DAMIEN'S POV
Damien stood in his private study at 7 AM on a cold February morning and realized with devastating clarity that he couldn't do this anymore.
One month. Thirty days since he'd walked away from Aria in that greenhouse. Thirty days of trying to move on, trying to forget, trying to convince himself that cutting her out of his life was the right choice.
It wasn't working.
The first week had been hell. Pure, unfiltered rage and devastation. He'd fired people, cancelled meetings, destroyed his carefully cultivated reputation for calm, collected leadership. His staff had walked on eggshells. His board had questioned his competency. Julian had staged multiple interventions.
Week two, he'd forced himself to get it together. Had buried the pain under ruthless professionalism. Showed up to meetings prepared. Made decisions. Ran his empire with the same cold efficiency he was known for.
Everyone thought he was better. Recovered. Moving on.
They were wrong.
