Broken Bond: Claimed by My Ex-Husband's Alpha Billionaire Uncle-Chapter 78: A Step Toward Healing

"It’s time for you to see a therapist, Charlotte."

Damon’s voice carried a weight that made her chest tighten. He wasn’t just suggesting it, he was pleading with her in his own way.

"I don’t want to pressure you," he continued, his tone gentler now. "But you can’t heal on your own."

Charlotte fell silent for a moment.

His words felt like a bucket of cold water pouring over her head.

He was right.

Of course, he was right.

But that didn’t make it any easier.

As much as she wished she could just shake it off, move on, and pretend the past didn’t haunt her, she knew deep down that she couldn’t do it alone.

Still ... seeking help? Opening up to a stranger? Exposing herself like an open book to a complete stranger?

The thought made her stomach twist.

Talking about what Julian had done to her was easy. There was a certain detachment in stating the facts, in recounting the events like they had happened to someone else.

But talking about how it made her feel? Admitting the way fear still wrapped around her like a second skin? Confessing that some nights, she still jolted awake, gasping for air, the phantom of his touch making her feel like she was drowning all over again?

That was something else entirely.

"Can you ... be the one to help me?" Charlotte’s voice came out small.

Damon sighed, his warmth surrounding her as he sat on the bed and pulled her onto his lap. "Of course, I’ll help you," he murmured. "I will always help you."

His words sounded like a promise, like a vow.

But then he cupped her cheek, his thumb tracing gentle circles on her skin, and she saw the hesitation in his eyes.

"But sweetheart," he said softly, "I’m not a professional. And I’m scared that instead of helping you heal, I’ll end up making things worse."

He swallowed hard, as if the thought alone was unbearable. "I don’t ever want to be the reason you hurt more."

Charlotte bit her lip, her heart twisting painfully.

This wasn’t just about her anymore.

She had another life growing inside her.

If she kept letting the past control her, if she let the weight of her trauma keep festering inside her ... how could she ever give her child the love they deserved?

And with her severe, untreated eating disorder, how could she provide the proper nutrition her child needed?

Sure, she could force herself to eat, but wouldn’t that only teach her child that food was something to fear? That nourishment was a battle instead of something natural and necessary?

Even before they were born, would they inherit her fears? Her pain?

No. She would never let that happen.

She wanted her baby to grow up as a confident person, someone who could eat without obsessing over calories, who wouldn’t flinch every time they passed a mirror.

But to give them that life, Charlotte had to crawl out from under her bed and seek help. She couldn’t keep hiding in the darkness forever. She had to fight her own fears for her baby and for herself.

"Okay." Her voice was barely above a whisper as she lowered her head. "I want to see a professional."

She swallowed hard, then forced herself to look up at him. "But... can you stay with me through the process? I promise I’ll try my best to get better quickly."

Damon let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head. "No, sweetheart. No one is asking you to heal quickly."

He reached out, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear gently. "It doesn’t matter if your progress is slow or fast," he murmured. "What matters is that you’re healing. That you’re safe. That you’re here."

His thumb brushed against her cheek. "And yes, I’ll stay with you, through every step, every obstacle, and every bit of progress you make. You won’t go through this alone. I promise."

Charlotte didn’t trust herself to speak. Instead, she threw her arms around him, clutching him as if letting go would shatter her. She buried her face in his neck, inhaling his scent deeply, the only thing that had ever truly made her feel safe.

"Thank you," she whispered, voice trembling.

Damon kissed the top of her head, his lips lingering there for a moment before he rested his chin against her hair. His hand moved in slow, soothing strokes along her back. "Anything for you, sweetheart."

And he meant it.

The road ahead wouldn’t be easy. It would be painful, messy, filled with thorns and fire. But no matter how rough the path got, Damon would be right there, walking beside her.

If he could, he would lay himself down on a path of thorns so she could walk through the pain without ever feeling it. He would bear every wound, every scar, just to make this easier for her.

But he knew that wasn’t how healing worked.

The only thing he could do was stand beside her, sharing the weight of her pain as much as she would allow. Because this was her battle. And no matter how much he wished he could fight it for her, she had to face it herself to truly heal.

"I know someone who might be a good fit for you," Damon said gently. "She’s an excellent therapist who specializes in supernatural beings. I can reach out to her whenever you’re ready."

He didn’t push her further and wanted to give her space to process, to decide for herself when she was ready to take that step.

But what he didn’t expect was for Charlotte to answer immediately.

"Let’s see her this weekend," she said, her voice quiet but firm. Then, almost hesitantly, she added, "That is... if you’re not too busy."

Damon’s lips curved into a soft smile.

"No, sweetheart," he said without hesitation. "I’ll make time for you."

Because there was no world in which she would ever come second.

"Then it’s settled," he murmured. "This weekend, we’ll see the therapist. Together."

• •

Charlotte hadn’t told the film crew or the director about her pregnancy yet. She knew the moment the news got out, it would stir chaos like delaying production, sparking unnecessary rumors, and pulling attention away from the movie itself.

More than anything, she just wanted a little time.

Time for the public to digest the fact that she and Damon were together before they had to process the even bigger news that they were expecting a baby.

But keeping it a secret came with its own set of consequences.

Since Logan had no idea about Charlotte’s condition, he had scheduled three intense abuse scenes back-to-back in a single day, something that would undoubtedly exhaust her both physically and mentally.

Fortunately, Damon had stepped in before she even had to ask. He had a quiet conversation with the director, letting him know that Charlotte hadn’t been feeling well lately and wouldn’t be able to handle too many heavy scenes in one day.

And when the CEO of Luminix spoke, people listened.

And since the one speaking was the CEO of Luminix, Logan, of course, took his words very seriously.

Damon didn’t always visit Charlotte on set because he had his own responsibilities to handle. But whenever he had a free moment, no matter how brief, he made sure to show up. Even if it was just to catch a glimpse of her, to make sure she was doing okay.

By now, the crew had grown used to his presence. More than that, they actually looked forward to it because every time Damon showed up, he made sure no one went hungry. Lunch, dinner, snacks whatever the time of day, he always treated them to a feast.

People who were used to surviving on junk food and convenience store meals finally had the chance to enjoy real, nutritious food. And the difference was undeniable, thanks to him, they felt healthier, more energized, and maybe even a little spoiled.

As the saying goes, the quickest way to win people over is through their stomachs.

Of course, Damon wasn’t just doing this out of generosity. He had a purpose.

By earning the goodwill of the crew, he was making sure that when their relationship inevitably became public, at least some of the people talking about them online would have something good to say.

It was a calculated move, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t genuine.

Because at the end of the day, he just wanted to make things easier for Charlotte.

"You don’t have to come here this often." Charlotte opened the box of shrimp salad Damon had brought for her. "I know you’re busy."

"What do you mean?" Damon shrugged. "I’m just stopping by to have lunch."

Charlotte chuckled. "You could eat at a restaurant near your office, but instead, you choose to come here? A place that takes half an hour to get to from your office?"

"That’s because food always tastes better when I eat with you." Damon sighed dramatically. "Now, every time I have lunch without you, everything just tastes bland."

"Stop it, you sweet talker." Charlotte let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. Then, her expression softened as she met his gaze. "But really, thank you for coming."

She toyed with her fork for a moment before adding, a little more shyly, "I also enjoy eating with you."