Do You Still Love Me When We Meet Again? (Aubrey and Damon) novel Chapter 121

Chapter121

Entering the comfortable, bright room, Aubrey closed the door behind her. She turned to find Damon already settled in a corner armchair. He’d dropped his cane, sprawling out with his legs extended, leaning back, elbows resting on the armrests. His intense gaze was fixed on her face.

She walked over and stood before him.

Their eyes met, and the air between them seemed to thicken with unspoken tension.

Damon exuded a refined presence, never ostentatious, and a gentle nature that belied his underlying strength. His gaze was profoundly deep, almost unnerving.

“What’s wrong?” Aubrey asked, her voice laced with concern.

Damon’s tone was gentle, yet carried a hint of detachment. “Nothing. Go hang out with Tracy, I just want to rest for a bit.”

Aubrey hesitated, torn. Leaving him like this didn’t sit right with her.

“Where does it hurt?”

He didn’t respond, his dark eyes unwavering.

“Is it your heart or your body? You’re making me worry.”

“My heart,” Damon said quietly.

“Why?”

Damon lowered his head, taking a deep, shuddering breath. After a few seconds, he looked up, his magnetic voice heavy with raw emotion. Tracy went too far, lying to you like that. As you can see, there’s not much wrong with my legs. And I never thought about suicide. No matter how much it hurts, I would never be that pessimistic.”

“I know…” Aubrey’s heart sank. She had hoped to keep it from him, but he’d figured out Tracy’s lie with chilling speed.

An ominous feeling washed over her, filling her with melancholy.

Damon asked, his voice measured, “Now that you know, I guess there’s no guilt weighing on you, right? So, when are you planning to leave this time?”

Aubrey clenched her fists, a heavy feeling in her chest. “Do you want me to leave that badly?” she retorted.

“Of course, I don’t want you to leave,” Damon said with a wry smile, his eyes still gentle. “My feelings for you have gone beyond just my mind; it’s a raw, undeniable craving. I know you think you’re terrible, you’re bad, you don’t love me. Maybe you’re using me, or it’s pity or guilt, or maybe it’s just the affection and responsibility that comes from being together for so long. But no matter your reasons, as long as you’re willing to stay by my side, I’ll keep loving you. It’s something I can’t control.”

He said it so calmly, yet Aubrey felt like her heart was being torn to shreds. The pain was almost unbearable.

Her nails dug into the flesh of her palms, the sharp physical sensation a desperate attempt to suppress the overwhelming sadness. “If I said I loved you very much, would you believe me?”

‘No.”

Aubrey’s eyes instantly welled with tears. “Why?”

Because someone who truly loves you wouldn’t want to cause you pain.”

Her heart felt like it was being squeezed by a giant hand, making it hard to breathe.

Thinking back, Aubrey realized she had always been too rational, constantly overthinking, and in doing so, man she loved most.

Damon’s words were perfectly reasonable, cutting to the bone.

But he no longer believed in her love.

had inflicted pain upon both herself and the

He wanted her to stay, not for love, but because he was physically drawn to her and couldn’t control his own desires.

In reality, this wouldn’t necessarily affect their relationship or Damon’s treatment of her.

But if Damon didn’t believe in her love, he could never truly be happy.

He would be consumed by internal conflict, feel insecure, suppress his emotions, and suffer, leading to all sorts of conflicting feelings. Eventually, he

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would lose his mind to the turmoil.

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He would remain as vulnerable as he was now, unable to withstand any emotional blow. A single comment from someone could easily pluck at the tast strings of his heart.

“Damon, I know you won’t believe anything I say right now, but I still have to say it.” Aubrey lowered her head, gently wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes. “I’m not staying with you out of guilt. Although Tracy just apologized to me, I knew long ago that there was nothing wrong with your legs, and you never considered taking your own life.”

Damon remained silent, his gaze deep and intense.

“Do you remember when I asked you if you had ever mixed alcohol with cephalosporin? You denied it then, and I already knew Tracy was lying.”

“I want to be with you not out of guilt, or pity, or obligation. You’re the only man I’ve ever loved, from eighteen to twenty–nine–eleven years, and it hasn’t changed, not even a little bit. And it never will.”

Damon’s eyes rimmed with red. He smiled tightly, exhaling softly, his voice roughened. “That’s nice to hear. I like hearing it. You can say things like that more often.”

She felt a little wronged, being distrusted by the man she loved most, but it was her own fault, so she didn’t blame him. T’m telling the truth”

Ill take it as the truth.”

Then do you believe I love you?”

Damon gave a wry smile, slowly sat up, and reached for her.

Aubrey stepped closer, placing her hand in his.

He gently tugged her into his lap, settling her on his uninjured leg.

He wrapped one arm around her waist, and with the other, tenderly wiped away the tears on her lashes, murmuring, “Does it even matter if I believe

you?”

“It does.”

His thumb traced her cheek, gently caressing, his gaze intense. “Bree, I can’t bring myself to believe you anymore.”

“Why won’t you choose to believe me, just one more time?”

“Believing means having hope, and hope only leads to disappointment. I don’t know when you’ll leave me next. I’m too afraid of the pain, so I won’t let myself have any hope for us.”

I’m too afraid of the pain?

Those simple words cut into her heart like a knife.

Pain. So much pain.

“Are you happy now?”

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