Chapter 342: A Son No Longer Under Command

[Damien Lockwood]

"Damien." Evelyn Lockwood’s voice had that sharpness he’d always remembered from childhood, the kind that made even a simple hello sound like an accusation. "I trust you have a good reason for your mother finding out through the news that you returned to the city."

"Good morning to you too, mother."

"Don’t be sarcastic with me."

"I didn’t realize wishing you a good morning was considered a rebellious act."

"Your behavior is becoming harder to accept."

"Well, it’s good I don’t need your approval anymore."

The silence that followed was brief, but Damien could almost picture her expression with annoying clarity.

Evelyn Lockwood had never liked being reminded that her son was now a man able to make decisions on his own.

"I’d really appreciate it if you’d take this conversation seriously, Damien." she said finally. "You disappear for almost a month, and when you come back, I find out from the press."

"I didn’t disappear. I went on a trip."

"Without telling your family."

"I wasn’t aware I needed to submit a travel plan for parental approval first."

"Damien."

He glanced at the papers on his desk, wondering if there was any point in dragging out the conversation.

Not really, though he found amusement in it, like watching a poorly executed play where the actors were fully committed to their mistakes.

"What exactly were you doing in that little, useless town for a month? Nothing significant seemed to have happened there based on my knowledge." Evelyn pressed.

"Having fun." Damien responded.

"That’s not an answer."

"It’s the only one you’re going to get."

He could hear her breath hitch, just audible enough through the phone.

"You seem to have forgotten that your choices affect more than just you," she said.

"On the contrary, Mother. I’ve spent most of my adult life making choices that impacted everyone but me, and I’ve learned the world keeps spinning just fine when I stop doing that."

"Your father would be appalled by this attitude!"

"Father is welcome to send me a letter about his disappointment. I’m sure the postal service would be thrilled to help him out."

"Don’t mock me."

"Then stop giving me such perfect opportunities to do so."

Damien turned a page in the report before him, keeping his face as neutral as if he were discussing quarterly figures rather than stripping away the remnants of his mother’s authority.

He could sense her straining to keep calm, and he suspected it was raising her blood pressure. Good.

She had spent four years teaching him that love was conditional, obedience was a virtue, and personal happiness should only come after family interests were taken care of. It was almost touching to see her discomfort at receiving the same indifference she had handed him.

"Your return has attracted a lot of attention," Evelyn said, switching tactics with the ease of someone who had spent decades managing public perception. "There are photos circulating online, and I want to know why you let yourself be seen with a stranger whose face is blurred in every image."

Damien’s fingers paused over the page. There it was. He had expected her to ask about this sooner, especially after the airport photos started popping up on entertainment sites and gossip accounts.

The paparazzi caught him stepping out of the private terminal, his hand resting on the back of someone standing close. In another shot, he was slightly turning towards that oh-so-mysterious person, worry evident on his face, which sparked a wave of speculation about who this mysterious companion could be.

He appreciated that the person’s face was obscured in all of the published images, a small victory he was reluctant to admit.

By the time the first photos circulated, his security team had jumped into action with Damien’s orders, contacting the right publishers, and his legal department had reminded some particularly bold outlets of the consequences of sharing privately taken images without permission.

The clearer shots were gone before they could make a splash, leaving behind only blurry images that stirred debates online about height, clothing, and the possible identity of someone whose face no one could actually see.

Some thought the mystery companion was a potential investor. Others speculated about a celebrity.

One absurd theory even claimed Damien had secretly adopted an adult during his trip, which made Oliver laugh for a solid five minutes when Damien shared it with him. He found that notion downright insulting to his judgment.

"An old university friend needed a ride back to the city," Damien said now, letting a faint chuckle slip into his explanation. "He happened to be traveling with me. Nothing more."

"A friend?"

"Yep."

"And you expect me to believe you spent nearly a month away from the company just for an old acquaintance?"

"I honestly don’t care what you believe."

"Damien, your reputation—!"

"My reputation is perfectly fine, Mother. If you’re talking about the photos, it’s all taken care of."

"Taken care of how?"

"Efficiently."

She fell silent again, and he could almost hear her mind calculating behind her carefully controlled breathing.

Evelyn was most dangerous when she didn’t have all the information. When she knew what was going on, she could negotiate, manipulate, or threaten with great skill.

When she didn’t, she grabbed the nearest tool and hoped it intimidated someone into giving her what she wanted. Unfortunately for her, Damien had become quite good at distinguishing between a threat and a question.

"Well," she finally said, "I hope you realize I can’t let these rumors continue without some explanation. People will draw their own conclusions, and the family can’t afford any unnecessary speculation when we already have so much on our plate."

"Then I suggest you stop checking gossip websites."

"This is not funny."

"I beg to differ."

"Have you talked to Isabella since your return?"

The abruptness of the inquiry nearly made Damien smile. Of course; the photos were just the warm-up act. Evelyn had been waiting for a chance to steer the conversation to the topic she truly cared about, and subtlety was clearly off the table.

"No," he replied.

"You need to speak with her. The Sommers family has been patient, but there’s an understanding between our families, and it’s crucial we resolve this matter by the end of the month."

"An understanding you created without my consent, you mean."

"An understanding that has benefited both families quite well, you know that."

"Then maybe both families should be grateful that I’ve let it last this long."

"Damien, don’t be ridiculous! You can’t just walk away from a commitment because you decide that you don’t want to anymore."

His expression turned cold.