Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 234281 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1171(@200wpm)___ 937(@250wpm)___ 781(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 234281 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1171(@200wpm)___ 937(@250wpm)___ 781(@300wpm)
Esther’s face was a picture of remorse when she approached Damen. “May we speak privately?”
Damen looked at Drake, and the other man nodded, murmuring to Mairi, “I believe it would be safer if we have you inside now.”
Mairi shook her head, her gaze trained at Damen, the cold fury in his face worrying her. The anger was well-deserved, but Mairi also knew that such anger only hurt Damen more than it did Esther. The other woman simply did not have any kind of maternal instinct at all while Damen, albeit appearing strong and powerful, was no different from any son. Damen had always wanted a parent’s love, and the fact that his parents were incapable of it would always make a part of him blame himself for it.
Damen frowned at Mairi’s silent refusal. “Don’t be disobedient now, matakia mou.”
She bit her lip, almost blurting out that she wasn’t being disobedient. She was only worried about him. Finally, she said, “I’ll go inside if you promise Drake gets to stay here with you.”
Both men turned to her incredulously.
Not looking at Esther, Mairi kept her gaze at her husband as she said stubbornly, “I want him to make sure that you’re not hurt.”
Esther let out a gasp. “Damen, would you really let her insinuate that I could hurt you?”
Damen didn’t bother answering, didn’t even glance at his mother. His eyes bored through Mairi, as if telling her how silly her words were. If you do not want me hurt, you should fire him right away.
She colored at the silent message in his gaze but insisted, “I mean it. I don’t want her to make you lose sight of everything we’ve worked so hard for.”
Seeing the set jaw on Mairi’s face, Damen knew there was no changing his wife’s mind. He said reluctantly, “Fine. Go in now and Morrison will stay with me.”
Drake deadpanned, “I have never babysat for an ex-billionaire before, but I will do my best.”
In the same tone, Damen answered, “Go to hell.”
Esther had to exert a conscious effort not to speak. It offended her how the men appeared to lavishly pamper the slut her son had married. She was no one. No one! Why was it that none of these supposedly smart men understood that?
Damen waited for the doors to close behind Mairi before turning back to face Esther. “Why are you here?”
Genuine contrition was an emotion foreign to her, but Esther’s survival instincts made her strive to mimic it as she raised her hand in an appealing gesture to Damen. “This war between us is senseless. I see it now, Damen.” She waited for him to speak, but he didn’t. Trying again, she murmured, “I realize I was wrong to not let you explain yourself—-”
A mirthless laugh slipped past his lips. “We both know there is nothing for me to explain. I have always acted for the good of the company—-” His lip curled in distaste. “—-despite the false evidence presented against me.”
“I can make the evidence disappear—-”
His tone bored, he cut her off, saying, “Please don’t, Mother. I’m having too much fun now. It would be my greatest pleasure to rip your side’s evidence into pieces and expose it for the lies they truly are.”
Panic stirred inside Esther at Damen’s words. “We can still work together on this—-”
“Enough.” Weariness hit him, and Damen shook his head, a dismissive gesture that stung Esther’s pride. “It’s too late, Mother. You need to go. I cannot afford any kind of threat now.” He paused. “I don’t have just a wife to protect. I have an unborn child to keep safe as well.”
Any hope of reconciliation was lost as Esther gazed at Damen’s face, unable to see even a slightest hint of softening. The invisible noose around her neck tightened to the point that she felt like she could no longer breathe. Panic and frustrated rage had her ignoring her common sense, and she screamed, “You are really going to choose that slut over me?”
Damen’s lips tightened. “Call her that one more time—-”
“Slut!”
He exploded, “She isn’t that. You are!”
“How dare you?” Esther screeched. “I gave birth to you! You owe your life to me—-”
“If I could pay it back, I would,” he snarled back. “If I could have a choice of who my mother would be, I’d rather pick someone who didn’t have a single cent to her name—-”
Esther laughed coldly. “But you can’t, can you? And no matter what you do, it’s like I have always told you. You will always be my son, and you will always be bound—-”
“Leventis.” Drake stepped forward. “I think this is what your wife does not want you to be a part of. It would be better if you go and follow her inside.”
When Esther Leventis started to speak, Drake snapped his fingers, and out came the security agents that Damen had hired. He said politely, “I’m afraid you are in danger of trespassing, Mrs. Leventis. If you do not leave the premises in a minute, these men have the wherewithal to make you leave and, if necessary, have you arrested as well.”