His hands gripped my waist tightly, and I groaned into his mouth. Slowly, his hands moved down to my butt, pulling me closer to feel his growing arousal.
I was out of breath, but he didn't stop.
He lifted me up by my waist, and I wrapped my legs around his torso. He left my lips only when he was completely out of breath, looking into my eyes with a darker, more intense gaze.
I knew what that look meant — and what was coming next.
Still not breaking eye contact, he carried me to the bed. At some point, the lights went off, leaving the room in darkness.
He kissed and sucked my jaw as he laid me gently on the bed. Then, with one hand, he pulled off his T-shirt, revealing his muscular chest that made my heartbeat quicken.
He removed my towel, and I turned my face to the side, covering myself with my hands.
He traced a slow line from my earlobe to my jaw with his finger, making me shiver. Then he gently took my hands and pinned them above my head with one of his.
Lowering himself, he sucked my left nipple while his other hand cupped my right breast, kneading it softly.
I let out a loud moan.
"Aah..."
He alternated between both breasts, sucking and teasing until I was panting and trembling.
Finally, he released me, leaving my nipples sensitive and throbbing.
He trailed kisses down my stomach until he reached my waist. My hands stayed where he had placed them — above my head.
He parted my legs and, within seconds, removed his pants.
Rubbing his hard length against my clit, he growled,
"I'm going to destroy this."
I shivered when he touched me there.
"Aah... Damon!"
He entered me slowly, taking his time because he knew it had been a long time since I had last been with anyone.
With three hard thrusts, he completely claimed me. I gasped loudly, clutching his shoulders as I tried to breathe.
He started moving inside me, kissing me passionately. I groaned into his mouth, my body arching under his.
He left my lips and kissed down my jaw, sucking as he went.
"Aah... Aah... Oooh, Damon!" I moaned loudly.
He was moving faster now, deeper, hitting every sensitive spot. I scratched his back as my body trembled, and within minutes, I came hard around him.
He groaned.
"F*,"** he hissed through clenched teeth as he spilled inside me.
After what felt like half an hour, we both collapsed on the bed, breathless and exhausted.
He turned me by my waist and hugged me from behind, his body still hot and hard against mine.
"I love you, Emmi," he whispered.
"I love you too," I replied softly.
"That was... awesome," he said, making me blush.
"Thank you for waiting for me," I said, running my hand through his beard.
He kissed me again, and after that, we lost count of how many times we made love that night.