Chapter 44

Chapter 44

“I’m sorry.”

My continued whispered apologies meant nothing to the dark purple splotches blooming across her

bare back but I said them anyway.

I brushed her hair away from her shaking shoulders, kneeling on the floor of the bathroom as the soapy

bathwater spilled over the edge of the tub and onto my pants. I didn’t care one bit. I only saw how much

she was still trembling.

Her whole body shook like a leaf in a windstorm even as we were miles away from where I’d left him,

unconscious and bleeding on the floor of her old apartment.

“I don’t want to go back.” was the only thing she had whispered to me when we got home. Her voice

was hoarse from the tears she had run out of hours ago.

“Okay.” I agreed, easily. I never would’ve let her anyway. “I’ll hire someone to get your stuff out, move

everything over here. Okay, baby?”

She nodded, silent as a mouse, and didn’t speak another word.

I dipped my hand into the warm water, washing her back. The bruises against her pale skin were a

reminder of the violence he had used against her. Her wrists were the same color, and I carefully

parted her hair, avoiding the massive lump on the

back of her head.

The pinkish water was warm, but it wouldn’t be for much longer.

I was lucky Mrs. Rivas was a retired nurse. She’d been shocked to be called out of bed this late at

night, but there wasn’t any choice.

She assured me that Addie was okay, just a mild concussion. Her nose wasn’t broken, but I was still

careful not to splash any water around her face.

She’d insisted on me staying with her for her bath, and despite my reservations, I could never deny her

anything she wanted. On some level, it felt good to be needed by her but not like this.

Never like this.

The scene of what had happened lingered in my mind, an ever-reminder of how late I almost was. If I

hadn’t gotten there in time…

I wanted to kill him.

I wanted to pound my fists into his face until he didn’t have a face left. Until there was nothing left of

him but dust.

He deserved the worst, and I was going to do whatever I had to do to make sure he got it.

I nearly did. Until I heard her soft sobs through my bloody fists, my pounding fury, and my reckless

hatred for my brother. Never before had I wanted someone dead but Ashton…..

I wouldn’t have lost a wink of sleep over him.

But Addie came first. She always came first.

I poured the strawberry-scented shampoo into my hands, rubbing it into her hair in soft circles. She

leaned her head back, allowing me better access to her hair. I was gentle, especially around the large

lump.

“Okay, dip your head for me,” I told her gently, as soft as I could be. She scooted forward in the tub,

laying back until her hair was under the water. As I rinsed it out, I glanced at her face.

Her eyes were closed, and if it wasn’t for the violently blue bruise around her nose, I could almost

assume it had never happened. Her arms were wrapped around herself tightly, still curled up like she

had been since I’d carried her out of that

hellhole.

“You’re all clean now,” I told her gently as she raised her head out of the tub. “Better get out before the

water gets cold.”

Addie nodded obediently, letting me help her out of the tub, dry her off, and get her into the fuzzy

bathrobe Mrs. Rivas had prepared for her.

But still, she didn’t say a word.

Not as I helped her dress in pajamas, not as I begged her to eat a few bites of Mrs. Rivas’s dinner, not

even as I took her outside to sit by the pool.

We sat on the edge of the pool, our feet in the cool water as I held her hand tightly, holding her close to

me. The smell of the warm tea Mrs. Rivas had brewed for us was nice company but there was still a

distance between us I couldn’t break.

“I’m sorry. Addie,” I confessed, staring up at the stars above us. “If I had never…I didn’t mean anything

that I said when I was drunk.”

She hummed, barely a whisper from where her head was tucked into my shoulder. There was no

answer, but I could feel the tightening of her hand in mine.

“Do you remember when we first met?” I asked, quietly.

“Kindergarten?” she murmured into my skin, barely audible. “You threw ice cream in my face.”

I chuckled, fondly remembering the memory. “Only after you punched me in the stomach, Addie.”

“You stole the black crayon.”

“Oh, yes. And that totally deserved being sucker punched,” I smiled, glancing down at her. Even tucked

to my side and buried in my shoulder. I could see the small smile on her lips.

“That wasn’t what I was talking about, though.” I said, my heart thumping as I gazed back up at the sky.

I could see the constellations easily this far away from the city, tracing them with my eyes as I waited

for her answer.

She pulled back, a frown on her lips as she gazed at me questioningly.

I could only see the little girl with bright eyes who’d stolen my heart and never given it back.

I caressed her cheek, letting the memory come to me.

“It was a long time ago, before we were in school together,” I whispered to her. “My father had hit me

again, and I’d run away into the gardens. You snuck over the gate and found me.”

“I don’t remember that,” she said, quietly.

I smiled, “It was the first time someone was concerned about me after my mom died. I’ll never forget

what you did for me that day.”

“What did I do?” she mumbled, curious.

“You gave me a magic spell.”

“Magic?”

Her nose wrinkled up as she sent me a disbelieving glance, “There’s no such thing as magic.”

“I disagree. You taught me a real spell,” I told her with a grin.

“Prove it,” she challenged, that fiery glint shining in her eyes.

“Okay,” I agreed easily. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face if I wanted to.

I leaned forward, pressing a soft and tender kiss to the tip of her nose. I pressed my forehead against

hers, closing my eyes as I wished with all my heart.

“Pain, pain, go away.”

I opened my eyes, smiling brightly at her..

Adelaide’s eyes were wide as she stared at me in shock. She brushed her hand across my cheek, a

look of awe on her face.

“That was you?” she whispered. “In the gardens? I thought it was a dream.”

“I’ve loved you since that day.” I confessed, bearing my heart open for her. “More and more every day.

You were the light that gave me a reason to keep moving forward. I’m sorry for being an *sshole to you

when we were kids and for yesterday. I never meant any of it.”

A small smile crossed her lips as she gazed at me with shiny eyes. More beautiful than the moon and

the stars, she was everything I could ever want.

“Can you forgive me?” I asked, pressing a kiss to her palm and waiting patiently for her answer.

“I’m sorry you had to wait so long for me,” Addie murmured. “You’re already forgiven. Damon.”

Under the moonlight, our lips met with no other words spoken between us. We didn’t need them. There

were no doubts left. She was mine, and I was hers. Forever.

After twenty years of being in love with her one-sidedly, I finally knew she loved me too.

When we broke apart, Adelaide frowned.

“What are we going to do about Corinna and…” she shuddered before saying, “Ashton? This whole

thing has gone too far.”

I sighed. I knew she was right.

“Your safety is my first priority.” I told her firmly. “But I will speak to my father in the morning to see what

can be done.”

“Thank you,” she smiled, sighing as she leaned her head on my shoulder. I wrapped my arms around

her, pulling her close.

We were home.

POV: Adelaide

“Fifteen minutes tops,” Damon said, firmly. He glanced at the silk gloves on my arms, no doubt trying to

see through them and to the purple bruises underneath.

I was lucky my bruises were able to be hidden under my clothing, and my sore nose was hidden under

makeup. Mrs. Rivas. was a genius with a mascara wand, and I was beginning to think there was

nothing she couldn’t do.

“Fifteen minutes tops,” I smiled at my overprotective husband. His affection was not nearly overbearing

yet.

He sighed, tightening his hands on the wheel.

“We can skip and just stay home-”

I rolled my eyes, leaning forward to kiss him on the cheek.

“Let’s go, or we’ll be late, dear,” I teased him as I unlatched the car door.

As soon as I stepped outside the air-conditioned car, I was met with the current heat wave. I waved my

hand across my face, hoping for a little bit of a breeze.

Luckily, Corinna had the sense to have her bridal party indoors.

Damon rounded the car as I smoothed out my dress. I smiled at him as he scoped the parking lot like

there was some kind of danger around.

I shook my head fondly, grabbing his arm as I pulled him forward and into the building. Damon met my

steps, wrapping his arm around my waist as he pulled me close.

Then we stepped inside.

It was loud as anything to do with Corinna always was. A red carpet was lined up beneath our feet as

we strode inside. A massive fountain decorated in gold stood as the breathtaking centerpiece, the

press gathered around, their cameras flashing

in overtime.

Drinks and hors d’oeuvres were plentiful as servers carried them to and fro. The number of guests in

attendance could fill a small town.

With such a huge crowd surrounding us, you’d think my sister would be hard to find.

But of course, she wasn’t.

Under the studio lights sat a luxurious velvet couch, and there she was. My parents stood behind her

as the press gathered around them like hyenas. Dressed in a cream bridal dress, she posed for the

cameras with a huge grin on her face.

I knew the moment she spotted us. Her whole face went blank, as she got to her feet. There was no

sign of Ashton, and I was relieved about that. I couldn’t take seeing his face after what he’d done to

me.

Damon tightened his arm around my waist as we approached, his face perfectly held behind a blank

mask. I knew better

now.

He was angry. I could feel it in the way he clenched his other hand firmly, his knuckles turning white

from the pressure. I could see it in the little crease between his eyebrows as he tried his best not to

cuss my sister out in front of the entire press.

“Addie!” Grandma smiled warmly, her arm wrapped around my grandfather’s as they stood just off to

the side. They weren’t

alone either.

“Grandfather?” Damon’s eyes went wide.