Do You Still Love Me When We Meet Again? (Aubrey and Damon) novel Chapter 173

Chapter 173

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A flash of anger crossed Charles’s face. He slammed his teacup onto the table with a sharp clatter. “You’ve changed, Damon. All because of that woman. You’re losing your grip on reality, losing your sense of right and wrong. Are you seriously blaming me for refusing to abuse my power for Aubrey Hayes?”

“I don’t need your help anymore, Uncle,” Damon said, a faint, calm smile playing on his lips. His voice was level, devoid of the earlier heat. “I just wanted to make it clear that you look down on Aubrey’s background. You’re harboring a deep–seated prejudice against her, and your double standards are showing.”

Having his unspoken discrimination dragged into the light, Charles’s face clouded over. He didn’t offer a rebuttal; instead, he focused on his expression dark as he poured himself another cup and took a slow, deliberate sip.

tea,

his

The temperature in the room plummeted to sub–zero.

After a heavy silence, Charles adopted the tone of a seasoned elder, his voice thick with a patronizing kind of wisdom. “Damon, you’re still young. You’re blinded by temporary emotions, unable to see the bigger picture of how the world actually works. Choosing the right wife is the foundation of everything–it dictates your social standing, your professional network, and your connections in society. It’s about having a woman who brings prestige to the family name in public and stability to the home. Once you have more experience under your belt, you’ll realize that marrying within our social circle isn’t just a tradition; it’s a necessity.”

Damon remained silent, his expression unreadable.

Charles continued, his tone becoming more assertive. “Take your cousin’s wife, Hannah, for example. She comes from an elite, distinguished family. Her mother’s side is old money, academic royalty, and her father holds a high–ranking government position. She was groomed in that environment, cultivated to be exceptional in every way. That is the kind of woman who belongs in the Blackwood family. As for the woman you’ve chosen…”

Ugh, where do I even start? Aside from being beautiful and slightly sharper than most, she has absolutely nothing to offer. Especially with that disaster of a family background–she’s mentally fragile. One little setback and she spirals into depression. Someone that weak… what could she possibly do for

you?”

Damon remained completely unfazed, his voice smooth and steady. “Uncle, I certainly can’t compete with your ‘theories‘ on life. Evan and his wife might be a perfect match on paper, but Aubrey and I are a match of the heart. Why don’t we just wait and see? Let time and reality prove whose life actually turns out better and whose career thrives.”

Charles let out a sharp, dismissive snort. He looked at Damon with the condescending pity of an elder who believed his own “wisdom” was absolute, mocking Damon’s perceived naivety.

“Fine,” he snapped, his voice dripping with contempt. “I’ll make sure to live a long life just to see how yours turns out, being saddled with a woman like that and a family like hers.”

Damon offered a knowing smile but didn’t bother to counter the jab.

He simply continued to sip his tea, perfectly composed.

A while later, the sound of a car pulling into the driveway echoed from outside.

Moments later, Evan Blackwood strolled into the house, dangling his car keys with a nonchalant air. He froze mid–step the second he spotted Duman sitting in the living room.

“Dad,” Evan greeted his father before shifting his gaze to Damon. “Damon? It’s late What, did you come all the way here just to have tea with my old

man?”

“Actually,” Damon said, his eyes locking onto his cousin’s “I’m here for you.”

Ever since the wedding, Evan hadn’t been living with his parents With Nina Hall away on a trip, his visit home today was a rare occurrence. He couldn’t help but feel a prickle of unease–how did Damon know exactly where to find him?

“How’d you know I was coming back today?” Evan asked as he dropped onto the sofa, crossing his legs with a forces sense of case

“I did a little reading this morning,” Damon replied, his tone light, almost reasing “The stars suggested you’d be visiting your parents tonight

Evan’s expression soured instantly, a cold, sharp glint flashing in his eyes

Damon sounded like he was joking, but the underlying message was clear it was a warning.

It felt as if every move Evan made, every step he took, was being tracked under Damon’s watchful

A current of tension surged between them. Evan forced a stiff, humorless smile. “Since when did a rocket scientist start dabbling in the ocult

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“Aren’t the stars just another form of astronomy?” Damon countered smoothly. “The principles are essentially the same.”

“I don’t know the first thing about astronomy,” Evan snapped. “What do you want?”

“A few words in private, cousin. Just between us.”

Evan stood up and glanced at Charles. “Dad, Damon and I are going to step outside for a moment.”

Without waiting for a response, he adjusted his cuffs and headed for the door.

Damon followed him out.

Charles watched their retreating figures with a heavy, dark expression, his face clouded with a grim shadow.

–

Outside, the night had completely swallowed the lush gardens, leaving only the dim, amber glow of the pathway lamps to cut through the dark.

Damon walked shoulder–to–shoulder with Evan, their footsteps rhythmic against the stone of the winding garden path.

“So,” Evan started, his tone clipped. “What’s this private chat about?”

“Garrett Miller, Mrs. Quinn, Madison Lewis,” Damon said, his voice dropping an octave. “Any of those names sound familiar?”

Evan let out a sharp, dismissive laugh. “Not a single one.”

Damon stopped dead in his tracks. He pulled out his phone and sent a message through the messaging app.

A second later, Evan’s pocket chimed.

‘Check your messages,” Damon said flatly. “I just sent you something worth watching.”

Evan pulled out his phone and tapped the video file. As the surveillance footage flickered to life, his face went from smug to a sickly, ashen gray.

That’s you and Garrett Miller in the parking garage,” Damon pointed out, his eyes tracking Evan’s reaction. “What was in the bag? Cash? Was that the down payment for him to drug Aubrey?”

Evan’s thumb swiped frantically, skip–watching through the clips until he reached the final one–a high–definition recording of him and Veronica Pierce in the backseat of his car.

His expression curdled, his jaw tightening so hard the bone looked ready to snap.

“You think you can frame me with this? It’s grainy, ambiguous bullshit,” Evan spat, trying to regain his footing.

Damon shoved one hand into his pocket and stepped into Evan’s personal space, his presence looming and lethal. “Garrett, Mrs. Quinn, Madison… every single person who tried to ruin Aubrey, and that ‘accident‘ that nearly killed her–it all circles back to you.”

Despite the evidence, Evan forced himself to remain composed, his gaze turning as cold and sharp as a winter frost. “Careful, Damon. In our world, accusations are nothing without proof.”

“Evidence?” Damon let out a sharp, mocking laugh. “You were lusting after Veronica Pierce’s body and struck a deal with her. That’s why you brought Madison Lewis to New Haven–to stalk and harass Aubrey, hoping to drive her out of the city.”

“Then there was the Vance Corp pollution case, Because Aubrey’s investigation hurt your bottom line, you gave Garrett Millet the money and the drugs. You wanted to ruin her as payback.”

“And then you realized she was pregnant. You knew about the massive inheritance Grandfather promised for his first great grandchild, and you were terrified we’d be the ones to claim it. First, you sent Madison on that scooter to hit her. When that failed, you sent the truck–planning to kill both her and the baby in one shot.”

Evan’s smile stiffened, a flicker of unease crossing his eyes. “Aubrey is the one with depression, but you? You’re delusional It’s a compelling story Damon, but where’s the proof? Without evidence, this is nothing but slander I’m your cousin, we’ve been brothers for thirty years. Do you really think

I’m that cold–blooded?”

E

“I’ll find the evidence,” Damon warned, each word sharp and deliberate “I’m here today to give you one warning: don’t you ever touch Aubrey agam have eyes on you in places you can’t even see. The second you make a move, I’ll know. If you don’t want to spend the test of your life rotting in a cell, stay in line.”

“You think you can intimidate me?” Evan Blackwood glanced around the empty space, a thin, mocking smile playing on his lips.

Damon Blackwood pointed up at the ink–black sky. “Look up, Evan.”

< Chapter 173

Evan tilted his head back, following his brother’s finger.

Do you see them?” Damon asked, his voice low and dangerous.

Evan stared into the darkness, his confusion mounting. “See what? There’s nothing there.”

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I build satellites. I run aerospace monitoring stations,” Damon said, his voice dropping with the weight of an ultimatum.“As long as that driver is still reathing, I will find him. It’s only a matter of time.”

Ivan’s fists clenched at his sides. The blood drained from his face, and his breathing turned shallow and jagged. He stared at Damon, panic finally lickering in his eyes. “Are you telling me you’re using satellites to track me?”

I’m telling you this for one reason and one reason only. If I have to choose between putting you behind bars and keeping Aubrey safe, I will choose her afety every single time. Don’t you dare touch her again. From now on, before you even think about doing something depraved, look up at the sky.”

van’s jaw tightened, the muscles bulging with suppressed rage. “Those are government–contracted satellites,” he hissed through gritted teeth. “You’re isappropriating state resources for a personal vendetta. You aren’t afraid I’ll report you?”

Damon didn’t even flinch. He threw Evan’s own words back at him with a chilling calmness. “If you have the evidence, be my guest. Report me.”

van looked like he’d seen a ghost. He was a businessman playing a game against an aerospace engineer who controlled the very heavens. When it came

> high–tech surveillance, Damon wasn’t just playing a different game–he was playing on a level Evan couldn’t even comprehend. It was a total laughter.

< Chapter 174

Chapter 174

ong after Damon had walked away, a cold, gnawing unease settled deep in Evan’s chest.

van knew one other person at the Aerospace Research Center besides Damon.

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hey had met once at Damon’s place–Ryan Carter, one of Damon’s colleagues. They had even exchanged contacts on the messaging app.

le pulled out his phone immediately and initiated a call through the app.

When the call connected, Ryan sounded surprised, his voice echoing with professional courtesy.“Mr. Blackwood? Hello. Is there something I can help. ou with?”

van forced a friendly tone, trying to bridge the gap.“Ryan, I’m a few years older than you. Just call me Evan.”

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