Chapter 13

This realization made Zelda pause for a moment. But by now, Astrid and Damian had already finalized the wedding date. She no longer had an opportunity to object. She rubbed her forehead slightly. The Valdez family held a prominent position in Phoypolis. Although Virgil wasn't in charge of the family now, for the sake of appearances, his wedding with Faye was bound to be a grand affair. When her family found out that her wedding with Damian was on the same day as Faye and Virgil's, they would likely seize the opportunity to mock her. Damian certainly couldn't compete with a family-run corporation like the Valdez family's. At worst, she would just have to endure some mocking. She couldn't let Astrid's kindness go to waste. On the bright side, at least now, she wouldn't have to attend that despicable couple's wedding. After dinner, Astrid was feeling unwell and went to rest. Zelda agreed to stay at the villa for the night. After dinner, she sat on the couch, feeling a bit uneasy. Damian paced over to her, his tall figure exuding an air of intensity that made Zelda feel slightly on edge. When he finally stopped in front of her, his intense eyes held a curious, probing look as he glanced her over. In a low voice, he asked, "Are you really confident you can cure my grandma?" Zelda thought for a moment, considering her response. She didn't want to overpromise. "I think starting with acupuncture and medication is the best approach. I checked her pulse earlier. "If I'm not mistaken, your grandma has been ill for about ten years, right? Her main symptoms include headaches, coughing, and shortness of breath, correct?" Damian's lips thinned as he pressed them together, a flicker of doubt passing through his eyes. Zelda's assessment was spot on, but these details weren't exactly a secret. Anyone who looked into Astrid's medical history could piece this together. He wondered if it was possible that Zelda had approached him in the bar with ulterior motives or if she could have known about his identity all along. His gaze turned cold as these thoughts crossed his mind. Zelda didn't notice the shift in Damian's expression and continued, "Actually, your grandma isn't suffering from a traditional illness. She was poisoned, likely about ten years ago. "She must've consumed something repeatedly for about a month. Coupled with a diet full of rich, nourishing foods, it has only worsened her health." "Poisoned?" Damian's voice turned sharp, his eyes narrowing. Zelda nodded. "Yes, I've checked her pulse, and there are indeed signs of long-term poisoning. It might not be obvious now because so much time has passed. If you have medical reports, I could confirm it further." Damian was silent for a moment before he finally said, "The medical reports are at our home. I'll have them sent over tomorrow." Zelda nodded, then added, "You should think back to what your grandmother was eating ten years ago. If it was something she consumed daily for a month, it should be relatively easy to diagnose the poisoning." Hearing Zelda's confident response, Damian began to trust her a bit more. "Alright, I understand. Thanks for your help today." "You're welcome. You helped me out back at the Cantrell residence, so this is just a small favor in return," Zelda said. Her eyes sparked with a warm, starry light. Her smile was gentle and charming. Damian studied Zelda for a moment before asking, "Do you know who I am?" Zelda was stunned for a moment. She looked up at him with confusion and responded, "Damian Munoz." "And what do I do?" Damian continued, his dark eyes sharp and probing. Zelda raised an eyebrow at his odd question. She assumed he might be worried about her revealing his identity in front of Astrid. She patted his shoulder reassuringly and whispered, "Don't worry, I'll keep your identity a secret." After a moment of thought, she added, "Sticking with this line of work long-term isn't ideal. Maybe you should consider a career change." Damian's skepticism eased as he listened to Zelda's sensible advice. He smirked slightly and took her hand, saying, "Since we're playing along, let's do it convincingly. Tonight, you should stay with me in my room." Zelda's face flushed bright red at his low, husky voice. She opened her mouth but seemed momentarily speechless. Her hands clasped together nervously. After a long pause, she managed to stammer, "I-I don't think that's appropriate." Damian observed Zelda's flushed face and couldn't help but smile slightly. He asked, "What's inappropriate about it? You're my wife now. Isn't it normal for us to share the same room?" Zelda's mind raced with alarm. She thought with a sense of urgency, "This is compromising my reputation." Sensing her distress, Damian reassured her, "We've already got the marriage certificate. If we don't share a room, Grandma might become suspicious. But don't worry, I won't be sleeping in the same bed as you. I'll take the floor." Zelda breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. Given that she thought Damian was a male escort, she couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy. Seeing her relief, Damian felt a bit annoyed. He bent slightly, his tall frame leaning over her. He said in a teasing tone, "Don't overthink it." Zelda lowered her head. She ignored his teasing and headed upstairs. Damian followed her and led her to his room. The room was unexpectedly stark. It was decorated in black, white, and gray. It was so minimalist that it hardly looked lived in, with only the essentials present. Damian took a mattress and blanket from the closet and laid them out beside the bed. "Freshen up and get some rest. The pajamas are in the closet. They're new, so just take a pair and put them on." Zelda had never shared a room with a man before and felt a bit anxious. But remembering how Damian had acted decently even when she was drunk, she figured he was a gentleman who wouldn't take advantage. She expected to toss and turn all night. But instead, she slept deeply and didn't wake until after 8:00 am. When she woke, Damian was already gone, and the room had been tidied. After checking the time, she got ready and headed downstairs. Downstairs, Astrid was having breakfast in the dining room. The meal was much lighter, probably a result of Zelda's request from the previous day. Seeing Zelda come down, Astrid's face brightened with pleasure. "Zelda, you're up. If you're tired, you can rest upstairs. I'll have someone bring your meal up." Zelda was at a loss for words. Seeing Astrid's expression, Zelda realized she had overthought things. Zelda smiled warmly, not wanting to explain too much. She said, "Grandma, I'm fine." Astrid guided her to a seat beside her. Damian was sitting directly across from her. He dressed casually in a gray hoodie and sweatpants. His tousled hair made him look considerably younger. "I've already secured the venue and asked them to set it up quickly. After breakfast, you two should visit a bridal shop to find a dress you like. "Once we're back in Daprein, I'll arrange for a custom dress to be made for Zelda," Astrid said, her voice tinged with undeniable excitement. "Sure," Damian replied and nodded.