A Lifetime With You

Chapter 63

Somewhere abroad.

Damien’s efforts to track down Beth had been unfruitful. He came close several times, but that evil woman always managed to slip through his fingers. He paused and thought carefully about the possibility of someone abetting Beth. Perhaps she had friends in high positions. “Go and check on Enrico, see if he is doing anything out of the ordinary,” Damien ordered his men. “Sir, you’ve had us watch Enrico right from the beginning, but he doesn’t seem to be doing anything suspicious.” “None at all?”

Damien’s heart leaped.

Maybe he was overthinking it after all. Enrico had no obvious connection to Beth, so there was no concrete reason to suspect that he was the one who helped her from the shadows all along. Damien knew his own brother well, that he would never lift a finger if there was nothing to be gained from it. “Assign two of your men to continue the search here. If they manage to catch Beth Nagel, extradite her to the country at once,” Damien ordered. He had been abroad for a few days now with nothing to show for it. Damien could not afford to linger too long because there were pressing matters that needed his attention back at home.

His phone rang at this point.

The international call was from Ava.

“What’s the matter?” He asked. There was a short silence on the other end, then followed by Ava’s hoarse voice, “Damien, I need you. When are you coming home?” He was taken aback. He then glanced at the time before he answered her, “Tomorrow.” “Alright, I’ll be waiting for you.” Then she hung

up. Indeed, some things couldn’t be disclosed over the phone. Though it might be even more difficult to convey them face-to-face.

The next morning.

Damien boarded the earliest flight back to the country and rushed home as soon as he disembarked. Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

Before boarding the plane home, he had already learned from the housekeeper that his mother had caused a ruckus at home and kicked Ava out. He guessed that it was because of this matter that Ava had called him. When he arrived home, he was greeted by the sight of Ava curled up just beside the gate and sound

asleep in a bundle.

Was she too dumb to find some other place to sleep instead? “Hey, wake up…” Damien crouched to wake her and discovered that her face was streaked with tears. Looking at her pale and tear-stained face, Damien’s heart shattered. He switched to a gentler tone and coaxed her, “Hey sleepyhead, it’s time to rise and shine.” Ava awoke quickly as Damien tenderly shook her shoulders. She hadn’t been sleeping deeply anyway. “Damien, you’re back at last…” Her voice was raspy and nasally. She must have been uncomfortable after she camped outside his house all night in the cold weather.

“Just how silly are you to sleep out here? Are you trying to make me pity you?” Damien said curtly.

Ava tumbled into his arms without another word.

He was dazed but caught her in time. Her body was very cold, and he could feel the chills in her bones even through their clothes. She wore thin clothes, and god knew how long she had been waiting for him out here. “How did you become so wretched?” His tone was blameful, but he actually couldn’t bear to see her in this state. He held her close and hugged her tightly.

The housekeeper had detected the commotion and hurried over to open the gate. When he saw Damien and his wife locked in a tight embrace, he quickly averted his gaze in surprise before silently walked off to give them some privacy. Damien did not know how much time had passed. Though she was of a small-build, his arms were starting to get tired from supporting her weight

He steadied her and asked, “What the hell did my mother do to make you suffer like this?”

Ava shook her head meekly.

Now, she couldn’t care less about how her mother humiliated her before. Without money, her mother’s life would be in danger.

Earlier on, she hugged Damien because she was overcome with emotions. But after she regained her wits, she shifted awkwardly and was afraid that he would be unhappy with her actions.

Fortunately, he seemed to be in a neutral mood.

“Damien, I…I want to borrow 5 million dollars from you.”

She gritted her teeth and finally spit out the words. Damien could not believe his ears, “What?” “… I need money, and I need it urgently.” “What do you need the money for?”

She hesitated.

She did not want to disclose the fact that her mother had borrowed money from the loan sharks, for fear of earning his scorn.

“That’s a private matter. The bottom line is, I need it to save someone! Don’t worry Damien, I’m not taking it for free. I’m well-aware that it may take a long time with my current income, but I promise you that I will pay you back every single cent that I borrow!” Seeing the resolve in her eyes, Damien’s heart

sank. All this while, he had imagined her waiting for him loyally out here in the cold because she could not bear to leave him.

Was it all because of his money, after all?

He let out a sneer.

His eyes lost all their warmth instantly.

By now, he shouldn’t be surprised by this. He had known her intentions since the beginning. She did what she needed to, for the sake of power and wealth. Moving up the ranks with the ends justifying the means, wasn’t that her true nature after all?

He had been a fool for dropping everything and rushed back here because he was worried that she might have suffered any indignities. Instead, she was here for an alimony. “You haven’t changed at all, Ava. Ever since I’ve known you, you’ve always been the same person as you were then.”

She hung her head and murmured in a low voice, “It’s not like that at all…you’ve never really known me deeply.”

Damien did not manage to catch what she had just said. She continued, “I know it’s difficult for you to understand the current situation, and I don’t expect you to show me any kindness as a husband should to his wife. Alll ask for is that you find it in you to be a kind Samaritan now and loan me five million dollars. It’s probably not a huge sum for you, but it would mean the world to me because I need it to save a life.”

“Do you need it urgently?” “Yes, I need it as soon as possible.”

Damien snickered, “Since it’s that important to you, yet you won’t even give me a reason for loaning you the money, I guess I can deduce that all I am to you is either an ATM or just a sucker…right, Ava?”

“That’s not it! Since when have I asked you for money ever since I married into your family? It’s just that this time…”

“This time, you need to get your money’s worth before leaving, yes?” Damien did not hold back the contempt in his voice now as he mocked her, “I must say that you are not ambitious enough. Five million dollars sounds like too little money for you, or are you going to keep pestering me for more?” Ava had come prepared to forgo whatever dignity she had left. Whatever insults he could muster and fling at her, she would be able to endure it. She gritted her teeth and answered, “Don’t you worry, Damien. This is the only time I ask you for a favor. Once your engagement with Selina is sealed, I’ll quietly slip away and disappear forever. I won’t cause you any further grief. I’ll do whatever you want me to do in return for the loan.” Damien became livid upon hearing this. “Quietly slip away?! Ava Nagel, I’l be dumb if I let that happen!” Ultimately, despite all of Ava’s pleas, he did not budge an inch.

But to his surprise, Ava stopped pleading. She turned her heel and walked off, leaving him to stare after her determined yet forlorn figure.