Do You Still Love Me When We Meet Again? (Aubrey and Damon) novel Chapter 184

Chapter 184

Aubrey’s mind went completely blank. Every word she had just rehearsed vanished into thin air. In a moment of pure nerves, she quickly raised her hands and thrust the bouquet toward him.

Damon lowered his gaze to the flowers in her hands.

They were wrapped in English newsprint, giving the bouquet a chic, sophisticated aesthetic.

The newspapers were his–filled with technical reports on aerospace engineering–and the flowers were his, too, plucked from his own garden.

She had arranged them beautifully; they looked more elegant than a thousand–dollar boutique arrangement. But to him, the only thing that mattered was that she had made them herself.

As the seconds of his silence stretched on, Aubrey felt a flush of embarrassment creep up her neck. She forced a stiff, awkward smile, her mind racing. Oh God, does he recognize the newspaper? Did he realize I snatched it right off his bookshelf?

He’s a busy man, she told herself. Surely he doesn’t pay enough attention to his backyard to know which flowers I picked, right?

Was he judging her? Did he think she wasn’t being romantic enough?

He was, after all, a high–ranking political scion–someone who breathed the rarefied air of the elite.

She needed to take the initiative.

Giving herself a quick mental pep talk, she forced a smile and chirped,“Welcome home… boyfriend.”

The title felt strange on her tongue–intimate, yet somehow entirely foreign.

Damon gave a helpless, faint smile as he accepted the bouquet. His gaze lingered on her, warm and steady. “Thank you. The flowers are beautiful. And you look beautiful, too.”

A prickle of goosebumps erupted across Aubrey’s skin.

Was that a forced compliment? It certainly felt like one.

Still, she felt a wave of relief when he didn’t reach out to hug or kiss her. At least she wouldn’t have to figure out how to react.

Maybe they were like one of those old married couples–settled into a routine, the passion long since faded.

Let me get that for you,” Aubrey offered, reaching for the handle of his suitcase.

Damon pulled it back slightly, a subtle but firm gesture.“No need. I’ve got it.”

My car is right outside. Let’s go.” Aubrey pointed toward the exit, her expression still tight with nerves.“Are you heading home, or straight to the office?”

Home,” Damon said, falling into step beside her as he rolled his luggage.

‘Aubrey Aubrey Hayes?”

Suddenly, a man’s voice drifted from behind them. Aubrey froze, her heart skipping a heat as she turned around.

Damon turned with her.

A man, accompanied by a woman, was walking toward them. He offered a polite, casual wave. “Long time no see. How have you been

Aubrey stared at the couple, her mind a total blank. She instinctively tilted her head up to look at Damon, her eyes searching for a lifeline

Damon caught the flicker of distress in her gaze “Ryan,” he introduced, his voice steady. “I le’s a colleague of mine and the ex–husband of your best friend. And that’s his currem girlfriend, Lily Moore.”

Ryan and Lily looked at her, clearly bewildered by her lack of recognition.

‘Bree went through EMCT treatment,” Damon continued, his tone clinical yet protective “She’s forgotten a lor of people and events from her past

‘Oh, so that’s it,” Ryan said, the realization finally hitting him.“I was actually hoping to ask her how Sierra Vance was doing suppose she’s forgotten Sierra too, then?”

Damon’s response was clipped. “She forgot me. Who else do you think she’d manage to remember?”

“That’s a pity.”

37 12:35

< Chapter 184

“What’s there to be sorry about?” Damon’s voice turned even colder, dripping with indifference.

Claim 50 Coins By Check in

Menu

Aubrey could feel Lily’s gaze burning into her. The woman looked sharp, her eyes narrowed as if she were mentally tallying up Aubrey’s worth. She looked like the type who always had an underlying motive.

Sensing the tension, Ryan gave a forced, awkward smile.“Aubrey, I wish you a speedy recovery. If you ever get back in touch with Sierra, could you… let me know how she’s been?”

Aubrey blinked, her confusion deepening.“Your girlfriend is standing right next to you,” she pointed out, unable to filter her thoughts.“Aren’t you worried about her getting jealous? Why are you so concerned about your ex–wife?”

“Lily wouldn’t get jealous. She’s far too sophisticated and understanding for that,” Ryan replied, his voice thick with a smug sense of pride.

Aubrey couldn’t help but let out a sharp little laugh, the words slipping out before she could stop them.“Sounds like she’s just not that into No jealousy? That usually means she couldn’t care less.”

you, then.

Ryan froze, his face flushing with instant, stinging awkwardness.

Lily’s expression soured immediately, and she was quick to jump in with an explanation.“Aubrey, you’ve got it all wrong. I care deeply about Ryan. We’re together because we’re in love.”

Aubrey remained completely unimpressed, her shrug dismissive.“Why are you telling me? Tell your boyfriend.”

With that final jab, she turned on her heel and walked away.

A smirk played on Damon’s lips, growing wider as he followed close behind her.

Aubrey didn’t even bother lowering her voice as she started talking smack on the way out.

Unbelievable,” she muttered, loud enough for the terminal to hear.“The guy wants to have his cake and eat it too, yet he can’t even tell who’s real and who’s fake. Honestly, if he’s that blind, he should really get his eyes checked.”

Damon was genuinely amused. He leaned in, dropping his voice to a low murmur.“Bree, careful. We’re not that far away. They can definitely hear you.”

Aubrey glanced back at him, arching a brow as a mischievous spark lit up her eyes.“Ever consider that I said it specifically so they would hear?”

Damon let out a rich, satisfied laugh, a sense of pride swelling in his chest.

She was finally done with the internal struggle. No more overthinking, no more swallowing her words. If she was unhappy, she released it then and here. If someone had to feel miserable, it wasn’t going to be her anymore.

Behind them, Ryan’s face turned an even darker shade of humiliated.

Once they cleared the airport exit, they headed to the parking lot and got into the car.

Damon took the wheel while she slid into the passenger seat.

To cut through the sudden flare of tension between them, she kept her head down, focused intently on her phone.

Every now and then, she stole a glance at the man beside her. His profile was even more stunning up close–refined, sophisticated, and impossibly handsome. He carried himself with an effortless, aristocratic poise.

His hands on the steering wheel were a total thirst–trap: pale, long, and elegant, with neatly trimmed nails. The faint veins on the backs of his hands pulsed with a subtle strength, a perfect blend of power and raw aesthetic. As a woman who was a total sucker for nice hands, Aubrey felt like she’d hit the jackpot.

Was this man really her boyfriend?

In the real world, a girl of her status didn’t just end up with a man of his caliber–someone so undeniably gorgeous and clearly from a higher social stratum. If it actually happened, there were only two possibilities.

Either she was being targeted in an elaborate romance scam…

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify