Chapter Seventy nine

"I know this is the part where Amy would tell you about how I caused everything but before you do all that I'm just going to speak now." Gerald said and Stella turned to him in astonishment.

"What are you talking about, Gerald?"

"I did it for you! That's what I'm saying!" He stood up and she followed.

"Don't tell me you-"

"Yes Stella, I caused the fire and had George killed because he took you away from me and you did not want to divorce him." He cut her off. He sounded insane and it took a lot for Damien to not throttle him at that point.

The sound of a loud smack filled the room and it was the connecting of Stella's palm to Gerald's cheek in a hard slap.

Ariana had never seen her mother in law so angry. The woman looked like a fierce fire breathing dragon.

"I thought my daughter was dead all because of you! My son hates me because of you! Oh I wish I never met you!" Her scream was heart wrenching. It told how much of a broken heart she was nursing at the moment.

"Don't be like this. We we've been happy together all these years, don't let what anyone says or thinks get in the way." He was pleading with her like his life depended on it.

"Enough of all this yapping. I want him arrested." Damien ordered.

"I should have killed you when I had the chance." Gerald said to Damien with so much spite, one could tell he meant what he said.

"Now you even want to kill my son? I can't believe you Gerald!"

"You mean tampering with the brakes of my vehicle in several unsuccessful attempts." Damien said knowingly.

A bout of horrified gasps followed.

The police came in and everything turned chaotic. The cries and pleads for Damien's pardon fell on deaf ears and Ariana could not even speak to him because his actions were pretty much justified.

Gerald was taken away and his family trudged after him in utter anguish.

Documents were signed and Amy had finally recovered her inheritance, same as Damien.

He pulled her close into a tight embrace, not believing that she was finally in his arms after so long.

He wiped her tear filled eyes and assured her everything was fine now and she was going to get her life back now that she had gotten her inheritance.

"Would you like to stay with us?" Ariana asked, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"For a while. Until I get my own place." She answered with a nod.

"You don't plan on moving back to Bora Bora?" Ariana prodded further.

"I don't want to think about that for now." Amy said and she nodded in understanding.

"Let's get you to your room."

They walked hand in hand as Ariana led her towards the room her father had been in, the night he slept over and made sure she was settled in before she left.

****

Ariana's POV;

I left the room, shutting the door slowly behind me so as to not wake Amy who managed to just fall asleep after such a hectic turn of events that morning.

Indeed, the rich also cry. Here I was thinking that Damien had the perfect life but he was nursing all that pain and hurt inside of him. No wonder, he turned so cold and hardly ever showed his warm side. He had experienced so much betrayal.

But, I was sure now that all that had been sorted there was going to be a change.

I paused in my movement halfway down the hall.

"Wait. Did Damien marry me just because of his father's will and not my father's debt or both?" I thought aloud.

I wanted to go question him but I knew he was in no state of mind for that. I just needed to be by his side at this point, like any friend would.

I searched around for him and found that he was not within the house. I went outside and asked around only to be told that he was in the garden.

I walked the distance and found him seated on one of the finely crafted benches situated in the equally beautiful oasis away from the house.

I stood watching him for a while. I knew, he knew I was there but he did not say anything.

I sat next to him in silence as well as we enjoyed the peaceful sounds that came with nature.

"You want a hug?" I broke the long stretch of silence not knowing what else to say.

"Yeah." He rasped out.

"Come here." I gestured for him to come into my arms which I had spread wide and he did without hesitance.

Damien's obviously taller and he was practically leaning on my form so he had to put me on his laps just so that it could be a somewhat proper hug like I wanted it to be.

I rubbed my right hand through his soft locks even as my other hand was around his shoulder. He clung to my waist almost like his life depended on it.

I drew back a little bit and planted a kiss on his forehead and he sighed.

"I needed that." He confessed.

"I'm here for you. You know that right?"

"I know now." He said with a slight hint of a smile on his dangerously handsome face.

"Everything's going to be fine." I encouraged and he concurred with a nod.

"It sure will."

"I know what's on your mind." He startled me with his words and I gave him a questioning gaze.

"You're wondering if I married you because of my father's will." He stated the obvious. I admittedly nodded.

"I'll be honest. Yes." He confessed.

Wow.

"I obviously needed a wife and I had you as my only option." He added.

That sounded somewhat comforting. Scratch that, being his only option sounded empowering!

I voiced my thoughts out and he chuckled lightly.

"I'm glad I was able to make you laugh a little." I said with a relieved smile. I hated having to see him so emotional. My heart truly was breaking for him earlier.

"You always put me in a good mood. You're that cute." He said with another chuckle and I giggled.

"Let's go inside." I said.

"You go, I'll join you in a bit."

I got off him and walked towards the house, granting him a little more alone time.

***

Damien's POV;

I still hadn't told her the whole truth concerning our marriage but a part of it was out of the way and I was glad she took it well.

She was pitying me and I saw it in her eyes but then again, Ariana was always one to care and support you no matter what you're going through so it was understandable.

I was glad that this major issue was out of the way and I could stop living with the guilt of my father's death and my sister's disappearance.

Hopefully, I would be able to sleep better at night without the memories of that gory sight haunting my dreams every time.

I got up and finally decided to head for my bedroom to get some rest before going to my study to continue working.

Just before I could mount the stairs, I got an idea.

"I better get it out of the way." I said to myself. I went up, picked up my cheque book and called Jesse into my study.

He was in front of me in a matter of minutes.

"Have a seat Jesse." I ordered the moment he came in.

"Damien, I'm really sorry about my da-" He started speaking.

"It's alright. That's not why I called you." I cut his statement off.

"My wife says you want be a photographer?"I asked him and his eyes went wide with shock.

He cleared his throat awkwardly and tried explaining himself.

"Uh, well, I uh..." He was stuttering mess and I had no time for it.

"How much do you need?" I asked him, going straight to the point.

"What?" He gaped.

"You heard me."

"Any amount you give me would go a long way Damien." He said finally regaining his composure.

"You said any amount." I reminded him as I scribbled on the cheque book and signed.

"Yes."

I tore the cheque out and handed it over to him.

With the way his eyes grew bigger, I could tell he wanted to scream but was holding it in because of my presence.

"Five million dollars?!!" He exclaimed a little loudly and held his mouth afterwards.

"Thank you so much. You're the best. You don't even know how much this means to me. This is more than enough!" He rambled unable to hold back his joy filled smile and even ran around my table to give me a hug.

Unable to keep up with my blank expression any longer, I chuckled and gave him a pat on the back.

He left with an excited bounce in his step as he shut the door behind him.

Oh well, that's settled.