He Wanted an AI Bride Swap? Surprise, I Swapped Husbands for Real! Chapter 10

Rain pounded the car windows.

Damian pushed himself up, stumbled to the rear door, and pounded repeatedly on the window.

His coat dragged in the mud. Water flew from his soaked sleeves.

“Elara! Please — open the door! Look at me!”

He bent down, face almost against the window, voice cracking.

“I know I was wrong! I admit it — I had someone add it to the soup!”

“You were so beautiful. So many people loved you. I was afraid you’d leave me one day!”

He wiped rain from his face and kept going.

“I just wanted you to depend on me and stay by my side. Elara, I’ve gotten rid of Sienna. Cross Group is on the verge of collapse. I have nothing left…”

His palm slid down the glass, leaving muddy streaks.

“Hate me. Hit me. Just please — don’t leave me.”

Nathan glanced at me. Didn’t rush me. He just handed me a warm cup of black tea.

I held it until my fingers warmed, then set it back in the cup holder and pressed the window button.

The glass lowered halfway. Cold rain splashed in, hitting my hand.

Damian straightened instantly.

“Elara…”

He reached for me. I pulled back. His hand stopped at the window edge, mud still under his nails.

“Damian. You think saying all this will move anyone?”

His lips moved.

“I really do regret it.”

“The only person you’ve ever moved is yourself.”

Rain dripped from his jaw. He looked at me as though he believed that once I’d finished speaking, I’d finally agree to open the door for him.

I used to wait for him like that.

For him to block the cameras. To turn back and help me up. To believe I couldn’t drink that soup.

I pulled my hand back from the window.

“Hating you is a waste of time. You just make me sick.”

Damian’s face froze. A strangled “Elara” caught in his throat.

I didn’t answer.

Security guards rushed over and pried his hands off the window frame. I rolled up the window, shutting out whatever he hadn’t finished saying.

“Drive.”

Damian struggled. His feet slipped. He fell into the mud by the road.

The driver was about to pull away when a figure rushed from the corner.

Sienna.

Her hair was a mess. One heel was broken. She ran up to Damian and grabbed his collar. Through the window, I could still hear her screaming.

“Damian! You liar! You said you’d marry me!”

She clawed at his face. He dodged, but her nails caught his cheek. He backhanded her.

“Get off me! If it weren’t for you, Elara never would’ve left!”

Sienna held her face for a second, then lunged and grabbed his coat.

They grappled with each other toward the edge of the roadway. Security guards rushed to separate them, but Damian kept struggling as Sienna’s sobs and curses grew louder.

The car slowly went around them.

I watched their entangled figures recede through the side window, then turned forward and didn’t look back.

The car steadied. The noise faded.

I picked up the tea and took a small sip.

Still warm. The heat slid down my throat.

Nathan didn’t ask if I was okay. He just tucked the damp corner of my wrap back into place.

Streetlights flashed past the windows, their reflections stretching across the rain. I leaned back against the seat and slowly let out a breath of relief.

Nathan reached over and covered my hand with his.

“What are you looking at?” he asked quietly.

I turned my hand over and held his. Looked out at the lights stretching ahead.

“A long road. But a bright one.”