Chapter 9 The authorities quickly uncovered the truth. The so-called "artifact trafficking" was entirely fabricated by Aria. She'd bribed museum insiders and created false evidence, all to destroy my reputation forever. Damien didn't call the police. le just made one phone call. he next day, Aria was permanently expelled from the national orchestra. ll her luxury endorsements were canceled overnight. very property and painting Damien had given her was reclaimed. he fell hard from the clouds back into the mud. nwilling to accept it, she came looking for me. d just left the police station and was about to celebrate the exhibition's rebirth with the museum director. ria rushed over, falling to her knees and clutching my legs. .una, I was wrong, please forgive me!" or the sake of being imprisoned together as children, please ask Damien to spare me!" pulled my leg free and looked down at her. 'ou have the nerve to mention childhood?" ria, you stole fifteen years of my life, and now you think one 'sorry' wipes it all clean?" er crying stopped, a flash of malice crossing her face. o what if I stole it! Damien still believed me all these years!" that old bastard hadn't suddenly appeared, you'd be mud under my feet your whole life!" una, don't get cocky! Even knowing the truth, he still loves this face of mine. He's used to me!" miled. eally?" ulled out my phone and played a recording. contained her conversation with museum insiders, detailing exactly how she'd instructed them to forge evidence and planned to imprison me. anded the phone to nearby reporters who'd arrived. think the public would be very interested in Miss Sterling's true nature." ia's face went completely white. r life was totally shattered. mien's revenge only cost her material things. y revenge would nail her to the pillar of shame forever, never to raise her head again. ter dealing with Aria, Damien began searching for me frantically. He lifted all restrictions against me and stationed people outside my workshop twenty-four hours a day. The gifts he sent piled up like a small mountain-rare manuscripts, top restoration tools, everything imaginable. I had them all returned untouched. Then he started coming himself. That day, I'd just seen off a client when I found Damien standing at my door. He'd lost a lot of weight, with heavy dark circles under his eyes. His expensive tailored suit looked utterly defeated on him. seeing me, his eyes blazed with hope. 'Luna." He approached with a hoarse voice. Can we... can we talk?" walked around him and headed straight outside. Panicking, he grabbed my wrist. Luna, I'm sorry, I know I was wrong. Give me one more chance." I was an asshole before, I was blind, I..." Mr. Ashford." interrupted, my tone as calm as discussing the weather, You already signed the divorce papers. We settled everything long ago." That agreement doesn't count!" He stubbornly gripped my hand, I only signed because I didn't recognize you! We can remarry-I'll arrange it immediately!" Looking at him, I felt both absurd and pathetic. Damien, have you forgotten?" Forgotten how you told the police 'I don't know her' in the studio." Forgotten how you slapped me, had people destroy my life's work, and threw me onto that ship like garbage." Forgotten how you tossed that pendant into the ocean, saying you never wanted to see me again." Each of my words was like a knife, cutting deep into his heart. His face grew paler and paler, his body swaying, barely able to stand. 'I..." He closed his eyes in pain, 'I had people retrieve that pendant from the ocean. I'll give it back to you. Please don't be angry anymore, okay?" "No." I shook off his hand forcefully. "Damien, I don't love you anymore." "I remember every hurt you caused me. And the one bit of kindness you showed-I've already repaid in full." "We owe each other nothing." With that, I turned and left without another glance.