CHAPTER 227: A LIFE WITHOUT HER

–Damon–

I was so close.

I almost reached her—almost touched her hand—almost felt her warmth.

But I woke up.

And here I am again.

The ceiling of the hospital stared back at me, white and cold. The smell of antiseptic makes my stomach churn. My arm hurts where the IV is taped, and every beat of my heart reminds me that I shouldn’t be alive.

Mom is talking to the doctor at the far end of the room. They look serious. Too serious. I pretend I’m asleep because I don’t want to talk. I don’t want to breathe. I don’t want to exist here without her.

Then, the sudden voice of irritation:

"Kai?" I barely turned my head.

He rubbed his face like I was giving him a headache. "So, do you plan to just die right now? Because I swear, Damon, my girlfriend has been texting me that she’s horny and I haven’t touched her in five hours—five hours—and here I am babysitting your suicidal ass!"

"Why are you blaming me for your lack of attention?"

My voice came out dry, dead.

Kai threw his hands up. "Because you don’t take care of yourself! You have Sky! You drank last night on an empty stomach, you idiot!"

"You’ve yelled enough," I muttered. "Go back to your girlfriend."

He groaned. "I’ll give you a few more months, Damon. A few more months to mourn her. But if you keep trying to die after that—I’m dragging you out of here myself."

He left eventually. Or maybe he was kicked out. I didn’t care.

I sank back into sleep, the blanket over half of my face, because sleep is the only place I can hold her.

And she appeared... as beautiful as the first day I met her, but softer, sadder.

She played the piano, singing a lullaby she used to hum for Sky. I approached her and kissed the crown of her head like a starving man finally given water. But when she turned to me, her eyes were wet.

Livana doesn’t cry. At least... not in life.

Not unless she’s broken.

"I don’t want your love like this... Damon, just let me go," she whispered.

No.

No.

NO.

I grabbed her trembling face and forced a kiss onto her lips, desperate. "Come back to me," I pleaded. "Livana, I can’t— I can’t breathe without you."

And then everything ripped away.

I gasped awake, chest burning like someone carved it open. My vision blurred with tears that wouldn’t stop.

"Damon?" Mom’s voice came faintly. She pulled me into her arms, and I let her. I let myself be held because there was nothing else to hold on to. I had lost the only woman I ever wanted.

"I don’t want her to leave..." I whispered brokenly.

Mom pressed my head to her shoulder. "Shh... it’s okay. You’re okay."

But she was wrong.

I’ll never be okay again.

Not until I see Livana again.

I pulled back eventually. My face was a mess, and Mom pretended not to notice for my dignity. She prepared soup, spooning it carefully into the bowl and pushing the tray in front of me.

"Eat, alright? Just a little. For Sky."

I forced myself to eat. Swallowed the tasteless mush because she asked. Because Sky needed a father for now. I owe Livana that much.

But every bite only reminded me—

I’m eating food she’ll never taste again.

I’m breathing air she’ll never breathe.

We got discharged early.

And the first thing I saw outside the hospital and upon reaching home?

Someone bullying my sister.

So, even after almost dying... life still expects me to function.

–Lore–

Five. I said exactly five. Spoiled brats, really. I spoke to Kai and Caine who gave their approval. Even Alyssa’s father signed me up to pick her up in her room.

I know everything about Alyssa Blackwell. She was bullied at school. Too good to be true, right? A Blackwell being bullied?

This girl needs to step up her game. She has friends, sure, but she can’t control everything. She’s been framed more times than I can count, and I’m going to drill into her how not to be everyone’s punching bag.

I knocked on her door—well, nearly banged it down. No response. So I entered, lifted her duvet from the edge of the bed, grabbed her ankle, and dragged her down.

She screeched and kicked, but I dodged her easily.

"What are you doing?" she hissed.

"I’m very specific with my schedule, Alyssa." I handed her a tablet. "Get ready in ten minutes. Or I’ll have someone do it for you."

"I can’t get ready in ten minutes!" she hissed back. "I need my morning facial treatment! And breakfast!"

I raised a brow.

"Princess, this is training. Hardcore training. I don’t care about your fancy rituals. Wash your face with soap and throw on something comfortable."

"I already hate you."

I laughed.

"Yeah, do that. I like being hated."

"Daddy!" she shrieked like the spoiled brat she is. Her father walked by in gym clothes.

"Dad?" she cried dramatically.

I sighed, squatted, and patted her head.

"Look, Alyssa. I only agreed to train you because of my deal with the Queen. Don’t make this hard with your brat attitude. From now on, I’m going to help you, protect you, and teach you." I pointed at the tablet. "Read that. Those are your drills. You’ll follow them."

She pouted—cute, but ineffective. This girl desperately needs survival skills.

"Thirty minutes," I finalised. "I’ll be downstairs for breakfast." I patted her head again as I left. I heard her scream out in frustration. I smirked.

Sliding down the stair rail, I jumped off.

"Sophia!" I called, heading to the kitchen where she was cooking. "Sis, I’m starving." I hugged her from the side. Yes, I’m taller. Genetics.

"Sit," she ordered. I smiled at the maids helping with breakfast. I checked the time. The little brat better be moving.

I tapped on the table. Sophia put down fried rice full of veggies, thick-cut bacon, and eggs.

"Wow," I grinned. "Thanks, sis." I dug in. She passed me a glass of milk.

"So you’ll grow taller," she teased, arms crossed. Kai approached, hugged her and kissed her. I ignored them.

"By the way," I swallowed, "I need a training area for Alyssa. Hardcore before the sem break ends."

"How intense?" Kai asked.

"Intense enough to make her an assassin." I winked. Kai frowned.

"That means she’ll get hurt."

"Of course," I shrugged. "That’s normal."

"Bro, do you understand that she’s—"

"A sheltered kid? Yeah." I stabbed the bacon. "People step on her even though she’s a Blackwell." I said sharply.

Sophia flicked my forehead.

Kai stepped closer, arms crossed.

"You know a lot, kid." His voice deep—supposed to intimidate.

"Of course, bro. I’m Lore." I smirked. "Let me finish eating and help me set up the training ground."

"Don’t call her a sheltered kid," Kai scowled.

"Sorry," I said instantly, though he still glared.

"Training ground?" Caine asked, approaching.

"Yup."

"I’ll have someone set it up at the other lawn," he said, clearly excited.

"Thanks, bro." Fire lit in my brain. Time to weaponize Alyssa. Mixed martial arts and real combat—Livana specifically wanted that. I planned out everything, and she approved.

I tapped on my Jurassic phone—the one Alyssa mocked. I made sure her alarms from her clock, phone, and tablet all went off at once.

Seconds later:

"Kai! Someone check my devices! They’re ringing nonstop!" Alyssa yelled.

I turned them off from my phone.

"Lore!" Sophia hissed.

"What?" I shrugged. "It takes her forever to dress."

"Did you trigger her devices?" Kai asked.

"Thanks for the meal," I grinned, finishing my milk and walking toward Alyssa. "Good morning, Alyssa. Let’s start."

"But breakfast..." she pointed weakly.

I looked her over.

"What are you wearing?"

"My workout clothes."

I squinted.

"As long as you’re comfortable. But this isn’t fashion training." I pointed to her smartwatch. "Remove that."

"Why?"

"Do you want it to break?"

She sighed and removed it. A maid brought a tray to store it and gave her tea.

"Stop." I said immediately. No tea today. I touched my temple.

Sophia arrived with a green smoothie.

"Here," she smiled.

"There’s no celery, right?"

"Nope," Sophia assured.

Alyssa glared at me but drank it. I took out a fitness band from my pocket—the one I designed.

"Wear this."

She frowned.

"This looks—"

"If you say ’Jurassic’ one more time—"

"Fine!" she snapped.

"Perfect. Now finish that, and we go outside."

She took ages to finish. Tomorrow, I’ll fix that.

Outside on the main lawn, I handed her a soft pool paddle. Had her doing push-ups. When she stopped, I smacked her back.

"Hey! Why are you hitting my sister!" a voice roared.

I squinted at the bulky dude. Big Boss’s husband?

I tapped Alyssa’s shoulder.

"Don’t stop."

He approached, eyes dark. I handed him my other phone. He read it. I eyed him up and down.

"Bro, you need to gain weight. You look like a walking skeleton."

He glared.

"That’s Lore. Livana assigned him," Aunt Amiliee explained.

"Livana?" he murmured. "When did she set this up?"

"Before her tragic accident," I said casually—

—and Alyssa hit me.

He tossed back the phone. I caught it as he walked away.

"Why are you so damn insensitive!" Alyssa scolded.

"What?" I blinked.

She smacked my arm again.

"He’s still grieving, you asshole!"

Then she grabbed the paddle and started hitting me.