Chapter 793
Damon stiffened and averted his gaze. âItâs nothing.â
âIs your arm still hurting?â Nyla asked, trying to look at Damonâs arm, but he turned away.
He dismissed her concern. âItâs fine. Letâs get ready for dinner.â
He didnât even glance at Nyla as he walked past her toward the dining room.
Nyla frowned, sensing something was off about his attitude. She thought back and realized his demeanor had changed after she returned to the car from the pharmacy.
Could it be because she hadnât mentioned Ruby to him? Was he sulking?
During dinner, Damon spoke only to Mason, ignoring Nyla unless she initiated the conversation.
After dinner, seeing Damon head toward the study, Nyla quickly followed him.
âDamon, wait! I need to talk to you,â she called out.
His tone was somewhat cold when he replied, âWhat is it?â
Nyla looked up at him. âAre you upset with me?â
Damon avoided her gaze. âNo.â
âIf thatâs true,
then why were you only talking to Buddy at dinner?â she pressed.
âYouâre overthinking it,â Damon replied dismissively.
Displeasure flashed in Nylaâs eyes. âIf youâre unhappy about something, spill it. Keeping it to yourself will only upset you and sabotage our relationship.â
âItâs really nothing,â Damon insisted.
Noticing his indifferent expression, Nyla felt a surge of frustration.
âYou always do this, keeping everything to yourself. How am I supposed to know what youâre thinking?â Her voice rose slightly, tinged with hurt.
Damon frowned, seeming to realize he might be in the wrong.
He sighed and pulled Nyla closer. âDonât be mad. I just⦠I saw you talking to another guy and asked what you said, but you wouldnât tell me, so I felt a little jealous.â
Nyla widened her eyes. âIs that really why? Youâre being so petty.â
Damon chuckled helplessly. âI know, I shouldnât have reacted that way. It wonât happen again.â
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Most of Nylaâs anger faded at his sincerity. She retorted, âWho told you that delivery person
as a man?â
Damon frowned. âIf it wasnât a guy, then was it.â
Then, he seemed to realize something, his brows furrowing even more. âWait, that delivery person was a woman?â
Nyla nodded. âYeah, and I know her.
Damon was speechless. He hadnât expected to be sulking over a woman.
Unable to help herself, Nyla laughed at him. âYour possessiveness is a bit much, donât you think? I was just talking to someone else for a minute, and youâre all jealous.â
A hint of guilt flashed in Damonâs eyes as he rubbed his nose. âThatâs because when I asked you, you were so vague about it. You kept spacing out afterward, making me think you were hiding something.â
âAre girly conversations even appropriate for you?â Nyla asked.
Damon looked sheepish, not saying anything else.
Just when the atmosphere between them became a bit more relaxed, Nylaâs phone rang unexpectedly.
As soon as she answered, Valarieâs slightly downcast voice came through. âNyla, can you come keep me company?â
Surprised, Nyla asked, âValarie, whatâs wrong? Did something happen?â
Valarie was silent for a few seconds before giving her the name of a bar and saying she would wait for Nyla there before hanging up.
Nyla put her phone away and told Damon, âI donât know whatâs going on with Valarie. Sheâs at a bar, and I need to go check on her.â
Chapter 794
Damon picked up the car keys and said, âIâll take you there.â
Worried that Valarie might get into trouble at the bar, Nyla nodded. âOkay.â
+25 NONUS
By the time they arrived at the bar, an hour had passed.
When they found Valarie, she was already a bit dazed and being hit on by a drunken man. Nyla stepped forward and swatted the manâs hand away from Valarie.
âStay away from her!â she warned.
The man, his face flushed with alcohol, turned angrily to face her. When he saw how
beautiful she was, his eyes lit up. âHey, gorgeous,
Before he could finish his sentence, a chilling voice came from behind him. âTouch her, and youâll regret it!â
The man turned to meet Damonâs icy gaze. He shuddered, sobering up a little.
Noticing Damonâs distinguished appearance, the man awkwardly smiled. âSorry, I mistook her for someone else.â
He quickly turned and left, clearly eager to avoid Damon.
Nyla supported the dazed Valarie, who was nearly unable to stand. âValarie, what happened? Why did you drink so much?â
Valarie looked up with bleary eyes and recognized Nyla. She smiled and greeted her, âNyla, youâre hereâ¦â
âIâm taking you home,â Nyla said.
âNo⦠I donât want to go back. Iâm not drunk! I can still drink! Letâs keep goingâ¦â Valarie slurred.
She struggled to get up and reach for an empty glass on the bar, but the room kept spinning, and she couldnât grab it no matter how many times she tried. .
âHey⦠why is this glass movingâ¦â she mumbled.
âYouâre drunk. Letâs go home,â Nyla coaxed.
âIâm not drunk!â Valarie insisted stubbornly.
Nyla didnât want to argue with someone who was intoxicated. Thus, she nodded and played along, âOkay, okay, youâre not drunk. Itâs too noisy here. Letâs go back and drink together. Iâll drink with you until youâve had enough!â
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+25 BONUS
âYou promised⦠hic⦠that!â Valarie exclaimed
âYep, no stopping until dawn,â Nyla placated.
Finally, Valarie relented and allowed Nyla to lead her out of the bar.
As they stepped outside, a cold wind blew, and Valarie shivered.
Nyla took off her jacket and draped it over her.
In the next moment, she felt another jacket being placed on herself. A surge of warmth filled her as she inhaled Damonâs scent of pine.
11
Nyla helped Valarie toward the parking lot. Once they were in the car, she fastened Valarieâs seatbelt. Just as she was about to close the door, Valarie started flailing her arms and legs, screaming, âHelp! Iâm being choked! Let me go! Whoâs trying to hurt meâ¦â Watching Valarie twist and turn in panic, Nyla was speechless. She pressed Valarie down gently, reassuring her, âValarie, itâs just the seatbelt, not a rope.â
âI donât care! It feels like a rope! Waaa⦠Nyla, are you trying to hurt meâ¦â Valarie cried. Nyla was dumbfounded. She turned to Damon and said, âIâll sit in the back to take care of her.â
âOkay,â Damon replied.
Nyla climbed into the back seat and comforted Valarie until she finally calmed down.
âShould I take her back to the Weirs?â Damonâs deep voice came from the front seat.
Nyla pursed her lips as she considered his question. âIf we go back now, her parents will definitely worry. Letâs have her stay with us tonight, and she can go back tomorrow when sheâs sober.â
Damon nodded. âOkay.â
By the time they returned to the villa, Valarie had already fallen asleep.
Nyla and Lydia helped her to the guest room on the first floor.
âMs. Kinsey, Iâll make some soup,â Lydia said.
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