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His mother, unfortunately, was not as polite. “I believe you have the wrong party, Damen. This is a private gathering, and you are only causing yourself a huge embarrassment by coming here uninvited.”
“We both know I have been invited to this party.” Damen’s tone was bland when he answered, almost bordering on bored.
It incensed Esther, making her snap, “Well, you should know that it’s inevitable you’d be crossed off the list after what you’ve done.”
“And what is it exactly that I’ve done, Mother?”
Her cheeks flushed with color at the way Damen called her ‘mother’ but Esther lifted her chin, determined not to be shamed. He had been the first one to disobey her, to forget that he was her son. She said derisively, “I’m not the one who’s been grossly negligent at work.”
But if Esther had thought she would score a reaction from Damen, she was doomed to disappointment. Her son only nodded, his tone ever pleasant as he murmured, “I’d have to agree. If anything, you have been extremely diligent at work.” He paused, and meeting his mother’s gaze straight on, he added in a soft dig that unerringly hit its mark, “Remarkably so.”
And that was when Esther realized her son had somehow gained the upper hand in their battle. She didn’t know how or why, but her instincts never failed her. She was sure Damen had somehow come up with evidence about the illegal and unethical steps that she had taken to wrest the company away from his control. And now, like the lethally ruthless entrepreneur he was notorious for being, Damen was biding his time before he went for the kill.
Damen always did like to be thorough, especially when he wanted to hurt someone.
Esther did her best to mask her fear with contempt. “You are wasting my time, Damen.” She sought to wound him at his weakest point, and of course everyone, Esther thought viciously as she glared at Mairi, knew what that was. “We have nothing of import to discuss for as long as you have that slut—-”
Damen’s eyes flashed. “Enough.” His tone was incisive, authoritative, and everyone in the vicinity, from the reporters to even Esther herself, shut up, all of them unable to help responding to the unmistakable command in his voice.
“I pick my battles very carefully, Mother. I came here to see if you and Nelson Athanas could be made to see reason, but you’ve given me the answer to that already.” The cold revulsion on Damen’s face hurt more than Esther would ever admit, but when her son spoke again, his next words produced something she didn’t think a man who had lost all his wealth was capable of inspiring—-
“One of us will soon be going down. One of us will lose everything, permanently. But that person will not be me. That is my promise to you, Mother.”
—-and it was fear.
Esther’s body shook as she watched Damen turn away, his arm around his stupid wife’s waist. Deep down, she knew her son’s promise was a threat that would come true. The premonition of her defeat tasted powerfully bitter on her tongue, making Esther lash out, “If I go down, you will go down with me.”
Damen didn’t stop walking away.
She laughed hysterically. “And I don’t even have to do one thing, my son. Because you are that – my son. My blood flows in you, and whatever you do, you will always end up hurting the people who love you. That slut at your side will soon realize you can never really love her——”
Damen whipped around, his face white with rage. “Enough!”
“You’re a fool to think you can ever change, that you can ever be happy in that kind of marriage,” Esther screamed. She was so furious she no longer cared if the whole world saw her like a madwoman. Her eyes turned wildly to Mairi. “But you are the greater fool here, whore—-”
“Shut up,” Damen gritted out. He looked down at Mairi, telling her tightly, “Don’t listen to her—-”
Esther laughed madly. “Listen to me or not, you will soon learn for yourself that Damen will never learn to trust or love you. How can he? I’ve raised him myself, haven’t I?” She pointed an accusing finger at Damen. “If you really love that slut, Damen, then should you have brought her back into your life? Is it love, knowing that she would be forced to suffer at your side, knowing that it would mean having her face the whole world – knowing that every person she meets thinks of her as your gold-digging whore?” Her laughter turned mocking. “Is that what you call love, dear Damen?”
Damen was unable to speak, his mind tortured by the reality of Esther’s words. Was he being too selfish again? Would it be better to tear his heart out now and let Mairi go rather than risk destroying hers again?
