Her Rebirth.-Chapter 110

Damien adjusted the cuff of his suit, standing beside his mother, Marie, as they mingled politely with other guests near the long banquet tables that were filled with all kinds of pastries and drinks. His attention was only half on the conversation, his mind wandering to the reports waiting for him back at the office , anything but this stuffy charity event. But his mother had basically dragged him to be here on the guise of connecting, but he knew it was probably just to pair him up with some ladies.

The loud announcement drew his attention. "Ladies and gentlemen, we are honored tonight to welcome the CEO of ED Technologies... Mr. Kai Blackwood."

Damien’s hand froze midair, his glass pausing just inches from his lips.

He blinked slowly.

Kai Blackwood?

As in... Amelia’s fiancé, Kai Blackwood?

Before he could process it fully, a commotion started near the entrance. Cameras flashed like strobe lights, and the crowd leaned eagerly to catch a glimpse of the announced CEO.

And then he saw them.

Kai, dressed in a wine-colored tuxedo, caught the light, making him look both regal and untouchable.

But it wasn’t Kai that Damien’s eyes clung to.

It was the woman whose hands were locked with his , Amelia.

Damien felt his breath pause.

She looked ethereal, almost otherworldly, her gown shimmering as though it had been woven from starlight itself. She held Kai’s hand lightly, her posture elegant and poised and her expression , calm , as if she belonged at the center of the universe and everyone else was merely orbiting her.

For a moment, Damien forgot where he was.

Forgot the guests, forgot his mother, forgot the polite mask he was supposed to wear. His heart gave a single, painful thud , a hars reminder of something he had worked so hard to bury.

He dragged his gaze away, swallowing hard.

"Fool," he muttered under his breath, a humorless smile tugging at his lips. "You said you moved on, remember?"

And yet, despite his best efforts, despite his logical mind and hardened will, Amelia still held a small place in his heart.

His chest ached, a deep, dull hurt he had no right to feel.

Marie leaned closer, whispering, "Isn’t that Kai Blackwood? The so-called illegitimate son? Seems like he was more than he let on."

Damien’s lips pressed into a thin line.

"Yeah, he really hid himself," he said quietly, not taking his eyes off Amelia as she smiled politely at someone across the room.

---

The air around was tense despite the fact that they were all donning a smile.

Kai stood before them with Amelia by his side, his hand resting casually at her waist. His posture and his very presence exuded a kind of untouchable authority and a dangerous aura — one that only made the Blackwoods stiffen more visibly.

Dan was the first to break the silence, forcing a strained smile.

"You’ve certainly... grown," he said awkwardly. His face carried a forced warmth that made Amelia’s lips curl in amusement, though she said nothing.

Kai looked down at him as if he was some sort of insignificant being.

"It’s been a while," he said.

It had certainly been a while; besides, the last time they had met was when he had come to his home commanding him to apologize to the Blackbourne kid.

Ace, who had been feeling uncomfortable by the fact that the Kai he had always seen beneath him was the CEO of ED Technologies, finally spoke, unable to hide his shock.

"You’re the CEO of ED Technologies?" he blurted out. "Since when?!"

Kai tilted his head slightly, pondering whether the answer was even worth giving.

"Since the beginning," he said simply.

Hera’s frown deepened, obviously displeased by the answer.

"When?" she pressed, stepping forward, her voice low and biting. "When did you have the time to build a company like that? Was it when I—" she paused, catching herself, but her meaning was already clear.

—When I sent you away.

Kai’s expression remained perfectly composed.

"Perhaps," he said with a shrug.

Hera stiffened, but forced herself to focus.

"Fine," she snapped, folding her arms tightly across her chest. "You built yourself a company. Impressive. But tell me, Kai..."

She leaned in slightly, lowering her voice to a vivid whisper.

"Are you the one responsible for what happened to the Blackwood family?"

The accusation hung in the air like a noose.

Dan scoffed loudly, waving a dismissive hand.

"Don’t be ridiculous, Hera. We’ve discussed this. ED Technologies might be a big name in tech, but it’s nothing compared to what the Blackwoods built for nearly a century."

Hera turned to him sharply, her lips curling in disgust.

"I would prefer it if you think, Dan," she said viciously. "Think."

Kai’s smile widened ever so slightly as he watched them unravel.

Dan, fuming, pointed a finger toward him.

"Logically speaking, a company like ED couldn’t possibly bring us down! It’s only three years old!"

Ace opened his mouth as if to agree besides, how could Kai bring down the Blackwood family? He had always been below them but hesitated under Kai’s silent stare. He felt a chill run down his spine.

Kai let out a soft laugh.

"Three years, you say?"

He stepped closer, just enough to make them instinctively lean back.

"Funny, isn’t it? How quickly the mighty can fall when the rot inside them is simply... exposed."

Hera’s nails dug into the fabric of her clutch.

"You did this," she said, and then let out a small laugh. "Tell me, is it revenge for what I did to your mother? If so, you should be grateful to me. I saved you from her."

Kai’s eyes darkened upon the mention of his mother, and his entire body stiffened — so subtly most wouldn’t notice, but Amelia did. She felt the fine tension in the hand resting lightly at her waist turn to iron.

Inside Kai’s mind, everything cracked open.

It wasn’t the grand ballroom he stood in anymore.

It was a dim, suffocating apartment.

The sharp sting of his mother’s nails drawing blood from his forehead.

Screeching ever so loudly

"It’s your fault, Kai... It’s your fault he left us." ƒreewebɳovel.com

The feel of her voice crawled over his skin, leaving behind invisible claw marks.

A sudden rush of white noise filled his ears — drowning out the murmurs of the Blackwoods, the clinking glasses, the muted gasps from the crowd.

He was five years old again, small and helpless, watching as Hera stood over his pinned-down mother.

Then a bang.

"I saved you from her."

Hera’s voice echoed, tearing through the thin veneer Kai had built around his scars.

He didn’t realize his hands were clenching until he felt a smaller, gentle touch slip into his.

"Kai?"

Amelia’s voice. It was soft but also filled with immense worry.

He blinked, his eyes meeting Amelia’s, who donned a small frown.

His gaze dropped to her hand, curled firmly around his. As if telling him:

I am here for you.

A slow breath dragged through Kai’s chest. He closed his fingers over hers, anchoring himself to the present — to her, the only thing in his twisted, mundane, and bleak world that mattered.

Then he lifted his head up and smiled at Hera.

"Yes, you are right. I only have you to thank. If not, maybe I wouldn’t have become what I am today," he said, then he glanced at Dan.

"And you, Father, taught me what happens when you discard something without thinking it could one day bite back."

Ace shifted awkwardly, opening his mouth, but Kai’s gaze pinned him down before he could say a word.

"And you," Kai said, smiling almost kindly at Ace. "I have nothing to thank you for."

Hera clenched her jaw until it ached.

"What now?" she hissed. "You think you’ve won?"

Kai gave a soft chuckle, stepping back slightly.

"Won?" he echoed lazily.

He tilted his head, smiling in a way that made their blood run cold.

"I’m just getting started."

And with that, he turned, leading Amelia away without a second glance, leaving the once-proud Blackwood family standing shattered.

He had dragged things for too long; it was time to finish what he had already started.

As Kai and Amelia turned away from the Blackwoods, another voice called out to them.

"Congratulations," Damien said, weaving through the crowd with an easy smile. His mother, Marie, followed closely behind, offering a graceful nod of greeting to people who called to her as she walked towards them.

Marie’s eyes lit up warmly as she looked at Amelia.

"You look absolutely breathtaking tonight."

Amelia smiled politely, her tone gracious yet distant.

"Thank you, Mrs. Denver. You’re too kind. You look astonishing as well."

Marie gave a small laugh. "You flatter me, my dear," then she added, "I’ll have to excuse myself for a bit," and walked away.

Damien remained, his glass loosely held in one hand, the other shoved casually into his pocket. However, despite how nonchalant he looked, his eyes couldn’t help but continuously drift to Amelia.

He raised his glass slightly, offering a soft, almost bittersweet smile.

"You both make quite the pair," he said. His eyes flickered again to Amelia before he added in a low voice,

"Amelia... you look beautiful tonight."

Amelia simply smiled politely and muttered a small "thank you."

However, Kai was not having it at all, his eyes brimmed with jealousy as anger filled his heart. He had never liked this Damien guy, not after he had seen him hugging his little butterfly. If not because it would be too suspicious and Amelia would probably pin everything back to him, he would have gotten rid of Damien a long time ago.

Kai shifted beside Amelia and his arm slid more firmly around her waist, tugging her closer until she was snug against his side.

There was a playful smile on his lips, but Damien felt the temperature fall into something much colder under his gaze.

With a small, almost imperceptible tilt of his head, Kai said in a low, deceptively casual tone,

"She’s beautiful, isn’t she?"

Damien opened his mouth, but Kai continued smugly,

"Fortunately, she’s already mine."

The subtle possessiveness in his words was utterly unmistakable.

Damien gave a small, stiff laugh, trying to brush it off,

"Of course," he murmured, casting a quick glance away.

Kai’s eyes stayed on him a moment longer,

before he finally turned away, guiding Amelia with him, his hand never leaving her waist. As if to further aggravate Damien, he leaned and planted a soft kiss on her lips.

Amelia allowed herself to be kissed, feeling Kai’s possessiveness seeping from his every movement. She didn’t say anything, but when she glanced up at him briefly, the corners of her lips tilted, quite amused.

"You really had to kiss me, huh?"

Kai blinked innocently and said with no shame,

"Why shouldn’t I? Aren’t you my fiancée?"