Lilia’s POV
Damien had never loved me—not in the way a man should love the woman he’s building a life with. For years, I tried to convince myself otherwise. I told myself I wasn’t enough—that I was too reserved, too ordinary, too… not her.
But deep down, I knew it wasn’t about me.
It was always about Ayla.
Damien’s first love wasn’t just some woman from his past. She was his whole world, the one who vanished without a trace, leaving him hollow. And now, she was back.
She’d returned just as broken as when she left, with a scandal trailing behind her and no answers to the problems that drove her away. But Damien didn’t care. To him, she was still perfect, still untouchable, still the girl who’d captured his heart before I ever met him.
For years, I stood by him, waiting for the impossible. I thought if I just loved him enough, if I was patient enough, maybe—just maybe—he’d see me. But every time Ayla called, Damien dropped everything. He left me behind without a second thought, rushing to her side like a man chasing salvation.
I couldn’t do it anymore.
The airport buzzed with noise and movement, but I stood still, my hands gripping the handle of my suitcase as I waited for Damien to return. He’d left me there twenty minutes ago, promising to “sort something out,” but I knew better. Sorting things out always meant Ayla.
The sliding glass doors opened, and there he was—his sharp suit still immaculate despite the late hour, his tie loosened just enough to give him that effortless charm that made women turn their heads. But his expression was distant, preoccupied, as if I weren’t even there.
“Lila,” he said, walking up to me. His tone was clipped, like he was already bracing for a fight. “Let’s go. Our flight leaves soon.”
I didn’t move.
“Are you going to tell me what that was about?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
“What?” He frowned, glancing at his watch. “That phone call? It’s nothing. Just business.”
“Business,” I repeated, the word dripping with disbelief. “Business doesn’t make you look like you’ve seen a ghost, Damien. It’s Ayla, isn’t it?”
His body tensed, his jaw tightening. For a moment, I thought he might deny it, but then he let out a sigh, running a hand through his hair. “She’s in trouble, Lila. I can’t just ignore her.”
“You can’t ignore her,” I said, a bitter laugh escaping me. “Of course, you can’t. You never can.”
“She needs help,” he said sharply, his voice rising in defense. “I owe her that much.”
“No, you don’t,” I snapped, stepping closer. “You don’t owe her anything, Damien. She left you. She broke you. And yet, here you are, throwing your entire life away for her.”
“I’m not throwing my life away,” he argued, his tone hard. “I’m just—”
“You’re just what? Fixing her? Saving her?” My voice cracked, but I didn’t care. “You’re always trying to save her, Damien. But what about me? Who’s going to save me?”
He flinched, the words hitting him like a physical blow. For a moment, he looked like he wanted to say something, but he stayed silent, his gaze fixed on the floor.
“I’ve been standing here for years,” I continued, my voice trembling. “Waiting for you to see me. Hoping that one day, you’d stop chasing ghosts and realize what you have right in front of you. But you never do.”
“It’s not that simple, Lila,” he said, finally meeting my gaze.
“It is that simple!” I shot back, frustration bubbling over. “You love her. You’ve always loved her. And I’ve been nothing but a distraction, haven’t I?”
He took a step back, his hands clenching at his sides. “That’s not fair,” he said, his voice low.
“Fair?” I repeated, my voice rising. “What’s not fair is you keeping me here, pretending this is something it’s not. You can’t keep doing this to me, Damien. You can’t have both of us.”
His eyes darkened, a flash of anger crossing his face. “I never asked you to stay, Lila,” he said, his tone cold. “You chose this. You knew what you were getting into.”
The words hit like a slap, and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe. My chest tightened, but I forced myself to stand tall, refusing to let him see how much it hurt.
“You’re right,” I said quietly, my voice shaking. “I did choose this. But that doesn’t mean I deserve to be treated like an afterthought.”
He opened his mouth to speak but stopped himself. The hesitation in his eyes told me everything I needed to know.
“You have to decide, Damien,” I said, forcing the words out. “It’s me or her. You can’t have both.”
The silence between us stretched, heavy and suffocating. I searched his face for something—anything—that would tell me he was willing to fight for us. But all I saw was doubt.
That hesitation was my answer.
I picked up my suitcase and turned toward the boarding gate, each step feeling like I was dragging my heart behind me.
If Damien couldn’t choose me now, he never would.
