Chapter Sixty Nine

"Hey"I said as I walked into his house. He had a grin on this face that opposed my expectations. Of course, he had questions, but why make faces?

"I could not make it home last night. I was at my place."

"It's alright Paige. I'm relieved to see you."

"Really?"

He archives brow. "Is anything wrong?" He sat my by side.

"Nothing much. Ehm… I haven't found my mum."

His countenance tell, I could read his thoughts this time. He felt guilty of not thinking about her early enough. He should not be.

"Damien, I don't want you to feel bad for me. Please."

He nodded, cupped my hands in his. "We'll find her. God will help us."

"I don't know." I muttered. "She would be in a psychiatrist hospital somewhere. That's all I know for now"

He sighed, took my hands and let me in his study room. I'd have called it his personal library if I didn't see a piano in it. Does he have that everywhere? Music guy…

He sat at the carved wooden table, a laptop on the table, and offered me a seat by his side.

"I'm hoping we'll find something on the internet." He opened his web browser and typed Annabelle Steele. I winced. Annabelle Steele is dead on the internet.

"You won't get anything from this, Damien."

"I might."

"Maybe." I murmured. "Maybe a death certificate."

"Be positive." He smiled at the screen. I wished I were the screen.

I bit my lips and watched him. He looked a little different today, his black hair tucked behind his ears, his brows weren't brushed as usual, his heart shaped pink lips pleaded for my touch. And something else, his cheeks had no hair on it, he does even have beards, he shaves them, probably. Tristan has a little. His pointed nose slowly turned pink, then I realized I was staring too much, and he has noticed. I took my eyes away immediately. Damn Paige!

He smiled. Jerk!

"Your mum was divorced before her disappearance?"

"Ehm…" I pursed my lip, trying to process what he had said. I heard him but was too lost to understand. "Em Yes."

He turned to me, arched his brow.

"Are you…"

"Of course yes!"

He smiled. I blushed.

"To be sane enough, keep your gaze on the screen. Stop staring." He chuckled. I hit his cheeks playfully. I had the chance to touch.

"Did you travel on a plane with your mum after the divorce?" He asked with a smile that told me his seriousness wasn't genuine.

"I didn't. I didn't get to see her after the divorce. Even before the divorce." I paused. I haven't told him this story before. "I remember after my mum quit her job, she got very sick. She loosed a lot of weight and my parents fought every night. I think she was taking drugs. One day, I just didn't see her at home. My dad said she was her in the hospital. Then the divorce. Then, I never heard of her again. Until, after some years, he told me she killed herself."

He was quiet for a while. I had time to complete my assessment. He is the cutest while thinking. He was on a gray polo, his arms…

Oh, my fucking….

These abs surely do not belong to him. He never had those while we were in high school. How many how does he spends a day to keep fit? Why am I just seeing this? Oh, Ria is so good at this. She said it from the onset that he was hot stuff. I'd never trade my Damien for anyone. Never…

"She was on drugs…." He said, bringing out of my unholy dilemma. "You said she might be in a psychiatrist hospital. What if she really did…"

"Come on Damien!" I exclaimed. "My mum wouldn't do that. I saw a chat. My dad had her transferred to another country because she tried to escape. That was recently. I mean…three years ago. The news says she died twelve years ago. Jude placed that in the news. Are you now on his side?!"

He sighed, turned his chair to face me, and took my hands in his.

"You know I'll never do that. I just wanted to be objective a little. I never knew you saw a chat." He said. "I'm sorry for yelling." I muttered.

Actually, I never wanted to get him involved in my case anymore. I just felt like taking him out of my plans makes us a little distant. I also wanted him to see his parents. I wouldn't be selfish anymore. Not only that, but I know the Damien I see isn't the real Damien. This one has a lot going on in his life that he would keep from me. Who wouldn't be sad? Who wouldn't miss their family? He got taken away from his home all because of me.

"I know my mum is alive. I just…" I paused. "I just need a lead. I need something. I want to go back to Albany. And I want you to go with me."

He turned his chair back and face the laptop.

"I'll go search our apartment there. I might find something. And you, the pastime I went to Albany, I was told your family still lives there. I just couldn't bring myself to visit because I still thought you were…" I swallowed. "Damien, you need yo see your parents. Come on, Damien…" He shook his head.

"Don't you worry about Kal? He was so obsessed with you. Your mum. You need to see them. "

"I believe Kal is okay with or without me. And my parents too. I can't go to Albany with you. I just can't." He shut down the computer and stood up. I held him back.

"Please Damien…" I stared into his eyes. He smiled, then frowned almost immediately.

"I can't Paige. And I will advise you not to go to Albany."

It was my turn to frown. 

"But why?"

"Don't leave this country, Paige. This city, don't leave."

"Why?!" I shrieked.

He was quiet for a while, then he took my bag and said. "Let's go somewhere. I'll tell you all you need to know."