ELENA POV
I couldn't sleep.
Damien's words kept echoing in my head, playing on repeat like a broken record I couldn't turn off.
I love you. I know I have no right to. But I love you and watching you with him is killing me.
His face broken, tear-stained, desperate was burned into my memory. The way his voice had cracked. The way he'd looked at me like I was the only thing keeping him from completely falling apart.
And I'd just stood there. Frozen. Unable to say anything.
What could I say?
I love you too, even though you kidnapped me?
I forgive you for the three months of hell you put me through?
Let's just forget about the massive power imbalance that started our relationship and pretend everything is normal?
Nothing felt right. Nothing felt honest.
So I'd said nothing at all.
Eventually, Adrien helped me get Damien to his room. We'd put him in bed, made sure he wouldn't choke if he got sick. Through it all, Damien had been quiet, defeated, not even looking at me.
