Chapter 10
Damon glanced back at me again and again with
“You’re right, Zoey. I failed you.”
every step he took. I avoided his gaze, and he lowered his eyes with a bitter smile.
Then he turned and walked away, defe de fotografi
and
Once he was gone, Hannah finally let out a
“Zoey, I’m really glad to see you thinking it through.”
“Damon’s completely lost it these days. I never
She kept close to me, rambling on for a while.
#
realized how unhinged he could be.”
Through her, I learned that Clara had asked Damon for large sums of money under the pretense of medical expenses. Now that the truth had come out, Damon had taken her to the werewolf court.
Clara was buried in debt and forced to take odd jobs to repay it. With Damon pulling strings, no pack dared to take her in, and no one would hire her.
“He really threw her under the bus,” Hannah said. “After treating her like some precious jewel, he tossed her aside just like that.”
“Honestly, he’s emotionally unstable. You’re lucky you got out. He never deserved you.”
Her words made me laugh. Just then, Reese finally arrived and clasped my hands tightly.
“We tested the samples–they worked incredibly well! Well done! Zoey.”
Hannah turned to me and asked, “So, what’s next for your research?”
“Alzheimer’s,” I said. “If we could develop both the memory–erasing and recovery serums, we should be able to tackle that next.”
Hannah nodded enthusiastically. “Breaking free from romantic constraints truly expands your horizons. Excellent! Let’s do it.”
From that point on, Damon never showed up at the Royal Institut
Still, Reese often wondered aloud why the new funding from anonymous investors had been so generous since my arrival. Our once–cramped lab had doubled in size.
We both knew it was Damon quietly supporting us, but Hannah only scoffed.
“That’s the least he can do, considering what he owes you.”
Once our direction was set, Hannah and I threw ourselves into our work. And we delivered again. My new research achieved another major breakthrough, earning us one of the highest honors in the field.
On the day of the award ceremony, Hannah and I stood in the center of the crowd, surrounded by people eager to get close.
Compliments poured in from all directions. Hannah leaned close, whispering with a grin, “Just basking in your glow is enough to make this life worthwhile.”
I smiled but said nothing. While she chatted animatedly with the others, I slipped away for a moment to catch my breath.
Through a break in the crowd, I suddenly spotted a familiar figure.
It was Damon.
S
He stood just beyond the edge of the gathering, his gaze fixed on me, deep and unreadable.
Our eyes met.
He seemed startled at first, then slowly lifted his glass in a quiet toast
His lips moved silently: “I wish you happiness.”
Then he turned and vanished into the crowd, never once trying to approach me.
Ifrowned slightly, but before I could move, Hannah grabbed my arm.
Where do you think you’re going? They’re about to call our names. Come on!”
She lifted her skirt and pulled me toward the lights.
