Reborn To Love You, Mr. CEO

"Jemma, are you sure you’re okay with this?" Although there was a lot of worry in Damien's voice, it sounded staged, as if he was attempting to persuade himself and me. In the living room, we sat across from one another, his gaze on me, his brow furrowed in that way he always did before he said something that would make him seem sensible.

"Yes, of course, Damien," I responded in a slightly too-tight voice. "I'm all right. Simply put, I need some time.

With a sigh of relief, he leaned back into the couch and nodded. "Jem, I realize it's a lot. However, it's just one of those unavoidable circumstances.

Something like that? Was that meant to serve as an explanation? I tried to read my husband, the person I had put all my trust in, as I gazed at him. The man who, just a few years ago, stood at the altar and whispered lovely promises in my ear. Those assurances now seemed hollow in the pit of my stomach. Despite my stomach churning, I forced myself to grin and swallowed the lump in my throat.

I nodded and muttered, "Yeah," but I wasn't sure if I was persuading myself or him. "I understand."

There was an uncomfortable yet tense hush between us that grew thicker. Damien's lips were pulled firmly together as his eyes shifted away and he stared at the fireplace. There was a strange feeling. I couldn't get rid of the feeling that I was on the verge of something, something for which I wasn't ready, but I wasn't sure what it was.

My phone was buzzing on the coffee table. A text message appeared on the screen, and my heart stumbled when I saw the name. Alina.

Even before I read the message, my breath caught. I couldn't stop myself, even though I didn't want to. I picked it up and unlocked the screen, my hand trembling a little.

"We must speak. The time has come. You understand what I mean.

A chill went through me as the words flashed before my eyes. Alina. I was aware that she was one of his office colleagues. She often hovered just a bit too close to Damien at occasions, and she smiled at him with a certain... familiarity, which was the only reason I had ever liked her. But because I trusted Damien and thought it was just my own fears talking, I had always brushed it off.

However, it felt different now. My stomach knot grew tighter. I was having trouble breathing. I was unable to control my thoughts.

"Jemma?" I looked up to see Damien's eyes narrow a little as his voice brought me back to the present. "What’s wrong?"

With the phone still in my shaking palm, I paused. "It’s... Alina," I muttered, not quite certain in my ability to talk.

Damien's face paled slightly as his expression changed. It happened quickly, barely noticeable, but I witnessed it. "What about her?"

My cheeks were flushed, and I could feel the adrenaline rushing through my body. "She just... she just texted me."

Instead of answering right away, he simply looked at me as though he was waiting for me to elaborate. But not just yet, I couldn't bring myself to say the words.

His eyes searched mine as he leaned forward a little. "What did she say?"

"I don’t know." I took a deep breath. "I—"

However, I never said the words. The doorbell rang through the apartment, drowning out my thoughts with a faint ringing sound in my ears. A harsh, jagged sound. My pulse accelerated as I glanced at Damien.

I hurriedly answered, "I’ll get it," getting up from the couch before he could continue. With my head racing and my ears buzzing louder with each step, I forced myself to walk to the door even though my legs felt unstable.

I didn't expect anyone when I opened the door, but what I saw made my stomach turn. Alina was standing in the corridor. Her blond hair was put back into a tidy ponytail, and she wore trousers and a fitting jacket. Her grin was too radiant for the occasion. Something wasn't quite right. It seemed as though she was making an excessive effort to appear casual and innocent.

"Jemma," she began in a tone that was too cautious and too kind. "Can we talk?"

I stood speechless, frozen in place. She was present. In my house, here. I couldn't decide if I should be scared or angry. There was a sickening, inquisitive part of me that wanted to know, even though everything inside me cried out to lock the door and never let her in.

"Jemma," she said again, her smile flinching slightly. "I need to explain."

Still unable to speak, I moved aside, and she entered the living room after me. Standing there, Damien appeared more uptight than I had ever seen him. His face was pale, and his jaw tightened as his eyes darted between Alina and me.

"Alina," he replied in a quiet, almost contrite voice. "What are you doing here?"

Alina looked at me, ignoring him. "Jemma," she said as she moved closer, her tone changing from sweet to icy and more purposeful. "There’s something you need to know."

My hands were shaking as I gripped the doorframe, my heart pounding in my chest, and I felt as though the floor was going to give way. I was unable to fully comprehend the energy that caused the room's air to become thick.

Alina went on, "Jemma, please," her voice fading to a whisper. "The time has come. You must be told the truth.

I started to reply, but before I could say anything, Damien moved closer, his voice shrill and his cheeks flushed with annoyance. "This isn’t the time, Alina."

However, it was too late.

Alina's smile vanished completely, to be replaced with a sinister, malevolent expression. "Damien," she uttered quietly, but with a stinging venom. "You cannot continue to conceal it. No more.

I glanced between them, between the two individuals I had placed the greatest amount of trust in. Everything I had known and believed to be real was shattered into a million pieces in that one moment.