Even though Anya said all those, Marie couldn't help but still fedistressedess. She knew just how much her friend suffered all her life. She knew she was strong, and she was proud of her for standing now despite all the stones thrown at her.
But, no matter how strong she is, she still needs protection, even though she thinks she can do things alone. That is why Marie wished someone could help and protect Anya.
And she hoped this person would be Damon.
So without Anya's knowledge, she texted Damon about what happened. It is up to you now, boss. Let's see if you will be this person.
Damon was inside his office when he received a text message. It was from an unknown number.
He was about to transfer it to his secretary since it was sent to his business number. But he was caught by the contents of the message.
It said Anya was at the hospital right now. Damon's heart throbbed.
He knew this might be a scam since it was an unknown number, but he couldn't help but feel anxious. He thought, what if Anya got sick? He needs to get to the bottom of this!
So, he called for his head secretary, Gabe. He ordered him to find out where Anya was and if she had gone to the hospital.
Damon sat anxiously waiting for the report. And gladly, with his vast connections and means, it did not take long.
"Ms. Anya did go to the hospital-"Before Gabe could continue, his boss stood immediately and rushed to leave.
Damon walked briskly. He did not mind listening to the rest of the report as his mind was worried about Anya. He got in his car and quickly drove towards the hospital his secretary mentioned.
While on the way, he asked Gabe what room number Anya was, and Gabe said it straightly.
He hung up the phone and speeded up. Shortly after, he arrived at the hospital. He went directly to the hospital room and opened it without hesitation.
He saw Anya peeling an apple on a bedside table, with a woman lying in the hospital bed. They both turned to him.
Damon's burning heart cooled down instantly, and he was immediately at a loss. Anya was standing before him, completely fine, and he did not know what to say.
Marie watched the then anxious and now frozen man before them. All she could say was, Wow.
She did not expect he would arrive that quickly.
Anya was looking at Damon in surprise. She had no idea what wind brought Damon here.
"Mr. Castellano? What are you doing here?" She finally asked.
Damon opened and closed his mouth but, in the end, finally shut it. He does not know how to answer as he barged in here like a brute without permission. He was anxious, yet Anya was okay. He was pretty embarrassed.
But he saw Anya's doubt and weird expression, so he answered with the only thing he could think of.
"Someone sent me a message that you were at the hospital." Anya heard this and was surprised.
"What? Who-"Before Anya could finish, Marie voiced out. "It was me."
Anya was even more surprised as she turned to Marie. "Ria, why-"
Again, Marie did not let her finish as she kept her eyes on Damon.
"I want to say something about your family, Mr. Castellano." Marie started. Anya finally realized what Marie was trying to do and wanted to stop her.
"Marie, don't. You don't have to." Marie quickly turned to Anya.
"Why shouldn't I? You were mistreated. You don't deserve such injustice." Marie reasoned out.
Damon was listening to the two girls talk, and slowly, his eyebrows started to wrinkle.
"What happened?" Damon could not help it and interrupted their talk. He looked at Anya and then diverted his gaze to the woman in the bed, waiting for her explanation.
"I just want you to know what your family and fiancé did." Marie started. "Ria.." Anya once again tried to stop her.
When Damon heard these, he finally caught a gist of what had happened, and his face darkened.
"Mr. Castellano, you were the one who was giving gifts and approaching Anya. Why should my friend be the one to be scolded? People like you like to degrade people,
huh? You think you could step on anyone just because you have power?" Marie said. She tried to say it calmly, but, in the end, she got to work up with her emotions.
"Marie!" Anya couldn't help it anymore and reprimanded her friend.
Damon's face hardened, and his body froze. He did not know. How could he be so blind?
"Why did you not tell me?" He turned to Anya and looked at her carefully. He was afraid he was hurt and was significantly affected by what they said. He knew perfectly just how harsh his mother could be. He wanted to beat himself as to why he did not foresee this sooner.
Anya bit her lip and looked at Damon.
"Mr. Castellano, it's fine, it's not a big matter," Anya tried to brush it off as she felt the tension from the man. It felt like he was about to rush and get angry with his mother. Could he?
Marie heard her best friend's undermining words to herself and was irritated. "What do you mean it's fine? Mr. Castellano, your fiancé-“
"She's not my fiancé," Damon can't help to cut her irritatedly.
"Whatever. That woman had insulted and humiliated Anya again and again. And now, your mother added in too. Are you blind about this, Mr. Castellano?" Marie mocked.
Damon pursed his lips as he was once again irritated at himself. Because it is true he was blind. He did not expect Ambrosia to be this vile and his mother to be this unreasonable.
A fire burst out of Damon's heart as he felt furious. This was the first time he got so mad at his mother or even someone. He always thought it was a waste of energy to exert so many feelings and emotions on someone, and he did not feel the need to. For him, all people were the same. He could either be satisfied or disappointed with someone.
Aside from the moment his son was born, this was the only raw and robust emotion he felt for almost 30 years.
And aside from anger, he felt worried and fearful. She was concerned about Anya and what she felt and went through because of this. And fear for such a delicate and gentle woman to truly break from his grasp or completely unwilling him.
"How could you let Anya go through this? She was not the one who approached you, yet she is being treated as a bitch!" Marie finally exclaimed.
Damon felt he was slapped in the face with all these words. He looked at Anya, and she had an anxious and almost apologetic expression. How could she be so silly? Why is she being apologetic? He should be the one groveling to her.
Damon was amazed at how he felt so many emotions simultaneously just because of this woman.
But among these foreign and raw feelings, he finally confirmed something deep within. Something he can't escape and can't deny.