When Love Is a Lie (Whitney and Damian) novel Chapter 78

Whitney lifted her head slightly, her delicate face etched with deep disappointment.

She said in an icy tone, "I thought you were different from Damian. It turns out that you're just the same. To both of you, emotions are nothing but something to be toyed with."

The man in front of her had saved her, helped her, and defended her. She'd thought that Noel was an honorable man, someone who took responsibility seriously.

Whitney was frustrated, ashamed even, that she'd felt a spark of affection for him just days ago. What a joke.

With a faint, mocking laugh, she looked at him. "I've clearly overestimated you. From now on, let's keep our distance."

Whitney turned away resolutely after her last sentence, not sparing him another glance. She strode out of the greenhouse.

As she walked farther away, Noel's playful smile faded, replaced by a flicker of complex emotions swirling in his gaze.

But soon enough, his expression returned to calm indifference.

He leisurely followed her out of the greenhouse.

…

The next morning, Whitney had barely finished getting ready when she received a message from Damian that read, "I'm coming to pick you up."

Her brows furrowed as she replied with a blank expression, "It's fine. I'll meet you there."

After sending the message, Whitney stood up and walked out the door without packing a single thing.

She had no intention of moving back into his villa.

Noel had been right. The Howard family might be powerful enough to control everything, but she would still try to challenge Damian.

She refused to believe she had no way to hold him accountable.

Soon, she pulled up to Damian's villa.

After nearly a month away, returning here felt surreal, like everything had changed.

Once, she'd carefully curated every detail of this place. Everything here held a piece of her heart.

She'd personally arranged all the decorations in the villa herself.

Standing in the living room, she heard footsteps approaching from upstairs.

"I just got off a call. Why didn't you call for me when you came in?" Damian said as he hurried down the stairs, noticing she wasn't carrying any luggage.

Assuming it was still in the car, he smiled, "I'll have someone bring your bags inside."

"I didn't bring any luggage," Whitney replied coldly.

Damian's smile faded as he asked, "Why not? I thought we agreed you'd move back in today."

Whitney held his gaze for a few seconds. "Then I'll post it online under my own account."

She wanted to avoid involving anyone else, especially the media.

His fury flared instantly. He grabbed her arm, his grip bruising as he sneered. "Were you filming us in secret and planning to post it? Tell me. Who put you up to this? Was it Noel?"

Her slender arm throbbed under his tight grip, but Whitney refused to show any fear.

She looked him squarely in the eye, her voice defiant as she replied, "No one told me to do that. Damian, let's stop hurting each other. There's no point dragging this out. I don't love you anymore!"

That last sentence seemed to hit a nerve.

A scowl twisted across Damian's face as he threw her onto the couch, his body looming over hers.

"You don't love me? So, who do you love, then? Noel?" Damian sneered, his tone dripping with jealousy and anger.

Whitney pushed against him, her eyes blazing with anger and defiance. She said, "You have no right to ask! You've hurt me over and over, and now you want to know who I love? Ha, even if I loved someone else, it would never be you!"

In that moment, any last lingering feelings Whitney might have had for him shattered completely, leaving nothing behind.

Damian's expression twisted into a cruel smile, his gaze dark and dangerous.

"Love doesn't matter. As long as we do this, that's all I need," Damian murmured coldly, a dark gleam in his eyes.