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"What about your mother?"
Andrea bites her lip and squeezes my hand. I can feel the tremor in her pulse. "I didn't press charges against her. I just... I couldn't."
"I understand," I tell her.
"I asked her not to come after me again."
"And you think she'll comply with that?"
Andrea shakes her head.
"I'll make sure she doesn't bother you," I promise.
She looks at me, nervously, as if she fears that I’ll be annoyed with her because of this. I could never be, though, because I understand her. She has a noble heart, and she wouldn't dare do this to the only family she has left.
But from now on, I’ll be her family. I’ll protect her, no matter the cost.
"The press must have gone crazy with this whole story," I say, trying to change the subject to a less turbulent one.
Andrea's lips draw into a pout. "Well, in that aspect, I must say that your friend Jackson is quite a genius. He’s been able to address the press in an admirable way."
"I don't doubt it."
"I'm serious. Thanks to him, this whole thing has been turned around. The story of the pop princess being subdued by her abusive boyfriend is behind us."
"And what do they say about us now?"
"That you're a misunderstood hero, and I'm a damsel abused by her manager for years.” She sighs. "Honestly, I'm sick of all of these stories about damsels in distress."
"Then let's change the story."
She entangles her fingers with mine, and takes a moment to look earnestly at our joined palms.
"I’m serious, Damien. I thought we wouldn't get out of this."
"But we will, and there's nothing to fear about our future."
"You promise?" She bites her lower lip and I nod, kissing her hand.
"I promise."
As I make that promise, I begin to remember something.
Something I shouldn't have forgotten.
"Andrea..."
She glares at me, cheeks flushed with color. Her gaze is fixed on mine.
And then, I remember.
"You said something... when I was about to die."
"Don't say that."
"What?"
"That you were about to... die. Just don't say that."
