Page 75 of My Ruthless Husband

Before I can take another step, a hostess approaches. “Welcome. Do you have a reservation?” she inquires, her tone laced with a hint of skepticism as she stares at my disheveled appearance.

My head swims, and I can hardly find the strength to speak. I shake my head weakly, my vision blurring, on the verge of fainting.

“Ma’am?” she prompts and I glance at her.

“I’m afraid we can’t squeeze you in. We’re packed as you can see.” She motions toward the tables.

I lick my dry lips as I gaze around. I spot an empty table and open my mouth to tell her when I see him.

Damian.

I must’ve swayed because an alarmed “Ma’am?” pierces the air, drawing eyes over to us. Among them a pair of eyes belongsto the love of my life who is currently occupying a center table with the beautiful Gianna as his date.

Chapter Twenty

Our gazes collide. If he is surprised by my presence, he doesn’t show it. Damian’s eyes are trained on me as his lips move. Hal who was standing in the background, immediately bends to listen to his boss then begins striding in my direction.

Following Damian’s line of sight, Gianna looks in my direction. I can’t help but notice her beautiful dress and his powerful suit. They are dressed up, which further shows this is anything but a casual dinner.

“Sorry but you’ll have to leave.” The hostess informs. “As I said we are busy and you don’t have a reservation—”

Hal stops beside me in that instant, his hard gaze firmly fixed on the hostess. “Leave,” he says in a curt voice and her cheeks flush. She mumbles an apology and hastily departs.

My knees tremble and I stagger. Hal’s arms come around me. My fingers bunch in the sleeves of his black suit jacket as I hold on for dear life.

“You shouldn’t be here, ma’am.” His strong hand finds my trembling shoulders, but I can’t bring myself to move.

“Damian,” I whisper, the name escaping my lips almost involuntarily.

Hal’s eyes soften. “You look deathly pale. I’ll take you to the hotel where the boss is staying.”

Without waiting for my response, Hal starts hauling me along with him toward the doors. As we start to move away from Damian, my tired mind races. I steal a glance back at him. He’s still in his chair, his attention fully devoted to the model beside him. He hasn’t moved an inch to check on me.

The pain pierces my heart. Damian, whom I loved with all my lonely heart, seems untroubled by my presence here. The ache in my chest deepens, the betrayal almost too much to bear.

I feel sick. And so stupid. I just made a fool out of myself for the man who doesn’t even care about me. And I’m just letting his bodyguard lead me back to his hotel as if I belong to him.

A fierce determination wells up within me. If this love is killing me, I’ll end it in the most brutal way possible. I have to confront him, lay it all bare, and see for myself what I truly mean to him. Which is nothing, evidently. This is my punishment. I deserve to be punished after all the foolish things I’ve done. I know that now. But he can’t have both ways. He can’t continue to be my friend, talk to me daily, and then treat me like a stranger in front of his conquest.

Damian is like a slow poison that I can’t stop devouring even when I know it can end me.

It’s all my fault. Every bit of it. I was that awkward, motherless child who always felt like she didn’t belong, always invisible to everyone. I lived in the shadows, with a voice that often went unheard. All I ever wanted was someone to see me, to care even a little. So, when the first man looked my way, when he gave me that small, fragile bit of attention, my heart—starved for love—clung to him. I fell, completely and utterly, for the man I thought understood the ache of loneliness as deeply as I did.

But I was wrong. He doesn’t love me. Not even as a friend. His cold behavior tonight made it clear. A lone, heart-wrenching sob escapes me.

“Ma’am,” Hal tries to console me awkwardly.

With a trembling voice, I tell Hal, “I’m okay.” My words are a lie, but I can’t let this moment of weakness consume me.

I turn toward the table where Damian sits. Hal’s hand closes around my elbow as I take a step forward.

“It’s not what it looks like.” When I just stare at him, he sighs. “Come with me, boss will explain everything later.”

“He can do it now.”

Hal doesn’t stop me when I pull my arm away. Surprisingly, he doesn’t stop me as I start toward their table. When I reach the destination, Gianna is the first one to look up at me.

“Damian…” I croak, hating the pain in my voice.

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