Chapter 77

• The first time Damien saw Vesper standing at Elara’s side, his protective stance, his unyielding gaze, he had felt a surge of anger and confusion. He couldn’t deny that the man was powerful—there was an aura about him that made everything around him seem to fade into the background. But it wasn’t just power that bothered Damien. It was the way Elara looked at him, the way she seemed to be drawn to him with an intensity Damien had never seen before.
• And that, Damien couldn’t tolerate.
• He had tried to move on. He had buried himself in his work, surrounded himself with distractions, anything to avoid the ache in his chest. But it was impossible. Elara was everywhere. Every corner of his life was marked by her absence, and he couldn’t let her go without a fight.