Do You Still Love Me When We Meet Again? (Aubrey and Damon) novel Chapter 188

Chapter 188

Aubrey retreated to her room and sank into a wicker chair on the balcony. She stared blankly at the lush greenery of the backyard, her heart suddenly feeling like lead in her chest.

She replayed everything in her mind, unable to understand one thing: before she lost her memory, why had she been so hopelessly devoted to a man she could never actually marry? What made him so extraordinary? And just how much had she loved him to endure that?

Desperate to find some trace of Damon in her past, Aubrey pulled out her phone and began scrolling through her social media, searching for any hint of his existence in her life.

But her Instagram feed was strictly professional. Aside from occasional work updates, there wasn’t a single photo or mention of him.

She checked her other accounts, but they were all the same–nothing but legal articles and case files. It was as if her document her personal life at all.

There were no digital footprints of their time together. Nothing.

past self had never bothered to

Then, she stumbled upon an entry in her Notes app. The words hit her with the force of a physical blow: “I’m not good enough for him. A man as wonderful as he is deserves a better woman, a brighter future, and the best version of himself. I only belong in the shadows. I won’t ever bother him again, not until the day I die.”

Aubrey’s brow furrowed deeply as she read the words.

Her past self had been so consumed by pessimism. It was no wonder she hadn’t recorded her life; she had lived for nothing but work. With a mindset like that, depression had been inevitable.

She didn’t hesitate to hit delete, purging the note from her life. Then, she opened her camera app, tilted her head at just the right angle, and flashed radiant smile for a selfie.

After a quick review, she posted it to her feed with a caption: “Here’s to a fresh start. Loving myself, loving life.”

She added a little blushing emoji at the end for good measure.

a

By early evening, Zachary had arrived.

Chase and Tracy were also back from work, just in time for dinner.

The six of them–the five Blackwoods plus Aubrey–gathered around the dining table. The atmosphere was warm and lively, filled with the easy chatter of a family reunited.

I smelled the pear syrup the second I walked in,” Zachary said, his curiosity piqued. “Who’s the chef?”

Victoria offered a gentle smile. “Your brother made it.”

‘Aubrey and I made it together,” Damon corrected smoothly.

Aubrey, who had been quietly focusing on her food, froze for a second at the mention of her name. She looked up, offering a bashful, slightly awkward

smile.

She had only helped pick and wash the pears; she hadn’t contributed anything else. It felt wrong to take even a shred of the credit.

“The jars are in the fridge,” Damon reminded him. “Take a couple back for your wife later.”

Zachary paused mid–bite, nodding “Will do. I’ll grab some fresh Bartlett pears to take back, too. She loves fruit but always talks herself out of buying it for herself.”

Tracy stifled a laugh behind her hand as she ate, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “Seriously, Zach? You fought this marriage tooth and nail. When Grandpa and the parents practically dragged you to the Civil Affairs Office, I thought you were ready to take a vow of silence and join a monastery. But look at you now–is someone actually enjoying being a husband?”

Victoria looked down at her plate, a small, knowing smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

Zachary’s expression remained stoic, his pride clearly on the defensive. “There are more pears than we can eat anyway,” he countered, his voice stiff. “It’s a waste to just let them rot on the ground.”

“Waste? Not a chance,” Tracy challenged him playfully. “I could bring some to my colleagues, and Nate could take a few crates to his office. Plus, Chloe can always use them to make more of that pear syrup…”

1578

< Chapter 188

Claim 50 Coins By Check in

Zachary narrowed his eyes, putting on a front of mock annoyance. T’m taking a few pears for your sister–in–law and you’re making it a federal case? Do you have a problem with me, or is it her you’re picking on?

Tracy grinned, quickly backing down with a teasing peace offering. “Just joking! Take them, take them all. In fact, I’ll help you pick them after dinner. We’ll find the biggest, sweetest ones in the orchard.”

Zachary let out a soft, dry chuckle.

At that moment, Chase’s expression turned solemn as he looked at Zachary. His words were measured, carrying the weight of a fatherly lecture. We found

you F wife ten years younger than you–vibrant, beautiful, and sweet. And you’re still acting like we did you some kind of injustice? Do you honestly think your parents would ever steer you wrong?”

Zachary’s shoulders slumped, a shadow of guilt crossing his face. “Dad, it’s not about me. It’s about her. I’m thinking about that poor girl. My job is dangerous. If something ever happened… I’d just be ruining her life.”

Chase interrupted him, “If you kick the bucket, she’ll just inherit your entire estate and hire herself a few young male models. Her life would only get better from there. You’re just a crusty old man; don’t go expecting some grand, soul–shattering devotion from a girl that young. Just be thankful she’s willing to make it work with you at all.”

Zachary was left utterly speechless.

Having been stripped of his dignity and roasted by his father, he could do nothing but lower his head and eat in silence.

Chase then shifted his heavy, somber gaze toward Damon, who had been eating quietly. “And you, Damon.”

Damon looked up, meeting his father’s eyes. “Dad? What does this have to do with me?”

“Aubrey doesn’t have her memories right now. If she stays with you of her own free will, I won’t interfere. But if she decides that being with you without the prospect of marriage is a waste of her youth and her time, and she chooses to leave, you can’t be as obsessive as you were before. You have to respect her choice. When it’s time to let go, you let go.”

“I know,” Damon murmured. His gaze darkened, and the aura around him instantly turned heavy and oppressive.

Victoria, Tracy, and Zachary all turned to look at him at once, their eyes filled with a mix of heartache and pity.

Aubrey focused on her bowl, picking at her rice while stealing a glance at the man beside her. He looked completely defeated, his spirit crushed.

From the sound of what his father said, Damon must have been pretty obsessive when it came to her in the past.

His father seemed reasonable enough, so why was everyone else so intent on coddling Damon?

After dinner.

Everyone settled into the living room sofas, the air filled with the low hum of casual conversation. The housekeeper brought out a platter of sliced pears and set it on the coffee table, each piece neatly skewered with a small silver fork.

Aubrey leaned forward to grab a piece, but Damon’s hand suddenly moved, pinning hers down against the table.

“What is it?” Aubrey asked, glancing at him with a puzzled expression.

Damon stared at the neatly sliced pieces of pear, then shifted his gaze to Aubrey. Her latest post on the Grid flashed through his mind: Love yourself, love life.

The Aubrey Hayes who used to be terrified of the superstition that sharing a pear meant a permanent separation–that girl was gone.

“It’s nothing,” Damon said, his grip loosening as he let go of her hand. “Let me get it for you.”

He reached across the table, picked up a slice of pear, and handed it to her.

“Thanks.” Aubrey took it with a small, polite smile and leaned back against the sofa. As she ate, she found herself stealing a glance at him from the corner of her eye.

She couldn’t help but wonder–he had reacted the split second she’d reached for the fruit. Was his attention always on her? Was he watching her every move?

Just then, Zachary turned to her. “Aubrey, I’d like to have a word with you. Privately.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify