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“Isn’t it?” I ask, my voice edged with bitterness. “You made your choice when you decided to be with her. Didn’t you think about how this would affect everyone involved? How it would affect me?”
“Of course I did!” Damian snaps, his frustration boiling over. “But things aren’t always black and white, Annalise. You should know that better than anyone.”
“Then explain it to me,” I demand, my eyes narrowing as I stare him down. “Because right now, all I see is betrayal.”
“Annalise, I…” Damian hesitates, his usually unwavering confidence faltering under the weight of my anger. “I can’t explain it. All I know is that I felt something for you, something I’ve never felt before.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” I scoff, my chest tightening as the full magnitude of his actions sinks in. “You chose to be with her, Damian. And now, I’m left to pick up the pieces of the mess you created.”
I watch Damian struggle to find the right words, his eyes clouded with regret and confusion. “Annalise, I…I don’t have an explanation that could make any of this right,” he admits, his voice heavy with emotion. “But I need you to know that what happened between us wasn’t just about your sister. I felt a connection to you—something deep and undeniable.”
“Connection?” I scoff, my heart pounding in my chest as I stare at him, disbelief etched across my face. “You betrayed me, Damian. You betrayed your brother. How could there ever be anything real between us after that?”
His jaw tightens, and I can see the pain in his eyes, but I refuse to be swayed by his emotions. I’ve given him too much of myself already, and I won’t allow him to drag me down any further.
“Anna—” he starts, but I cut him off with a sharp wave of my hand.
“Goodbye, Damian,” I say, my voice laced with finality. With that, I turn on my heel and walk away from him, ignoring his calls after me. My resolve strengthens with each step, and I’m determined not to let the weight of our shared past define me.
I walk out of the dimly lit room, leaving Damian behind, and my heart aches with a mix of bitterness and deep sorrow. It feels as if the floor beneath me is crumbling, taking away any sense of stability I had left. I swallow hard, fighting the tears that threaten to spill over, but I refuse to let them fall. Not here, not now.
As I step out of the building, the bright sunlight momentarily blinds me, making me squint in surprise. I blink, adjusting to the sudden change, and when I look around, my shock turns into utter disbelief.
“Annalise! Annalise, over here!” The chaos of the media and reporters surrounds me like a swarm of bees, their cameras flashing relentlessly, blinding me even more. Microphones are shoved into my face, each reporter demanding an answer or a comment on recent events. I feel disoriented and exposed, as though I have just walked into the eye of a storm.
“Ms. Tryst, what can you tell us about your relationship with Damian Volkov?” one reporter shouts, as others barrage me with questions I can’t even begin to process.
“Is it true that he’s engaged to someone else?”
“Did you know about his engagement before today?”
“Is there any truth to the rumors of your involvement with all three of the Volkov brothers?”
“Annalise, are you afraid for your life?”
“Please, give us something!”
My mind races, trying to make sense of the surreal scene unfolding before me. How did they find out? How do they know about Damian’s engagement? How much do they really know?
I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself as I push through the sea of reporters. Their voices blend into a cacophony of noise, both invasive and suffocating. My pulse quickens, and I struggle to maintain my composure, desperately searching for an escape from the chaos.
“Annalise!” a familiar voice calls out, barely audible over the commotion. My heart leaps in my chest—it’s Sienna, reaching out to me through the madness. I know she’ll help me make sense of this nightmare and protect me from the relentless onslaught of questions.
“Sienna!” I shout back, searching for her face in the crowd. I need her now more than ever—her strength, her wisdom, and her unwavering support. But most of all, I need a friend who can help me navigate this storm and find my way back to calmer waters.
When I finally spot her, relief washes over me like a soothing balm. Together, we’ll face whatever comes our way, and I’ll find the answers I need. This is just the beginning of a dangerous journey, but with Sienna by my side, I am ready to face the unknown.
The moment I step outside the building, my newfound freedom dissolves into chaos. Reporters swarm around me like frenzied sharks, their cameras flashing and questions firing off like bullets. I blink away the harsh light, feeling disoriented and overwhelmed as my heart races in my chest.
“Annalise! Over here!” one of them shouts, thrusting a microphone in my face. “What’s your relationship with Damian Volkov?”
“Did you know about his engagement?” another one presses, desperation lacing their voice.
I try to push through the crowd, keeping my head down and ignoring their relentless questions. The weight of Damian’s betrayal, Cassius’s anger, and Nikhil’s concern all press down on me, threatening to suffocate me beneath their crushing intensity.
Just as I feel I can’t take anymore, a sleek black car pulls up beside me, its tinted windows hiding whoever’s inside. The passenger door swings open, revealing Sienna’s familiar face. Relief floods my veins as I slide into the car, shutting out the cacophony of voices and camera flashes.
“Thank God you’re here,” I breathe, clutching at the soft leather seat for support.
