As they walked into the living room, Damon broke the silence. “Why did you ept the money instead of insisting on a public apology?”
N replied, “Even if she apologized, it wouldn’t be sincere. rk managed to persuade her to apologize privately because he doesn’t want this to go public. If I <b>had </b>kept insisting, it would have only backfired.<b>” </b>
Damon studied her. “So, your goal was always just the money?”
N nodded. “Yes. If I had asked for the money myself, rk might have used me of extortion through hiswyers.”
Damon fell silent, his gaze distant as he pondered <b>this</b>. When he didn’t speak again, N turned to head
back to her room.
After a few steps, Damon’s voice, tinged with resignation, came from behind her. “N, if you just wanted the money, you didn’t have to scheme like that. You could have told me directly. I could have helped you.”
N paused <b>and </b>looked back at him, her <b>eyes </b>filled with an unreadable emotion. “I’m scheming against rk. He’s your family. Don’t you feel ufortable about that?”
She had deliberately agreed to rk’s terms before Damon to make <b>him </b>aware of her calctions. against rk.
If Damon couldn’t ept it, it would be better to part ways before she fell deeply in love with him.
Damon frowned, his gaze intense. “Do you think I’m someone who can’t discern right from wrong?”
N bit her lip. “I don’t think that. It’s just that, ultimately, rk is your family…
“You are the one I care about. Never mind that rk was at fault. Even if it were your mistake, I would still stand by you,” Damon dered.
Seeing his serious expression, N blinked, her heart overwhelmed. She looked down and smiled bitterly. “But… you might one day find that I’m not worth this.”
“That day will nevere,” Damon said as he moved closer, leaning in to look her in the eyes. “I care about you, so whatever I do for you, I won’t regret it. It’s not about whether it’s worth <b>it </b>because it’s what I choose to do.”
N’s hands tightened subconsciously at her sides, and she instinctively looked away, unable to meet his intense gaze. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.
“N, why can’t you be a little braver?” Damon asked.
He wasn’t like rk. Once he decided on her, he wouldn’t look at another woman.
N closed her eyes, feeling a pang of sorrow.
She wanted to be brave and love Damon wholeheartedly, but she had outgrown the reckless optimism of youth. She no longer believed that love could ovee all obstacles.
To her, love had be something she dared not hope for.
Despite this, Damon’s words stirred a desire within her a longing to love someone fully again.
Seeing her so distressed and lost, Damon didn’t want to pressure her any further. He pulled her into his embrace. “It’s okay if you can’t now. I can wait.”
N wrapped her arms around him, <b>her </b>voice hushed and rough. “I’m sorry.”
Although she no longer loved rk, the pain from his betrayal still lingered. She was afraid to open her heart again, fearing more hurt.
“I’m not ming you. It’s not your fault. I just didn’t do well enough,” Damon said.
N shook her head, tears almost falling. “No, you’ve done well.”
The truth was, she was too afraid and hesitant. She feared getting hurt again and worried that Damon would discover she was no different from other women.