Page 154 of In Love with a Cruel Billionaire

Chapter 7

AHAZY AND CHAOTICmix of images periodically ran through Damen’s mind. It was like he was watching a movie, but it was a movie of his life, something he was and wasn’t a part of at the same time.

He was being carried away in a stretcher, his body engulfed in flaming pain.

He was being rushed to the E.R., with close to half a dozen specialists surrounding him, their tones urgent but their words precise.

He could recall himself thrashing in the bed as he went in and out of unconsciousness.

And Mairi...

He always saw Mairi.

He was running after her, but somehow he just couldn’t get close enough to even touch her.

Mairi, Mairi,he would shout frantically at her.Come back. Don’t leave.

But she never stopped, never said anything, and never even looked back as she kept running until she disappeared from his sight...and his life.

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DAMEN. DAMEN. DAMEN!

Why wouldn’t he listen to her? Why wouldn’t he look at her? Why wouldn’t he come back? Didn’t he know she needed him? That she was about to drown and only he could save her?

But he remained where he stood, gazing down at her, standing atop an imposing cliff, a cold unflinching mask on his beautiful face.

Damen,Mairi sobbed.Help me, Damen. Help me.

He opened his mouth.

And suddenly, the ocean that was trying to swallow her disappeared, leaving Mairi falling in the darkness of her guilt as Damen’s accusing words tried to eat her alive.

You were the one who left me.

You were the one who abandoned me.

You were the one who KILLED me.

“Mairi, wake up.”

Aunt Norah’s voice eventually reached Mairi through her nightmares, and she woke up with a gasp, her body bathed in cold sweat. Her voice was panicky and high-pitched as she grabbed her aunt’s hand and told her frantically, “Damen needs me.”

Norah gently unclasped herself from her niece’s clammy hold. “It was just a nightmare,” she soothed. “You’re fine.”

Mairi shook her head. “You don’t understand, Aunt Norah. Damen needs me.”

“You need to calm down. You had a nervous breakdown and you’re still recovering.”

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