~DAMIAN~Since the engagement party, my life had fallen into pieces and there was no one to blame but myself, I am the one who brought Cassie into my life, if I could have stayed with Sierra and not fought those feelings my life would have been better by now, yes all those years I thought I loved Cassie but it was actually Sierra I loved—her innocence, kindness, and love, what was there not to love? I wished I could have accepted it, well now after the engagement party it would be hard not to marry Cassie as society would judge, the hope of winning Sierra again was gone, I think it’s time I accepted the truth, Cassie was carrying my child and Sierra was marrying another man, they even had a daughter, that I was sure of now as if she was my daughter then Sierra could have told me, she could have told me.I was looking in the mirror, working on my tie, as these thoughts came into my head. I don’t know when Cassie got here, as the only time I noticed her presence was when I saw her nails
~DAMIAN~I was already in the living room. I kicked the table in frustration. Before my mother died, her last wish was for me to get married. I already failed her, and now I was about to fail my father too, as his wish was for me to make The Winters successful. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Winters, but I suggest you stay home for at least a week before you can make an appearance here, just until everything cools down.”“I know, well, I’m trusting you and Lily with the company, is Jane there?” I asked as Jane hadn’t called to check on me, which was unlike her, she always called when I was an hour late for work.
~DAMIAN~I gasped for air as I felt my nose blocked. It felt like everything in me had just stopped working, I couldn’t feel the blood flow to my head, and it felt like my head went blank. "Damian, you need to breathe. Breathe okay.” James's voice sounded far away from me while I felt him help me sit up. "Okay, open your mouth,” he instructed, but I shook my head. He forced open my mouth and poured the shot into my mouth. He held my lips together and forced me to swallow. “Passing out won’t help, better drink up and come up with a solution to it,” he said, I swallowed the alcohol, and I started to feel better.It took about five minutes for the alcohol to do its magic, and next, I felt like myself again, although my heart was beating in pain as with every beat it felt like it was hitting against a rock. “I asked her to kill them, I’m a monster, how do I even face them?” "Damian, you need to calm down.”“You’re asking me to calm down, I just told you that I’m a monster, that I’m a mur
~SIERRA~I was in my office, still trying Gilbert’s number. I have been trying since I woke up, but still, he didn’t pick it up. I left countless voice notes, but he hasn’t gotten back to me. I wanted to apologize, I wanted him to come back. Yes, I was strong, but I realised I was strong because he believed in me. Gilbert always made me believe I could do anything, and that’s why I got here. I couldn’t lose our friendship over this, and if he loved me, then there was no problem in giving him a chance. Gilbert has been a good man, caring and loving. What more could I ask for in a man? Nana said I wasn’t growing young, and really, I’ve mourned over Damian enough if he could move on, who was I not to?
~SIERRA~Nana sat beside me and took my hands in hers. I blinked the tears and looked at her. “You don't have to marry Gilbert if you don't love him.” I chuckled, confused, she was the one advising me to give Gilbert a chance just a few days ago. When did she change her mind? “What I mean is that you don’t need to enter a relationship you don’t want just for the sake of others.”“They are not others, Nana, they are my children.”“I know. Do you remember what I told you? I know we sacrifice for our children, but when we are unhappy with the sacrifice, the ones we sacrificed for won’t be happy either, they might even blame themselves for your unhappiness.” She gently rubbed my hands.“It doesn’t matter, Nana, my children's happiness should come first,” I said, and she nodded.“I ask that you think about it. Remember, they are children. Sure, they are upset right now, but once a day or two passes, they’ll forget all about Gilbert and move on,” she said, and I smiled before I stood up and
~NEXT DAY~~SIERRA~I took my satin high-cut slit golden dress, I haven’t worn it in years. It was for special occasions, but since I was going to try and convince Gilbert—I needed to look beautiful. I sat on a chair to curl my hair, but as I picked the curler, I remembered what Cassie said—she was the one who picked up Damian’s phone, she told me he asked her to pick it up and tell me to stay away. Well, Cassie reminded me of the time she returned when he threw divorce papers at me. She reminded me how he wanted nothing to do with my kids, and I thanked her for picking as I was really stupid to think that Damian deserved to know about my kids when he refused them even before they were born.
TEXAS, HOUSTON 2023~SIERRA~I couldn’t believe it. Gilbert was here having fun while I blamed myself for his leave when he actually left to come for his reasons. I felt so stupid that I even palmed my forehead. “It’s…it’s not what you think, I…I can explain.” I shook my head and turned to leave. Of course, he came running but stopped by the door as he was still naked. “Sierra! Please, l–let me get dressed so we can discuss this.” I didn’t listen as I walked to my car, and the guard opened the door for me. How could he explain this? He was drugged, because clearly he wasn’t since he had the guts to complain when she tapped him. “Ms. Reid, is everything okay?” My driver asked as soon as he noticed my mood.I rubbed my forehead and then nodded. “Can you take me to the nearest bar, please?”“Alright,” he agreed as he nodded and made a turn. My guards suggested to the driver a bar with privacy, they wanted to avoid fans.It didn’t take time to arrive at a bar, as the driver pulled over a
TEXAS, HOUSTON 2023~SIERRA~I couldn’t believe him, so because I almost kissed him, he thought I wanted to sleep with him. I gestured to my guard to pay for the bill and stood up. "Please,” he begged. I only looked at him and attempted to walk away, and he stood too, and held me by my hand. But before I could ask him to let me go, one of my guards came and got between us. “Sierra, I didn’t mean for it to come out like that,” he apologized. "Please stay, let’s chat,” he said, but I shook my head and walked out with my other guard holding my hand while the others held him. Luckily, the bar was not filled with people as it was still early, so no dramas.