Do You Still Love Me When We Meet Again? (Aubrey and Damon) novel Chapter 23

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“Aubrey, you’ve got guts. Just you wait.” Skylar’s face turned livid, her finger jabbing up and down at Aubrey as she bit out each word through clenched teeth. I’m going to tell Damon’s parents about you and him living together. They won’t just stand by and do nothing.”

Aubrey felt not a ripple of emotion regarding Skylar’s usual tactic of running to the parents. She merely watched her with unsettling calm.

Skylar had said her piece and turned to leave.

“Wait,” Aubrey called out, stopping her.

Skylar turned her head, snapping, “What else do you want?”

Aubrey pointed to the noodle soup and broken bowl splattered across the floor. “Clean this up before you go.”

Skylar let out a bitter laugh, crossing her arms and turning to face Aubrey. Her chin tilted, a mocking smirk playing on her lips. “Aubrey, who do you think you are? What gives you the right to order me around?”

Aubrey stood up, sliding her phone into her pocket before picking up her briefcase. She walked slowly, deliberately, towards Skylar. “You can choose not to clean it. Leave it for Damon to clean when he gets home. But don’t be surprised when I tell him everything, and trust me, it won’t be in your

favor.”

“You wouldn’t dare!” Skylar’s chest heaved with fury, her face darkening, eyes wide and almost popping from her head. She ground her teeth so hard that Aubrey swore she could hear them crack.

Aubrey brushed past her, then stopped short, turning so they stood shoulder to shoulder, facing away from each other. Her voice was low and steady, at chilling warning. “This recording,” she began, isn’t going anywhere. If I take you to count, I will win. Every single time. I am not your parents, and I am certainly not Damon. I won’t indulge you, and I won’t spoil you. Last time, you called me trash. This time, you called me a slut. Next time, I will take you straight to court, sue you for defamation, ensuring your reputation is ruined and your chances of marrying Damon are obliterated.”

Skylar’s fists trembled, her anger fueled by a searing mix of humiliation and the knowledge that she was in the wrong. A frantic panic churned in her gut, but she forced herself to adopt a defiant, almost haughty stance, refusing to show weakness. “Are you trying to scare me?”

“Go ahead. See if I’m bluffing.” Aubrey tilted her head, her unyielding, cold gaze holding a quiet, unsettling ruthlessness. It was a look utterly devoid of anger, yet it was the kind that froze you to your core.

Skylar swallowed hard, panic churning in her stomach.

The Blackwoods were an esteemed family, every member renowned for their unimpeachable character, integrity, and lofty principles

A ruined reputation? A public scandal?

For the Blackwoods, that wasn’t just a major taboo; it was a deal–breaker.

Skylar thought it over carefully, swallowed her pride, and grudgingly grabbed the trash can. She walked over to the puddle of noodles, squatted down and began picking up the noodles and broken pieces of the bowl with her bare hands, dropping them into the bin.

Aubrey glanced back, her eyes briefly sweeping over Skylar.

So, even an arrogant, spoiled heiress like her could humble herself for love,

To marry

into such an esteemed family, one had to be just as impeccable, without a single blemish, to truly be worthy of theit distinction.

Aubrey’s lips twisted into a bitter grimace. A cold, heavy rain seemed to fall within her heart, leaving her feeling damp and stifled, even making it hard

zo breathe.

Someone like her, riddled with flaws and stalas, illidn’t even have the right to dream.

She strode out, leaving the house behind.

The subway ride was a llur, Aubrey’s mind consumed by the vole wage Skylar had played.

Damon’s mother and Skylar’s mother had already arranged their marriage. Daman would return to New Haven City to marry Skylar during the holiday

ADA

Three months. That’s all they had

What was she even hoping for!

Aubrey’s eyes were dull, vacant, as she leaned her head against the subway door. She watched the crowded car around her, everyone staring down at their phones, eerily silent.

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The whole car felt lifeless, suffocating. Young faces were devoid of any spark, a throng of tired drones, still half–asleep and grumpy, dragging their weary bodies to the same soul–crushing routine, day in and day out, year after year.

A future they could see the end of, a future devoid of hope.

Evening.

Damon emerged from the lab.

He returned to his office, shed his work clothes, and pulled his phone from a drawer. His mother’s name flashed on the screen.

He sank into his chair and called her back.

The call connected, and Damon answered, “Hey, Mom, is everything alright?”

Damon,” Victoria said nervously, Skylar told me you ran into Aubrey in Crestview City, and now you’re living with her?”

We’re just housemates, Mom. Not living together,” Damon said, his tone gentle.

“What happened? Didn’t you buy a place in Crestview City? Why are you renting now?”

“It’s a long story. I’ll explain later.”

Damon, have you forgiven Aubrey?”

“What does ‘forgiveness even look like?”

“You’re even sharing an apartment with her! That’s practically forgiveness right there!”

“Maybe.”

“If she’s sharing a place with a guy, Aubrey must still be single. So you think you’ve got another shot?”

“That’s not what I’m thinking.” Damon closed his eyes, leaning back in his office chair, and let out a heavy sigh.

“You’re my son. I know you better than that”

“Mom, just drop it.”

Victoria sighed softly, a hint of helplessness in her voice. “Your grandfather and your father were both loyal and devoted men, and you’ve inherited some of that, you know. I was still hoping you and Skylar would get engaged when you came back to New Haven City for the Christmas.”

Don’t even think about it. She’s your best friend’s daughter; that’s the only reason I’ve been biting my tongue. I don’t have an ounce of romantic feeling for Skylar.”

Don‘ meddle in my love life.”

Victoria was silent for a moment, then murmured gently, “Alright, it’s your life, you make your own decisions. As your parents, we only have one requer that you be healthy, safe, and happy.”

Thanks, Mum Damon offered a knowing smile

“Oh, and I remember Aubrey used to love Bartlett Pears,” Victoria said, her tone eptionally gentle “They slon’t have those kinds of pears down wuah. Our pear tree in the backyard just ripened with tons of fruit. Give me an address, and I’ll send a box over. You can give it to Aubrey for me, and tell her

“Mmmm,” Damon asked, a ilorad of comern in his voler, How are Grandpa and Dad do

“They’re both doing great Your grandpa and his old war lauldies have been ranging for and wide, exploring every corner of the country, and he sharwn no sign of slowing down Your dad’s will his alloy well, wolny I sometimes forget I even have a husband”

Victoria sighed, a long weary sound “My father–in–law’s busy, my husband’s busy, and my two sons are even busier My daughter’s off abrol, a was correspondent, for heaven’s sake! Leaving me, a lonely, long–suffering wife, counting the days on my fingert at hon

I’m sorry, Mam

*If you feel bad, then come home and get married,

kida. Then Fl

look forward to. I can’t a

un your

brother

11:48

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A strange thrill pulsed through him, and a sinister, shallow smile spread across his face. “Aubrey, darling. “he purred, “just call me “Master Caleb‘, and I’ll tell Diablo to let you go.”

Diablo clamped down harder on her clothes, violently shaking its head, tearing her jacket to shreds. Then it turned its attention to her pants, sinking its teeth in and yanking with brutal force.

The fabric of her pant leg ripped open in an instant, leaving a jagged, gaping tear.

She cried out, scrambling desperately to stand, but the huge dog lunged again, knocking her back to the ground.

She trembled uncontrollably, tears of sheer terror streaming down her face. Her heart felt as if it had seized, her blood turned to ice in her veins.

Panic coiled through Aubrey’s limbs, a paralyzing dread that rooted her to the spot. Every desperate impulse to flee only made it harder to move, harder to even push herself up.

Her light jacket, already flimsy, was ripped to shreds, fabric flying like confetti around her..

Her pants, thin and offering lule protection, were no match for the Rottweiler’s razor–sharp teeth. Each lunge, meant for the fabric, grazed her bare skin, a searing pain shooting through her thigh with every near miss.

“Ah! Help… please, help me!” Aubrey’s pleas were ragged, a choked, trembling cry that barely escaped her lips as her body convulsed with terror.

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