HIS DOE, HIS DAMNATION (An Erotic Billionaire Romance) novel Chapter 175

**TITLE: Fallen 175**
**CHAPTER 0175**

**Alaric’s POV:**

There was never a moment of doubt in my mind that my girl would rise to the occasion and confront her sister with the strength I knew she possessed. Yet, as I stood there, watching her, she surpassed every expectation I didn’t even know I had.

Seeing her finally assert her individuality, to stand firm as a powerful, independent woman, filled my heart with an overwhelming pride that I had never experienced before. But that pride quickly turned to sorrow as she crumbled in my arms, her tears soaking through my shirt, piercing my soul and leaving me feeling helpless.

The thought of losing Nolan, the way she had lost Juniper, was unbearable. But then again, Nolan was nothing like Juniper; he wasn’t twisted in the same way.

“It’s okay, baby,” I whispered gently into her ear, wishing I could absorb her pain, wishing I could wipe away her tears. I knew this moment was crucial for Meadow; she needed to release all that pent-up emotion.

“I hate her,” she gasped, her voice thick with anguish. “God, I hate her so much. I wish she would just…”

“I know,” I murmured softly, my heart aching for her. “Your sister has her own demons to battle, Meadow. You standing your ground was the only thing you could do. She wasn’t ready to change, not for anyone.”

As she pulled back to meet my gaze, I ran my fingers tenderly through her hair, my heart aching at the sight of her wide, tear-filled eyes. “You’re going to hurt now,” I continued, my voice steady yet filled with compassion. “You will hurt, but you will heal, too. I know this because you are the strongest woman I’ve ever met. And remember, you have me by your side, which is a definite plus,” I added with a light-hearted chuckle, hoping to coax a smile from her.

A weak chuckle escaped her lips, and I pressed my lips to her forehead, feeling her relax against me, her soft sniffles breaking the silence. “How do you always know what to say?” she asked, her voice a mixture of curiosity and admiration.

“There’s a little voice in my ear, whispering bits of wisdom that I’m just here to share with you,” I replied, my heart lifting at the sound of her laughter.

This time, Meadow let out a genuine laugh, brightening the heavy atmosphere. “Someone’s got jokes tonight,” she teased, and it warmed my heart to see her momentarily lifted from her sorrow.

“What can I say?” I whispered, wrapping my arm around her waist, pulling her closer. “I’m a changed man. An entire month without you must’ve… altered me somehow. Ruined the old me.”

I could see the shift in her expression as my words settled in. She didn’t like being reminded of the time apart—a sentiment I fully understood, especially since tonight was our first reunion after that agonizing month of silence.

Damn it.

Even though we had only spent a few hours together, it felt like an eternity, but in the best way possible.

“Baby…”

“Why didn’t you just tell me you loved me?” she asked suddenly, shaking her head in frustration. “So much time has passed, Alaric. Time that I could’ve spent with you if you hadn’t decided to just…” Her voice trailed off, and her eyes fell shut as she exhaled deeply. “I’m sorry, I know we’ve talked about this, but I just can’t understand how you managed to live your life day-to-day without… without me. Because I couldn’t do the same.”

“That wasn’t living, Meadow,” I replied, feeling the tightness in my throat. “I was just going through the motions, shuffling from the office to home, trying to drown myself in work so I wouldn’t think about you. But the truth is, I ended up thinking about you all the time. Missing you, loving you, wanting you… longing for you. That wasn’t living. And I swear, I can’t go through that again because it’s pure torture. A life without you is one I can’t bear.”

Meadow gasped softly, her eyes wide with surprise. “Alaric…”

“I’ll go to therapy,” I said, my voice steady but slow. “Nolan’s been urging me to go ever since I confessed that I could feel him. I mean, I can’t share every detail with her, but I’m more open to…”

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