Chapter Three

I sat beside my fathers bed. The room smelled like medicine and worry. He looked weaker than I had ever seen him but his eyes were still sharp.

“Lila” he said. His voice came out rough and tired.

“I am here Dad.”

He stared at me for a long moment. “The divorce. Is it really done?”

“Yes. It is done.”

He closed his eyes for a second. When he opened them again something like regret showed on his face. “Good. You suffered enough. I pushed you into that marriage. I thought it would fix things between the families. I was wrong.”

His words surprised me. My father almost never admitted mistakes. I squeezed his hand gently. “Just rest. We can talk more when you feel stronger.”

He nodded slowly. “Victoria. She still loves him. Be careful daughter. Do not let history repeat itself.”

Those words stayed heavy in my chest as I left the room. When I walked back into the waiting area Damien was alone. Sophia had gone to get coffee. Victoria was nowhere in sight.

Damien came straight to me. “How is he?”

“He spoke to me. He is weak but okay.”

Damien nodded. He looked tired. His hair was messy and his shirt was wrinkled. “Lila. About what I said earlier today. I was angry.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “You have been angry for nine years Damien. Why does it matter now?”

He stepped closer. “Because you are really leaving. You packed your things. You took the papers. And suddenly I cannot breathe when I think about coming home to an empty house.”

My chest tightened. “Do not do this. Do not say things you do not mean. I spent nine years waiting for you to see me. You never did. Now that I am done waiting you suddenly want to look?”

He reached out and touched my arm. His hand felt warm against my skin. “I saw you. I just did not want to admit it. Victoria was easy. Familiar. You were the mistake I was forced to live with.”

The words hurt but I refused to cry. “And now?”

“Now I watch you walk away and it feels wrong” he said quietly. “You were always there. With Liam. In my house. In my life. I got used to it. I did not know how much I needed it until it was gone.”

I pulled my arm away. “I am not coming back Damien. I am tired of being the second choice. I am tired of sleeping in a bed where you wished another woman was lying next to me.”

His grey eyes locked on mine. For the first time I saw real pain in them. “What if I do not want you to be second anymore?”

My heart raced. I hated how my body still reacted to him. Before I could answer Victoria walked back in. She stopped when she saw us standing so close. Her face changed.

“Damien” she said. “The doctor wants to speak with the family.”

He did not move right away. He kept looking at me. “We are not finished talking Lila.”

I turned away and walked toward Sophia who had just returned with coffee. My hands shook when I took the cup.

Sophia whispered “He is trying to pull you back in. Do not let him. You deserve better.”

I knew she was right. But as I sat down and felt Damiens eyes still on me from across the room I realized something scary.

My heart was not done with him yet. Even after everything. Even after I promised myself I was finished.

And that might be the most dangerous thing of all.