Chapter 3

As she didn't want to encounter Monique and Damian again, Ella decided to go outside. She planned to get some fresh air by the pool area, but when she arrived, she found Rebecca and Jack engaged in a serious discussion. Once again, Ella wondered why they always whispered to each other whenever they were alone. She cleared her throat to get their attention, and Rebecca immediately smiled upon seeing her.

"Why are you here, Ella? Aren't you supposed to join Damian and Monique on the balcony?" Rebecca asked.

"I don't like his fiancée," she blurted out the truth.

"We understand, sweetheart. Why don't you let Damian know about your feelings?" Jack suggested.

"No way, it's too risky to do that," Ella said.

Jack took a deep breath and said, "If you won't let him know, you will continue to suffer. Don't torture your own heart, darling, just to save your pride."

"I don't know what to do anymore," she confessed.

"Go to sleep, dear. You need to clear your head before going into battle," Rebecca suggested.

"I didn't sign up for a war, Rebecca," she answered, and all three of them laughed out loud.

Ella followed Rebecca's suggestion and went to her bedroom. The woman was right. She needed to come up with a better plan on how to express her feelings to Damian. She had to do it right, or he would despise her for the rest of their lives!

Inside her room, Ella tried her best to sleep as soon as possible, but her mind kept wandering elsewhere. If only she could teleport to the balcony, she would spy on Damian and Monique. She would check if they were kissing under the moonlight, while the cold breeze brushed their skin. She shook her head to dismiss the wild thoughts. Damian wouldn't do anything to disrespect their home. He would probably just send Monique home after enjoying some fine wine.

However, the thought of them kissing and becoming intimate in his car still bothered her. She couldn't accept it either. Her mind was filled with restless thoughts about Damian and Monique, preventing her from sleeping early. She was awakened by a bad dream and decided to check on Jack. In her dream, he was crying.

When she reached his room, she knocked softly and waited for him to open the door. Jack was a light sleeper, and any sound from outside would wake him up. She waited patiently, but he didn't open the door. She knocked again, this time louder. When she didn't hear anything from inside, she remembered that Jack had entrusted her with a spare key.

Ella hurried to her bedroom to retrieve the key and returned to Jack's room as quickly as possible. The dream had made her panic, and she felt that something was wrong. She took a deep breath before inserting the key into the doorknob, focusing on the task. Finally, she managed to unlock the door.

"Pop?" she called out for Jack as she entered, but he didn't respond. "Pop?" she called again, walking faster towards his bed. She sighed with relief when she saw Jack still lying there, seemingly sound asleep. She was about to leave when her intuition stopped her.

She turned around and approached Jack's bed. He was so still, and a sense of nervousness washed over her. With a trembling hand, she reached out and placed her finger below his nose.

Ella froze for a moment, her eyes fixed on Jack's face. Then, a burning sensation radiated from her chest. She tapped her chest, trying to find relief from the agony she was feeling. Panic started to take over when she couldn't escape the pain. She tried to contain her tears, but it was difficult. Watching his lifeless form suffocate her, and she couldn't help but scream in sorrow.

"E-Ella, could it be... could it be?" Damian pushed the door open, but she couldn't care less. She was so focused on dealing with Jack's sudden death. As Damian stammered, she felt bad for him. "Damian..."

Last night, Damian had made plans with Monique to go sightseeing in the morning. He had just left his bedroom when he heard Ella's screams. He was about to visit her room when he realized the voice was coming from another room—Jack's room.

As he rushed toward his father's room, he wondered why Ella was crying so loudly. Fear gripped him, and he prayed that nothing had happened to his father. One of the reasons he had decided to settle down in Victorias City was to spend more time with his father and Ella. Several months ago, he had learned about Jack's heart disease. He wanted to come home as soon as possible, but he couldn't. He was tied up with several contracts, and although he could afford the penalties for breaching them, he had chosen to honor his commitments.

Damian pushed the door open, and his eyes widened at the sight of Ella on his father's bed. He called his father's name, but there was no response. Ella was unaware of his presence. Then, he noticed the stillness of his father's chest. He stood frozen at the door, unable to move an inch.

"Daddy!" Damian shouted as he ran toward the bed. Then, he looked at Ella, whose eyes were filled with tears. "He's not dead, right?" He was scared as he asked Ella, who stood up to hug him.

"Damian...," she called. "He's gone. He died," Ella sobbed continuously.

Damian went to check his father's breathing to confirm Ella's statement. She was right. Jack McBride was no longer breathing. As Damian stared at his father's face, guilt washed over him for not coming home earlier. Ella appeared strong, but he knew she was breaking into tiny pieces. His father loved her dearly, and it would be difficult for her to deal with his death.

"Damian... what should I do now? He's gone. He left me," Ella cried.

Damian recalled his recent conversation with Jack the night before, and he clenched his fists as he began to comfort her. "I am here. I will always be here for you," he promised.