The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride novel Chapter 1406

Robin let out a light sigh. "Young folks tend to act on impulse and get carried away. Don't sweat it too much. Damon might swing by later, and you can hash it out with him then…”
Cole glanced at Robin, then shook his head with a sigh. "Ah, it's always a worry with the young ones. I've always had high praise for Damon's abilities, but... he's young, hasn't really been through the whole love thing, and doesn't know what's important. Handing over something as big as the Harper Group to a kid like Damon is uncertain because who knows what unpredictable things could happen down the road…”
Just before Cole said this, his gaze towards Robin was caught by Presley. Those who understood the implications of Cole's words would get it. Robin played dumb and flashed a bland smile.
Damon had just reached the door when he overheard the conversation going on inside. His eyebrows drew together, almost imperceptibly.
The door opened, and everyone watched as Damon, tall and imposing, made his way in.
Young folks had their own vibe and determination, but they could also possess the composure and steadiness of successful adults. Older folks, on the other hand, tended to be more limited in what they could offer.
But watching Damon enter the room in silence, Cole felt a wave of embarrassment due to his earlier comments. He felt a bit awkward, but it was only momentary. The most pressing issue now was to get Wendy back from Damon.
"Damon, it's been days. I'm begging you. Please let Wendy go…”
Damon stared coldly at Cole. "I'm not done settling the score with her yet."
"What score to settle?!" Presley suddenly bellowed. "What issue can't be resolved between you and a woman?!"
"There are many issues!" Damon replied calmly. "I still have unresolved issues with you... let alone her."
Presley turned to stare at Damon in shock and was still met with that nonchalant face.
Damon's disregard for family ties left Cole feeling unsettled. He had a sudden premonition that Wendy wasn't faring well. If Damon was holding a grudge over an issue with Presley, Wendy's situation would be far worse.
"Damon, I've talked to Presley earlier. Wendy has made a mistake, and I've punished her for it. You've had her locked up for days now, and she must have learned her lesson. That's enough. She has important matters to attend to…”
Damon glanced at him. "The state dinner? She's in no shape to attend right now."
Cole's heart skipped a beat. "What have you done to her?!"
"Nothing much, just shot her six times. She's still alive, recovering."
Six bullets...
Cole's mind felt like it had been hit by a grenade, blasting his thoughts into a mush. He swayed a few times, nearly falling to the ground.
"Six bullets! Damon, are you trying to kill her?" Presley was tossed from one shock into another.
"I'm just granting her wish," said Damon, his face devoid of any expression. If he had even the slightest smile on his face right now, he would seem like a ruthless monster. But Damon was in a foul mood, standing there calmly was already pushing his limits. He thought it showed remarkable patience that he hadn't shot dead the schemers in this hospital room.
"Fulfilling her wish? Is that to die?" Cole was shaken, his rationality slipping.
"She said she'd rather die than be with me. You tell me, isn't that granting her wish?"
No one spoke for a moment; it sounded exactly like something Wendy would say.
"Let her go. Let her go... let her go!" Presley cried out again, drawing out his words as long as he could, almost using up all his strength. His voice could probably be heard all around the VIP ward.
Six bullets. That was practically a death sentence. What could have happened to push Damon to such extremes?
Damon took a couple of steps forward, standing by the bed and coldly staring at the bruised-faced Presley.
"When I was six, I had a dog. I gave it the best food, water, a doghouse, and even a bowl. I treated it well. Then one day, it bit Nathan's finger... I killed it myself…
"When I was fifteen, I got the car of my dreams. I took Nathan for a drive, and we were surrounded by a racing team in the mountain area. They pulled Nathan out of the car and threatened me to race with them. Nathan's knee was scraped, his head was hit three times, and his stomach was punched twice... I drove them all off the cliff... the car I just got was wrecked…”
Damon casually recounted two of his past experiences, his voice indifferent. But everyone in the room was on edge hearing it. They knew of these incidents and knew they were true. They had no doubt Damon was capable of such actions, as they knew of far worse things he’d done.
“Wendy, I might have been kind to her when we were kids, but that was just for my own happiness, like how I treated that dog. I didn’t expect her to help me in any way, but I also didn’t want her to bite the hand that fed her. Have I become too soft, too agreeable over the years, causing you to forget that I, too, have a temper?
"I don't mind people judging me, or even doing stupid things in front of me. If it doesn't cause much harm, I can turn a blind eye. Let bygones be bygones…”
Damon didn't continue. But everyone understood. He might have seemed like a gentleman on the outside, aloof to strangers, and appearing very tolerant as long as you didn’t provoke him. But if anyone harmed those he truly cared about or something he cherished, even the slightest damage would be pursued to the end and severely punished, no matter the cost, regardless of who it was, or what the consequences would be.
Be it the dog he cared for, the new car he longed for, or the racers he drove off the cliff, nothing mattered more than his younger brother, Nathan.
Thus, Wendy's life, compared to what she had done to Chloe, was far from enough to make amends; there was still a huge gap.
The sudden tension in the room made everyone feel like they were choking. But Damon, out of nowhere, turned his attention to Robin, who always tried to fade into the background and usually kept his trap shut.
"Robin, what do you reckon? If you were in her shoes, would you let Wendy off the hook?"