Do You Still Love Me When We Meet Again? (Aubrey and Damon) novel Chapter 178

When the final test results came back, Aubrey’s physical health was cleared, but her mental state was in shambles.

The words on her discharge papers felt like a weight crushing her chest: Severe Depression complicated by Bipolar Disorder. Seeing the diagnosis in black and white made her feel as though she were terminal, rotting from the inside out.

The doctor had been kind, insisting that this wasn’t a sign of a weak character, but a legitimate illness. He told her not to carry the burden of guilt, urging her to stay on her medication, commit to therapy, and find the courage to face the demons head–on.

Aubrey had no faith in herself, but Damon was unwavering. He was steady and certain, convinced that she would find her way back to the light.

When they finally returned home, every trace of the baby was gone.

The house was silent, stripped of the nursery and the tiny clothes she’d spent months collecting. When she asked Damon where everything had gone, he old her he’d donated it all to an orphanage. They wouldn’t be needing those things–at least not for a while.

Vincent Hall called a few days later to check in on her. He informed her that he’d placed her on an unpaid leave of absence from the law firm, ensuring her position would be waiting for her once she recovered.

He told her not to give the office a single thought, urging her to focus entirely on her health.

Scrolling through the Grid, she saw an update from Sierra. Sierra had moved back to Crestview City with her son, posting a caption that felt a little Iramatic, even theatrical:“Swearing off love. From now on, I’m the leading lady of my own story.”

yan had already liked the post.

t seemed their divorce had been amicable, at the very least.

he only hoped that without the weight of marriage holding her down, Sierra could live a life that was vibrant, free, and truly happy.

he was free from the shackles of marriage herself now, but her illness ensured she was anything but free.

Her days were a blur of pills, exercise, and therapy sessions. She pushed herself to cooperate, desperate for any sign of progress.

Damon’s parents and sister remained at Blackwood Crescent.

Victoria took charge of the household’s nutrition, personally overseeing every meal prepared by the staff.

Chase’s high–level government position kept him busy; when things peaked at work, he was rarely home.

racy, who had recently traded the danger of being a foreign war correspondent for local human–interest reporting, had plenty of downtime and was ven studying for her broadcasting certification.

Damon was under immense pressure as well, but he was constantly taking leave or using up his vacation time, letting his career slide because of her

ondition.

erhaps it was the sheer frequency of his absences, or maybe someone envious had reported him–especially since he was a top candidate for the Chief ngineer position. Whatever the reason, it had caught the attention of the higher–ups.

ventually, a few of the executives decided to pay a visit to the house in person to see what was going on.

Damon’s parents took the lead in hosting the high–ranking officials, while Aubrey sat quietly beside them, listening

The atmosphere was stifling–a formal, high–stakes meeting where every breath felt heavy with unspoken pressure.

I conversation was a tactical skill, then these men in power were the ultimate masters.

Not a single word was wasted; they were perfectly composed, their speech polished yet perpetually vague. They navigated the discussion with a eceptive ease, saying everything and nothing all at once, masterfully deflecting while maintaining absolute control

As she listened to the subtext, Aubrey realized that Damon’s promotion was likely secure.

However, the officials were clearly bothered by his frequent absences lately. They phrased it as “concern,” but the underlying scrutiny was unmistakable s they asked for the reason behind his time away.

Damon’s girlfriend was in a car accident,” Chase explained, his voice steady and authoritative. “She was in a coma for two weeks and has only just voken up. Damon has always been a man who prioritizes family; his sense of duty is immense. He couldn’t simply abandon her while she was inconscious, nor could he show up to work with that kind of emotional burden. That would have been irresponsible–both to her and to the high–stakes nature of his job. He knew the risk of making an error was too high.”

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One of the officials nodded, his expression unreadable.“Have him compile her background profile and submit it for review.”

Chase’s brow furrowed.“A background check? Even for a girlfriend?”

“The security clearance level he’s being considered for is the highest there is. Everything is scrutinized.”

A sharp jolt of panic surged through Aubrey, leaving her icy cold from head to toe.

Victoria must have noticed the flicker of panic in her eyes. She squeezed Aubrey’s hand, leaning in to whisper a low, grounding comfort. “Don’t be

afraid.”

Aubrey forced a stiff, fragile smile, desperately trying to maintain a facade of calm.

Chase’s gaze swept over Aubrey. His expression darkened as he fell into a heavy silence for a few beats before asking. “If his girlfriend’s father served time in prison, would that hinder his promotion?”

“What was the charge?”

“Aggravated assault. The victim was in a vegetative state for five years before eventually passing away.”

“As long as it isn’t treason or espionage, it won’t affect his clearance.”

“And what about marriage?” Chase blurted out.

The room fell into a suffocating silence.

Aubrey’s pulse skyrocketed, her palms slick with cold sweat. Her heart hammered against her ribs as she stared at the silent officials, her entire world hanging on their next words.

Chase continued to fight for her, his voice firm and unwavering.“Damon’s girlfriend is a woman of integrity–kind–hearted and deeply loyal to this country. She’s a public interest lawyer who has dedicated herself to serving the people. Her loyalty is beyond reproach, and she has absolutely no foreign ties.”

One of the leaders let out a long, weary sigh.“Chase, you’ve spent your career at the heart of the capital; you know the rules better than anyone. For men in our world, choosing a wife isn’t about her character. It’s about whether her status is worthy of our position. At this level, everything is about optics. You have to be beyond reproach. You have to set the standard.”

The words weren’t a flat–out refusal, but the message was crystal clear: marriage was out of the question.

The daughter of a convicted killer–how could a woman with that background ever be seen as respectable? How could she possibly serve as a role model for the public?

It was settled: she could never be the wife of the Chief Engineer.

Chase pushed further, his voice tight.“And what if they have a child?”

The officials exchanged a long, uneasy look. Finally, one of them let out a heavy sigh.“It’s best if his private life remains beyond reproach. If there’s a scandal–if he’s reported for ‘indiscretion,‘ or if he has a child out of wedlock and is seen as failing to take responsibility–it would tarnish his public image. He would be disqualified from promotions, top–tier ratings, or any prestigious awards. He wouldn’t lose his position at the Aerospace Research Center, but his upward trajectory would be effectively frozen.”

A cold, hollow realization settled in Aubrey’s chest: maybe it was for the best that the baby was gone.

At least now, nothing would stand in the way of Damon’s future. The accolades, the honors, the prestige–those were the halos of his career. She couldn’t let a child strip away the brilliance he deserved.

Maybe Damon didn’t care about those things.

But she did. She wanted the man she loved to shine, to reach the absolute pinnacle of his profession with his reputation and honor fully intact.

Quietly, she stood up and slipped away from the living room, retreating to her bedroom.

She pulled the curtains shut, sinking into the shadows of a corner. She sat there in a daze, her mind completely consumed by Damon

He was at work; she hadn’t seen him all day. Suddenly, a wave of desperate longing crashed over her. She missed him so much it hurt. She craved the low, steady vibration of his voice, the solid warmth of his chest, and the clean, intoxicating scent that belonged only to him.

It felt as though fate had opened a window for her, allowing her to meet a man as incredible as Damon, only to slam the door shut in her face. She was trapped in a reality where she could never truly own him–never as his wife, and never as the mother of his children without tarnishing the brilliant

future he had worked so hard to build.

How could she be selfish enough to stay? How could she just stand there and bask in his light, knowing her presence might be the very thing that

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