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Chapter 96: Between Fear and Faith-2
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Maya’s voice trembled. “I… I was so mad. The way he insulted me-it ignited something inside me. I felt offended, hurt. He made me out to be some cheap… gold digger, like my pride didn’t matter. Like everything I’ve worked for… who I am… didn’t mean a thing. I couldn’t just let it slide.”
Harper nodded. “Exactly, Maya. Same with that doctor. You chose to be polite even when he crossed the line. Look what happened? He took advantage of it and hurt you. Kindness isn’t wrong-it’s never wrong-but you have to know how to set boundaries. Draw a line, put your foot down-make it clear there are consequences for crossing it. Not everyone in this world will be kind. If you let them push you around, they will. People only treat you the way you allow them to.”
Her gaze sharpened, voice low and unwavering. “So if Damien really did something to that doctor, like Miller implied… so what? He did it because he hurt you. Are you going to hate him for protecting you? Push him away because he decided to make that bastard pay? Why? Do you feel sorry for him?”
Maya blinked, chest tightening, pulse racing. Harper wasn’t asking-she was challenging her. Making her confront the reality that her anger, her hurt, didn’t have to make her doubt
Damien.
Her knees went weak. She sank into the sand, the cold grit grounding her. Her chest heaved, breaths shallow as adrenaline slowly drained, leaving a heavy ache behind.
Her mind spun-fear, relief, anger, confusion-all tangled together. Harper’s words echoed, sharp and unwavering: He did it because he hurt me… not because he’s cruel… not because he enjoys it…
“I… I…” she whispered. “I don’t even know what to feel right now. Relief? Fear? Gratitude? I… I’m too overwhelmed.”
Harper crouched beside her, resting a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “It’s okay to feel that way. You’ve been through a storm in minutes that would take most people days to process. Let it out. Breathe. You don’t have to have it all figured out.”
Maya’s eyes glistened with unspilled tears. “I… I just keep thinking about what Ethan said… about Damien. Blood on his hands, shadows at his back… I don’t know what that means. I don’t know what he’s done… or what he’s capable of.”
Harper glanced around, then leaned closer, whispering like a secret. “You’ve heard the stories about Nicholas Ashcroft, right? Sole heir to the Ashcroft fortune? Certified playboy, owns it
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all. But here’s the thing-not once has he officially taken over the corporate side. Not like Damien. That’s still run by his dad… or uncles, or some cousins.”
Maya blinked. “So… what does he do then?”
Harper arched a brow. “Another role. Behind the scenes.”
“What kind of role?”
She smirked, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “Let’s just say… they call him the Prince of the Underworld.”
Maya froze.
Harper nodded slowly. “Yeah. He gets things done clean-but not by the book. Big-shot mafia vibes. Rumors are loud, nothing confirmed.”
“Prince?” Maya repeated, barely audible.
Harper’s eyes glinted. “Mhm. And if there’s a prince… there’s got to be a king, right?”
Maya’s heart thudded. “His father?”
Harper shook her head. “Nope. People agree it might be… Mr. Blackwood.”
Maya inhaled sharply. “Damien?”
Harper shrugged. “Who knows? Even if it is-so what? You think the man who makes your knees weak is just a pretty face in a suit? He’s got that dangerous edge. You noticed it too.”
Leaning closer, Harper’s voice dropped, heavy with intent. “Didn’t he tell you his world is dangerous? He wasn’t lying. That wasn’t poetry-it was a warning wrapped in romance. And Miller’s words… they only confirmed it.”
Maya swallowed hard. Pulse skipping.
Harper’s gaze sharpened. “All that control, that quiet dominance, that intensity-it doesn’t come from spreadsheets or marketing decks. That man’s been forged in something far fiercer than boardrooms. And he doesn’t let just anyone in… yet he let you.”
Maya’s voice was barely a whisper. “But… if he’s really part of that world… what does that make me? What does that mean for us?”
Her brows drew together, heat chased by cold fear. “I’m not built for violence, Harper. I’m not ruthless. I don’t even know how to pretend to be that kind of woman. What if I’m not strong enough to handle it-handle him?”
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Harper leaned in, serious. “Let me ask you something.”
Maya looked up.
“If someone did something to Jamie-really hurt him-if his life was on the line… what would you do?” Her eyes locked on Maya’s, “What extremes could you go to, to protect him?”
Maya blinked, caught off guard. “I… I don’t know.”
“You do,” Harper said softly. “You just haven’t been pushed that far yet. But if someone came after your brother? You’d burn the world down.”
Maya’s eyes darkened slightly, voice barely a whisper. “Hypothetically… yes. I’d do anything for Jamie.”
She paused, then looked Harper dead in the eye. “I’d probably kill anyone who threatened his
life.”
Harper gave a slow, approving nod. “See? That fierce version of you is there. Just waiting for the right reason to come out.”
Her tone softened, grave. “So… hypothetically, if Damien does have a part in that ‘dangerous world’..”
She held Maya’s gaze. “If he’s not hurting or killing for thrill-if he’s protecting the people he loves, keeping you and Jamie safe… I’d stand beside him. I’d want to understand. But I’d still choose him.”
She placed her hand over Maya’s. “Love like that? Rare. If he’s willing to fight the world for you… maybe it’s time you show him you’ll fight back.”
Maya closed her eyes, letting the waves and Harper’s presence steady her. Fear didn’t have to dictate her choices. She could feel everything-the danger, the love, the adrenaline-and still
choose.
And she chose Damien.
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Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.