Chapter 20

The days that followed Damian’s confession were heavy with unspoken words, lingering doubts, and uncharted waters. Sophia had promised herself that she wouldn’t let his past define him, that she would stand by him, no matter what. But deep down, she couldn’t help but wrestle with the complexities of his past. She didn’t want to judge him for the mistakes he had made, but it was hard not to wonder if his past would eventually catch up to them both.

At work, the tension between them was palpable. Damian’s usual confident demeanor had been replaced with a certain weariness, as though the burden of his past was now being carried on his shoulders, visible to those around him. His focus had shifted, and though he was still a leader to his team, it was clear that something had changed within him. The self-doubt was there, lingering in his every move, and it made Sophia uneasy.

Sophia tried to focus on her work, but her thoughts kept drifting back to Damian. Was he really the man he showed her? Or was he just wearing a mask, pretending to be someone he wasn’t? The confusion gnawed at her, and as the days stretched on, the cracks in their relationship started to widen.

She had always prided herself on being strong, on being able to handle whatever life threw her way. But now, with Damian’s past hanging over them, she was beginning to question everything. She needed to understand, needed him to show her that the man she was falling for was more than just a reflection of the man he had been.

It was one of those late nights at the office when everything seemed to spiral out of control. Damian had been distant all day, consumed by his work and the Inner turmoil that seemed to plague him. Sophia couldn’t take it any longer. She couldn’t stand watching him pull away, couldn’t stand seeing him crumble under the weight of the past that he refused to let go of.

After what felt like an eternity, she found him in his office, his silhouette framed by the dim glow of his desk lamp. He was hunched over a stack of papers, his brow furrowed in concentration, but the tension in his posture was unmistakable.

“Damian,” she said softly, stepping into the room.

He didn’t look up immediately, but after a few moments, he sighed and set down his pen. “Sophia,” he said quietly. “I wasn’t expecting you to still be here.”

She crossed the room and stood in front of him, searching his face for the signs of the man he used to be. The man who had cracked a smile at her sarcastic remarks, the man who had laughed with her about the absurdities of life. But now, all she saw was a shell of the person he once was—a man broken by the weight of his own secrets.

“I can’t keep doing this,” she said, her voice trembling. “I can’t keep pretending like everything is fine when it’s not. You’ve been shutting me out, Damian. You said you wouldn’t, but that’s exactly what you’re doing.”

Damian stood up slowly, his expression unreadable. “I didn’t mean to push you away,” he said, his voice low. “I’m just trying to get through it. Trying to figure out how to move forward without dragging you into my mess.”

Sophia’s chest tightened at the words. She had been trying so hard to understand, to let him take his time, but this was different. This was starting to feel like a wall she couldn’t get through.

“You don’t have to do this alone,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “You never have to. I’m here, Damian. I’m not going anywhere.”

But even as the words left her mouth, she could see the hesitation in his eyes. He was pulling away again, retreating into the fortress he had built around himself. And it hurt more than she cared to admit.

“I don’t want you to see me as broken,” Damian said quietly. “I don’t want you to think less of me.”

Sophia’s heart shattered at the vulnerability in his voice. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust her; it was that he didn’t trust himself. He didn’t believe that he was worthy of her love, of her time, of the future they had once envisioned together.

“I don’t think less of you, Damian,” she said, her voice firm. “But I can’t keep fighting for a relationship when it feels like I’m doing it alone. I need you to let me in. I need you to trust me.”

Damian’s eyes filled with regret, but he didn’t move toward her. “I can’t give you that right now,” he whispered.

Sophia took a step back, her heart heavy in her chest. She had known, deep down, that this moment was coming. She had known that Damian’s fear of rejection, his inability to confront h”s past, would eventually tear them apart. And yet, even as she stood there, watching him crumble, she still cared for him.

“Maybe we need some time,” she said, the words tasting bitter on her tongue. “Maybe you need time to figure things out.”

Damian didn’t speak, his eyes distant and lost. She could see the pain in his expression, the way he was battling with himself, and it broke her heart. He wasn’t ready, and neither of them could force it.

Sophia turned and walked toward the door, her steps heavy, her heart aching. She didn’t want to leave him like this, but she didn’t know how much more she could take.

As she reached the door, she stopped, glancing back at him. Damian stood motionless, his gaze still fixed on the floor.

“I’m not giving up on us,” she said, her voice soft yet firm. “But you need to make the decision, Damian. I can’t keep waiting in the shadows while you hide from your past.”

And with that, she left.

As she walked down the hallway, tears welled in her eyes, but she didn’t let them fall. She had no idea where their relationship was headed or if there was even a future for them anymore. But one thing was clear: they were both standing at a breaking point, and only time would tell if they could heal from the damage that had been done.

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