Chapter 103: Haunted Choices-1
Maya exhaled shakily, letting the words settle in her bones. But the silence that followed was heavy, pressing in from all sides. Damien’s shoulders rose and fell, each breath jagged, as if the memories clawing at him refused to stay buried.
He exhaled again, a harsher, broken sound.
“Grief. Anger. Guilt.” His jaw tightened, voice dropping into a low growl. “For two years, those three consumed me. They dragged me into the darkest parts of myself.”
His eyes hardened, distant-haunted. “I made it my mission to hunt them all. Every last one. To make them feel what they did to her-tenfold, a hundredfold. I was uncontrollable. I would’ve killed anyone who stood in my way. It was as if I’d turned off my humanity. Nothing mattered. Not innocence. Not collateral damage. All I saw was blood. All I craved was vengeance.”
Maya’s chest tightened, aching at the confession.
Then his gaze shifted to Ashcroft, his voice dropping, edged with steel. “Nick was the one who pulled me back. He promised to help me find the ones responsible-and we did, one by one.” His tone turned lethal. “And when we finally reached the head of it all… I delivered him to Viktor myself.”
He paused, the weight of his words thick in the air. “Viktor exacted his justice-ruthless, final. He slaughtered everyone tied to that man, innocent or not. If a drop of the enemy’s blood ran in their veins, he killed them. In front of him. He spared no one… before killing the enemy
himself.”
His jaw flexed, something darker flickering in his eyes. “Nick and I were there. We witnessed everything. He said it was for Cassandra-that we needed to see it with our own eyes, to understand what vengeance really is.”
Damien’s lips curved in a bitter, hollow smile. “That was the moment he began to trust me again… but only under one condition.”
Maya’s heart squeezed, her breath trembling. “Wh… what condition?”
Damien’s eyes flickered with something raw, almost wounded. “That I would never fall in love. That in the eyes of the world, Cassandra would remain my one and only love-the love I lost.”
Maya’s lungs stalled mid-draw, shock flashing through her. “Wh-what? Did you-did you agree to that?”
772
Chapter 103. Haunted Chow-T
Claim
His shoulders lowered, tension bleeding out like surrender. “At the time… yes. To keep the peace. To keep the families from tearing each other apart. But the truth?” His jaw locked, voice dropping low and rough. “I was drowning in anger, in guilt-so much that I twisted it into something else. I told myself I was doing it for Cassandra, that it was the right thing. That carrying the weight meant something. That maybe… I loved her. But it wasn’t love. It was a lie I clung to. A blur of grief and rage that made me lose sight of reality-and fed me fantasy instead.”
A shadow cut across his gaze, dark and unyielding. “I convinced myself I wasn’t built for love. That it was nothing more than an empty word-one I’d never speak, never feel. Anyone who dared to love me was damned the moment they did. That’s why it was easy to agree… because I never believed in it. If I failed to give Cassandra the love she wanted, then it only proved I was incapable of giving it to anyone else.”
He let out a slow, measured breath. “Since then, Viktor and I have kept it civil. We don’t cross paths. He stays in his lane, I stay in mine.”
Then his eyes shifted to hers-softened, yet piercing, as if seeing straight into her soul. Every unspoken word trembled on the edge of his gaze. “Until…”
Maya’s breath hitched, her chest tightening as understanding blossomed like wildfire. “…Until you met me.”
He held her gaze, unflinching, his voice dropping low-soft, yet heavy with undeniable truth. Yes… until I met you. Until I fell completely in love with you.”
”
Comments
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.