The Maid's Deception-Chapter 74 - 73: The Approach

DAMIEN’S POV

Damien’s phone buzzed at exactly 2:00 AM.

His eyes flew open. He looked at the pillow arranged to look like her body under the covers.

She was gone.

And the fury that flooded through him was apocalyptic.

Seven orgasms. He’d given her seven fucking orgasms. Had fucked her into unconsciousness. Had pushed her past every reasonable limit.

And she’d still found the strength to leave. Still chosen to betray him. Still picked her desperate plan over him.

"Fuck!" He threw off the covers, his hands clenching into fists.

She’d played him. Had let him think he’d won. Had let him fuck her into submission while planning her betrayal the entire time.

The hurt beneath his anger was almost unbearable.

He got dressed with violent efficiency, his jaw clenched, his entire body tense with barely controlled rage.

She wanted to play games? Fine. He’d been playing games for months. And now....now it was time to end them.

He sent the text to security: Don’t stop her. Let her get to the greenhouse. I want to catch her myself.

Then he headed out into the darkness.

For the confrontation that had been coming since the day she’d walked through his door.

For the moment when all the lies finally ended.

For whatever came next.

*******

The night air was cold against Damien’s face as he strode across the estate grounds, his hands clenched into fists at his sides, his jaw so tight it ached.

2:05 AM. She’d been in the greenhouse for five minutes already.

Five minutes of frantically gathering what she needed. Five minutes of thinking she’d gotten away with it. Five minutes of believing her plan had worked.

His phone buzzed continuously with updates from security:

Subject has entered restricted greenhouse section. Access was card used

Of course. The card he’d given her himself. Another test she’d failed. He’d given her access, hoping.....foolishly that she’d come to him first. That she’d ask instead of steal.

Another text: Subject appears to be harvesting Vitalis Radix. Approximately 200 grams collected so far.

Enough. More than enough for her mother’s treatment. She was being thorough. Careful. Making sure she got what she needed.

Making sure her betrayal was complete.

The greenhouse came into view.....a massive glass structure that glowed softly in the darkness, illuminated by the specialized lighting systems that kept the rare plants thriving.

And there, through the transparent walls, he could see her.

Aria.

Sarah.

Whatever her name was.

The woman he loved. The woman he’d claimed completely just an hour ago. The woman whose virginity he’d taken, whose body bore his marks, whose womb held his seed.

She was bent over a cultivation bed, her hands moving quickly as she carefully extracted leaves and roots from the Vitalis Radix plants. Her bag sat open beside her, already partially filled.

Even from this distance, he could see her hands shaking. Could see the tears on her face catching the light. Could see the way her entire body trembled.....from exhaustion, from pain, from the emotional devastation of what she was doing.

She was crying as she betrayed him.

And somehow, that made it worse.

Because it meant she knew. Understood exactly what this would cost. What she was throwing away. And she was doing it anyway.

I gave you everything, he thought, his chest tight with a pain that felt physical. I gave you my heart. My body. My trust. I worshipped you. Claimed you. Made you mine in every way that matters.

And you still chose this.

Another security text: Should we intervene? Subject has collected sufficient quantity.

He typed back with savage precision: No. Let her finish. I’m handling this personally.

He was twenty feet from the greenhouse entrance now. Close enough to see the details. The way her dark clothes were rumpled and hastily put on. The way she moved stiffly, carefully, like every movement hurt. The evidence of what he’d done to her body written in every pained gesture.

She’d been able to barely walk when she’d left his bed. And yet here she was, pushing through the pain, the exhaustion, the overwhelming physical devastation....because her mother’s life was more important than anything else.

Even him.

Especially him.

Ten feet from the entrance. His hand went to the handle of the greenhouse door.

She hadn’t noticed him yet. Was too focused on her task. Too consumed by desperate determination to sense that she’d been caught.

He watched her for one more moment. Memorizing the sight. The woman he loved in the act of betraying him. The final image before everything shattered.

She was crying harder now, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs as she worked. And he heard her whisper....so softly he almost missed it:

"I’m sorry. God, Damien, I’m so sorry. I love you. I’m so sorry."

The words were like a knife to his chest.

She loved him. And she was still doing this.

Which meant her love wasn’t enough. Would never be enough. Because when it came down to the choice.....him or her mother, trust or desperation, asking for help or stealing what she needed....she chose the lies every single time.

And Damien was done waiting for her to choose him.

His hand tightened on the door handle. His jaw clenched. His entire body coiled with barely controlled fury and heartbreak and devastating disappointment.

Then he pulled the door open.

The sound echoed in the quiet greenhouse.....a sharp click that seemed impossibly loud in the predawn stillness.

Aria froze. Her hands stilled mid-motion, a root half-extracted from the soil. Her entire body went rigid with shock and terror.

She didn’t turn around. Didn’t move. Just stood there, frozen, like if she didn’t look at him, he might not be real.

"Serah." His voice was cold. Flat. Emotionless. "Put down the plants. Turn around. And look at me."

For a long moment, she didn’t respond. Just stood there trembling, her back to him, her hands still holding the stolen roots.

"I said turn around." His voice dropped to a dangerous register. "Now."