Chapter 85

Victoria's POV I couldn't help but laugh as I quickly corrected the restaurant owner's assumption. "Actually, this isn't my boyfriend. And the one you're thinking of is now my ex—we broke up." The owner's eyes widened in surprise. "You broke up? Really?" I wasn't surprised by her reaction. She and I had become quite close over the years, and I'd told her all about my relationship with Ethan. I'd even mentioned marriage possibilities at one point. Goddess, how foolish I'd been. What struck me was how easily I could now talk about the breakup without feeling that stabbing pain in my chest. Nora had stopped whimpering over our severed bond weeks ago. "Breaking up is sometimes for the best," the owner said with a knowing smile, her gaze drifting appreciatively over Damien. "It frees you to find someone better. Like this handsome gentleman here—he looks like he stepped right out of a magazine!" I felt heat rise to my cheeks. Why did everyone keep assuming Damien and I were a couple? "I'm ke