Do You Still Love Me When We Meet Again? (Aubrey and Damon) novel Chapter 11

Aubrey picked up the umbrella and headed downstairs.

Thankfully, the floodwaters weren’t deep, only reaching below her knees.

Her shoes and pants were definitely going to be ruined, but it was still more bearable than being stuck alone in a room with Damon.

Under her black umbrella, she braved the torrential rain, wading through the dirty water as she slowly made her way along the main road of the community.

Upstairs, Damon stood by the edge of the balcony, leaning against the railing and looking down. His gaze was deep and dark, his expression exceptionally grim.

Just then, his phone rang.

He pulled his phone from his pants pocket, tearing his gaze away to check the caller ID.

It was Ryan.

He answered, “What’s up?”

Ryan asked, “My wedding, are you really not going to make it?”

Damon turned his head, his gaze falling once again on the figure below, ambling slowly under a black umbrella.

“I’ll be there.”

Ryan excitedly exclaimed, “That’s great! My groomsmen are going to look so much better with you there to raise the overall average!”

“Gotta go.” Damon hung up, spun around, and strode into the living room. He snatched another umbrella and was out the door in seconds.

He hurried to the elevator, pressing the button frantically.

Skylar emerged at the sound, her eyes falling on Damon waiting anxiously by the elevator.“Damon, where are you going?”

Damon ignored her, his gaze fixed on the elevator numbers stalled on an upper floor. He suddenly spun around, bolted into the stairwell, and raced

down.

Skylar exclaimed, her voice laced with worry, “Damon… what are you doing?”

The sky was a sullen gray, and the rain poured relentlessly,

On the boulevard, swollen with muddy water, only two figures, each under a black umbrella, walked a few meters apart, one ahead of the other, heading toward the subway entrance,

Aubrey took every step with extreme caution, terrified of stumbling into an uncovered drain.

After walking a considerable distance, she finally cleared the flooded area, reaching higher ground. A persistent prickle of being followed made her uneasy, so she quickened her pace.

She was damp, her clothes clinging slightly, but she wasn’t completely drenched, despite the heavy rain, the tail end of the hurricane.

At the subway entrance, Aubrey closed her umbrella, giving it a vigorous shake to dislodge the remaining water.

She glanced warily over her shoulder,

A short distance away, through the blurry downpour, a tall figure held a black umbrella, obscuring his upper body

He abruptly turned, his back to her, and headed towards the flooded low ground.

The retreating back looked strangely familiar.

It had to be her imagination.

She was seeing him everywhere these days.

Aubrey ducked into the subway bathroom, dabbing at her soaked pants and shoes with tissues, a quick attempt to make herself presentable before finally boarding the train.

The journey was a damp, stifling ordeal–two subway transfers and then a bus ride before she finally reached her cramped rental apartment.

After a restless night, she quickly showered and caught up on much needed sleep.

1139

< Chapter 11

Claim 15 Coins By Check in

Meno

When she finally woke, it was already past two in the afternoon.

She got up and steamed two plain buns.

She wasn’t much of a chef; eating was merely a means to sustain herself, and anything would do.

The rain had stopped, but the sky outside her window remained gloomy.

Barefoot, Aubrey curled up on her cozy little sofa, leaning lazily on her side. Her long hair fanned out over the edge of the couch as she slowly nibbled on a steamed bun.

Bland and tasteless, but she wasn’t about to waste it.

Sierra’s call came through, and as Aubrey picked up her phone, a slight smile touched her lips.

Aubrey answered, greeting softly, “Sierra”

Are you coming to my wedding or not?” Sierra demanded, her voice firm.

Aubrey hesitated.

“I called your Mr. Miller,” Sierra continued, “and he said you weren’t on a business trip. Are you trying to avoid Damon?”

A pang of guilt twisted inside Aubrey.“I’m so sorry, Sierra.”

Sierra bristled.“You’ve only met him once! What in the world did he do to make you so terrified of him? Bree, you’re a lawyer! If he stepped out of line, you need to use the law against him. Don’t spare Ryan’s feelings for a second.”

Aubrey managed a bitter smile.“Okay.”

Sierra then asked, “Damon said last month he wouldn’t be able to make it, so will

you be my bridesmaid then?”

Since Damon wouldn’t be attending, Aubrey had no reason to decline, especially since Sierra was her childhood best friend.“Yes, I’ll be there.”

Sierra said, her tone suddenly serious, “Good. Because if you don’t come, then I’m not getting married.”

Aubrey chuckled, a little flattered.“Ryan would absolutely kill me, wouldn’t he?”

Sierra chuckled dryly.“So, you’re on your own with that one.”

Aubrey rested her chin on her palm, a contented smile touching her lips.

Thankfully, she still had a best friend who loved her fiercely.

On the wedding day.

The hurricane had passed, leaving behind a clear, sunny day, a vibrant rainbow arcing across the sky.

Early that morning, Aubrey headed home with fruits and some health supplements.

Her home was barely a hundred meters from Sierra’s; they’d grown up in the same village. As the city rapidly expanded, a subway station had opened near their village, transforming the surrounding area into a bustling commercial center.

As a result, it boosted the local economy, and nearly every family now lived in large, multi–story homes.

Aubrey’s house was also three stories tall, though the interior was more modestly decorated and the furniture noticeably cheaper.

In fact, her home was actually closer to her law firm, with direct subway access.

Even so, she still preferred not to live at home.

Stepping inside, Aubrey placed the items on the coffee table and greeted her mother, who was sitting at the dining table, trimming green beans. “Mom,” Layla Johnson was dressed simply, but still carried herself with an enduring grace. She shot Aubrey a displeased look, her voice sharp, “You have the audacity to show your face here? Sierra’s getting married today. When are you going to get married?”

Aubrey had heard variations of these comments so often her ears felt numb She didn’t respond, instead pouring herself a glass of water and taking slow sips.

Seeing her unresponsiveness, Layla tossed down the green beans in anger, her expression grim, her tone growing several shades harsher “You’re already twenty–seven this year. If you don’t get married soon, you’ll be left on the shelf. Once you hit thirty, no one will want you, and I’ll have to practically bribe

someone to marry you. Can’t you have a little self–awareness? While you’re still young and pretty enough, hurry up and find a husband.”

Layla continued her barrage:“Your scumbag father put Blake in a vegetative state, and he’s still lying in the hospital. If you marry Caleb–who is willing

11:39

< Chapter 11

Claim 15 Coins By Check in

Menu]

to forgive the compensation and medical expenses your family owes–he’ll even give us $99,000 as a marriage settlement. Nationally, such settlements are typically only twenty or thirty thousand, and here in our area, it’s even lower–just five to ten thousand. No matter how you crunch the numbers, this deal is a massive win. I just don’t understand, you’re a lawyer, for crying out loud. How can you not know what’s good for you? How can you not see the benefit of this deal?”

“I even looked into your friend Sierra’s wedding. Her groom only contributed a hundred eighty–eight thousand. Caleb is willing to give six hundred sixty thousand! You should be counting your lucky stars.”

“Your brother Brendan is still planning to get married at the end of the year, banking on this marriage settlement to buy a three–hundred–thousand car and give another one hundred thousand to his girlfriend’s mother as her family contribution. Aubrey, if Brendan can’t get married in this lifetime, you’ll be the ruin of the Hayes family.”

A dark cloud of gloom settled in Aubrey’s heart. Every visit home felt like surviving a Level 5 hurricane, leaving her utterly drained, as if half her life force had been ripped away.

Home had never been her safe harbor.

All her personal storms and disasters almost exclusively originated from her own family.

Her voice was flat and unhurried as she spoke.“Mom, since Caleb is so great, why don’t you marry him? Dad’s going to be in prison for over twenty years anyway. If you divorce him and marry Caleb, you won’t have to live like a widow anymore.”

With that, she strode out.

Layla’s veins bulged with fury, and she chased after Aubrey, roaring,“Aubrey, what kind of daughter are you? I’m giving you a final deadline. You will marry by the end of this year! Caleb’s mom and I have already finalized the wedding arrangements, and Caleb has even renovated the marital home. You’ll marry him whether you want to or not!”

Marry Caleb? Not now, not ever.

Aubrey let out a frustrated sigh and quickened her pace toward Sierra’s