Chapter 83: Damon

I was furious as I walked out of the river. I handed the crying child to Gwen before approaching Clara, who was shivering on the ground. “What were you thinking? Why did you leave your guards? What if something bad happened to you? For God's sake, Clara, you can't even swim!” I scolded her, imagining what could have happened if I hadn't arrived. “I didn’t mean to; I just couldn’t ignore the child. I’m sorry, but I don’t regret my actions,” she murmured stubbornly. I scoffed. “You don’t, because I saved you. What if Steven hadn’t called me immediately? You would have drowned with the baby!” I yelled.

“What should I have done? Left the baby there? I’m sorry if that’s what you would have done, but that isn’t me, and you know it. I lost a child, Damon, and seeing that child in the river brought back that feeling. I couldn’t let him die,” she said, and I immediately softened. This girl was going to be the death of me.

“Get up,” I murmured softly, helping her to her feet and wrapping my arms around her. “I almost had a heart attack when I heard you were gone, Clara,” I murmured, and she sniffled. “I agree that was wrong, and I’m sorry for worrying you, for worrying all of you. You can’t punish Steven and the others; I snuck away,” she mumbled. I ignored her last statement—countering it would spark another argument. I was paying them to watch her, and they failed, so they would be punished.

I pulled back slightly to check for injuries, but thankfully, she was unharmed. “Let’s get you home before you catch a cold. Gwen, take the child to the orphanage and—”

“No!” Clara yelled, taking the now-calm child from Gwen and turning to me. Seeing the look in her eyes, I groaned. “We are not keeping him, Clara,” I muttered, and she frowned.

“He’s not ‘it,’ he’s a boy, and we have to,” she argued.

“We don’t have to do anything. There are countless orphanages. Let them take care of him. Gwen, take the child,” I ordered.

“Please, Damon, we can’t leave him in the orphanage. I can’t. He’s still a kid; he needs a mother,” she pleaded. As if on cue, the boy snuggled her, and I saw her melt.

“Baby, we have a lot of issues right now, and—”

“I’ll make sure he isn’t intrusive. You’ll hardly see him unless you come find me. I’ll stay home, and the guards will watch me,” she said, and I sighed. I really didn’t want to do this. If it were my child, I wouldn’t mind, but another person’s kid? The cries, the tantrums… could I handle it?

“Clara…”

“I’m begging you, Damon, please,” she pleaded before I could speak. I groaned when she gave me puppy-dog eyes, and the boy mirrored her, as if understanding the situation.

“He can’t sleep in our bed,” I uttered, and a wide smile spread across her face. She handed the boy back to Gwen, then threw herself at me. “Thank you, this means a lot to me,” she murmured, kissing me. I kissed her back, wrapping my arms around her waist and pulling her close before resting my forehead against hers. “You can take him home, but I haven’t decided about adoption, okay?” I murmured softly. She sighed and nodded. “Okay,” she said, then sneezed loudly. I instinctively pulled her closer. “Let’s get you home.”

The car ride back was silent—at least for me. Clara talked and played with the boy, barely giving me any attention. I tried asking about her days without me, but she gave short replies and returned to the boy. Was this how it would be from now on? I didn’t know if I could handle it. I never knew I could be jealous of a child. I huffed, folding my arms and staring out the window. I’d let her have her attention today, but tomorrow, and forever, she’s mine.

When we arrived at the mansion, everyone was outside, as expected. I’d raised an alarm after Steven called, saying he couldn’t find Clara. I almost sent an army, thinking the enemy had kidnapped her. Only Kade talked me out of it. We got out of the car, and everyone was surprised to see a child in Clara’s arms.

“You’re okay. Don’t scare us like that again,” Aunt Amelia murmured, rushing to Clara. “Whose child is this, and why are you both wet?” she asked, glancing between us.

“Disregarding the fact that she can’t swim, Clara jumped in to save the boy, and I had to save them both,” I replied.

“Aww, bestie, I’m so proud of you,” Delilah shrieked, running to Clara. Everyone seemed impressed. Hadn’t they heard the part where she almost died?

“That was a very heroic act, Clara,” my father praised, smiling proudly. She smiled at him but said nothing. I knew she was still angry at him for sending me to the abyss. While I understood his reasoning, it felt good knowing she had my back.

“Aww, he’s so cute, but why is he here?” Delilah asked. Clara glanced at me, then back at Delilah with a smile. “I’m adopting him,” she announced. Everyone gasped; I groaned.

“I didn’t say we were adopting him, Cla… oh, for God’s sake, I need a drink. Everything else can wait,” I muttered, walking into the house before my father could speak. I already knew what he’d say. Even if we adopted, a child with my blood would be my heir, but that was the least of my concerns right now.