He Compared Me To My Father’s Mistress’s Daughter Chapter 02

He Compared Me To My Father’s Mistress’s Daughter Chapter 02

His face hardened. “Over a ring?”

He glanced down at the box in his palm, made a disdainful sound, and tossed it back onto the bed.

I didn’t answer.

He dragged in a breath, irritation bleeding through.

“All these years, you’ve been living in my house. Driving the best cars. When have I ever said no to anything you wanted?”

He stared down at me from his full height, the softness in his eyes completely gone. 　　“And now you’re gonna give me attitude over a ring?”

I lifted my head and met his gaze, my eyes rimmed red. 　　“Damian. Is it really so hard to just love one person?”

He scowled. 　　“What did I do? Cheating’s not a crime. Show me the law that says it is.”

“Aria, quit being so dramatic.”

Those two words landed like a slap across my face.

I couldn’t stop shaking.

And the worst part, I was still hesitating. Still wondering if he might try to stop me.

But Damian was clearly done wasting his time.

He turned away, grabbed his shirt from the back of the chair, and started buttoning it up.

“Let’s be very clear about something, Aria. You’re the one who can’t leave me.”

“Next time you try using a breakup to threaten me, I won’t be this patient.”

He slammed the door on his way out and didn’t look back.

I stared at his retreating figure.

And I remembered the first time he showed up, just as suddenly as he always did.

My father came home drunk. Sienna’s mother had called him, whispered poison in his ear until he was seeing red. He grabbed a beer bottle and came at my mother and me.

We huddled in the corner. Nowhere to run.

The neighbors were long used to this circus. The only person who could have protected us, my brother, was overseas at school.

My mother wrapped herself around me as a shield. She took blow after blow to her back until she coughed up blood.

My father yanked me out of her arms and kicked me hard. Twice. Three times.

I thought we were going to die there.

That’s when Damian burst through the door.

He tackled my father to the ground and planted himself between us. “Aria. Don’t be scared. I’m here.”

Afterward, he found my mother the best attorney for her divorce.

The day she won her case, he stood in front of her, held my hand, and made a promise.

“Mrs. Donovan. Let me take care of Aria. I will never betray her. I swear, I’ll treat her right for the rest of my life.”

I couldn’t hold it back anymore. The tears came, splashing hot against the backs of my hands.

I showered. Changed into clean clothes. Got ready to go see my mother at Pine Ridge.

The hallways were quiet.

I pushed open the door to her room. She was propped up against her pillows.

My brother was there too, sitting beside her.

“Aria, you’re here!” My mother smiled and waved me over. “Come in. It’s so rare to have both of you at the same time.”

I stopped at the doorway. My eyes went red.

Her smile flickered. She studied my face more carefully. “What’s wrong? Why do you look like you’ve been crying?”

I couldn’t hold it in. My voice broke. “Mom. I’m leaving Damian.”

The room went quiet. My mother stared at me for a long second.

Then my brother exploded.

He grabbed my sleeve and yanked me toward the door. “What the hell are you saying?”