Chapter 8 I thought Dominic had finally left Pemberly for good . But to my surprise , he managed to team up with a colleague I once trusted , and together , they hatched a plan to deceive me . When I stepped onto the lawn , I was completely caught off guard . It was the weekend , and any good mood I had had disappeared the instant I saw him . He had carefully recreated our wedding ceremony , capturing every detail perfectly . Wearing the custom suit I had designed for him , he stood quietly to the side . His warm smile was fixed on me , full of affection . " Nora , will you marry me ? " he asked . My coworkers erupted in cheers around us . " Say yes ! Say yes ! " A surge of anger boiled inside me . After all the harassment he'd put me through , how could he still think I'd say yes ? Damien's eyes gleamed , a flicker of confidence shining through . " Do you really think staging a wedding would make me forgive you ? " I couldn't hold it in any longer . In front of all my coworkers , I slapped him hard . The crowd fell silent . After a long pause , someone finally spoke up . " He said he was your boyfriend … That you two were just- " " And you believed that ? " I cut in sharply . " Aren't you a lawyer ? What happened to facts and evidence ? " The group exchanged uneasy glances , the silence stretching between us . Damien stepped forward cautiously . Instinctively , I took a step back . " I know I was wrong , " he said . " This wasn't about forgiveness . I just wanted to make up for the past , hoping that it might bring a smile back to you . " This past year , I gave Astrid far too much attention . At first , I saw her merely as an inexperienced intern , someone who reminded me of the person I used to be . " I couldn't bear to watch her get reprimanded , so I found myself protecting her more than I should have . " I thought I was falling for her , but deep down , I was too afraid to face the truth . That's why I kept favoring her , again and again . " It wasn't until you left that I realized how wrong I'd been . " You've always been the one I love . Not Astrid . I've never once considered marrying anyone else . " If it would bring you joy , I'd celebrate this wedding 52 times over to make up for all the ones I missed . " When you find it in your heart to forgive me , let's make it official and finally register our marriage . Whether you want to stay in Pemberly or return to Aberton , I'll be wherever you want . " Wherever you go , I'll be right by your side . I won't ever leave you again . " All I'm asking for is one more chance . " As Damien spoke , tears filled his eyes , but inside , I was completely numb . I had already given him 52 chances , and each time , he let them slip away . He had blatantly loved someone else . Even if we were to try again , I knew he would eventually turn away and leave me behind once more . Some wounds weren't meant to heal easily , after all . When I decided to return to Pemberly , I knew that it was truly over between Damien and me . " Keep dreaming , " I whispered as I met his gaze . Without saying another word , I slipped into a taxi and left . Damien didn't try to stop me . He stood still for a moment before chasing after the car , his steps fading until he couldn't keep up . Ultimately , none of it mattered anymore . Chapter 9 After everything that happened , I told everyone at the firm I was done with dating . I wasn't interested in entertaining anyone's advances anymore . At this stage in my life , my career was the only thing that truly mattered to me . Damien never came back . I assumed he had returned to Aberton without saying a single word . In time , I found my rhythm in Pemberly . With each case I won , I steadily made a name for myself in the legal industry . Coincidentally , a colleague at the firm discovered my connection to my parents . I braced myself , worried that they'd assume I got here through nepotism . But instead , they smiled and said , " Well , that explains it . Talent must run in the family ! " " With parents like that , it's no surprise you're just as exceptional ! " Hearing their kind words , I let out a sigh of relief . It turned out I had truly made something of myself . Soon after , I took some paid time off and set off to explore far and wide . In summer , I basked in the sun of Halberon . In autumn , I wandered through Jasperhollow , marveling at the breathtaking beauty of western Sandspire . In winter , I spent quiet moments with my parents , enjoying the snowy landscapes . And And with spring's arrival , I climbed high up the mountains , embracing the fresh promise of a new year . The years flew by , and before long , I had reclaimed my place as the top performer in the entire law firm . My name was known throughout Pemberly , and those who could afford the best came straight to me . Many tried to pursue me over the years , but I rejected every one of them without hesitation . Except for my family , I no longer trusted a single man . For a long time , Damien had almost disappeared from my thoughts . One day , a close friend invited me to visit Aberton . If this had happened five years ago , I'd have said no without hesitation . But now , I just raised an eyebrow and said , " Sounds perfect . I know Aberton like the back of my hand . I'll show you around . " Stepping off the piane , I was instantly struck by a sense of familiarity . On the way to our destination , we happened to pass by the law firm where I used to work . I exchanged a nod with my friend and slipped out of the car to catch up with Audrey . Five years had passed since we last met , and time had changed us both . As my gaze settled on Audrey's gold plaque on the honor wall , a smile tugged at the corners of my lips . " Nora ? " A familiar voice called out from behind me . I turned to see Audrey , her once waist - length hair now cropped into a sleek , short bob cut . She seemed more grounded than I remembered . " It really is you ! " she exclaimed as she jogged over and pulled me into a tight hug . " I've missed you so much these past five years , " she added . I smiled . " I'm just visiting with a friend and thought I'd drop by to see you . " Audrey chuckled . " You won't believe it . Damien and Astrid both left the firm ! " For the past five years , Damien had struggled to concentrate during his court trials , resulting in nearly every case being lost . After Astrid purposely got pregnant with his child , she stopped showing up for work entirely , spending her days at home and gradually depleting their savings . Damien was on the verge of breaking down , desperate to sever ties with her . But Astrid had become so dependent on his money that she couldn't bring herself to let him go . In just a year , their lives descended into complete chaos . Astrid even brought her family to Damien's home , sparking conflict and pressuring him to consider marrying her . Frustrated and worn down by a string of court defeats , Damien soon found himself under pressure from his superiors to step down . By then , the entire city of Aberton knew about his fall from grace . Eventually , he took Astrid back to his hometown and sold their house . Twas surprised . After all his efforts to leave the countryside behind , I never expected him to return . Audrey couldn't help but chuckle . " That's exactly how it should be ! " Remember how he treated you ? Scumbags like him deserve nothing but misery . " I smiled and nodded in agreement . Before I realized it , my friend , who had been waiting in the car , came up beside us . " What are you two talking about ? " she asked . Audrey looked at me , a grin spreading across her face . " Is this the friend you told me about ? She's gorgeous ! " I smiled back . " Yeah . Why don't you two get to know each other ? We could all hang out together . " " Sounds perfect ! " www 9 # Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!