As he listened to Serena’s gut–wrenching screams on the other end of the line, he did not so much as flinch. His voice was cold, like ice cutting through the air.
“Serena, after everything you did to Claire, isn’t it only fair you get a taste of your own medicine?
“Oh, and don’t expect anesthesia or painkillers. From this moment on, you’ll never have kids again. Prepare yourself.”
For several seconds, there was dead silence. Then, Serena’s frantic sobs broke through, rising into desperate, piercing wails.
“Damian… Damian! You can’t do this to me! Please, leave our baby alone! No, please! Ahh!”
The sudden shriek made me flinch, my whole body trembling involuntarily.
Damian ended the call without hesitation. He forced a gentle, almost pleading smile.
His face was pale as he took my hand and pressed it to his cheek.
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“Claire, I’ll have them send you the surgery footage later. And if you want, I can even arrange for the fetus to be sent to you. Once you see it for yourself, can you forgive me? Just a little?”
I jerked my hand away as though it had been contaminated. “You’re insane!”
His voice cracked as he shook his head violently. “No, I’m not… Claire, please. Let’s go home. I’ll do anything you ask. Anything. Just come back with me.”
Damian realized that he had failed me in countless ways in the nine years we were together.
However, none of that mattered now. He was determined to spend the rest of his life making it up to me.
Three days later, that hope was destroyed. I married Justin.
When Damian stormed into the church, the priest had just finished with the vows.
In my wedding gown, and with a serene smile on my face, I looked into Justin’s eyes and said, “I do.”
“No! Claire! You can’t marry him!”
A searing pain shot through Damian’s chest. He fell to his knees on the crimson carpet. The once–proud, cold–blooded Don was now reduced to a pitiful figure, like a stray dog left out in the rain.
Damian pleaded desperately.
“Claire, please… Don’t do this to me.”
I stared at him, his breaths coming in ragged gasps, and I said, “You no longer have any right to interfere in my life. I didn’t invite you to my wedding.”
As my cold, cutting words sank in, Damian’s tears slipped down, splashing onto the red carpet like delicate flowers in bloom.
“Claire, you still won’t forgive me?
“Claire, I love you. I love you more than anyone else ever could…”
Desperation twisted his face as he tore open his shirt, pointing to the tattoo over his heart–a portrait of me inked into his skin.
“Look! You’re here, Claire. You’ve always been here with me…”
Instead of softening, I covered my mouth and let out a low, mocking laugh. Damian froze in disbelief.
Meeting his broken gaze, I spoke with a calm, almost indifferent smile.
1/2
Chapter 1
+25 BONUS
“You don’t even know my real name. My real name is Claire Shaw. Turner was just the surname of my father’s trusted man who adopted me. You tattooed the wrong name on your chest.
“And I already belong to someone else. Justin is my husband now.”
Justin’s ears turned red as he slid the dazzling nine carat diamond ring onto my finger, sealing our vow.
Damian felt as though all the blood in his body had frozen solid
Hand in hand with Justin, I walked past him without looking back.
