My heart was pounding so loudly it felt like it was inside my head. My fingers shook, but I still forced myself to speak. “I already know the truth… about Ethan.”
The smirk on his face wavered.
“It was Camille,” I continued, my voice breaking a little. “She’s the one who told me everything. Why did you lie to me, Damien? Why hide the fact that your so-called brother is actually your son?”
He folded his arms, trying to look unfazed, but I caught it—just for a second. Something flickered in his eyes. Not quite guilt… but something close. It disappeared fast, replaced by cold arrogance.
“And then what?” he said flatly. “Let’s say it’s true. So what if I kept it hidden and made him my brother instead? What are you planning to do about it, Clara? Ruin me?”
“Yes,” I shot back, my voice cracking under the pressure. “Do you really think you can keep something like this buried forever? Ethan deserves the truth. He has the right to know—he needs to—”
I didn’t get to finish.
His hand struck my face again.
The sound cracked through the room. My head snapped to the side, vision blurring instantly, pain blooming across my cheek like fire.