Regret Came Too Late

The moment those words left Damien's mouth, the atmosphere in the room grew unbearably strained.

This wasn't the first time he had said something like this-and he meant every word.

Selene drew a deep breath and set down her utensils. "Get out. Don't come looking for me again. The Jensen family's been calling me lately, and I won't let this escalate."

Every time they met, she asked him not to make a scene. Yet Damien had never once listened.

Rising abruptly, he grabbed the tablecloth and yanked it hard, sending the carefully prepared dishes crashing to the floor. It turned the room into chaos, with spilled food and shattered porcelain.

His gaze cut to Vincent, and suddenly, he smirked. "Selene and I grew up together. Whatever reason you two are together, it doesn't matter. You're not marrying her as long as I'm breathing. Professor Calloway, you're still young. Go find someone else."

Ever composed behind his glasses, Vincent simply tightened his grip on Selene's hand.

His stance was clear-he would never look for someone else; he had already chosen her.

and his breathing grew ragged. After a long pause, he finally managed to say, "I

would never barge into

and unflinching. "If you continue this nonsense, I'll shift my work entirely

behind, there was no need for her to live in their shadow

Damien's gaze as he froze in place. He took a moment to compose himself before quietly gathering up the pieces of shattered plates from the floor

as an heir of the Jensen family, such tasks were foreign to him. The more

dull ache spreading

for Damien. But the towering weight of the Jensen family stood between them, and the debt of gratitude for her upbringing weighed heavily

reaching for the mop

was hoarse, stripped of its usual commanding

broken shards into the trash, and then

said, "Grandma's condition has worsened.

she make her way slowly to the side and pull out a