Page 24 of My Ruthless Husband

The man of my dreams.

My smile falters as Damian checks his watch, frowning. He starts striding away, his long legs eating up the distance. Panic surges through my veins like ice water, jolting me out of my stunned paralysis. My brain snaps back into gear, and I spring into action, my feet seemingly moving of their own accord. I dash after him.

“Ms. Gibson!”

Concerned voices call out my name, but they’re distant, muffled by the thundering of my heart.

My bun disintegrates as I run, dark curls tumbling down my shoulders and back like a wild waterfall.

I take a sharp left, hot on Damian’s heels. I refrain from calling out his name out loud. I don’t want to draw unnecessary attention, and the mere thought of speaking aloud sends my anxiety spiraling.

I collide with strangers in my haste, but I don’t stop. This is my one chance, my only opportunity to reconnect with him.

I have no idea what I will say to him. There’s a possibility he might not even remember me. But I know deep down that if I lose this chance, I would regret it forever.

He is easy to spot with his tall frame and broad back.

“Ms. Gibson, River!” Derek’s voice rings out but I’m too focused on catching up to Damian.

I pump my arms faster, my feet pounding the floor in a frantic bid to reach him.

He suddenly stops dead in his tracks. And I’m moving too fast to react, and I crash into his broad back.

He almost trips but steadies himself and twists his body toward me, fiercely scowling.

The moment his other-worldly night eyes meet mine, I lose my footing. I’m a breath away from dissolving into a helpless, needy mess at his feet. But before I can embarrass myself, Damian’s strong arm folds around me, steadying me. He reaches up, his fingers grazing my skin as he tucks a stray curl behind my ear. The gentle touch sends shivers down my spine.

I melt into his chest. My gaze frantically sweeps over his features, drinking in every detail.

Two years, six months, and three days—the exact measure of time since our paths last crossed. But as I search his face, my heart sinks. His expression remains impassive, devoid of even a flicker of recognition.

A crack forms in the fragile dam holding back my emotions. “Hi,” I whisper, my voice trembling as a lone tear escapes, rolling down my cheek. The truth hits me. He doesn’t remember me. The lack of recognition in his eyes is a painful reminder that, to him, I’m nothing more than a stranger.

I’m being silly. Why would he remember me? We were strangers, and that awkward kiss was just a fleeting moment in his life. I was just a timid eighteen-year-old, and he was... well, he was Damian.

The sound of a guard calling out “Ms. Gibson” makes me tremble even harder. I don’t know why I’m being so emotional.

Damian’s gaze sweeps over my shoulder before locking onto mine. I stare up at him, my eyes misty, as he pulls me into thewaiting elevator. In my peripheral vision, I notice two guards attempting to follow us, but the doors slide shut, sealing us inside.

As Damian turns to face me, my legs wobble again. His arms envelop me, holding me upright. “Are you all right?”

I stare up at him, wide-eyed and unresponsive. He grips my chin, his fingers warm against my skin, and says, “River?”

A big smile spreads across my face as I stare up at him. My fingers close around his hand, still cradling my chin, and I give it a gentle squeeze. My heart dances in my chest as I whisper, “You remember me.”

Chapter Seven

Present

Ibite my lip, fighting tears, as the pain I’d tried to escape comes flooding back. Memories of our past haunt me, and I realize that chasing Damian had been a painful mistake from the start.

The day I ran after him, I unwittingly sealed my fate. I was blindly pursuing a dream, never realizing it would become my worst nightmare. I once thanked the universe for giving me a happy ending, but now I'm left shattered, wondering how something that felt so right could be the beginning of such unbearable pain.

The massive sleek black gates of the mansion slowly slide open and the driver navigates forward in the driveway. My heart sinks to the pit of my stomach as the palm trees lining the driveway comes to view.

I dare not glance to my right, toward Damian. Since he forcibly ushered me into his car, he’s been giving me the cold shoulder.

In the dimly lit back seat, the glow of his phone screen casts a light on his face as he types away, ignoring me. I’d tried to speak to him, to ask the questions swirling in my mind, but he’d remained silent, treating me like a ghost. Defeated, I’d turned my attention to the window, watching the city blur by.

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