He Wanted an AI Bride Swap? Surprise, I Swapped Husbands for Real! Chapter 07

Half a month later, I went with Nathan to a private club.

His meeting wasn’t over, so I stepped out for air. I’d barely turned the corner when I saw Damian.

He was leaning against the wall, clutching a velvet jewelry box.

When he heard footsteps, his head snapped up. His eyes locked onto me.

I was wearing a black silk gown.

After treatment, the swelling in my face had gone down, and my weight had dropped to about 121 pounds.

Damian opened his mouth. A moment passed before he said it.

“Elara.”

I stopped a few feet away.

“I’ve been waiting here for three days.” He straightened up. “I had someone find out Nathan would be here tonight, hoping I’d get a chance to see you.”

I looked at the path he was blocking.

“Talk to my lawyer.”

He hurried over and opened the box. A pink diamond ring rested in the velvet lining, its sparkle under the lights almost painful to look at.

“You used to love this one. I bought it.”

I didn’t reach for it.

Damian pushed the box closer. His voice softened.

“I can give your account back, too. I’ll deal with Sienna. Elara, stop letting other people interfere in our affairs. Let’s go home and talk this through.”

“What’s the catch?”

His throat moved.

“The report — hold off on it. I can explain. I just—”

He reached for my shoulder. I stepped aside.

His movement tipped the box, sending the ring tumbling onto the carpet between us.

Neither of us picked it up.

“Just what?” I looked at him. “You were afraid I wouldn’t stay obedient enough, so you made me scared to look in a mirror?”

Damian’s hand froze midair.

“I love you. I was just afraid you’d shine so brightly that someone else would steal you away.”

“Don’t use that word to disgust me.”

His lips pressed into a thin line, and the hand holding the empty box slowly dropped to his side.

“When I drank that soup until I threw up, you told me to be good. When I was lying on the ground bleeding, you carried Sienna away in your arms.”

My stomach turned at the memory.

I took a breath before continuing.

“Now I have the report, and you show up with a ring. You want me to pretend nothing happened?”

“Do you have to make everything sound so ugly?”

“You made it ugly.”

The color drained from his face.

I walked around him. He suddenly stepped sideways and grabbed for my wrist.

“Elara Voss!”

A door beside us opened.

Nathan caught his wrist and pushed him back.

Damian staggered, his back hitting the wall.

Nathan stood in front of me and turned his head.

“Did he touch you?”

I shook my head. His shoulders finally relaxed.

“Mr. Cross. She’s made herself clear.”

Damian stared at him, the box lid clicking in his grip.

“Nathan, all you did was pick up the worthless mess I threw away. Why are you putting on this devoted act?”

Nathan didn’t smile.

“She’s not something you get to give away or throw out.”

The hallway went quiet.

Damian looked past him at me, his voice tight.

“Elara. You’re really going to destroy three years for him?”

“I’d leave you even without Nathan.”

I took Nathan’s hand.

“Let’s go.”

He squeezed back and walked me toward the elevator.

Footsteps rushed behind us, cut off by security.

Damian’s voice, low and sharp, carried down the empty hallway.

“Elara Voss. You’ll only ever be mine.”

*****