Ran Away Pregnant Came Back Alpha Heiress (Amelia and Damien) novel Chapter 318

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**Chapter 318**

**Amelia’s POV**

My heart raced furiously, pounding like a drum in my chest as I locked eyes with Damien. There was always a wall between us, a barrier he meticulously maintained, but in this fleeting moment, I felt as if I was catching a glimpse of something buried deep within him—a part of him he rarely allowed anyone to see.

Typically, Damien’s gaze held a distant quality, as if he were peering through me rather than truly seeing me. I often wondered if he was merely looking at Amelia’s face, unable to recognize the true essence of who I was beneath the surface.

But now, in this charged moment, it felt different. His eyes were not just scanning my features; they were searching my soul, and for the first time, I sensed warmth and genuine affection reflected back at me.

It took my breath away, leaving me momentarily speechless.

Yet, just as quickly as the moment bloomed, it began to wilt. I blinked, and he blinked too, breaking the spell that had momentarily cocooned us. We both averted our gazes, then hesitantly returned to each other, the weight of reality crashing back down upon us, reminding us of our identities and the circumstances that surrounded us.

Heat flooded my cheeks, a rush of embarrassment washing over me, especially as I noticed Damien stepping back, creating a palpable distance between us as he rose to his feet. In a flurry of movement, I snatched the paper we had both reached for, eager to join him, but as soon as I did, he handed me the papers he had collected and turned away once more.

Watching his retreating figure, I felt a pang of self-loathing for allowing myself to be swept away in that moment. With everything swirling around us—the chaos of our lives, the fantasies I had been indulging in lately—it had been all too easy to momentarily lose myself in the illusion that perhaps there was something real between us.

Deep down, I knew better. Damien’s feelings were not directed at me; I was merely a reflection of the woman he had loved and lost. It was all a cruel twist of fate, and I was painfully aware of it.

Yet, the fantasies clung to me like a shadow, refusing to let go. They were a constant reminder of what could never be, and I found it increasingly difficult to shake them off.

What didn’t help were the girls’ reactions. Their faces lit up with excitement, smiles stretching wide as they observed the interaction between Damien and me. It was as if they were witnessing a fairy tale unfolding before their eyes, and I felt a deep yearning to give them what they so desperately wanted—a mother, a family. But I was not the woman they envisioned. I was not Amelia, and the thought of disappointing them gnawed at my heart. I loved them fiercely, yet I felt like a stranger in their world.

As I stood there, I hated myself for not being able to fill the void left by their real mother. The weight of that realization pressed heavily on my shoulders, a burden I struggled to bear.