You Are Mine

Damien’s POV

“I went for a walk,” she said quickly, still shaken. “I came back on my own. I didn’t disappear.”

Her eyes shifted again, unwillingly, to the destruction behind me. The shattered glass. The broken furniture. The staff pressed into corners like they wanted to disappear into the walls. And then—my mother. Coughing. Still on her knees.

Elena flinched like she’d been struck.

“You…” she whispered, almost unable to form it. “You did this.”

Something flickered across my face.

A staff member shifted nervously.

Margaux held her breath.

My hands curled slightly at my sides.

My body tensed—And then—I moved towards her.

Elena flinched instantly. “Don’t—!”

But before she could step back, I reached her and pulled her into my arms hard.

The entire room froze.

Staff members went rigid.

Margaux stilled, eyes wild in shock.

No one moved.

Because they were all expecting violence. Another outburst. Another collapse of control.

But instead—Silence.

I held Elena tightly against me, like I was afraid she would vanish again if I loosened my grip. My arms were firm, almost shaking—but not with rage this time. With relief.

Elena stood completely still in my hold, frozen in shock. Her hands hovered awkwardly at first, unsure whether to push me away or steady herself.

“Don’t do that again,” I said quietly into her hair, voice strained. “Don’t disappear like that.”

Elena finally pushed slightly against my chest.

“Let me go,” she whispered.

This time, I did.

Slowly, I loosened my hold and stepped back just enough to look at her face.

My expression was still tense—contained in a way that looked forced.

Around us, the staff remained frozen, unable to process the shift. A moment ago they were preparing for destruction. Now they were watching something they didn’t understand.

Margaux exhaled shakily.

I didn’t look away from Elena.

“I thought I lost you,” I said again, quieter now.

That sentence changed everything. Not the situation. Not the fear. But the reason behind it.

Elena’s body slowly stopped resisting, though she didn’t relax. Because now it wasn’t just fear in front of her.

It was something else. Something unstable. Something human—but overwhelming.

Elena swallowed,

“I was outside,” she repeated firmly. “That’s all.”

A pause

“You can’t react like this every time I’m not in your sight.”

That landed differently.

Then, slowly, I nodded once.

But my eyes didn’t settle. Because the fear was still there.

Then, without thinking, I did something unexpected again.

I lifted her into my arms. Not suddenly this time. Carefully.

Elena stiffened again, startled.

“Put me down,” she said quickly.

I didn’t answer.

I just turned and carried her through the wreckage.

Past the frozen staff.

Past Margaux, who stood frozen on the stairs, unable to process the shift from destruction to silence.

—

Upstairs, I set her down on the bed.

This time, my movements were slower. More controlled.

Like I was afraid of breaking something that wasn’t the furniture anymore.

I straightened things that didn’t need straightening.

Elena watched me carefully. Still wary—but less sure of what she was afraid of now.

I checked the bathroom, then paused there for a moment longer than necessary.

Then I moved inside.

My hands turned the tap. Water burst into the marble basin first, sharp and clear, then softened as it filled the tub. I adjusted the temperature without hesitation, not too hot, not too cold.

I reached for the bottle of bath oil. The cap twisted open with a quiet click.

A slow stream of liquid slipped into the rising water, curling into it like smoke before dissolving. Next came the bubble soap—one squeeze, then another. Foam bloomed immediately, spreading across the surface, thickening, softening the edges of the water until it looked almost unreal.

My movements were deliberate.

I picked up a folded towel from the shelf and set it neatly beside the tub. Then another. Then, after a pause, I straightened them again, even though they were already perfect.

Only when the bath was full—steam rising gently now, bubbles gathered like a pale cloud over the water—did I finally stop moving.

My hand hovered near the edge of the tub for a second, then dropped.

I exhaled once, low and controlled, as if forcing something back down inside me.

Only then did I turn.

My eyes didn’t immediately meet hers.

When they finally did, they were calmer than before.

Finally, I spoke. “I prepared a bath for you.”

Elena blinked slightly, caught off guard by the shift.

My tone wasn’t commanding. It was… asking. Almost stiff with restraint.

Then I added, after a pause: “Do you want me to help you… or would you prefer to be alone?”

The question hung in the air.

Elena hesitated, studying me carefully, like she didn’t trust the softness of the offer more than the violence she had just seen.

“I’ll do it myself,” she said finally.

A beat.

I nodded once. “Alright.”

I stepped back immediately, giving her space.

The bathroom filled with warm steam as Elena bathed alone.

Moments later, she appeared in the doorway

She stood there for a moment longer than she meant to, towel clutched a little tighter around her body as she took in the room.

Fresh sheets. Folded clothes. Warm food still untouched.

And me—by the window.

Her fingers tightened slightly at the towel.

“Can you…” she started, then stopped, clearing her throat as if the words were heavier than expected. “Can you leave the room for a bit?”

I turned slowly at her voice.

My eyes moved to her—then briefly away. There was no surprise on my face. Only a short pause.

“No,” I said calmly.

Elena blinked. “…No?”

I nodded once, then corrected myself in a quieter tone “I mean… I can. If that’s what you want.”

A beat of silence passed between us.

Elena exhaled, slightly frustrated now. “It is what I want. I need to change.”

My gaze shifted toward the door, then back to her.

Something in me hesitated—not resistance exactly, but habit. Like staying close had become instinct.

“I’ll step outside,” I said.

She didn’t trust how quickly I agreed.

“Outside the room,” she repeated carefully, as if confirming the rules. “Not just… turn around.”

A faint flicker crossed my expression. Almost like I hadn’t considered the difference.

“I won’t look,” I said simply.

“That’s not the point,” she replied immediately.

Silence.

Then I nodded once. “Understood.”

I walked toward the door without another word, but stopped with my hand on the handle.

For a moment, I didn’t open it.

Elena watched me warily.

“What?” she asked.

I didn’t turn fully, just slightly.

“Call me if you need anything,” I said.

“I won’t,” she answered quickly.

A pause.

Then softer, more controlled: “I just need you out.”

That landed….Not as rejection. Just fact.

I opened the door.

Before stepping out, I said quietly, almost to myself, “I’ll be right outside.”

And then I left. The door clicked shut.

Elena stood by the bed for a second longer than necessary, waiting for the sound of my footsteps to fully disappear.

She quickly reached for the clothes on the bed, fingers moving faster now, towel still tightly wrapped around her.

Then—Click.

The door opened again.

Elena froze.

I walked back in like nothing had happened.

Her eyes widened instantly and she yanked the towel tighter around herself so fast it was almost a reflex.

“Hey—!” she snapped, voice cracking slightly. “Didn’t you just leave?!”

I paused at the doorway, looking almost… confused.

“Leave?” I repeated, like I was trying to recall a small detail. Then I glanced at her properly and added, far too casually, “Oh.”

Elena was already backing up a step. “You said you were going outside!”

“I did,” I agreed.

“…So WHY are you back in here?!”

I shut the door behind me calmly.

Then, looked at her like she was the one being unreasonable.

“Why should I excuse myself?” I asked.

Elena blinked. “…Excuse—what?”

My expression stayed completely composed as I continued, voice steady like I was stating something obvious in a meeting.

“I’m your husband, remember?”

A pause.

Then, completely deadpan: “I should help you with dressing.”

Elena’s brain visibly stopped for a second. “…WHAT?”

I didn’t even flinch.

Instead, I tilted my head slightly and—worst of all—smirked.

Not loud. Not dramatic. Just enough to be dangerous.

My eyes… very calmly drifted downward.

Elena followed the direction of my gaze like it physically dragged her attention down.

Instant regret.

“Hey!!” she yelped, quickly stepping sideways and clutching the towel like her life depended on it. “Don’t look there!”

“I am not looking anywhere specific,” I replied smoothly.

I absolutely was.

Elena took another step back, heat rising to her face. “Go. Out. Again.”

“No,” I said simply.

“…No?”

“I’ll stay.”

She stared at me.

I stared back. Unblinking.

Elena pointed toward the door. “You literally just said you’d give me space!”

“And I did,” I answered.

“That was two seconds!”

“That was enough.”

Elena inhaled sharply, like her soul was leaving her body.

“GET OUT.”

I didn’t move.

Instead, I adjusted my sleeve slightly and said, very calmly:

“Finish getting dressed. I’ll wait.”