Do You Still Love Me When We Meet Again? (Aubrey and Damon) novel Chapter 39

Aubrey pushed herself up, reining in her frantic emotions. She turned to face Caleb, forcing herself to sound calm. “Caleb,” she said softly, “let’s sit down and talk this through properly.”

Caleb scoffed, advancing towards her one slow, deliberate step at a time. A sinister smile twisted his lips. “When I wanted to talk things over, you blew ne off, you were so cold. Now that I’m done talking, you want to cozy up?”

Aubrey found herself retreating, forced back with every step he took.

The living room wasn’t big, and with nowhere left to retreat, she stumbled onto the sofa. “Caleb, this is a lawful society. You won’t get away with inything.”

Caleb’s eyes were vicious, his jaw clenched as he grabbed her collar, yanking her close. “Your mother, that old hag so obsessed with appearances, if she knew I’d assaulted you and recorded it, she’d definitely force you to marry me.”

Aubrey’s heart pounded, and she tremblingly continued to placate him. “Caleb, what you’re doing is a serious felony, carrying years in prison. You’re in he prime of your youth; don’t ruin your life because of a moment’s impulse. Think about your mother–how miserable would she be if her son went o jail?”

Caleb scoffed, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “Aubrey, I am going to have you tonight. If you dare call the police, I’ll kill your entire family, and then I’ll post the video of what I’ve done to you online. I might go to jail, but you won’t get off easy either.”

At this point, any further persuasion was futile.

Aubrey gathered her strength, shoved Caleb away with all her might, then quickly turned and bolted for the kitchen.

Caleb stumbled back a step. When he reacted, he lunged, grabbing a fistful of Aubrey’s clothes.

His hand closed around the collar at the back of her neck.

She was wearing a black jacket, unbuttoned, and his sudden tug ripped it right off her, leaving her in only a thin, long–sleeved white shirt.

She burst into the kitchen and snatched a large knife from the block on the counter.

Just then.

A sharp whoosh cut through the air.

A harsh CRACK landed on Aubrey’s back, and a searing pain ripped through her skin and muscle, spreading like wildfire across her entire back. The raw agony was unbearable.

“Ah!” She screamed, the pain tearing through her, Gripping the knife, she whirled around, her hands trembling, each breath a ragged gasp of agony.

Her gaze fell on the long object in Caleb’s hand, and panic seized her.

“I warned you, didn’t I? Push me to use force, and you won’t survive it.” Caleb slowly twirled the whip in his hand, poised and ready, each word laced with venom. “I’ve got plenty of little toys for you tonight. I’ll use every single one on you, and by the time I’m done, you’ll beg for death, but you won’t get it. You’ll wish you’d never been born.”

With that, he lashed out once more.

Even from over a meter away, the whip still snapped against her wrist.

A sharp crack.

“Ah!” A choked cry tore from her throat as her hands trembled violently. Her fingers gave out, and the large kitchen knife clattered to the floor.

She’d always been terrified of pain, but this tearing, burning agony was utterly unbearable.

Panic, terror, and the searing pain scrambled her thoughts, making her lose all sense of direction With tears blurring her vision, she stumbled backward, blindly reaching for another knife.

Seeing her attempt to grab another knife, Caleb cracked the whip again.

Aubrey spun around, instinctively using her back to shield herself from the brutal blow. “Ah..” A gasp of pain tore from her lips.

Her body shuddered from the blow, and she stumbled forward, bracing herself against the countertop. Her hands instinctively snatched up a fruit knife

from the block.

This time, she gripped the knife with every ounce of her strength.

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If Caleb dared to come any closer, her blade would plunge into his flesh without hesitation. She would take him down with her, even if it meant dying

herself.

Aubrey’s tear–reddened eyes shone with a fierce, cold resolve. With the knife clutched in her hand, she screamed at the top of her lungs, “Help me! Help

me!”

Panic flashed in Caleb’s eyes, but he started to advance.

Aubrey screamed, jabbing wildly at him.

Fearing the blade, Caleb stumbled back two steps and brought the whip down hard on her arm.

The whip lashed out wildly, cracking against her arm, then her wrist…

A scarlet streak instantly marred her white shirt.

Pain racked her body, making her tremble, but she held onto the knife with a death grip, tears welling in her eyes, her screams never ceasing.

But to no avail, the kitchen window was shut tight, and in the middle of the night, most people in the high–rise building were fast asleep. Her cries were unlikely to carry far.

Even if a faint sound reached them, how many would dare to intervene, to stick their necks out in the dead of night, in a society so cold and self–preserving?

Caleb’s panic escalated. He tossed the whip aside, grabbed the large metal pot lid nearby, and lunged at Aubrey.

Aubrey, gripping the knife, thrust it at Caleb, but it clanged against the pot lid, blocked.

Her aching, weakened body was pinned by Caleb in the kitchen.

She struggled with every ounce of strength she had.

In moments of mortal danger, adrenaline surges.

She fought desperately, screaming as she wrestled with Caleb for the knife still clutched in her hand.

Tonight, either Caleb would die, or she would.

Only one of them would walk out of this kitchen alive.

Just as her despair reached its peak, a thunderous bang erupted from outside the door.

BANG!

Caleb jumped, scrambling off Aubrey and retreating to the kitchen doorway.

Aubrey still clutched the knife handle tightly, gasping for breath, her weak and aching body trembling uncontrollably as her tear–blurred eyes fixed on the kitchen ceiling.

Barely three seconds passed before the deafening bang echoed again.

‘BANG

Louder, heavier, wilder than the last.

Panic seized Caleb, his face turning ashen.

It couldn’t be his mother. Who the hell would be breaking down his front door at this hour?

The only person he could think of who could get here so fast was Damon, who lived in the same complex. He panickest, bolting for the door, despersin to hide and find an escape

Tears still brimming in her eyes, a flicker of relief curved Aubrey’s lips.

She knew Damon was here.

She was safe.

“BANG…”

The third bang–deafening, and sickeningly sharp.

With three powerful kicks, Damon splintered the lock of the heavy wooden door, then burst through

< Chapter 39.

“Aubrey!” Damon’s face was etched with panic as he cried out desperately. “Aubrey…”

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“I’m in the kitchen,” Aubrey managed to rasp, her voice thick with unshed tears, choked with a raw sob that spoke of sheer terror and the profound, dizzying relief of survival.

If Damon hadn’t shown up, she would have died here tonight.

Thank goodness, her voice message had gone through, and Damon had heard it.

Gasping for air, Damon burst into the kitchen, his eyes red–rimmed and filled with frantic anxiety as he saw Aubrey trembling on the floor.

Her hair was a wild mess, her white shirt stained with blood. Her face was pale, eyes brimming with tears, and her trembling hands still clutched the knife, refusing to let go.

In that moment, a crushing agony ripped through him.

He kicked aside a pot lid that was in his way, dropped to one knee, and helped her sit up.

S–s–s,” Aubrey gasped, her brow furrowing tightly with pain. A sharp gasp escaped her lips.

Damon glanced behind her, his eyes catching on two long, crimson streaks of blood marring the back of her shirt.

His fists clenched, and a terrifying, murderous glint flashed in his reddened eyes. His voice, low and thick with self–reproach and regret, rasped, “I’m sorry. I was too late.”

Aubrey released the fruit knife she was clutching, her hand going to his arm. “Damon,” she said, “Caleb is hiding just outside the living room. He’s lefinitely going to try and run.”

There are cameras everywhere. He won’t get far,” Damon assured her, his only concern her physical state. He longed to hold her, but he was terrified of ouching the wounds on her back. So he gently helped her up by the shoulders. “I’m taking you to the hospital first.”

As they walked out of the living room, Damon picked up Aubrey’s jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

On their way out, Aubrey noticed that not only was the main entrance door completely destroyed, but the tempered glass door in the first–floor lobby

had also been smashed.

That tempered glass door was definitely going to cost them.

ate that night, after they arrived at the hospital, the police were called.

The police took her statement at the hospital, and immediately issued an arrest warrant for Caleb.

she had four injuries.

The skin on her back was delicate, and two of the wounds were deep.

The cuts on her arms and wrists were thankfully short and shallow, nothing too serious.

They were superficial wounds, not requiring hospitalization.

With her wounds cleaned and dressed, an anti–inflammatory shot administered, and a prescription filled, she was finally able to leave the hospital.

This was the second time Caleb had laid his cruel hands on her.

This time, Caleb wouldn’t get away with it. Dead or alive, he was going to prison to answer for his crimes.

Sur could the police even catch him? And what charges would be severe enough to ensure he’d never walk free again?

Aubrey pondered for a long time before turning her head to look at Damon, who was driving

Whether at the hospital or now, his lips were pressed into a grim line, his jaw clenched into a rigid angle. A heavy, palpable guilt seemed to solidify

round him.

The night was deep, the temperature had plummeted, and the air was frigid

Back home.

The living room was warm, the heating humming softly, and the lights were muted

Aubrey sat on the sofa, her head tilted as she gazed out at the balcony.

Damon was outside in the biting wind, on the phone. His expression was grim and severe, and Aubrey didn’t know who he was talking to or what he was saying.

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< Chapter 39

The call was brief.

When it ended, he gripped the railing with both hands, gazing up at the pitch–black sky.

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Even though he had done nothing wrong, his broad, strong frame radiated a helpless self–reproach, as if he was on the verge of shattering.

The lingering fear in Aubrey’s heart slowly settled, and she gradually found a measure of peace regarding the night’s events.

Time ticked by.

Damon showed no sign of coming inside.

It was freezing out, and Aubrey wanted him to come inside.

She stood up and walked over, her hand going to the glass pane. Just as she was about to slide it open, Damon’s phone rang.

Her hand froze, and she stood there, stunned.

Damon answered his phone, holding it to his ear. “Did you get him?” he asked, his voice grave.

The person on the other end of the line said something Aubrey couldn’t make out.

He replied, “Good. Appreciate it. Please take them to the police station.”

He hung up and turned around, his gaze meeting Aubrey’s through the glass.

A beat of silence passed between them.

Aubrey’s hand pressed firmer, and she slid the glass door open. “It’s cold out there,” she said in a soft, gentle voice.

Damon walked toward her. She took a half–step back, letting him pass.

Damon stepped inside, sliding the door shut behind him and drawing the curtains. His gaze dropped, studying her slightly drawn face, his voice low and gentle. “They caught Caleb. And I got your phone back. Tell me your passcode, and I’ll pick it up for you at the police station tomorrow.”

Less than two hours. Aubrey hadn’t imagined they’d nab him so quickly.

The password hadn’t changed.

Not in five years. It was still the day they first met.

Damon’s

eyes darkened, and his fingers tightened imperceptibly. He continued, “I’ll find someone to prosecute the case.”

I’m a lawyer; I can take care of the suit myself. You don’t need to pay for another one.”

Damon’s voice deepened, serious and laced with a possessive edge. “You don’t need to worry about the cost. I’ll have Vincent Hall represent you.”

Aubrey gaped, utterly speechless.

Vincent Hall? The legendary criminal defense attorney?

That’s overkill.

Vincent Hall was a titan in the legal world, a nightmare for his opponents. His win rate was so unparalleled, his peers couldn’t even touch it. He had ong transcended mere wealth and power. The saying circulating online–‘When Hall takes a case, he can even land the opposing lawyer in jail–wasn’t

joke; it was a chilling testament to the awe he commanded, a fear of his absolute power.