Chapter 5 Breakup Threat

Lila froze. Erin leaned in until her breath brushed Lila's ear, every word she spoke steeped in malice. "I know you're Damian's lapdog. Want to guess who he'll pick—you or me?" Before the shock wore off, Lila saw Erin slap herself hard across the face. "I just wanted to share some good news, Lila. Why are you so angry? If you hate me, I can just remain abroad. I'll even hand you Damian's engagement. I took what should have been yours, and I'll return everything. All that matters is your forgiveness." Erin put on a pitiful expression, her eyes reddening in a heartbeat, as if she were the one deeply wronged. Lila frowned and was about to speak when footsteps sounded behind her. A brutal shove knocked her off balance, and she fell to the floor hard. Pain lanced through her ankle. She watched Damian cradle Erin's face with care. "Are you okay? Did she hurt you?" Tears poured down Erin's face as she shook her head. "Damian, don't be mad at Lila…" "I'll take you upstairs and get a doctor." Damian leveled Lila with a glacial, steel-hard look, then turned away and scooped Erin into his arms, carrying her upstairs. Lila watched them go, her nails unconsciously digging into her palms. She tried to stand, but the sharp pain in her ankle robbed her of all strength. Damian returned soon after, his expression set like stone. He stared down at Lila and said, "I denied that you were my girlfriend in front of Erin, and you decided to hit her over it? When will you finally behave and quit stirring up trouble for me? "I already told you not to reveal our relationship before your parents agreed to the arranged marriage. You hurt Erin out of jealousy. How can you be so vicious? You're hopeless!" Staring at his face that was flushed with anger, Lila felt her patience snap. "Mr. Cross, you never saw me as your girlfriend, so there was nothing to reveal. I didn't lay a finger on Erin, so you don't get to lecture me." Damian froze, his fist tightening on reflex. What was Lila implying? When he snapped out of it, his expression grew a shade darker. "You really had to blow this up over something this trivial? Are you trying to threaten me with a breakup?" "I wasn't." Lila forced herself upright, her voice stripped of warmth as she said, "Mr. Cross, let's pretend we never started. You being with me was always just—" Damian seized her wrist before she could finish speaking and hauled her up, the chill in his gaze sharpening. "Shut up!" It had never crossed his mind that Lila would be the first to walk away. He had held the reins from the very beginning. Game or not, he hadn't said it was over—so what gave her the right to decide? He was about to question her when footsteps sounded from down the stairs. Serena stormed up the stairs, and the instant she saw Lila, her hand whipped out and cracked across Lila's cheek. "You bitch! Getting bold now, are you? You actually laid hands on Erin? The Harts raised you all these years, and you still can't shake that rough, nasty temper you brought in from the sticks! "How did I end up with a daughter like you? Go upstairs and apologize to Erin, or get lost! Erin's been through enough, and I won't let you make her life harder!" The slap landed full force, and Lila's cheek swelled instantly. Off to the side, Damian watched with a cold, flat look, as if she had it coming. A chill spread through Lila's chest. She regretted ever returning to the Harts. She never should've expected anything from Serena or Austin. She shouldn't have crossed paths with Damian at all. Just then, a mocking voice came from upstairs. "There's a reason the Harts and the Crosses are both in decline. There's surveillance footage, and you didn't even bother to look before laying into a young woman without reviewing the facts. How amusing."