Chapter 161: Not A Child

Damian I woke up to the shrill sound of my phone ringing, the harsh light of morning streaming through the half-open blinds. My head pounded, a sharp reminder of the whiskey I’d downed the night before. Groaning, I reached for my phone, squinting at the screen. "Fuck," I rasped out. **Dad.** For a moment, I debated ignoring it. The last thing I wanted was another lecture from him. But the phone kept ringing, insistent. I swore under my breath and answered. “Yeah?” My voice was rough, still heavy with sleep and the remnants of last night’s alcohol. “Damian, who the hell is this woman you’re chasing?” My father’s voice barked through the line, cold and demanding, like he was scolding a child. “I heard you left the event early to run after some girl. What the hell were you thinking? Do you know how many people are trying to keep off your case? And yes, I was there.” Frankly, I hadn't remembered inviting Dad, but merely thinking about that fact just felt as though he was borderlin