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The next day, my lawyer called to confirm that my assets had been successfully moved into the new trust. Then, the old man called.
“Damien, get back to the mansion. I know what happened last night. I’ve invited Evelyn over. This is your chance to reconcile.” His voice was stern, but held a note of hope, “Get over here, apologize, and we can all be a family again.”
The comments piped up:
[YES! The old man is playing matchmaker! Time to get back together!)
【Evelyn’s heart is softening! Go for it, Damien!]
[Groveling arc cancelled! Remarriage arc activated!)
“Go back?” I said, my tone flat. “Back where? To the Blackwood mansion? Weren’t you the one who personal- ly kicked me out yesterday? I assume you’ve already had my name taken off the deed.”
The line went silent.
The comments:
[Oof… lethal comeback!]
【Damien holds a grudge. LMAO.]
【The old man is speechless!]
My father cleared his throat. “That was just… I was angry! You’re my son! We’re blood! Everything this family has is yours! Just come home, make things right with Evelyn…”
IT
“Father, you’re hilarious,” I interrupted. “Yesterday, for a daughter–in–law you approved of, you called your own son ‘heartless‘ and ‘blind.‘ You told me to ‘get the hell out of this family‘ and that you had no heir. Your wor- ds. Every syllable dripping with conviction.”
“Now, one night later, you find out your ‘good daughter–in–law‘ was the victim of a conspiracy, and your ‘blind son‘ suddenly has his sight back. All of a sudden, we’re ‘blood‘ again? The inheritance is mine again? Your definitions of family and fortune are remarkably flexible, aren’t they?”
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The comments rained down:
[DAMN! He’s going for the throat!)
[Is Damien’s tongue laced with poison?!]
【I can feel the old man’s face burning from here!]
【Reverse psychology master!]
My father’s breathing grew heavy. “You ungrateful brat! I am your father!”
“Yes,” I agreed. “Which makes your actions even more interesting. A father who, to defend an outsider he’s known for a few years, is willing to disown his own son without a single question, without hearing a single explanation. Your loyalty is truly touching.”
“Now the truth is out, and you think a few empty words about ‘blood‘ can erase yesterday? The water’s alrea- dy been thrown out, Dad. You can’t just scoop it back up.”
“The moment you pushed me away, I stopped being a Blackwood. You can adopt Evelyn as your daughter for all I care. Just leave me out of it. I’m doing just fine on my own.”
The comments:
[BOOM! Logic bomb!)
【The old man has no leg to stand on!]
【Damien: Rejecting all forms of emotional blackmail!]
【This level of clarity! I love it!]
【But what about Evelyn?!]
There was a long silence on the other end, filled only with my father’s ragged breathing. Then, someone else took the phone.
It was Evelyn. Her voice was raw and dry. “Damien… can we talk? Just us.‘
The comments went into overdrive:
[Evelyn is making the first move! AHHHH!]
[Say yes, Damien! This is your chance!]
[Reconciliation countdown initiated!]
11
(Let’s gooo! From the courthouse back to the courthouse for a marriage license!]
I let out a short, sharp laugh. It was crystal clear over, the phone.
“Talk about what? About how pitiful you were, being deceived for three years? About how I’ve finally been
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vindicated‘? About how we should now ‘cherish each other‘ and ‘mend our broken mirror‘?”
“Save it, Evelyn.”
“I signed the papers. So did you. My father kicked me out. You stood by and let him. In your mind, I was still the blind, cruel monster who killed your child and tormented you for three years. You hated me. You wanted to escape me. And you weren’t wrong.”
“Because the man who hurt you during those three years did have this face and this name. It wasn’t me, but I ‘ve inherited his debt. So I signed. I left. I paid the price. We’re even.”
“Now the truth is out, and you feel guilty? Deceived? Sorry for me? Don’t be. You should be sorry for the orig- inal Damien the fool who loved you, but was manipulated into destroying everything. But he’s dead now.
You all killed him.”
“As for me, I don’t hate you. I don’t owe you anything. And I certainly don’t need your pity.”
“It’s like the song says… I’m sending you away, a thousand miles away. Your apology is a burden I don’t want.”
“So, no. We’re not talking. Goodbye, ex–wife. Try to stay away from scumbags in the future.”
Before she could respond, I hung up and blocked my father’s number.
The world was finally quiet.
The comments were in total meltdown:
【???????????]
[RECONCILIATION FAILED?]
【Damien with the triple rejection!]
[He called her ‘ex–wife‘?! So cold!]
[‘I’ve inherited his debt‘… damn, that’s kind of tragic?]
[‘He’s dead now. You all killed him.‘ HOLY CRAP, the implications!]
[So he really thinks he’s a different person?!]
[Groveling arc? More like GET AWAY FROM ME arc!]
【Damien just personally nuked the entire plot from orbit!)
【Evelyn must be so confused right now…]
I tossed my phone aside. The sunlight on the floor was warm and peaceful. The feeling of freedom was sha- rp, clean, and exhilarating.
The comments kept scrolling:
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[Damien! You are one ruthless bastard!]
[I thought the big reveal was the happy ending, but this is the most definitive sad ending ever!]
[Evelyn: Who am I even supposed to cry to now?]
【This plot… I demand to speak to the writer! (flips table))
