Chapter 42
The Caldwell Group had always been old money in Havenmoor. Since Bank’s time, their connections ran deep. They held an irreplaceable position that new wealth, like Howard’s, who rode the wave of the times to become the wealthiest man in Havenmoor, could never achieve, no matter how desperately they tried to curry favor. Naturally, people were scrambling to cozy up to the Caldwell family.
Autumn had always known of Damien and Emilia, but it had always been a vague concept lacking concrete details. But over the past week, she’d noticed the details of how Damien treated Emilia and how deeply he cared. She was shocked to realize that the same man who treated her coldly actually knew how to love—and loved someone this much. Love that intense didn’t extend to anyone else. Once you saw it with your own eyes, you wouldn’t be foolish enough to ask, “Why don’t you love me?” or “What do I have to do to make you love me?” Their love was so consuming that there was no space for anyone else.
I stop being a fool for him.
Autumn finally accepted that trying to warm Damien’s heart had been a hopeless fantasy. She admitted defeat—painful, yes, but it helped her see the truth. And still, one thing confused her. If Damien loved Emilia so much, why had he married her three years ago? If he didn’t love her, he could have simply not married her. Damien wasn’t the kind of man to be pushed into something he didn’t want. Even if Hank pressured him, he should have been able to hold his ground. Back at the office, Rachel poked toward Della’s to make sure the cart was clear. Then, she went back to slacking off. She whispered, “But one thing I can say for sure: while Damien is ridiculously good-looking, he still can’t beat Mr. Faulkner.”
Natumm pulled herself out of her thoughts and teased, “Careful, your husband might get jealous.”
“If you don’t tell him, he’ll…” Rachel chuckled, trusting Autumn not to rat her out. She sighed and added, “Their dad had amazing genes, seriously.”
Indeed. David’s looks had played a major part in winning over one of those like-minded women from Chrestia to have his child.
After work, Autumn grabbed dinner at a mall before swinging by a stapleware store. This time, she bought a couple-thousand-dollar glass shaped like a star. She heard the elevator opening outside. She waited for another half hour before…
Back home, she set up a makeshift desk by her front door. Around 9:00 pm, carrying the newly purchased glass mug…
Anete knocked by, and she rang the doorbell again. Ancher, three seconds later, the door opened.
Her voice trailed off.
Dawson stood there in a silver-gray bathrobe, the collar parted to a depth that exposed his collarbone and a sculpted bit of his chest. His hair was damp, and water droplets clung to his skin. His gaze was cool and sharp, and he looked like a statue carved from ice. Jutumas instantly regretted not waiting another hour to knock.
Watching her standing shamefacedly across from him, Dawson suddenly understood what Ries meant…
The said Autumn wasn’t scared of him at all—not even the slightest. He always did things that surprised him, like that trench coat incident. He thought she’d take it off for a second in the car and hand it back. Instead, she put it on, buckled in at the… rolled up the sleeves like it belonged to her, and never even asked. He couldn’t tell if she was deathly serious or just doubly clueless.
“What do you want?” Dawson asked, looking annoyed that he was disturbed.
Autumn had not expected this vision of him. Owing to the height difference, her frozen stare landed directly on his chest.
“Oops. How inappropriate of me,” she thought before snapping out of it and finally meeting his eyes. She quickly said, “It’s about the lamp I messed up with a… rogomis. Since Bio wouldn’t let me pay for the broken one, I bought a new one, considering it a housewarming gift in his name, to give him a chance to argue…” She just hung the cup on his door handle, “Goodnight, Mr. Faulkner.”
Taman Mood. Hate speed. He placated toward the door and rasped, “Was just… or did I…?” Can’t fault. Rice stepped out of the… slowly, to the door to click…
Study two recouds. Later, having just finished a call.
Autumn’s voor just ON?