CHAPTER 107: 107 - WASN’T ENOUGH

107

~Damon’s POV

I didn’t even realize when my eyelids got heavy. My back rested awkwardly against the edge of the couch, and my head leaned on the wall. I’d been sitting here for hours, just watching her, hoping she’d wake up soon. Her breathing was steady, her face calm, but there was no sign she was about to open her eyes.

The quietness in the room was almost too much. My body was tired, but my mind was restless. Every few minutes, I’d glance at her again. I didn’t know what else to do.

At some point, sleep finally dragged me under.

I didn’t know how long I’d been out until a loud voice pierced through my ears.

"What are you doing here?"

My eyes shot open instantly. I blinked twice, trying to focus, and saw Lisa sitting up, her eyes wide with anger.

I rubbed my eyes slowly. "What?"

"I asked..." she took a step forward, her voice sharp, "what are you doing in my place?"

I scoffed, leaning back again. "Wow... really? That’s the first thing you say to me after everything? No ’thank you’? No ’I see you stayed here all morning? Just straight to accusations?"

Her jaw tightened. "Don’t try to twist this, Damon. Why are you here?"

I frowned, the irritation rising in my chest. "You’re unbelievable. I stayed here because I didn’t want you waking up alone and panicking. You think I’d just leave you here like that?"

She folded her arms, but her voice cracked slightly. "I didn’t ask you to. And don’t act like you’re some hero. You and your evil brothers... you didn’t even let me spend my father’s final moments with him."

That made me sit up straight. "What are you talking about?"

Her eyes glistened as her voice broke. "You all kept me in the palace. You didn’t let me go. You didn’t let me take care of him. You didn’t let me... say goodbye. And now..." she swallowed hard, tears sliding down her cheeks, "now he’s gone."

The words hit me like a stone. "Wait... what? Lisa... Is your father... dead?"

She looked at me like I was the most heartless person alive. "Yes, Damon! He’s dead! And you killed him!"

I stood up instantly, my voice rising. "What? How the hell did I kill him?!"

She took a shaky step forward, her fists clenched. "You stopped me from being with him. You made me stay in your wretched palace. You and your brothers treated me like a prisoner! Do you know how it feels to get the news that your father died because you couldn’t care for him..." she slapped her own chest, "and you weren’t even allowed to bury him as his child? That I couldn’t even hold his burial and look at him before he was laid to rest? You guys stole that from me!"

My own chest tightened, but I kept my voice low. "Lisa... I didn’t know. I swear I didn’t. I thought..." I stopped, shaking my head.

"You all treated me like I was weak... like I had no say in my own life. You locked me away. You made the decision for me. And now, all I have is regret."

I clenched my jaw, trying to keep my own frustration in check. "Lisa, listen..."

"No! You listen!" she shouted, pointing a trembling finger at me. "You and your brothers took away my last chance to be a daughter to him. I’ll never forgive you for that. Never!"

I stood there, staring at her, trying to think of something to say, something that would make sense to her. But my mind was blank.

Her sobs echoed in the room, raw and broken.

Finally, I spoke quietly. "I didn’t mean for this to happen."

She laughed again, this time full of bitterness. "Well, it did. And I’ll remember it for the rest of my life."

Her words hit me like a punch in the gut.

"Yes!" she screamed, her voice breaking. "I will remember that you killed him... you all killed him!"

I froze, my heart sinking into my stomach. "Lisa..." I tried to reach for her, but she stepped back, shaking her head violently.

"No! Don’t touch me!" Her voice cracked, and then the tears came hard, big, shaking sobs that wracked her whole body. She grabbed the water cup from the side table and hurled it to the floor, glass shattering in all directions.

"Lisa, stop,"

"Stop?!" she cried, her breathing fast and uneven. "You kept me in the palace! You... Kael... Rowan... none of you let me go to him! I could have been there... I could have spend more time with him before he..." Her voice faded into another sob.

I stepped closer, hands slightly raised. "I didn’t..."

"Don’t!" she yelled, pointing at me with trembling fingers. "Don’t you dare talk!"

She ripped the IV line from her arm, blood spotting her skin, and threw it aside.

"Lisa!" I rushed forward, but she was already grabbing the flower vase and tossing it against the wall. Pieces scattered across the floor, water spilling everywhere.

"You all stole my last moment with him!" she cried again, her voice breaking into raw pain.

I caught her wrists gently but firmly, pulling her toward me before she could throw anything else. She fought me, pounding her fists against my chest with surprising force.

"Lisa! Stop, you’re hurting yourself..."

"I don’t care!" she screamed, hitting me again. "I hate you! I hate you!"

Her fists slowed, the hits becoming weaker as her sobs grew louder. I held her tighter, even as she tried to push away.

"I should have been there," she whispered through the sobs. "I should have been there when he... when he..." Her voice broke completely, and she buried her face against my shirt, shaking uncontrollably.

I rested my chin on the top of her head, feeling my own throat tighten. "I’m sorry," I whispered, but I knew it wasn’t enough.

She kept crying, her tears soaking through my shirt, her body trembling in my arms. Then suddenly, her weight shifted, her knees buckled.

"Lisa?"

Her head lolled against my chest, her breathing shallow.

"Lisa!" I shook her gently, panic clawing at me. Her eyes fluttered once before closing completely.