The morning sun slipped softly through the white curtains, across the large bedroom.
Elena slowly opened her eyes, her lashes fluttering as the light touched her face. For a moment, she didn't move.
Her body felt warm, her head resting on the soft pillow beside him. Damian lay next to her, still asleep.
He looked so calm. His usual sharp expression was gone, replaced by something softer.
For the first time, she saw him not as the cruel man everyone feared but as someone human.
Someone she was starting to care about.
Her chest tightened.
She remembered everything — his anger, her aunt, his rough words, his moments of kindness, the way her body yearned only for him.
She bit her lip, her heart whispering the truth she didn't want to admit.
She was falling for Damian Volkov.
And it scared her.
Elena sat up slowly, careful not to wake him.
She took one more look at his face and smiled faintly a secret smile, soft and shy — before slipping quietly out of bed.
She decided she would make him something. Maybe, just maybe, it would make him see her differently.
After a quick shower, she put on a light sundress that made her look delicate and simple. She brushed her hair, leaving it down, then walked to the kitchen.
The villa was quiet except for the sound of birds outside and her light footsteps echoing on the marble floor.
She began preparing breakfast.
The scent filled the air. She wasn't sure if he'd even eat it, but she wanted to do it anyway. It felt... nice, doing something for him.
Minutes later, she heard the sound of footsteps behind her.
She turned, her heart skipping slightly when she saw Damian walking down the stairs.
He was dressed sharply — black suit, white shirt, his hair slicked back, the same cold expression on his face.
He looked like the Damian Volkov she'd first met — powerful, unreadable.
"Good morning," she said softly, her voice shy.
"I made breakfast."
He didn't answer. He walked straight past her, picking up his watch from the counter and sliding it on his wrist.
Her smile faltered.
"Are... are you going somewhere?" she asked quietly.
He paused, not looking at her.
"We're going back home," he said in an icy tone.
Her heart sank. "Now?"
"Yes."
He walked to the door without another glance. She stood frozen for a moment, her hands twisting nervously.
She didn't know why his sudden coldness hurt so much — maybe because she had started hoping.
She followed him outside, confused and quiet.
The morning breeze brushed her hair as she stepped out to see a line of black cars already waiting near the driveway. Men in suits were loading things into the trunks.
Before she could say anything, one of the men approached her.
He was tall, broad-shouldered, wearing a black suit with an earpiece in his ear. He bowed slightly.
"Good morning, Madam. I'm Andrei — your personal bodyguard."
Elena blinked, startled. "My... bodyguard?" she repeated.
"Yes, Madam," he said respectfully.
She turned to Damian for an explanation, but he was already stepping into one of the cars.
Her lips parted as if to call him, but Andrei stopped her gently.
"Madam," he said in a polite tone, "you'll be using a different car."
She hesitated, her chest tightening. Damian didn't even look back.
Without another word, she nodded and walked toward her car, her heels clicking softly on the stone path.
As she got in, she looked through the window — his car was already pulling away.
Damian sat quietly in the back of his sleek black car.
He could still see her face.
The way she'd smiled shyly at him that morning, waiting for a simple response he hadn't given.
Her soft "hi" replayed in his head, stabbing at the part of him he tried so hard to bury.
He wasn't angry at her — he was angry at himself.
He had promised he would never make the same mistake again. Never let emotions control him.
But Elena… she made it impossible. She made him feel things he had long shut away gentleness, care, fear.
When Andrew took her, something in him snapped. He had felt terrified. Terrified of losing her.
That wasn't supposed to happen. Not to him.
So now, he was doing the only thing he knew how to do — push her away. Act cold. Stay in control.
He let out a deep breath.
He had told Andrei to be her bodyguard because he didn't want her getting hurt. He remembered the fear in eyes when she said she was scared.
Damian looked out the window again, his expression unreadable, but his mind racing.
Andrew was still out there — bleeding or not, he wouldn't stop until he got revenge.
And that thought burned inside Damian like fire.
Minutes later, his car pulled up in front of his company headquarters — His personal assistant, Leo, was already waiting by the entrance with a folder in hand.
"Good morning, sir," Leo said, walking briskly beside him.
"The board meeting is scheduled in two hours.
Also, the arrangements for the woman's flight are complete."
Damian paused, his brows lifting slightly.
Leo continued quickly,
"A secure apartment has been arranged, along with a few secret bodyguards to keep watch over her — Miss Elena's aunt."
Damian gave a short nod, a flicker of relief in his eyes. "Good," he said simply. Then he headed to his office.
***
Meanwhile, Elena sat quietly in the back seat of the car, her fingers tapping against her knee.
She couldn't stop thinking about how Damian had treated her earlier — how he hadn't even looked at her before leaving.
"Madam," Andrei said from the front seat, glancing at her through the mirror,
"if I may say, you're the boss's wife and..."
She frowned immediately cutting his words.
"I'm not his wife," she snapped, folding her arms. "And mind your business."
Andrei quickly apologized. "Yes, ma'am. Sorry."
Elena sighed, looking out the window, the frustration still bubbling in her chest.
"He didn't even say a word to me," she muttered to herself, shaking her head.
When the car stopped in front of Damian's family mansion, Andrei hurried out to open her door.
She stepped down gracefully, her heels clicking on the marble steps as she walked toward the grand entrance.
The butler, standing straight as always, bowed slightly.
"Welcome, Miss Elena. The Madam and Miss Tatiana are in the garden."
Elena smiled politely and made her way there.
As soon as she stepped in, Tatiana ran toward her with excitement.
"Elena!" she squealed, throwing her arms around her.
Elena laughed, hugging her tightly. "Hey, Tia."
Damian's mother soon joined them, her warm smile lighting up her elegant face.
"Oh, my dear, you're back," she said, pulling Elena into a gentle embrace.
They all sat down at the garden table, the air filled with the smell of flowers and tea.
"So," Damian's mother began with a mischievous look, "spill everything.
What did you and Damian do while you were away?"
Elena blinked, surprised. "What?"
Tia giggled. "Don't act clueless, Elena! Damian told us you two went on a short trip."
Elena froze for a moment, then muttered under her breath, "That moron…"
His mother raised an eyebrow with a knowing smile.
"A short trip, hm? So when am I getting my grandkids from you two?"
Elena nearly choked on her tea, coughing and turning red as both women chuckled.
"Don't act so innocent," Damian's mother teased, winking.
"I know my son too well."
Elena stared at her wide-eyed, flustered, while Tia laughed so hard she had to hold her stomach.