Chapter 160: Sanctuary in the Storm-1
“Looks like I’m moving back here then,”
The words echoed just enough to pull every eye in the room toward Damien.
Dahlia’s brows lifted, delight flickering across her features. Dominic made a strangled sound -half-cough, half-shock. Charles sputtered, blinking like he’d misheard entirely. And Eleanor simply smiled-warm, victorious-as if she’d been waiting for him to reach this conclusion on
his own.
Jaime tried his best not to laugh, watching the Damien Blackwood behave like a lovestruck teenager over his sister.
Maya’s pulse scattered. Heat crept up her neck, embarrassment and nerves tangling together at the sudden, unexpected declaration spoken in front of his entire family.
Damien looked around at the stunned faces.
“…What?”
Dominic cleared his throat, stiffening in his seat. “Ehem… oh-nothing. It’s just-”
Dahlia cut in smoothly, eyes soft with amusement. “We just didn’t expect to hear that from you, son.”
Charles threw his head back with a booming laugh. “Ha! For years we’ve been trying to convince you to move back in and you always say no. The possibility of Blackwood Enterprises’ stock dropping is easier to believe than this news! This is a good day indeed!”
Damien exhaled sharply, then glanced back at Maya-just long enough for his ears to turn faintly red. He cleared his throat, trying for nonchalance and failing miserably.
“It’s only temporary,” he said. “I’m only moving back because Maya is staying here.”
Charles slapped the table with a booming laugh, loud enough to make Alfred jump in the hallway.
“Ahh! A true Blackwood man!” he crowed, eyes sparkling with wicked pride. “Dramatic, reckless, and led around by his heart!”
He jabbed a finger at Damien, shaking his head in exaggerated disappointment. “Stubborn until the very end-and then suddenly decisive the moment it involves the woman he cares about. Just like your father with your mother. That, my boy, is the Blackwood way!”
Chapter 160 Sanctuary in the Storm-1
+25 Points
Dominic groaned, covering his face with one hand. “For the love of-please don’t make that a
motto.”
Dahlia elbowed him lightly, biting back a smile. Dominic muttered under his breath, “God help
us all…”
Maya’s cheeks warmed, her heartbeat skittering at the unexpected attention.
Damien cleared his throat, jaw tightening just a fraction-caught between embarrassment and something far more earnest.
The room seemed to exhale after Damien’s bold declaration, the last threads of tension loosening in the air.
The earlier heaviness-Volkov, danger, strategy-didn’t disappear, but it shifted to the background, distant enough for a moment of warmth to seep back in.
Almost normal.
Almost.
Maya felt it beneath the laughter and teasing-the quiet current of worry running through every decision they’d made tonight. The way the Blackwoods moved around each other, unspoken unity woven into every glance. Protective. Fiercely so.
Her
eyes drifted over the family-Dominic rubbing the bridge of his nose in mock exasperation, Dahlia still smothering a smile, Charles beaming like this was the happiest twist of fate he’d ever witnessed. Even Eleanor was soft with triumph.
Warmth and belonging-things Maya never imagined she’d find here.
She didn’t realize her gaze had turned until it collided with Damien’s.
He wasn’t laughing.
He wasn’t distracted.
He was watching her.
Not the teasing heat from earlier-it smoldered, undeniably-but steadier, grounding. A silent question in the slight tilt of his head, as if asking whether she was overwhelmed, scared, or simply taking it all in.
And just like that, with that tiny gesture, it hit her: He sees me. He really sees me.
Her breath caught, her pulse fluttering.
Chapter 160 Sanctuary in the Storm-11
A faint smirk curved his lips-slow, knowing, full of promise.
+25 Points
“It’s getting late,” Damien said at last, voice smooth but carrying weight. “And we need to start planning logistics for Jaime’s transfer first thing in the morning. We should call it a night.”
He didn’t look away from her. Not once.
Around them, the family shifted, nodding in agreement.
“I couldn’t agree more,” Eleanor murmured, her approval soft but absolute.
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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.