Chapter 88
Irene’s POV
The ride back to the house felt longer than it should have. I sat in the hackseat with Charlie, watching him sleep with his head resting on my lap. Delores was going to meet us at home later, and she had whispered words of encouragement and support to my ears before we bid ourselves ‘A see you later
Damien was driving, glancing at me in the rearview mirror occasionally, as if trying to reassure me with his eyes. But the knot in my stomach only tightened.
We were going back, but what was I really going back to?
I kept my gaze out the window, watching the trees blur past as my thoughts spun like a whirlwind in my mind. Damien. hadn’t said much after I agreed to come home. He had just hugged me, a tight, desperate hug that almost made me feel like mayler we could fix this. But then, there was Eva, always lurking in the back of my mind like a shadow, she was always there, even when she wasn’t physically present.
She’d been too calm when Damien showed up at the cabin, too understanding. That wasn’t like her. Eva never backed down from a fight, and she was always in control. So why had she played nice this time? Why had she encouraged me to come back? It felt too easy. It felt like she was planning something, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was walking right into her trap
She was too cunning for all these niceness displays.
As we pulled into the driveway of the house, my chest tightened. The house looked the same, but everything felt different. It wasn’t the home I had left behind. Not anymore.
Tears welled up i
in my eyes at that realization,
“We’re here.” Damien said softly, pulling the car to a stop.
I nodded, swallowing hard. My throat felt dry, and my heart raced so hard. I glanced down at Charlie, still asleep, his small hand curled into a fist on my lap. He was the reason I was doing this, It was all for him. But I couldn’t deny the fear that gripped me as I stepped out of the car, holding him close as Damien came around to help me.
Eva was standing at the door when we walked up, her arms folded casually, a small smile on her lips. It wasn’t a warm smile. though. It was the kind of smile that made my skin crawl, as if she was enjoying every second of my discomfort.
Oli, she is definitely up to something
“Welcome home,” she said, her voice sweet but hollow. I’m glad you decided to come back.”
I didn’t respond, just nodded stiffly. I didn’t trust myself to speak, not with the lump in my throat. Or the words bubbling in my vocal box.
Damien gave her a strained smile, his arm resting protectively on my back. “Let’s get Charlie inside, he said, leading me past Eva without another word.
As we stepped into the house, the familiar smell of home enveloped me, but instead of comforting me, it felt suffocating. Memories of the life we had before Eva’s presence poisoned everything rushed back, and I found myself questioning if we could ever get that back. Could things ever be normal again? Could I trust Damien, knowing Eva was still here?
I set Charlie down on the couch, turking a blanket around him he slept. His peaceful face was the only thing keeping me Trom falling apart. Everything felt so overwhelming. I needed to be strong for him. But I couldn’t shake the fear brewing wilun my soul.
“Are you okay?” Damien asked, his youre soft as he stood beside me
25%
Chapter 88
I nodded, though the truth was, I didn’t know if I was okay. “Yeah,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “I’m just… tired, I replied. It would have been a lie except for the fact that it wasn’t I was really tired. Exhausted to the bones.
Damien sighed, rubbing his hands over his face. “I’m sorry, Irene. I know this has been hard. I’ll do whatever it takes to fix
this I swear.
I wanted to believe him. I wanted to believe that he would fight for us, that we could get past this. But the doubt was still there, nagging at the back of my mind. How could we fix anything with Eva still here?
As if on cue, she walked into the living room, her presence filling the space like a dark cloud. “Is everything alright?” she asked, her voice dripping with concem.
“Fuck you!” was what I wanted to scream out loud. But I couldn’t do that yet. All I did was scream it out in my head.
I tensed, my body going rigid as I turned to face her. “We’re fine. I said quickly, not wanting to engage with her. Not now.
Not yet
She smiled that same too–sweet smile that made my stomach tum. “Good, I’m glad to hear that. I know things have been tense, but I’m really hoping we can all move forward. For Damien’s sake. For Charlie’s.”
Her words felt like a dagger, twisting in my chest. She was always playing the caring sister, the one who wanted what was best for everyone. But I knew better. I knew there was more behind her words, something darker.
If only I could reveal everything that she truly is. If only I could expose the darkness she harbors within to the entire world. “Irene.” Damien said softly, placing a hand on my arm. “Let’s go upstairs and talk, okay? We need to figure out what’s next.” I nodded, feeling numb as I followed him upstairs after carrying Charlie in my arms, leaving Eva behind. As soon as we were alone in our bedroom and I laid Charlie down, I collapsed onto the bed, burying my face in my hands. The tears I had been holding back threatened to spill over, but I fought them, refusing to let myself break down. Not yet.
Damien sat beside me, his hand resting on my back. Talk to me he said quietly. “Please.”
I took a deep breath, lifting my head to meet his gaze. “I don’t know what to do, Damien,” I admitted, my voice shaking. “I want to believe we can fix this, but… she’s still here. How are we supposed to move forward with her still in the house?”
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t know,” he said honestly. “But I need you, Irene. I need you here with me. I can’t do this without you”
His words tugged at something deep inside me, but the fear was still there, lurking beneath the surface. I wanted to be with him. I wanted to believe that we could get past this. But Eva’s presence made everything feel wrong.
“I don’t trust her,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t trust her, Damien. And I don’t know if I can stay here knowing she’s still in the picture.”
Damien’s face tightened, a llash of frustration who just got healed from leg paralysis. I can kick her out like that.” He said, but somehow, I felt like there was more to his words than what he was saying
crossing his features. “I know you don’t trust her, Irene, but she’s your sister,
I hit my lap, my heart pounding in my chest. That’s exactly what wanted. I wanted her gone. But I knew Damien wouldn’t do it. Not yet, at least
Or did she love a bold around him just the same way she was threatening me?
Tjust I need time. I said, my voice cracking. 7 …
“I need time to figure out how I feel about all of this.”
you
He nodded, though I could see the disappointment in his eyes. Take as much time as you need. I just… I don’t want to lose
2/3
either. Damien. But I’m scared.”
奋蚁家25%.
of his heart, I tried to push the fear aside. But it was still
ettle back into the routine of being home, but nothing felt hing with those calculating eyes. She acted like she was feel the undercurrent of manipulation in everything she
ld go back to the way they were, but I could tell he was. w that if
