Author's note: I absolutely adore reading through all of your comments and messages. Whether you're sharing your thoughts on the latest plot twist, gushing over your favorite characters, or even just dropping a quick "I loved this chapter!", every single comment means the world to me.

-------

Damien's Pov

I step off the elevator, my mind already racing with the tasks.. But as I walk down the hallway towards my office, I can't help but scan the room, searching for a familiar face. Nova. My heart skips a beat as I spot her desk, but then I realize... she's not there.

Frowning, I pull out my phone, dialing her number without a second thought. It rings once, twice, three times. And then... nothing. No voicemail, no busy signal. Just silence.

I hang up, a sense of unease settling in my gut. It's not like Nova to miss work, to not answer her phone. Something must be wrong.

I try again, just to be sure. Same result. Blocked, or maybe her phone died. I'm not sure which is worse.

I stride into my office, tossing my briefcase onto my desk. I have a million things to do, a thousand fires to put out. But all I can think about is Nova.

I pick up my phone again, scrolling through my contacts. I could call her mother or maybe someone who might know what's going on.

But then I hesitate. What if I'm overreacting? What if Nova just had a personal day, or a doctor's appointment? I don't want to seem like a crazy, obsessive boyfriend.

I sigh, running a hand through my hair. I'll give her some time, I decide. If she doesn't show up by the end of the day, I'll start making calls.

I pull out my phone again, my fingers hovering over the screen. I know I shouldn't, know I should respect Nova's space. But I can't help myself. I need to hear from her, to know that she's okay.

I open our message thread, my thumb poised over the keyboard.

"Babe, I miss you," I type, followed by a string of emojis I never thought I'd use. A red heart, a kissing face, a bouquet of flowers. It all feels so cheesy, so over-the-top. But I don't care. I just want Nova to know how much she means to me.

I hit send, watching the message pop up on the screen. But then, no response. No "delivery" confirmation. Nothing.

Frowning, I type out another message. "Hey, you there? Everything okay?" Still nothing.

I try again, and again, and again. Each message more desperate than the last. But it's like Nova has vanished into thin air.

Has she blocked me? No, that can't be it. Why would she do that? We've never fought, never had a disagreement. Things between us have always been perfect.

I pace around my office, my mind racing. Maybe she's just busy. Maybe she's gone somewhere . Maybe she just hasn't had a chance to respond yet.

But as the minutes tick by, I can't shake the feeling that something is wrong. Nova would never ignore me like this, would never leave me hanging.

I try calling her again, my heart sinking as there was no response . I hang up without leaving a message, not knowing what to say.

I slump into my chair, my head in my hands. I don't know what's going on, don't know what to do. All I know is that I miss Nova, miss her terribly. And I need to find her, need to know that she's okay.

As I rush out of my office, my mind is a whirlwind of confusion and worry. Nova is missing, and I have no idea where to start looking for her. Should I call the police? Her family? Her friends?

But before I can make a decision, I'm stopped in my tracks by a familiar sight. My father and stepmother are standing there, their faces twisted into cruel smiles.

"Damien, where are you going in such a hurry?" my father asks, his tone mocking.

I ignore him, trying to push past. But he steps in front of me, blocking my path.

"Nova resigned," he says, his smile widening. "She quit, just like that. And that's not all, Veronica... well, she's pregnant with your child."

For a moment, I'm stunned into silence. Veronica? Pregnant? It's impossible. I've never so much as kissed the woman.

A laugh bubbles up in my throat, escaping my lips before I can stop it. It's all so ridiculous, so absurd. Veronica, carrying my baby? It has to be a joke.

But my father's expression is serious, and my stepmother is nodding along, her eyes gleaming with malicious delight.

I shake my head, trying to clear it. I don't have time for their games, their petty mind games. Nova is out there somewhere, and I need to find her.

"I don't have time for this," I say, pushing past them. "Nova is missing, and I need to find her."

I leave them standing there, their laughter echoing behind me. I don't care about Veronica, don't care about my father's twisted games. All I care about is finding Nova, making sure she's safe.

As I step out onto the street, I pull out my phone again, scrolling through my contacts. I need to call someone, anyone who might know where she is.

But as I'm about to make a call, a sudden thought stops me in my tracks. What if she doesn't want to be found? What if she left on purpose, left me behind?

The thought makes my heart clench, makes my stomach twist into knots. But I can't let it stop me. I have to find her, have to know the truth. I want to see her, to hold her in my arms.

I'm still reeling from the news about Nova when I see Veronica approaching me, tears streaming down her face. She reaches out, grasping my hands in hers.

"Damien, please," she begs, her voice trembling. "We're having a child together. You can't just throw that away for Nova."

I try to pull my hands away, but she holds on tight, her grip surprisingly strong.

"Veronica, I'm not the father," I say, my voice firm. "I never touched you like that. I never even kissed you."

But she cuts me off, shaking her head vehemently.

"Stop saying that," she cries, her tears falling faster. "You don't remember, but I do. That night, at the company party. We were both so drunk. We did it, Damien. I'm telling you the truth."

I stare at her, my mind spinning. A company party? Drunk? It's all a blur, a haze of memories I can't quite grasp.

"I'm sorry, Veronica," I say, finally managing to extricate my hands from her grip. "But I can't just forget about Nova. I have to find her, have to make sure she's okay."

Veronica sobs, clutching her stomach. "And what about our baby? What about me?"

I look at Veronica, her face streaked with tears, and I feel a pang of guilt. I know I didn't do anything with her, know it in my bones. But seeing her so distraught, so broken, it's hard not to feel something.

I open my mouth, ready to tell her off, to set the record straight. But the words die on my tongue. She looks so fragile, so vulnerable. I can't bring myself to hurt her any more than she already is.

Instead, I sigh, running a hand through my hair. "Veronica, I'm sorry. I really am. But I can't be the father of your child. I would never do something like that, never take advantage of a woman like that."

She shakes her head, her tears falling faster. "But Damien, we did. We were both drunk, we were both... I thought you wanted me. I thought..."

Her voice trails off, and I feel a wave of anger wash over me. How dare she try to pin this on me? How dare she lie, manipulate, just to trap me?

But then I remember the party, remember how much I drank that night. Remember waking up the next morning, my head pounding, my mouth dry. I don't remember every detail, but...

No. No, I couldn't have. I would never.

I shake my head, trying to clear it. But Veronica's words keep echoing in my mind. "We were both drunk, we were both..."

I push the thoughts away, focusing instead on Nova. Nova, who's out there somewhere, who needs me.

"I have to go," I say, stepping back from Veronica. "I have to find Nova."

I listen to Veronica's words, her voice trembling as she speaks. "Nova is okay," she says, her eyes pleading with me. "She left on her own, Damien. She doesn't want to be found."

I want to argue, want to tell her she's wrong. But something in her tone, in the way she looks at me, makes me pause. Maybe Veronica is telling the truth. Maybe Nova just needs some space, some time to herself.

"And even if she did want to be found, even if she came back... she would never forgive you," Veronica continues, her hand resting on her stomach. "Not if you chose her, over this baby, over me."

I close my eyes, trying to process it all. Nova, gone. Veronica, pregnant with my child. It's too much, too overwhelming.

"I don't believe it," I say, my voice barely above a whisper. "I don't believe this baby is mine."

Veronica opens her mouth, ready to say something. But then she stops, her desperation, her heartbreak, written all over her face. I want to tell her, one last thing. That I'll want a paternity test, soon. But I don't. I can't. Not now, not when she looks so broken.

I'll say it someday, I know. But not today. Not when my words could push her over the edge.

I take a step back, then another. I need to get out of here, need to be anywhere but here. Away from Veronica, away from the lies, the manipulation. Away from everything that's happening.

"I have to go," I say, my voice barely above a whisper. Veronica just nods, her tears flowing freely now.

I turn and walk away, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. Nova, Veronica, the baby. It's all too much. Too overwhelming.

I don't know where I'm going, don't care. I just need to be alone, need to think. Need to figure out what to do, how to move forward.

As I step out onto the street, the cold air hitting my face, I realize one thing. I'll never stop loving Nova. Never stop wanting her. But for now, I have to let her go. Have to let her heal, let her find herself.

And maybe, someday, when the time is right, we can find our way back to each other. But for now, I have to focus on myself, on figuring out this mess I'm in.

I find myself at the local community center, surrounded by a group of kids. They're laughing, playing, their faces bright with joy. I smile, feeling a warmth spread through my chest. This is where I belong, where I feel at peace.

But even here, even in this moment of happiness, my mind drifts to Nova. I don't know why I love her so much, don't know why she's taken up residence in my heart. It's only been a few months, only a few stolen moments together. But somehow, she's become everything to me.

I watch the kids play, their laughter ringing in my ears. And I realize, it's the way she makes me feel. The way she looks at me, the way she talks to me. Like I'm someone worth knowing, someone worth loving.

With Nova, I feel like a kid again. Like the little boy I used to be, before the world hardened me, before life broke me down. She brings out my inner child, makes me feel alive in a way I never thought possible.

I know people don't see me like that. Don't see the man beneath the billionaire, beneath the cold exterior. But Nova does. Nova sees me, the real me.

And that's why I love her, that's why I can't get her out of my mind. Because with her, I'm happy. Truly, deeply happy. For the first time in my life.

When I'm with Nova, everything else just fades away. The pain, the heartache, the confusion. It all melts away in the face of her smile, her laugh.

We joke back and forth, trading playful insults and witty retorts. I lose myself in it, in her.

In those moments, I forget about Veronica. I forget about my father, about my stepmother. I forget about everything except the feeling of Nova's hand in mine, the sound of her voice in my ear.

With Nova, I'm free. Free from the weight of my past, from the expectations of my future. Free to just be myself, to just be happy.

She makes me laugh, makes me smile in a way no one else ever has. She sees the best in me, even when I can't see it myself.

And that's why I can't let her go, can't let her slip away. Because without her, I'm lost. Without her, I'm just a broken piece of something that used to be whole.

I need her, need her like I need air in my lungs, like I need blood in my veins. And I'll do whatever it takes to keep her, to hold onto this feeling forever.

As I'm lost in thought, one of the kids comes up to me, tugging at my sleeve. It's a little girl, no more than six years old. She looks up at me with wide, innocent eyes.

"Mister," she says, her voice soft and shy. "Can you help me tie my shoe?"

I smile, kneeling down to her level. "Of course, sweetheart. Let me see."

She extends her foot, her shoe untied and dangling from her toes. I take it gently, carefully tying the laces into a neat bow.

As I finish, she beams up at me, her face lighting up with joy. "Thank you, mister!"

Before I can respond, she throws her arms around me, hugging me tightly. I'm caught off guard, but I wrap my arms around her, returning the hug.

"You're welcome, honey," I say softly. She pulls away, smiling up at me once more.

"What's your name, mister?" she asks.

"Damien," I reply. "What's yours?"

"Lily," she says, twirling in a circle. "I like your name. It's pretty."

I chuckle, ruffling her hair. "Thanks, Lily. I like your name too."

She giggles, running off to play with the other kids. I watch her go, a warmth spreading through my chest.

It's moments like these that remind me why I do what I do. Why I give back to the community, why I try to make a difference.

Because sometimes, all it takes is a simple act of kindness to change someone's day, to change their life.

I'm still smiling from my interaction with Lily when my phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out, glancing at the screen. It's a text message, with an attached picture.

I open it, my heart sinking as I see the image. It's Marcus Rocheport, my nemesis, arm slung around Nova's shoulders. They're sitting at a café, smiling at the camera, drinks in hand.

I read the caption beneath the picture, my blood boiling as the words sink in. "My girl now."

I can't believe it. Nova, with Marcus? It's like a punch to the gut, a betrayal I never saw coming.

I stare at the picture, my mind racing. Why would she do this? Why would she go out for drinks with him, pose for a picture, smile so brightly?

Doesn't she know who he is to me? Doesn't she understand the history between us, the animosity, the hatred? Probably not, but still.

I scroll through the picture, examining every detail. Nova looks happy, relaxed. She's not being held against her will, that much is clear. So why is she with him? What could he possibly offer her that I can't?

I feel a surge of jealousy, of possessiveness. Nova is mine, or at least, she was supposed to be. The thought of her with Marcus, laughing, smiling, it makes me sick to my stomach.

I shove my phone back into my pocket, my mind reeling. I need to talk to her, need to understand what's going on. But right now, I don't know if I can face her, don't know if I can bear to hear the truth.

All I know is that I'll do whatever it takes to win her back, to make her mine again. Because without her, I'm nothing. Without her, I'm lost.

And I'll be damned if I let Marcus take her from me.

I drive home in a daze, my mind still reeling from the picture of Nova and Marcua. I can't believe she's with him, can't believe she'd betray me like this.

As I pull into the driveway, I notice movement inside the house. Lights are on, even though it's the middle of the day. I frown, wondering who could be here.

I walk up to the front door, my key already in my hand. But as I reach for the lock, I hear a noise from inside. A woman's voice, talking on the phone.

I push the door open, and my blood runs cold. Veronica is standing in the middle of the living room, a box in her hands. She's talking to someone, her back to me.

"Yes, yes, I'm moving in today," she says, her voice bright. "Damien won't be a problem. He's hardly ever here anyway."

She laughs, a high, tinkling sound. And that's when I realize what's happening.

My father gave her the keys. He let her into my house, into my space. The one place I thought was mine, the one place I could escape to. And now, even that's been taken from me.

My father walks in, a smug grin on his face. "Ah, Damien, there you are," he says, clapping me on the shoulder. "Your stepmother's gone on vacation, so I thought I'd stay here for a while. Keep an eye on things, you know?"

I grit my teeth, biting back a retort. I can't stand my father, can't stand the way he interferes in my life.

He follows my gaze to Veronica, his grin widening. "Oh, and I brought Veronica. She's going to be staying here with us, until the wedding."

I whirl around, facing him fully. "Wedding? What the hell are you talking about?"

My father waves a hand dismissively. "Oh, come on, Damien. You know this is happening. You got Veronica pregnant, and now you're going to marry her."

I feel my blood boil, my hands clenching into fists at my sides. "I'm not marrying her," I say, my voice low and dangerous. "I don't love her, and I don't want to be with her."

My father's eyes narrow, his face reddening. "You ungrateful little shit," he snaps. "Veronica is the best thing that's ever happened to you, and you're going to treat her like the lady she is."

Veronica steps forward, placing a hand on my father's arm. "It's okay, Mr. Blackwood," she says, her voice soft and soothing. "I understand. Damien doesn't love me, and I've done everything I can to please you. But he just doesn't want me."

I watch as she comforts my father, as she eases his anger with her gentle touch and soft words. And I realize, with a sinking feeling in my gut, that I'm trapped. Trapped in a web of lies and manipulation, with no way out.

I shout at my father, my voice echoing through the house. "I'm not marrying Veronica," I say, my fists clenched at my sides. "Not until we get a paternity test. Until we know for sure that this baby is mine."

My father's face turns red, his eyes bulging with anger. "You ungrateful little shit," he snaps. "I forgave you for knocking her up out of wedlock, and now you want to ruin everything by shaming her, by questioning the baby's paternity?"

I stare at him, my own anger rising to match his. "I didn't do this," I say, my voice shaking. "I didn't sleep with her, didn't get her pregnant. How can you accuse me of being irresponsible when I didn't even do anything wrong?"

My father lunges at me, his hand raised to strike me. But Veronica steps between us, her hands on his chest, pushing him back.

"It's okay, Mr. Blackwood," she says, her voice soft and soothing. "Damien didn't mean it. He's just confused, that's all."

I watch as she leads my father away, her gentle touch and calm words easing his anger. And then she turns to me, her eyes wide and pleading.

"Come with me, Damien," she says, her voice barely above a whisper. "Let's go somewhere private, where we can talk."

I follow her, my heart pounding in my chest. I don't know what she wants, don't know what she's planning. But I know one thing. I'm in way over my head, and there's no way out.

I follow Veronica into the bedroom, my mind racing. She turns to face me, a sad smile on her face.

"Damien," she says softly, reaching out to hug me. I hesitate for a moment before wrapping my arms around her, holding her close.

"Tell me the truth," I whisper, my voice barely audible. "Who's the father of your baby? I know it's not me. I know you're scared, that your family doesn't approve of the real father. But I can help you, Veronica. I can support you, fight for you, convince everyone. You don't have to do this alone."

She pulls back, looking up at me with tears in her eyes. "Damien, I'm telling you the truth. You are the father. I know it's hard to believe, but it's true."

I shake my head, my heart sinking. I don't know what to believe anymore. I'm so tired, so exhausted from the lies and the manipulation.

"I just want the truth," I say, my voice breaking. "I just want to know what's really going on."

Veronica reaches up, cupping my cheek with her hand. "I am telling you the truth, Damien. I know it's hard to accept, but you have to believe me. You're the father of my child."

I pull away from her, my shoulders slumping. I don't have the energy to fight anymore, don't have the strength to keep pushing for answers.

"I'm going to bed," I say, my voice flat. "I'm too tired for this tonight."

I walk past her, crawling into bed and pulling the covers over my head. I can hear Veronica sigh, hear her leave the room.

But I don't care anymore. I just want to sleep, want to escape this nightmare if only for a little while.