Do You Still Love Me When We Meet Again? (Aubrey and Damon) novel Chapter 86

Chapter 86

“My brother?” Skylar froze, then a sneer twisted her lips “Right. My brother used to be so into you. The ones he couldn’t have were always the most idealized. All these years, every girlfriend he’s had has borne some resemblance to you.”

Aubrey remained silent.

Skylar swirled the red wine in her glass, continuing, unprompted, “But Aubrey, you’re quite the player when it comes to men. First Damon, then Erhan, and now my brother? Do you just go through every single man, trying to snag the wealthiest?”

Guests who overheard the commotion turned to stare at them.

Such humiliation didn’t even faze Aubrey, who was always so composed, if anything, it only made Skylar look childish.

She stood, her expression serene, and lowered her voice.“I’m truly sorry, but I honestly couldn’t be less interested in your brother. I’m merely his

attorney.”

“You…” Skylar’s face instantly darkened. “What right do you have to dismiss my brother?”

“Because of you,” Aubrey said, a polite, strained smile on her face, but her words were sharp as blades.“Alex having a sister like you is a definite strike against him. No matter how wealthy or exceptional he is, I’d still want no part of it.”

“Aubrey, who the hell gave you the confidence to be so arrogant?” Skylar hissed, her voice thick with fury. She gripped her wine glass, raising it, ready to fling the contents at Aubrey.

She’d barely lifted it before a large hand shot out, slamming down and seizing her wrist, stopping her mid–motion.

A sharp smack echoed, and Skylar gasped, a cry of pain escaping her lips. The wine glass flew from her grip, hitting the marble with a sickening CRASH, red wine exploding across the polished floor, the glass shattering into a million pieces.

Skylar whirled around, her eyes wide with shocked disbelief. Damon stood beside her, his face a mask of dangerous fury, a chilling aura radiating from him that promised retribution. Her wrist throbbed, an agonizing fire where his hand had connected.

Skylar clutched her throbbing wrist, a whimper escaping her as indignant tears pricked her eyes. Her gaze flickered up, catching sight of her brother striding purposefully toward them.

Skylar knew Damon wouldn’t defend her. She shot Alex a pleading look, her voice thick with hurt.“Alex, you need to fire Aubrey immediately. I don’t care what case it is, you can’t let her handle it. She’s insufferable! She looks down on you, she despises you. Can’t you have some backbone and just stop obsessing over her?”

Alex’s face was ashen, his gaze icy. He snapped, “Causing a scene at my party? Do you have any respect for me as your brother?”

Skylar hung her head in shame, her humiliation deepening as she stared at the spilled red wine and shattered glass on the floor.

Just then, a server approached with a cloth. He immediately knelt to pick up the glass shards and wipe away the wine.

Damon moved to Aubrey’s side. He took her arm, pulling her back a couple of steps, and murmured softly,“Are you okay?”

Aubrey shook her head.

Both Skylar’s and Alex’s gazes, sharp and cold, locked onto them.

Alex spoke softly, “Aubrey, I’m so sorry. My sister is out of line, please don’t let her get to you.”

Aubrey managed a tight smile and shook her head.“It’s fine.”

Damon said, “Since Ms. Evans doesn’t welcome Aubrey, I’ll take her home.”

Alex interjected hastily, “She is welcome!”

To the point of throwing wine? What kind of welcome is that?” Damon, seizing the opportunity, had no intention of letting Alex off the hook. He urned his head to Aubrey beside him.“Are you going to stay here and be humiliated? Or come back with me?”

Aubrey let out a resigned sigh. Though she didn’t particularly like these kinds of gatherings, Damon certainly knew how to work a situation.

He never missed a chance to push his advantage.

With the word ‘humiliation‘ now out in the open, if she didn’t leave, she would appear desperate and undignified, demeaning herself.

‘Alex, I’m going to head out now.” Aubrey nodded at him, her farewell polite. “Happy birthday again, and have a good night.”

Alex took a step forward, his voice urgent.“Aubrey, let me take you home.”

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Damon grabbed his arm, pushing him back a step. “You’re the man of the hour,” he said “If you teave, who’s going to entertain your pers?”

Alex’s face darkened, his smile stiff

A flicker of triumph flashed in Damon’s eyes He turned and walked over in Aubrey.“Ter’s go.”

Aubrey nodded to Alex, then followed Damon out

Watching them leave, Alex clenched his fists, biting down on his back teeth, and let out a frustrated curse.

Skylar spoke hesitantly, ‘Brother, you…”

“Shut up!” Alex whipped around, glaring at her, his chest heaving with furious breaths. He lowered his voice, each word a cold, sharp blade. Skylar. mark my words. You can hate Aubrey, and you can even try to keep Damon and Aubrey apart. But when it comes to my pursuit of Aubrey, if you dare to put even the slightest obstacle in my way, I will cut you off financially, and you can forget about ever calling me brother again”

Skylar lowered her head, a bitter resentment churning within her, yet the suffocating grip of financial pressure made her instantly rave. Tworry, Alex” she mumbled, “I know I was wrong. I’ll make sure you get Aubrey.”

“Good,” Alex snapped, his voice sharp and final. He then stalked off toward the other guests.

Late into the night, the city blazed with vibrant neon.

The car merged into a river of glowing red taillights, and inside, a profound silence settled.

Damon had been drinking, so he called for a driver.

Aubrey sat beside him in the backseat. A faint scent of alcohol mingled with Damon’s distinct, pleasant cologne, filling the small confines of the car and slipping in and out of her awareness with every breath.

She leaned against the window, her head turned, gazing at the city lights outside.

After what felt like ages, Damon broke the tense silence, his voice soft.“Aubrey, you look beautiful tonight.”

His gaze rested on her, open and unwavering, filled with undisguised admiration.

Aubrey’s heart skipped a beat, a faint tremor running through her cheeks. Luckily, the dim light concealed her momentary fluster.

“Thank you,” she said, dropping her gaze, her voice barely a whisper.

His eyes were hot, yet he maintained a gentlemanly distance. The air hummed with a palpable, restrained intimacy, growing thicker with every passing

second.

Just as he finished speaking, the rideshare driver, who had been silent, suddenly turned on the car’s stereo.

A soft ballad gently enveloped the confined space.

“Do you still have that feeling of being followed?” Damon asked.

Aubrey leaned back against the seat, her gaze lowered as she murmured, “I’m fine.”

“I’ve been pretty swamped this week,” Damon said. “We had a data issue, so I’ve been working overtime to fix it.” He offered the explanation of his work situation, as if it was also an unspoken apology for not having visited her in the evenings recently.

“Mhm.” Aubrey just hummed, unsure how to respond to him.

“Once I get past this busy stretch, things will calm down.”

“Damon…” Aubrey’s voice was heavy.“We’re not that intimate, you don’t need to tell me these things.”

“Honestly, aren’t we inseparable?”

“No.”

“Your mouth is the most stubborn part of you.”

Aubrey pressed her lips together, a speechless frustration building.

His words were tinged with an intimacy that made her squirm. Did he completely forget about the designated driver in the front seat?

Half an hour later.

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Back at her apartment building. Damon ended the ride, then followed Aubrey as she headed inside.

Cleve in Chine By Check in

As Aubrey stepped into the lobby, she turned to him. “I can go up on my own,” she said. “You don’t have to come with me. You can gr

“I had too much to drink. Need to use your bathroom.” Damon brushed past her, striding forcefully toward the elevat

Aubrey knew it was nothing but an excuse, but she found herself unable to refuse.

They went up to her apartment together.

Aubrey scanned her fingerprint to unlock the door, then stepped inside and flicked on the lights.

Damon followed her in. As he took off his shoes, he spotted a piece of paper on the floor, picking it up and unfolding it.

His gaze fell on the words, and his face instantly darkened.

Aubrey set her phone and purse on the shoe cabinet, slipping out of her heels. The moment she turned around, she saw Damon holding the paper, his expression utterly grim.

‘Another note?” Aubrey walked over to him, leaning in to read the words on the page.