Chapter 57

• Damien's thoughts drifted back to a night not long ago, when he and Esther had been sitting on the couch, planning their future. They had discussed everything from their wedding to their dream home and even the idea of starting a family. But somewhere amidst those conversations, he had felt a gnawing doubt deep within him. It was a fear he hadn’t shared with anyone—the fear that he might be idealizing a life he hadn’t fully embraced. Even in his dreams of a future with Esther, he would sometimes envision Charlotte’s smile, her laughter cutting through the fabric of his everyday life.
• He shook his head again, trying to dispel the uneasiness. He’d made his choice; he was committed now. Esther was everything he had wanted in a partner—supportive, loving, and ambitious. But something lingering, something unshakeable, caused him to rethink his emotional boundaries. Should he have reached out to Charlotte differently? Or was he just setting himself up for trouble?
• After a moment, Damien returned to his work, attempting to focus on spreadsheets and emails that stretched across his screen. Eventually, work commands took over, and he found his mind drifting to other things—the upcoming plans with Esther and the details they still had to finalize for their wedding. But the nagging emotions didn’t fully fade; they were shadows lurking in the corners of his mind, ready to come back whenever he least expected it.