Chapter 28

• As Charlotte settled into the passenger seat of Damien’s sleek black car, she couldn’t shake the remnants of adrenaline pulsing through her veins. The aftermath of the chaos felt surreal as he closed the door, sliding into the driver’s seat with an ease that belied the turmoil of the evening. She glanced at him, noting the tension in his jaw and the way his fingers tightened around the steering wheel. The air was thick with unspoken words, a heaviness that seemed to settle between them as the engine purred to life.
• Neither of them broke the silence initially. The city lights flickered past them like scattered stars, illuminating the interior of the car in a soft glow. Charlotte stared out the window, her mind racing. The memory of being grabbed, of that moment where fear surged through her and Damien had rushed to her side, replayed in her thoughts. Her heart had raced not just from fear but from the overwhelming gratitude and safety she had felt when he intervened.
• “That was…” Damien began, breaking the silence after what felt like an eternity. His voice was taut, laced with lingering frustration. “I can’t believe my father would do something like that. He thinks he can manipulate the people around me like pieces on a chessboard.”