Chapter 7: "Aren't you something to admire?"
His heart leaped as he heard footsteps approaching the door. He held his breath, hoping that she would open the door. And just when he thought he couldn't wait another second, the door opened. Unfortunately, it wasn't who he expected would open the door.
Standing by the door, his ex-friend, Alaric's eyes narrowed. His face grew cold and his jaw clenched, as if the mere sight of Damon disgusted him.
"Who is it?" Jenna's said as she appeared in the hallway and then stopped dead in her tracks at the sight of him, her mouth agape. "You!" She hissed, stepping closer. "What are you doing here?" She added.
He swallowed, not because he was suddenly nervous but because he just realized that in his haste to see his wife, he never planned what he was going to say. "Hello, Jenna." He managed to choke. "I'm… I'm here to see Elena. Please can I—"
"No!" Jenna refused, immediately, with a stone face and very cold eyes. "You can't meet her."
"Jenna, please." He pleaded.
"We know that you know now." Alaric interrupted.
"Your sister came her yesterday, she told us everything." Jenna took a deep breath as if controlling her anger, "I'm going to tell you exactly what I told her. It's too late for what you're trying to do, now please just leave us alone. Elena's doing fine. We don't need you. She doesn't need you." Her words held so much anger, so much contempt wrapped up in pain and hatred.
A wave of sickness and pain washed over him. He deserved it. He deserved every bit of pain after what he made Elena and her family go through.
"You'll never hurt my niece again." Jenna added with conviction.
"I never intended to hurt her." His voice was filled with sadness and shame.
"but you did hurt her. Do you even know how much she suffered? Do you have any idea what you put her through? You made her life a living hell. She couldn't step out of the house without the media and people harassing her... calling her names. You and your family ruined her reputation with a lie. For months, she couldn't get a single job because of this scandal." Her eyes were filled with tears, and her bottom lip was trembling as if reliving the horrible time.
His own eyes watered; he had never felt so deeply, so completely ashamed. He flinched as she continued telling him how once people cornered Elena in a shop and called her names, telling her how she was a disgrace to married women all around the world. They shamed her, hurt her, and humiliated her, and stripped her of her dignity by saying that she was a money hungry slut. This didn't just happen one time, apparently it happened almost every time she went out for a couple of months. The social and press media added to her problems by circulating false stories about her and Mason.
Jenna's words felt like a knife slicing through him. Did he really put his wife through all that pain. He felt disgusted by himself. Blood rushed to the back of his neck, his skin flushing pale with his anger, an anger directed to himself. His knuckles cracked as he clenched and unclenched his hands. He squeezed his eyes shut yet tears of agony and despair rolled down the corner of his eyes. He felt so much remorse for causing her pain that he felt it crush his heart with each breath he took.
"This would be the biggest regret of my life." He said looking up. "But please let me fix it. I know I can never make it up to her but I promise I'll work all my life trying."
"No, you just need to leave her alone. She is finally moving on. She deserves happiness. All the things that have happened in her life, she doesn't need you to add to them anymore." Jenna replied.
"I can give her happiness. I will give her the world. If you could just let me talk to her…" He said as he tried to enter but Jenna blocked his path.
"I said you can't meet her." She said, harshly.
"Jenna, I really respect you but you can't stop me from seeing my wife." His voice was insistent now.
"She signed the divorce papers five months ago. She isn't your wife anymore."
"She signed, I didn't. She is still my wife and she'll always be my wife." He replied sternly this time. Jenna has to accept that fact.
"Then I guess we will take this to court." She said, folding her arms on her chest. "You have no business here anymore, please leave."
"Apparently I have. I know she is pregnant." He said holding the door so she wouldn't close it. He had to meet Elena now. Where was she? Did she know he was here? Was she listening to their conversation? Why wasn't she coming out?
"So?"
"So?" He positively gaped at her. "I know that I am about to have a child with her. That child is as much as mine as its hers. You don't expect me to hop back in the cab and go away, do you?"
"Yes." It was hiss.
"No," He shook his head. Adamantly.
"She doesn't need you."
"You can't decide that for her and even if she doesn't need me, I need her and my child." He replied, his voice shaking with the prospect of alternative. No, he needed her back. She is his.
"Our lives are fine the way they are. We don't need you coming in, disrupting things, ruining all the progress she made and then leaving when someone makes another accusation that they slept with your wife." It was a low blow but Jenna didn't regret it.
She saw him visibly flinch at her words. Pain, guilt and agony filled his eyes. With a sudden movement, he entered the house, ignoring them calling after him. "Elena! ELENA! Where are you? I have talk to you. Please, I'm sorry. Elena!" He shouted her name as he looked around.
"What the hell?" He heard Alaric and Jenna coming after him.
"She isn't here." Alaric said, interrupting his search for her. "She left New York five months ago."
"What?"
"Your 'friend' and your brother threatened her that if she stayed here any longer they'll make her life even worse. So she left." Alaric said.
"Fucking Stefan and Katherine." In his mind, he cursed them in all the languages he knew.
"She is gone now." Jenna said. "and don't expect us to tell you where she is."
Even though Alaric and Jenna refused to help him in anyway, he still found a way to reach her. His best friend Enzo was the head of his company's law department. Enzo informed him that apart from Elena's relatives Elena's attorney knew about her location too.
Freya Smith was his cousin Rose, husband's sister. With Elijah's request Freya finally accepted to disclose his wife's address but on two conditions. One, she demanded a very heavy price and two, a promise that he would not tell anyone regarding this deal.
He was very rich. He had to pay off corrupt officials every month, money was never an issue for him. He readily accepted both her conditions and she finally gave him her address.
She was in Mystic Falls, her childhood town. With a call, he arranged flight on his private jet to Richmond. And right now, he was on his way to her.
He sighed with relief, knowing that it wouldn't be too much time before he would have her back in his arms. She had already said in her letter that she forgave him. And he knew Elena enough to know that she never kept grudges. She had the kindest soul, she will surely forgive him and take him back, like the countless times she did before.
In the few times they had 'real fights' she always managed to look in to his face and forgive him. He remembered he asked her once how she could do that? Because he was a very vengeful person. He could never easily forgive and forget no matter how much it hurt him too. It amazed how she could get over things so quick. How can someone be so forgiving?
"Disappointments are for a season but our relationship is for a life time." She told him, cupping his face. "And besides what would I gain in the long run to make you suffer even more for your mistakes."
He closed his eyes, restricting the salty tears from escaping.
"Ground crew reports ready for start, sir." The steward said, snapping him out of his trance. "Please, fasten your seat belt. We will take off in about five minutes." He added.
He nodded, pulling the seat belt and inserting it into the lock. After the usual safety ritual, the plane finally took off albeit two hours late than he expected.
As he laid his head back on the cushion, he realized he hasn't slept in the last two nights. He was tired and exhausted but his anxiety and desperation to reach her wouldn't let him sleep. Despite his restlessness, he closed his eyes, thinking about her.
September, 2014
It had been almost six months to the time Elena arrived at his house. A lot had changed, even though it appeared the same. His feelings for her had grown surprisingly fast. For some reason, he found himself madly attracted to her. Somehow, he felt himself fascinated by the dark tresses that hung over her shoulders to her back. He would often think of how it would feel to run his fingers through them.
"No, don't go there." He warned himself. "She is just your employee." He kept reminding himself. She was just here for his mother's health and nothing more. She was wonderful at her job and he really needed her around. After all, his mother's health, mental and physical, was more important than anything in the world.
He was sure she was attracted to him too. Women always were. He knew if he asked her out she wouldn't deny him. But he knew that as soon as he had her, the attraction would die out and then working together would be plain awkward. It was better for both of them to just remain friends, though he continuously reminded her that they weren't even that.
But even though he had restricted himself, sometimes he thought he would go crazy because of her. He tried to fight his attraction for her like hell but he couldn't and she certainly didn't make it easy for him either.
Of course she was pretty — beautiful, in fact He loved the way she looked, the way her light brown eyes shone when she talked about his mother's treatment and her fast recovery, the way she worked, talking a mile a minute all the while, laughing and cracking jokes, the way her lips parted slightly when she was thinking, the way her dark, lustrous hair moved when she ran her fingers through it, the way the fabric of her skin tight mini dress always clung to her curves, buttoned just low enough at the neckline for him to glimpse the swell of her breasts.
Desire would flame through him stronger than it never did before and he found himself staying away late from his own house just so he could stay away from the temptation she was. Since he couldn't have her, he found comfort from his restlessness in other warm bodies. He started spending more nights in hotels rather than his house.
Of course, she noticed and asked him why he stayed away at nights. He deflected her questions but it wasn't very hard to put pieces together when reporters follows you around twenty-four-seven. He saw a brief hurt and disappointment in her eyes before she started pretending like nothing mattered. Or maybe it didn't matter, maybe he was just imagining things.
He continuously reminded himself that it was for the best. And this woman wasn't even his type. She was a little spit fire. She had opinions about everything that she made sure she voiced. She didn't remain on the sidelines like most corporate businessmen's wives did and spoke when she felt he was being unfair.
He had dated a lot of women before but the truth was, they were always with him for a reason. Mostly, it was about his looks, his accomplishments, his inheritance and his lavish lifestyle. They were adapted to feeding his ego with undivided attention and approving all his opinions whether it was right or wrong. This was exactly why Elena wasn't the woman for him. He didn't see her as the type of woman who would chase after him and she sure as hell wasn't into feeding his ego or pretended to be interested in his interests. And as much as he knew her, she would never approve of all his opinions, if anything she loved to contradict him and prove him wrong.
Besides all that, he didn't approve of her friend circle either. To this date, he didn't know where she went with the mystery guy on the motorcycle, every Friday and where she stayed all night. He was sure she went to some stoner parties with her good for nothing college friends.
He couldn't imagine the backlash he will receive from his society if they found out his real feelings for her. She wasn't even remotely close to his status. No! She was definitely not his type of woman.
He was strictly adamant on keeping distance from her but fate had other plans. After spending the night with another stranger woman in hotel, he'd just returned home when he heard sounds coming from the living room. It was as if there were a lot of people there.
He recognized Elena's laughter as a male voice said something funny. Did she call her friends here? She was so fired if she did. He would not tolerate that type of non-sense in his house. He didn't know what made him angrier, that she called a guy in his house or that she was laughing at his stupid jokes.
Silently, he crossed the hall and made his way to the double doors entering the lavish living room.
"Mum! Uncle Damon is here!" Lizzie announced as soon as she spotted him.
"Hi Damon!" Caroline greeted him cheerfully.
"Brother!" Stefan said, as he made his way to him and pulled him in a bear hug.
"Stefan, You're back." He said as he pulled back, smiling genuinely after a long time. "I thought you said the project needed another month. How are you here if…"
"I was bored." Stefan said, rolling his eyes. "And don't worry, I left Uncle Zach to look over things for me. He has it all under control."
"Stefan! I specifically told you too…" He didn't even complete before Stefan interrupted. "See, Mama! That's why I don't come here often. I barely stepped in his house and he started questioning me about work!" He said childishly as he sat next to his mother on the sofa.
"Damon, please can you let him breathe for a minute." Lily scolded him. She always babied him so much it annoyed both Damon and Caroline. He stifled a growl and dropped on the couch opposite to them.
In a while, breakfast was served. Caroline and Lily invited Elena to join in the family time. She enjoyed the witty banters and debates between the siblings, laughing and commenting whenever appropriate.
After breakfast, they all decided to sit by the pool and enjoy the day. Damon wanted to excuse himself since he had work but Lily insisted she wanted them all around her.
"By the way, where were you last night, Damon." Stefan asked.
"Work." He replied, avoiding both Elena and his mother's eyes.
"Really? Because when I called office they said you left before eight." Stefan said, smirking.
"None of your damn business, Stefan." He replied, annoyed.
"It's surprising that you have to go out for entertainment." He said, smiling wickedly. "When there are better things that can keep you occupied inside the house." He added under breath but making sure he heard it.
"Don't start again, Stef." He warned.
"I see you've made interesting changes to the house." Stefan whispered. "You know… like replacing fat Rosetta with beautiful Elena."
"Huh… I never noticed." He said, indifferently.
Stefan almost choked on his banana shake. "You really think I'll believe that crap."
"Stefan, unlike you I have a class."
"So, you're not remotely interested in the hot nurse." Stefan said.
"Miss Gilbert! Please call her Miss Gilbert." He said, rolling his eyes.
"I don't know about that but she'd be calling me God when I'm done with her." Stefan said as he ran his fingers through his hair.
"Absolutely not." He warned. Somehow even the thought of them together appalled him.
"I thought you said you weren't interested."
"I'm not but I will not allow you to sleep with my employees."
"I assure you that there won't be much sleeping going on." Stefan said, getting up.
"Stefan! Stefan! No!" He warned but Stefan swiftly made his way to Elena who was sitting next to his mother, playing with Lizzie and Josie while talking to Caroline about her next fashion show.
"Elena," Stefan said, pulling his most charming smile. "Damon just told me how you've been working tirelessly for the past six months here without taking a day off." He said, pulling out a chair and sitting in front of them.
She looked at her boss for a second and then nodded. "Perks of being a full time nurse." She said, smiling warmly at him. Too warmly, much to his distaste.
"One of my friends is throwing a party for me tonight… like in an honor of my return after such a long time. How would you like to be my date?" He said, holding her hand.
Her eyes landed on her boss with his perpetually sour face and disapproving glare, it was clear that he didn't want her to go with him.
"Miss Gilbert can't go, Stefan. She is the only one who knows about Mama's meds and their timings. Also Mama feels uncomfortable without her." He came up with an excuse.
"Don't be ridiculous." Lily interrupted, her matchmaking instincts in action. "Stefan is right. Elena needs a time out from all the work. You should go with him, dear—"
"but Lily,"
"Care is going to stay over for the day. She knows about by medicines and their timings. Don't worry about me." Lily said before she could refuse.
"Well than it's decided. You're going to the party with me." Stefan said, grinning.
It was almost midnight when Stefan dropped her back home. Despite her initial reservations, Stefan was genuinely a nice guy and he really seemed interested in her. He even made her promise for another date.
A few months back, when she started working for Mr. Salvatore's mother, she was insanely attracted to her boss. There was a strange pain and restlessness in his eyes. She wanted to remove that. For some reason, she wanted to make him happy.
She tried a lot of things to make him open up to her. But it was like as much as she tried to win his trust he pushed her away from him even more. A month ago, he admitted he was attracted to her but then suddenly he started to disappear at nights. He would rarely come home now. She felt as if he was avoiding her. It hurt her a bit more than she cared to admit. Why was he behaving like that? Did she do something wrong?
She wanted to confront him about that but then she read tabloid articles about him sleeping around with random women. Somehow, it really hurt her. However, she masked her emotions and pretended to stay oblivious to situation.
Today, he had been acting very strange. He had been in a terrible mood all day and even shouted at the house crew workers for apparently no reason at all. She was afraid this was because of her. Maybe, he didn't want her to be around his brother. When she shared her opinion with Caroline, her best friend thought it was ridiculous and that her brother was always a 'moody asshole'.
She had just washed her make up clean and changed into her tank top and boy shorts when she heard a strange noise coming from her room. Immediately, she went outside to see to check. She had barely stepped out and when someone pulled her hand and shoved her against the wall, pinning her hands to either side of her head.
She held her breath for a moment and then slowly opened her eyes, finding a pair of striking blue eyes staring back at her intensely. "Mr. Salvatore, what… what are you doing?" She managed to choke.
"You shouldn't have gone today." She could smell the alcohol on his breath and it didn't smell like he only had one beer or two; he'd been drinking heavy alcohol.
"Are you drunk?"
"You like this, don't you?" With a gentle thumb, he rubbed her lower lip as if fascinated by its delicateness.
"Excuse me," She narrowed her eyes.
"You like the attention, don't you? You wear these hot clothes, do your hair and nails to attract men and make all the girls jealous of you… you're so bad…" He resisted, nuzzling into her neck, delighting that her breath shook when he touched her.
"You're not in your senses." Her voice seemed shaky, he was really affecting her. "I think you should leave."
"Did you have fun with my brother? Do you like him? He certainly seems like he likes you." He said, grazing her skin with his lips.
"Damon, let's take you to your room. You should sleep it off." She tried to break free but he held her tightly.
"Everyone thinks you're this innocent sweet girl but I know the truth. I know what you're really like. I have seen women like you before. You couldn't add me to your conquer list so you went after my brother. But you know what I give up. I'm not fighting this anymore. Let's do this."
Before she could respond, his mouth descended on hers, their lips barely touched before she pushed him. "No. No. Stop. You're better than this."
He tried to kiss her again, but Elena turned her head even further, leaning away from him. As much as she wanted him, she didn't want him like this. It felt wrong. When he continued, she pushed him away, reached her hand up and slapped him across the face. "Get away from me."
"What's the matter? I thought this is what you wanted. Or now, that you have had my brother you don't want me?" He seemed, puzzled.
"No, I don't. Not like this. Please, leave now." She demanded.
"Your loss." He snickered, stumbling backward.
She stood quietly as he made his way out. As soon as he left she locked the door, breaking into sobs. Did he really think that low about her? She never knew. She thought they were friends. He took her friendly gestures for her attempts to seduce him for money. She would admit she was attracted to him but her intentions had been pure. She could tolerate anything but she never compromise on her self-respect.
By the end of the night, she took her decision.
He woke up with a headache. It was more like a dull throbbing in the front part of his brain. As if he'd been on drinking all night. He started to sit up when a terrible pain shot through his shoulder. He groaned, feeling a strange sting on his face as if someone had slapped him. That's when he remembered events of the previous night.
He remembered her getting ready excitedly for the party, he remembered the utter dread he felt when she left with Stefan, he remembered the raging jealousy he felt when he pictured her in some bar charming the daylights out of his brother.
He remembered drinking last night as he sat there, drinking until everything became a blur. Then came the flashes, flashes of Elena coming back, he bursting into her room, blaming her for seducing him for money and then forcefully kissing her… Crap! He thought.
"Fuck!" He muttered, getting up.
A loud authoritative knock on the door nearly startled him. "Mr. Salvatore! We need to talk. Now!" Elena demanded. And before he could reply, she marched right in, her high heels almost striking sparks from the marble floor. She glared at him furiously, her eyes shooting daggers at him.
"Miss Gilbert, I'm really…"
"Ashamed, disgusted, repulsed!" She gritted through her teeth. "Do you even remember what you did last night?"
"I was drunk, I was…"
"Let me finish, Mr. Salvatore. Not only did you try to forcefully kiss me but you also blamed me for seducing you for your money."
"Elena—"
"Let me make this clear. Firstly, I have no interest in you or your money. I'm a hardworking, self-dependent woman. I have worked tirelessly and earned my wages. Secondly, get your head out of your ass.
Don't take my friendliness for my attempts to seduce you. And the only reason I try to be friendly with you is because I pity you. You have all the money in the world but you are not happy. You are closed off, emotionally dead, workaholic money making machine and I pity your pathetic excuse for a life. But thank you for letting me know of your cheap mentality."
"Elena, I was drunk."
"A drunk mind speaks a sober heart." She folded her arms on her chest. "You told me what you really think about me."
"No, I don't."
"I don't think I can work like this. I won't compromise my integrity and self-respect."
"Elena, I am really sorry for what I did to you, I really am. I don't know how it happened. I was drunk and jealous."
"Jealous?"
"I really like you a lot. I have been fighting the attraction for too long. And when I saw you with him…" His eyes darkened for a moment as if the memory still bothered him. "I don't know what happened. I started thinking… making up stuff so I would kill the attraction but you wouldn't leave my mind and I…" He said whatever came to his mind. He wanted to be honest with her for once. "I shouldn't have attacked you, Elena. I'm really sorry."
"Sorry? You can't do that Mr. Salvatore, you can't make me feel horrible about myself and take things back with a sorry, it's not that easy." She widened her eyes at him.
"Elena please let me show how sorry I am, whatever it takes, how can I make up to you?" he ran his fingers through his hair.
"I don't want any rich apologies, not even an apology, I can't stay here anymore, the more I stay here the more I feel insulted."
"Elena please don't talk like that, not for me, but my mother, she hasn't connected with anyone but you, if you leave she will lock herself away from us again, we might lose all the progress you worked so hard for."He held her hand but let go as soon as she glared at him.
"Don't try to make this about Lily. "She frowned.
"Elena I know you're upset okay, I made a horrible mistake and I'm ready to do anything to make up for it but … but don't punish my mom for that, I won't force you to stay here but I should let you know that she will be very stressed about this, she will probably never talk to me, I don't want to lose my mother please."He couldn't even look into her eyes.
She stood silent for a while before she finally sighed. He was right, she couldn't leave her patient in the middle of treatment. That would be ethically wrong.
"Okay, I'll give it a thought, but right now I can't stay here. I need some time to get over it. I'm going back home for a while. I'll let you know about my decision." She said.
"Yes…yes of course how much time do you need?" He suddenly felt sad at the thought of not seeing her.
"I don't know, a day off." She replied, annoyed.
"Okay, I'd be..." he said but stopped when she turned, leaving. She slammed the door after her.
"waiting for your answer." he completed anyway.
"Elena!" Jeremy broke into her thoughts again.
"Yes." she blinked her eyes.
"Where are you? I've been telling you how we won 0-2 last week and you…" He ruffled her hair.
"I am sorry, Jer. All ears now! "
Her phone buzzed, he was calling again, she switched it off now. She didn't want to talk to him so soon. She didn't want to even think about him. But somehow she couldn't get him out of her mind. His eyes kept haunting her now. A day ago, when she confronted him, he genuinely seemed sorry. He told her he did everything out of jealousy.
He was attracted to her and seeing her with his brother didn't set well with him. Could this be? Damon Salvatore, a multi-national company owner, a man of high social status, member of New York elite society, attracted to her? She shook her head trying to block out her crazy thoughts. So, what if he was? It's not like she cared.
Even with his horrible attitude she had to admit that he was handsome as sin. He was the quiet and mysterious type. He kept his distance from everyone and she always found him either working or reading, speaking only when his opinion was asked, always angry always serious and never trusting anyone. But she felt like he had a different side too. A wild side. A side she wanted to explore…
"ELENA!" Jeremy said, annoyed by her lack of attention.
"Jer, so do you have any match coming up?"
"yeah…it's with the.."
He kept going on and on, they talked for hours, as she tried to avoid thinking about her boss. Later when she switched her phone on, it buzzed immediately. "Really? Now again." She said, checking to see the caller.
It wasn't Damon, it was Caroline. She huffed, answering. Couldn't they leave her on her day off?
"Hello?"
"Elena…" She was sobbing.
"Care, what's wrong?"
"Elena, it's mom, Mrs. Flowers accidentally gave her the wrong doze, she's out of control now , we can't keep her calm."
Her voice broke down and she was choking on words.
Elena stood up from the couch. "Okay. Okay. Wait! I'm on my way."
So that's the reason Damon was practically blowing up her phone with calls, Oh God! She felt guilty now. She should have answered.
She rushed to her room and took her car keys and immediately left.
Lily had been put to bed, she talked almost an hour to comfort her before Lily finally believed she wasn't in danger anymore.
Throughout the process she knew Damon was by the door but when she turned to see him now, he wasn't there. Elena sighed going out and saw him out in the balcony, leaning on the railing. He was looking at dark sky, a gloomy, almost heart-broken expression of his face.
"Hey!" She stood next to him, arms folded. She had been mad at him the whole day but right now she felt sorry for him. She knew how it felt to see someone you love suffer. It killed you from within, standing there watching them in pain.
He shook his head turning to her. "I am a loser, biggest failure and a pathetic excuse for a son." His voice seemed shaky.
"Damon, you can't blame this on yourself" she took a step towards him. "She's ill."
"Blame this? I am not blaming myself. This is my fault. I forgot to give her medicines because I was too busy for her. I was too busy finalizing a deal. I was busy making more money while my mother was suffering… like you said yesterday, closed off, emotionally dead, workaholic money making machine."
She pursed her lip, feeling guilty now.
"This is me, the responsible son, who couldn't take care of his own mother without you for a day, I am no good, Elena. I'm useless, pathetic and a loser."
He rubbed his palms against his eyes she could see how red and swollen they were as if he'd been crying. "Don't be so hard on yourself. We learn from our mistakes. And this could've happened to anyone. Lily is sick. She is unstable. It would take a lot of time for her to recover. This break down didn't happen because of the wrong medicine, it was regular break down. This isn't your fault."
"It is, I am a mess, I ruined everything in a matter of twenty-four hours. Jealousy, animalistic behavior with you, ignoring my mother, ruining all the progress we made with her…"
She sighed. "Damon." She held his arm and turned him to her. "Patients like Lily need a lot of time to recover."
"All these responsibilities… I don't think I can do this." He mumbled, running his hand through his hair.
"It's going to be okay you can do this. You've done well so far. This is just a minor bump in the road. "
"I can't, not without you Elena, I need you, I was insisting for you to stay before but now I beg you not to leave me on my own. "
She nodded. "Of course, I won't go."
"Promise me you won't leave me… us." There was too much vulnerability in his eyes. He seemed so exhausted, so lost. It felt like his world depended on her answer.
She didn't know what took over her. All she knew that, she had to remove that restlessness and misery from his eyes. She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him, drawing him into a warm sweet embrace, an embrace he returned immediately, putting his arms around her waist, holding her protectively.
"Promise."
He didn't know how long they held on to each other but he was in no hurry to pull away because for the first time in a long time, he felt peace.
A/N: Again, since my beta is still sick I didn't find it in myself to bother her, so please excuse my mistakes. We'll be having a couple of flashback chapters to get a better understanding of the background story before we jump to present time line.
Thank you so much for the massive response on the previous chapter. I'm almost at 250 reviews, which is huge. This is TEAM WORK guys. Thank you so much for reading this story and giving me your precious feedback about it.
I'll be waiting for your feedback on this chapter as I've put a lot of effort on this. So please review and let me know what you thought of the whole Damon- Jenna confrontation and do you feel like he deserved it? Also the past time lines where Damon realize that Elena isn't just some shallow girl he can get, she has a strong character and she is much more than he thought. Can't wait for your response!
Shout out to Salvatoreboys4ever for awesome post finale stories! Do check them out!
Thank you for the support. Take care. Have a great week!
