Reborn, Its Time To Save My Family And.. My Enemy!
Chapter 173: Meet Her Sister

Chapter 173: Meet Her Sister

Olivia trembled in his arms, his words slicing through her like a dagger.

She wanted to scream. To run. To put distance between them before she drowned in him completely.

But the heat of his body, the warmth of his touch, the gravity of his presence—it wrapped around her like chains of velvet. She was unraveling.

"I’m not yours," she whispered fiercely, her voice barely more than breath.

But even as she said it, it no longer felt like the truth.

Damon’s eyes darkened. A slow smile curved on his lips, dangerous and sure.

"Not yet," he murmured against her ear, his breath fanning across her skin. "But you will be."

She braced herself for another kiss—for the storm of it, the inevitable fall.

But instead, he let her go.

She blinked at him, stunned. Her skin tingled where he’d touched her, and a strange coldness seeped into her bones, like her body mourned the loss of his warmth.

These thoughts... this ache... she’d been having them more often lately.

Like a fever, it was taking hold of her—and his touch was the only thing that soothed it.

"You had dinner?" he asked suddenly, voice softer.

"Huh? Dinner?" Her mind was still caught in the space between his lips and her neck.

It took her a second to register the question, then she nodded.

"Yes, I had it with the kids." She lied. Afraid that she would share a meal with him. And could not survive it.

His eyes dimmed, just a little. "Oh."

Then he stepped back and gestured toward the table. "But I am still hungry!"

"Would you sit With me? It’s... my congratulatory dinner. And I do not want to eat it alone."

Something about the way he said it—hopeful, almost uncertain—made him look strangely abandoned. Her heart softened before her mind could argue.

She nodded. Great! Now she was sharing space with him but could not eat!

His smile returned, and he gently took her arm, leading her to the long dining table. The maids moved silently around them, wary, heads bowed. They looked at Olivia as if they were looking at a curse. He noticed her uneasiness and her eyes hardened.

"You all may leave," Damon said. "We won’t be needing servers tonight."

They bowed and melted into the shadows.

Olivia moved to sit, but instead stood and began filling his plate, her movements practiced, instinctive.

"I can do it myself," he murmured, but instead pointed at the dishes he wanted.

He watched her, something unspoken flickering in his eyes.

The way she moved—the care in her touch, the unthinking grace—stirred something deep in him. Something warm. Something he didn’t quite trust.

But even if it was an illusion, he’d live in it for as long as she let him.

"You’re the Duke now," she said, setting the plate before him. "You need to be mindful of your words. Your actions."

She hesitated.

"I’m still your aunt. You can’t..."

His hand froze mid-reach. The pain in his eyes was immediate. Sharp.

Her words scorched her own throat, but she couldn’t take them back.

"Can we just stop worrying for one night?" he asked quietly.

She didn’t speak, only lowered her head and continued filling her own plate.

He smiled when she finally sat and began to eat beside him.

"I’ve decided to return to my estate," he said, surprising her. "The capital is good for parties and politics, but I don’t intend to follow in my father’s footsteps. I’m not staying here."

She looked up, confused. "You’re leaving?"

"I’ll go back to the estate. Focus on its welfare. I want to develop trade there... help it flourish."

She studied him for a moment.

He’d always avoided his estate before—said he didn’t want to expose his people to barbarian attacks. How much had he changed?

And maybe... that was a good thing.

She nodded, and his expression relaxed, like a weight had lifted.

"Were you worried I’d object?" she teased gently.

He hesitated... then nodded. "Yes. I thought you enjoyed it here. Your new salon—"

She tensed, her lips thinning.

"Edward gave it to me," she said flatly. "Now that I’m not marrying him, I have to return it too."

His face darkened with guilt.

All her hard work—gone, just like that. Because of him.

And yet here she was, serving him food. Entertaining him like nothing had happened.

"I’ll buy you another shop," he said after a pause. "Anything you want."

"I don’t need it," she snapped. "Buying things for me means—"

She stopped herself, her jaw tightening.

In this empire, women couldn’t own property unless a man signed for it. Even if it was in her name, the power still belonged to him. Edward had signed those papers as her fiancé. If Damon bought a shop for her... it would be as good as announcing their engagement.

She would rather lose everything than accept that.

"You could give me rare jewels," she muttered bitterly. "At least those I can own."

To her annoyance, he smiled. Not mockingly—almost fondly.

"One day, I’ll buy you everything, Olivia."

Her hand froze on the spoon. Her pulse skipped.

But she said nothing.

She simply resumed eating, ignoring the way her heart raced and the way her body betrayed her—longing for something it shouldn’t want.

"Do you want to meet your sister?" The words came out reluctantly and she paused and nodded immediately with a thrill she could not hide.

She looked at him surprised and expectantly and he cleared his throat.

"Have you heard about the northern duke, where my stepmother had gone to?" she nodded and stared at him.

How he wanted her undivided attention and now he only had it because he was talking about Oriana. Could anyone have worse luck than him?

"He is here. I will invite him for lunch tomorrow. And you can ask about your sister. If you want, I will let you go with him." her brows furrowed as the word finally sank in.

"You.. you will not come with me?"

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