Chapter 7

Avery knew exactly where Damien had been. He hadn't gone anywhere near the office. He had flown to Flaria with Serena for a shopping spree. Avery knew that because Serena had flooded her feed with Stories all day. She didn't get angry, and she didn't even feel sad anymore. If anything, she felt grateful. Serena had just handed her more proof of Damien's betrayal. When Avery refused the roses, Damien pulled a sapphire bracelet from his pocket. "I picked this out for you. Want me to put it on?" "Leave it there. I'll wear it tomorrow," Avery said. Damien's face darkened. "It's been three days. Whatever this is, you should be over it by now." In three more days, Avery would have the divorce certificate in hand. She had no intention of rocking the boat before then. So, she forced a faint smile. "I'm not upset. I'm just tired." Damien's breath caught, and he softened almost instantly. "I'm sorry, Avery. I got home late and woke you." Avery ran out of patience. She gave him a nod, closed her eyes, and pretended to sleep. "Rest up. I'll shower in the other room and then come keep you company," he murmured, his voice so gentle that it could have fooled a saint. "Why the other room?" she asked without thinking. He chuckled and said softly, "So I don't wake you." His chest tightened because, deep down, even he didn't believe his own excuse. Avery laughed under her breath. Damien could have won an acting award. Compared to Serena's clumsy tricks, Damien was a professional. If she hadn't known better, she might have been moved to tears by his false concern. Damien slipped out quietly. After his shower, he returned to bed, curled an arm around Avery, and let his familiar scent wash over her. Avery knew exactly where this was heading and shoved him off. "The doctor said the first trimester is high risk. We can't do it." Damien paused. "Then, we'll listen to the doctor. I can wait." Wait? He had probably just crawled out of Serena's bed and had the nerve to say he would wait. The thought of it made Avery's stomach turn. She rolled away, putting space between them. Damien noticed nothing and was asleep within minutes. Avery didn't sleep at all. She finally drifted off near noon, then washed up and went downstairs for food. Just then, Damien stormed in, already bristling with anger. "I called you a dozen times! Why didn't you answer?" Avery was taken aback. "My phone was on silent—" Before she finished, he clamped his hand around her wrist and dragged her toward the door. His grip clamped down like iron, and pain jolted up her arm. Avery gasped in pain. "Let go! You're hurting me!" Damien ignored her and shoved her into the back of the Phantom, telling the driver to step on it. "Where are we going?" Avery asked. "The hospital," Damien said, his voice sounding strained. "Serena cut her hand. There was a lot of bleeding. The blood supply is short, but you two have the same blood type—" "No," Avery cut in at once. "I'm not donating!" She had severe anemia, and doctors had warned her for years never to give blood. Even if she had been perfectly healthy, she and Serena were like oil and water. She wasn't going to donate blood to her. Damien didn't give her a choice. He marched her into a procedure room. After days without much sleep or food, she was too weak to resist. Damien forced her into a chair and ordered the nurse to draw blood.