Chapter 149 Between Waves-2
light.
“You okay?”
Clam
She nodded, though the knot in her chest said otherwise. “Yeah… I’m going to miss this calm. Not quite ready to face real life yet.”
A low chuckle escaped him, rough and genuine. “Real life can wait another day,” he murmured, leaning closer. Then, with a quiet, almost conspiratorial smile, he added, “Maybe two… so, why don’t you come home with me tonight, hmm?”
Maya laughed softly, shaking her head. “I’m sorry… I can’t. I need to be with Jaime. You know… help him process what he’s about to find out.”
Damien brushed a gentle kiss across her cheek, his lips lingering for just a heartbeat. “I
understand, love,” he murmured, his voice tender and steady.
For a moment, they simply stood there, letting the sea breeze wrap around them, the quiet hum of the yacht beneath their feet a soft reminder that the world outside could wait.
His hand found the small of her back as they stepped off the deck, guiding her toward the ramp. The gesture was simple, almost instinctive-but grounding in a way that made her heart steady
again.
Behind them, Ashcroft finally emerged. His shirt hung untucked, sleeves rolled to the elbow, hair tousled by the wind. He looked like hell-like a man who’d spent the last two hours wrestling ghosts he couldn’t outdrink. The glass dangled loosely from his fingers, nearly empty, his knuckles pale against the rim. The sharp, calculating edge in his eyes was gone, dulled now by exhaustion- and something heavier. Regret, maybe. Or heartache.
When the yacht finally docked, three black SUVS waited at the pier, polished and precise beneath the late-afternoon sun. One was Ashcroft’s, his driver already standing by the open door.
Without a word, he grabbed his jacket from a chair, slipped on his sunglasses, and muttered, ” Dinner. I’ll come by later.” Then he descended the ramp, footsteps heavy against the metal.
He didn’t look back.
Maya caught the flicker of something in Damien’s expression-amusement, maybe, or recognition.
Either way, it said he saw it all.
Damien’s gaze followed him, jaw tightening ever so slightly. “He’ll be fine,” he murmured, voice low and unreadable, carrying both patience and a hint of quiet exasperation.
Maya’s eyes lingered on Ashcroft’s retreating form, a flicker of worry passing through her before
she felt Damien’s hand at the small of her back again-a silent let him be.
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Chapter 149 Between Waves-2
Claim
They didn’t linger. Damien, Maya, and Dahlia headed straight to the waiting SUV while James and Lee stayed behind to oversee the crew and the rest of the unloading.
The transition from sea to shore felt almost jarring, the soft sway of the yacht giving way to the steady hum of the SUVS as they headed toward home.
Before they docked, Maya had already called Jaime-her voice bright, her words spilling in quick bursts as she gave him a rundown of everything that had happened: the island, the revelations, the dinner that awaited them. She kept the heavier truths quiet, offering just enough for him to understand without worry. Monroe had arranged to bring him to the manor, and, as expected, Ms. Janice had insisted on staying behind to “keep things from falling apart.”
The drive to the manor took just under an hour. The world outside the tinted windows shifted from the gleam of the harbor to rolling stretches of emerald fields and narrow roads lined with whispering pines. The golden light of dusk poured across the horizon, painting everything in warm, honeyed tones.
By the time they turned onto the long, cobblestone drive of the Blackwood estate, the day was folding into twilight. The manor rose from the mist like something out of memory-grand, timeless, and glowing softly beneath the lanterns that lined the courtyard.
Even as the manor rose before them, glowing and familiar, Maya couldn’t shake the feeling that the
calm was only temporary.
It felt like homecoming and reckoning all at once.
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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.