Celia smiles as she takes a step closer to Damien, grasping his arm once again. “I’m thrilled that Damien is back and ever so grateful that he survived that horrible accident. He’s been blessed with a second chance at life and I’m going to be with him every step of the way to help him get through this most challenging time.”

Damien’s forehead mars into a frown, but he doesn’t say anything.

The reporters are persistent. So, can we assume that there is something more going on between the two of you?

“No comment,” Celia replies but I see a cat-like smile appear on her face.

Bitch! She has smartly led the media to speculate about them now. My hands clench tightly, my nails carving indents in my palms. I’d do anything to remove her from his side and tell her and the world that he is mine. But I can’t, not until I’ve confronted him and I’m going to do that right now.

Damien ushers her away from the crowd. A few reporters follow but most of them seem to be satisfied because they disperse. Damien’s bodyguard once again leads the way for Damien and Celia.

The leaves crunch beneath my feet as I walk in swift steps behind them. I’m almost upon him. My heart leaps; this is the moment I’ve waited for. I lift my hand to touch Damien but my hand catches air as suddenly I’m lifted and turned around.

“What the hell, Gabe?” I yell at him as he puts me down in the direction opposite from Damien. I try to shrug out of his hold, but his hands on my arms are locked tight.

“Didn’t I ask you to keep away from him just a little longer?” he whispers through clenched teeth.

“Don’t interfere, Gabe. Just leave me alone,” I snarl. But his hands on my arms tighten even more. I twist my head to look for Damien. He is talking to Celia in front of a car. I turn to Gabe. “I have to talk to him. I have to tell him about me.”

“Encountering him in public is not the way to do it and definitely not in front of Celia. Trust me, Aaliya. If you walk up to him and tell him that you’re his wife, he’ll laugh in your face.”

He releases his hold on me, and my shoulders slump in defeat as I turn my head towards Damien. Even from this distance I can sense the familiarity between him and Celia. His head inclines towards her and she kisses his cheek. My head hurts watching them interact.

“She’s after him, Gabe,” I finally say. “I know it. He’s my husband and I can’t even claim him.”

Gabe turns me to face him. “Not yet. But soon.”