Do You Still Love Me When We Meet Again? (Aubrey and Damon) novel Chapter 69

Chapter 69

Two o’clock in the morning.

Zachary finished his shift at the police station, his body heavy with exhaustion, and headed home.

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The moment he pushed open the door, the living room lights were on. A professional instinct kicked in; he froze, instantly on high alert.

His gaze landed on a familiar pair of men’s casual shoes by the entryway. He exhaled slowly, relief washing over him, then set his car keys on the console and closed the door behind him.

He stepped into the living room and found Damon slouched sideways on the sofa, an elbow propped on the backrest. Damon’s fingertips were pressed to his forehead as he stared out at the night beyond the balcony, lost in a haze of melancholy.

Hearing the door close, Damon subtly turned his head toward the doorway, his voice soft as he greeted, “Brother.”

Zachary’s gaze met his. He let out a soft sigh, walked over, and sank onto the sofa, leaning back as he closed his eyes, trying to rest. “How long have you

been here?”

“Three hours.”

“Why didn’t you say you were coming? Just waited here?”

Damon lowered his elbow, turning to sit upright. “I didn’t want to disturb you while you were working. I just didn’t expect you to be working until two in the morning.”

“There’s a really thorny case recently, keeping me pretty busy.” Zachary rubbed his temples. “What’s on your mind?”

“I need a favor.” Damon retrieved a file folder from beside the sofa and placed it on the coffee table in front of Zachary. “Aubrey’s father’s case. I need you to look into it.”

Zachary frowned, his eyes narrowing as he glanced at the folder, then back at Damon, a puzzled expression on his face. “What’s there to investigate about a case that was closed five years ago? Are you doubting the judge, or are you doubting the police?”

“I believe it.” Damon pressed his lips into a bitter line, covering his face with his hands. He exhaled a heavy, stifled breath, running a hand over his face as if to smooth away the weariness before finally lowering them. His voice held a helpless, resigned tone. “But people… we all need some hope to truly live. What if a miracle happens? As long as there’s even a flicker of hope, I don’t want to give up.”

Zachary straightened up, picking up the files from the table. He opened them, his gaze sharp as he asked, “You’re getting married, aren’t you? Is it really appropriate for you to be helping Aubrey like this?”

“You’re right, it’s not appropriate.” Damon leaned forward, elbows on his thighs, head bowed, his voice heavy. “So, I called off the wedding.”

Zachary shot him a serious glare. “Because of Aubrey, you were just going to marry any woman, and then because of Aubrey again, you cut everyone else out of your life. You know there’s no future with her, but you keep falling for her, over and over again. You’re going to drive yourself crazy eventually.”

Damon scoffed dismissively, not bothering to respond.

Zachary scrutinized the documents, then threw them onto the desk. “There’s not a single flaw. This case is airtight.”

“I wouldn’t be coming to you if I had any other choice.” Damon looked up at Zachary, a helpless plea in his eyes. “Zachary, she’s taking her mother’s ashes back to Crestview City tomorrow. I left her a home in New Haven City, but knowing her, she’ll never come back.”

“Then go to her city and find her.”

“It’s no use. As long as that wound festers, she’ll never admit she still has feelings for me. I can’t force her.”

“Forcing her is illegal, you know. Don’t even think about trying that! If it’s truly impossible, then you need to let her go.”

“I’ve tried countless times,” Damon’s eyes welled up, and his voice grew hoarse and weak. “Every single time, I think I’ve moved on, that I’ve finally given up hope, but she’s still all I can think about. She replays in my mind, over and over, always… over and over again. It doesn’t just mess with my head, it impacts my entire quality of life. It’s like she’s even stealing years from me. But the worst part is I’m terrified to see her again. To see her and not be able to be close… that feeling is pure torture.”

Zachary’s life was a strict regimen of studies and work; he had no frame of reference for the profound emotions Damon was describing.

But he saw his usually sunny and warm younger brother, whose eyes were now red–rimmed, an ocean of despair swirling within them. He could vaguely sense the profound agony he was experiencing, but he couldn’t grasp the true nature of that pain.

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Zachary’s heart ached for his brother. He reached for the files he’d just put down, his voice softening. “When I get a moment, I’ll really review the case files for inconsistencies. But try not to get your hopes up too high, so you won’t be crushed if it doesn’t pan out.”

Thanks, big brother.” Damon managed a grateful smile. “It’s late. I won’t keep you from your rest.”

Damon stood and headed for the door. Zachary turned, watching his heavy, burdened retreat. “Damon.”

Damon turned back. “What is it?”

“Would you change jobs for Aubrey?”

Damon gave a bitter laugh. “If I changed jobs for Aubrey, do you think it would move her?”

“No.”

“Exactly. Whether I change jobs or not, she’s never going to be with me. That’s the real crux of the problem.”

Zachary furrowed his brow. He waved a hand, a gesture of resignation, signaling Damon to go. Then he turned away, muttering to himself, “Love is such a pain. People should just relax after work, never go looking for trouble with romance.”

Damon’s bitter smile remained. He slipped on his shoes, opened the door, and stepped out. “Good night,” he murmured, pulling the door softly shut behind him.

The streets were eerily quiet at three in the morning. Streetlights on both sides of the road cast a wide glow across the pavement. Traffic was sparse.

Damon drove, speeding down the wide avenue. The car’s interior was dim, and warm, yellow streetlights flashed past the windows, one after another, illuminating his somber face. A thick, impenetrable haze seemed to envelop him. He stared at the road ahead, his eyes red–rimmed, his gaze deep and troubled.

He felt as if he’d fallen into a bottomless black hole. A desperate helplessness consumed him–trapped, unable to climb out, with no light in sight.

After a half–hour drive, the car pulled up outside the guesthouse.

Damon rolled down the window. His heavy frame slumped back, exhausted, as he turned his head to look at the guesthouse across the street. Tears glimmered in the corners of his eyes, catching the faint glow.

By 4:00 AM, the street cleaners were already at work.

At 4:30 AM, a street sweeper truck drove by, its familiar chimes echoing, adding a touch of life to the deep night.

By 5:00 AM, the breakfast shop across the street opened its doors. The owner couple bustled about, preparing for the day’s earnings–their lives, though simple, were full.

At six AM, the sky was already a pale, milky white, the pre–dawn light hazy as the sun quietly began its ascent.

The streets slowly began to fill with pedestrians.

At eight AM, Aubrey emerged, pushing her suitcase.

She wore a charcoal maxi dress, her long, dark hair cascading around her shoulders, a small white flower clip tucked behind her ear.

She got into a ride–share, heading for the funeral home.

Damon hadn’t slept a wink all night and felt no hint of exhaustion. He immediately started his car and followed.

By nine–thirty AM, he watched Aubrey emerge from the funeral home, clutching a box wrapped in black cloth–her mother’s urn, he knew.

She got back into a ride–share, bound for the airport.

By eleven AM, she had arrived at the airport.

One hand pushed her suitcase, the other cradled the cold urn. Her slender back radiated an unshakeable grief, and though the airport teemed with people, she seemed to exist in her own silent, sorrowful world.

He matched her every move. When she quickened her pace, he quickened his; when she slowed, he halted, his gaze riveted on her, never once straying

They stepped into the departure lounge.

Aubrey stopped in her tracks, hesitated for a few moments, then whipped her head around.

The bustling airport terminal was a sea of unfamiliar faces. She swept her gaze around, but couldn’t spot a single familiar person.

Her sixth sense whispered that someone was following her.

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She settled onto the long bench, her mother’s ashes cradled on her lap. Her gaze dropped to the small box, a profound sadness settling over her. A faint, insidious ache began to spread, not sharp or intense, but a slow, persistent torment, like a dull blade steadily grinding at her very core.

“Aubrey.”

A man’s voice startled her.

Aubrey’s head snapped up.

The man, impeccably dressed in a suit, stood before her, a faint smile playing on his lips.

It was Alex, Skylar’s older brother.

“What are you doing here?” Aubrey asked.

Alex slipped one hand into his pants pocket. “I’m here to see off an important client. Are you heading back to Crestview City? Where’s your mother?”

Aubrey patted the urn on her lap.

Alex’s eyes widened in shock. He quickly sat down beside her, the faint smile vanishing from his face as he offered a somber apology. “I’m so sorry, Aubrey. I had no idea you were going through something so devastating. I’m so sorry for your loss.”

Aubrey gave a soft, noncommittal hum.

Alex pulled his hands from his pockets and rubbed them together. After a moment of hesitation, he asked, “Will you be coming back to New Haven City after this?”

“I don’t know.”

“Why don’t you consider moving to New Haven City to develop your career? Come work for my company. You could be a legal advisor, or even an investment manager for my department. The annual salary would be a million dollars.”

Aubrey turned her head to look at him, managing a weak, forced smile. “Thank you, Mr. Evans, for your generous offer, but I don’t have any plans to relocate to New Haven City.”

“As a pro bono lawyer in Crestview City, you’re not even making a hundred thousand a year, are you?” Alex leaned closer. “Don’t we all live to make a better life for ourselves? Your mother would have wanted you to have a better future, wouldn’t she?”

“Mr. Evans has no idea what my qualifications are, yet he’s offering me a million–dollar salary. It’s too clearly a ploy.”

“I don’t believe in hiding my intentions when I’m pursuing a woman I like. I’ve always been upfront about it.”

Aubrey lowered her head, gazing at her mother’s ashes. She nodded slowly, a silent acknowledgment, but offered no words.

On her deathbed, her mother’s most frequent plea had been for Aubrey to marry into stability. To marry a man of good standing, someone who could spare her from the hardships of poverty for the rest of her life. It was a traditional belief, one that grated against Aubrey’s fierce independence.

What her mother hadn’t realized was that a woman could make her own way, earn her own money, and didn’t have to pin her entire future on a man.

Aubrey shifted the conversation. “I’ll be here for a while yet. You can go ahead if you have other plans.”

Alex leaned back, at ease. “I’m not busy,” he said. “We’ll keep in touch through texts.” He stood, resting a hand on Aubrey’s shoulder and patting it softly. “Remember to find me in New Haven City. My promise of that seven–figure salary? It’s always waiting for you.”

Aubrey remained unmoving, her eyes never lifting.

Alex gazed at her for a moment, a reluctant tug in his chest. His time was precious, though. Three hours was enough to get so much done; he couldn’t afford to waste it just waiting for a flight.

He turned and left.

She took a few steps back, and out of the corner of her eye, caught sight of a familiar figure.

His steps faltered as he spotted Damon sitting on a chair not far behind Aubrey.

He was shocked. He looked at Damon, then followed his line of sight to Aubrey.

He’d thought they’d broken up six years ago and were long since over,

He’d believed Damon, about to be married, had moved on from his ex; he hadn’t noticed any hint of lingering feelings the last time they’d played cards. He hadn’t expected Damon to try and snatch her away again, just as he was about to make his own move.

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But this time, Damon wouldn’t necessarily win her back from him.

Alex smiled coolly, dismissing it, and strode away.

For Damon, three hours wasn’t long at all. In fact, he felt time was flying by too quickly.

So fast that in a blink of an eye, she would be gone.

Aubrey stood up, holding the urn, feeling a searing gaze on her back.

She looked up and scanned the area.

She didn’t see anyone looking at her.

She pushed her luggage cart to check her bag, then scanned her ticket and went through the gate.

Damon hunched low by the chair, trying to avoid her sweeping gaze.

In an instant, he slowly straightened up and stood, then followed her.

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Aubrey passed through the boarding gate, took a few steps, but found herself unable to resist. She turned back again.

Suddenly, a figure quickly ducked into a corner. She couldn’t make out who it was a stranger, perhaps, or maybe her depression was flaring up again, conjuring strange illusions.

Without another moment’s hesitation, she strode forward.

Damon stepped out again, his gaze fixed on Aubrey’s slight, solitary figure as she faded from view.

He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white and taut as he struggled to suppress the agonizing pain in his heart. His eyes burned red, his chest constricting so tightly he couldn’t breathe, forcing him to part his lips and gasp for air.

He couldn’t risk making her feel guilty or burdened, so he didn’t dare openly see her off.

He couldn’t let her know he’d never truly let her go. He feigned indifference, not daring to betray even the slightest hint of his love.

Fearing she might never return to New Haven City, he’d used a strategic challenge, a calculated bait, to ensure she always had a home there waiting for

ner.

When it came to Aubrey, he’d poured every ounce of effort, tried every single approach, only to be met with a helplessness he’d never known.

All he could do now was murmur into the empty air, “Aubrey, be safe.”

The flight from New Haven City to Crestview City spanned over twelve hundred miles and took four hours.

The entire way, Aubrey’s mind was a complete blank. She couldn’t think of a single soul. Her heart felt utterly numb, like a dead weight in her chest, ind a persistent tremor still ran through her hands.

On the plane, she began to develop mild somatization symptoms.

At least she hadn’t burdened anyone else. She’d made it through, all on her own.

Once she was off the plane and back home, she came face–to–face with her brother Brendan and sister–in–law Chloe, their faces stony.

Her brother, denied the money he’d expected, completely checked out. He refused to lift a finger, and his words turned cruel, overtly and implicitly

laming her for their mother’s death.

She couldn’t bring herself to care what he was saying.

She notified all the relatives, personally overseeing every single detail to give her mother a proper funeral.

A considerable sum of condolence money had been received, and her brother took every last bit.

None of that mattered to her.

But during their mother’s burial, her brother gathered their uncle and a host of relatives, spewing venom. “My sister is to blame for Mom’s death,” he declared. “Mom urged her to marry early, but she stubbornly refused, infuriating Mom and making her ill. When they couldn’t find a diagnosis in Crestview City, she wouldn’t agree to take Mom to New Haven City for treatment, Even after a diagnosis was finally made in Fairfield, she still dragged her feet about bringing Mom to New Haven City. Eventually, she agreed, but Mom was perfectly fine when she left, and my sister brought back only her ashes. My sister killed Mom. I’ll hate her forever.”

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The relatives, swayed by his words, swiftly laid all the blame at her feet.

Gossip, she knew, was a sharp knife that killed without drawing blood.

Especially when those wielding the blade were her own kin.

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