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We had already entered the shop and for the first time I actually looked around and I was stunned. There were dresses displayed everywhere, and in every color, length, and style one could possibly imagine.

The store was in a high-rise building overlooking the 5th Avenue. The ceilings were tall and there were huge chandeliers lighting the space up.

My staring got interrupted when an older woman came in our direction, a huge smile plastered to her face.

“Clarissa, my dear, how nice to see you and Mr Hunter, I haven’t seen you in so long. We have been missing you, there is so much we need to catch up on and- Who are you?”, she stopped herself and turned in my direction.

The critical way she observed my clothes made me flush. Maybe I really should have put on something else.

“Allison Jacobs. She is a friend of our family.”, Clary introduced me, and I nodded.

“Yes, nice to meet you.”, I said, and the woman smiled again, but didn’t pay me any further attention.

“Very well, what can I do for you and- John! John, come here.”, she suddenly said to a young man that was walking past us. John turned around and gave all of us a polite smile, but he didn’t seem very happy. He looked as if he would prefer to be anywhere but here, which I could understand. I didn’t feel anymore at ease here than he did.

I would have preferred a small, local book shop over this anytime.

“John, why don’t you take all the stuff from Mr Hunter and take them downstairs. Call the driver and make sure all the things get dropped off at-”, she turned to Clarissa, “your apartment I assume?”

Clary nodded and smiled at John.

“Yes, that would be great, thank you.”, she said, and John nodded back at her and wanted to respond but the woman cut him off and his ears turned red a little.

I felt really sorry for him.

“And after that, John, get a bottle of Champagne and a few glasses for our guests. Go, hurry!”, she said and even though she was smiling her voice had a harsh undertone.

John took all the bags and boxes from Derek and rushed away.

The woman laughed synthetically.

“I am so sorry. My nephew isn’t really used to being around important people. He was probably just nervous; he doesn’t have any experience yet.”

I hadn’t noticed that he had done anything wrong. It was quite the contrary, because I would have much rather had him as my company than his aunt.

Clary cleared her throat.

“Ally and I need a dress for the gala next weekend. I know we are a little late, but I hope we can still find something.”, she said, and the woman smiled again.

“Absolutely. We will find something for both of you. I will send Mary and Jocelynn so they can help you find something. You can try on whatever you like. Now, if you would excuse me, I need to take care of something, but I will be right back.”

I had refused to even look at the dresses at first because I knew I could never afford them, but Clary forced me to try on a few dresses.

She had already found the perfect dress, a long, stunning red mermaid dress with a long slit that revealed her slim legs.

It looked perfect on her and it was the right amount of sexy and elegant at the same time. Now she sat on a really comfy looking couch together with Jared while I had to try on the dresses Clary had picked.

The first one I tried on was an olive green mermaid dress with a very deep neckline. It was pretty, but I didn’t want to have to be afraid of my boobs falling out all evening and it was too… slutty.

It reminded me of the dress Connor had gotten me.

The next dress a short white dress with a poofy skirt and a strapless top covered in glitter and pearls.

Clary loved it but I wasn’t convinced. I looked like a very large, very sparkly Christmas bulb.

The next dress was stunning.

Even seeing it on the hanger made my heart beat faster.

It was an incredible light ocean blue A-line dress with a halter top and long tulle skirt with some smaller patterns sewed onto it.

It was perfect, it was not as poofy as the white dress and not as scandalous as the green one but still sexy due to the fully open back.

I felt pretty, something that I hadn’t felt like in a long time.

As a mother you simply didn’t have the time to dress up and high heels weren’t exactly ideal to go to the playground.

I closed the zipper of the dress which took a few seconds because it was harder to do it my myself but I had refused to let me help by anyone because I didn’t want anyone to see my ribs which were still bruised.

I took a deep breath and brushed my hair behind my ear before I slowly opened the curtain. For few seconds Clary starred at me, and even Jared looked up from his phone.

This time he didn’t even make any comments on how I looked like a slutty fairy or a sparkly cotton ball.

I flushed at their stare and bit my lip before Clary finally said something, clapping her hands.

“That dress is perfect. You look amazing, Ally. This is it, I just- Wow.”

She seemed speechless and I flushed again but even though I loved the dress, I knew I wouldn’t be able to afford it.

All I had bought was a Caramel Latté in a little Café while Clary had been busy spending thousands of dollars on new clothes.

She had tried to convince me to at least try some things on, and that she would pay for them but that would only happen over my dead body.

I would not let her pay for my clothes.

Jared nodded.

“You look hot. Damien will love it.”, he said with a grin and Clary slapped his arm and the Champagne in his glass almost spilled on his designer polo shirt.

He opened his mouth to complain, but Clary shot him a dark look and then turned back to me.

Her smile returned in an instant, and she got up.

“You just have to get it. I’ll pay for it. How much is it?”, she asked Mary who was standing next to the dressing rooms because there were no price tags on any of these dresses, which was already very concerning.

“That one comes around 2 000.”, she answered with a smile and I gasped.

“2 000 dollars? There is no way you are paying for that!”

That was two times my monthly salary when I worked as a waitress part-time.

“Come on, that is actually pretty cheap.”, Clary said and grinned at my shocked face.

Cheap really wasn’t the word that came to my mind when I saw a dress that cost $2 000.

“Come on, Ally. You haven’t gotten anything today! Just let me pay for it. Please! You look so amazing.”, she begged, and for a second I allowed myself to observe my reflection in the mirror.

I had never worn anything this beautiful in my life.

I looked like a real life princess and the only thing missing was a tiara. I turned slightly so I could see my back in the mirror and Jared smirked.

“That he will like even more.”, he commented my open back and I flushed even harder, but I turned back and crossed my arms.

“I told you, I am not going because I am trying to impress anyone. I just want to have a good time, enjoy the food and, if possible, avoid Damien at all times. He doesn’t want me around and that is fine by me.”, I stated.

Jared raised an eyebrow and looked slightly confused and apparently wanted to ask something, but Clary shushed him with a wave of her hand.

“Yes, sure. We got it. No Damien. But you will still look amazing and he is going to regret being such a douchebag. And now let’s go pay, I am starving, and I need food.”

“Clary, I really appreciate what you are doing but I am not going to let you pay for the dress. I am sure I have a dress I can wear.”, I said and reluctantly I broke away from my mirror image to change into my clothes again.

Clary was silent for a moment but when she realized that I wasn’t going to change my mind, she sighed.

“Fine. But I will kill you if you show up to the gala in jeans.”

The next day was Charlie’s next chemotherapy session and with a little luck there would be only be a few more left.

I could have just stayed at home and let Damien go alone with him but hadn’t ever left Charlie’s side during a chemotherapy session and wouldn’t start with it now just because I didn’t want to meet Damien.

Not going would only make him feel like he had won.

Which he had, my still aching heart whenever I thought of him, was prove of that, but I wouldn’t let him see that. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of staying away because that was just what he wanted.

He wouldn’t get the chance to hurt me again and he wouldn’t get to take any more revenge either.

The appointment was scheduled for 3 p.m. which meant I had to leave now. It was only a five minute walk, but I wanted to be a little early to get something to eat for me and Charlie first.

I bought a chocolate muffin for Charlie in case he got hungry and I also got coffees, one for me and one for Damien.

I would handle this like a professional.

I would just act like nothing happened, like he hadn’t caused my heart to break all over again.

Maybe I was being dramatic, because how could he break my heart if we hadn’t even dated?

But it felt like a heartbreak, or at least it felt worse than getting cheated on or getting beaten up by your boyfriend, which made me hate myself even more.

He was the last person in this universe whose opinion I wanted to care about.

I got more nervous the closer I got to the hospital, and when I entered the building I felt my face paling.

I wasn’t sure if I could do this.

How could I just act like nothing happened? And how would he react? Would he just ignore me?

I knew I would not be able to endure his icy stare for the next few hours.

Hell, I didn’t even know if I could last for a minute.

I inhaled deeply before I entered the elevator and smiled nervously at the nurse next to me. After I exited the elevator again it took me a few seconds to figure out where to go but finally I reached the right corridor, but I froze when I saw someone walking in my direction, his head down, reading some papers.

“Doctor Thomas?”, I asked in disbelief and he looked up.

It couldn’t be him, could it? Was I hallucinating? Maybe it was my concussion, I had been really exhausted after my shopping trip.

But it was definitely him.

He smiled and waved but I just stood there.

What was he doing here? When he reached me I still hadn’t found my voice yet and he laughed a little.

“I was hoping to see you. Mr Black wasn’t sure whether you would be coming. But I see you are doing better, how was the flight?”, he asked but his expression told me he already knew. Of course, he did, he was a doctor.

“Miserable.”, I answered and just to be sure I pinched his arm.

He was definitely real.

Doctor Thomas laughed a little.

“Well, I hate to say it but… I warned you, Allison. And your doctor did too. Maybe you will listen to me next time. But I see you are surprised to see me. I had assumed your friend had told you about my transfer. Afterall he was the one that made this possible.”

“Damien?”, I asked with a croaky voice and he nodded.

“Our daughter lives here in New York and my wife and I have been wanting to move anyway. Of course, this was on very short notice, and this is only my first day, but apparently Mr Black knows a lot of very influential people.

I am sure I would have found a job but not within a week, and it is not just that. He got the hospital to offer me and my wife a job. It was a very generous offer so how could we have declined? This way we can be close to my daughter and we can continue our work exactly the way we did back in Pittsburgh.”, he explained, and I nodded like I understood, but I didn’t.

This was just too much information at once.

My head started aching again and I regretted having forgotten my painkillers at the apartment.

“What about your other patients in Pittsburgh?”

“Well, of course that made the decision to come here harder, but this was actually the perfect time for us to move. Most of my patient’s treatments have been finished in the last few months and I made sure that all of my remaining patients are being treated by excellent and reliable doctors. And of course, I talked to all of them individually and explained the situation a little bit and they have been very understanding.”, he explained, and I nodded again, still confused.

“But that was enough of me. How are you doing? How has New York been for you?”

I sighed deeply and thought about whether I should tell him the truth about Damien, but there was no point in lying to him.

He would see right through it after he had known me for more than half a year now.

“Damien’s family is great. They have all been supporting and helping me so much and Damien’s father even got me a job but… Things with Damien haven’t been going all too well. I guess he is still upset.”, I said vaguely, and he raised an eyebrow.

“You two seemed pretty close two weeks ago.” I flushed and shrugged.

“Well, I guess he has changed his mind. Where are he and Charlie anyway? Has the chemotherapy started already?”, I asked, and he nodded.

“Yes. A nurse is with them right now. Listen, I need to take these papers to my office, but I will check in with you later, okay?”

“Sure. See you later.”, I smiled, still a little overwhelmed that he was actually here. He turned to leave but before he reached the next corner I called out his name: “Doctor Thomas?” He turned around.

“It is really good to see you.”

I couldn’t express how glad I was to see him. I didn’t know him very well personally, I hadn’t even known he had a daughter, but ever since my parents had left he was the closest thing I had to a father in Pittsburgh.

And he knew everything about Charlie and I and knowing that he was here, relieved me.

When I reached the treatment room I swallowed hard.

Damien was waiting inside with his back turned to the door sitting next to the armchair Charlie was sitting on, multiple tubes attached to his hand.

When Charlie saw me, he waved with his free hand and I waved back and finally entered the door.

I saw Damien’s back stiffen and my heart ached a little more when he didn’t even turn around.

“Hi honey, sorry I am late. I got you a chocolate muffin in case the food isn’t that good here.”

“Thanks, mommy.”

I stepped up to his bed and handed him the paper bag with the muffin.

“I got you a coffee, if you want one.”, I said into Damien’s direction and even though he tried to keep his blanc face expression, he seemed surprised for a second.

“Black. No milk, no sugar.”, I quoted him ironically and for a moment his eyes sparkled with amusement. Then he smiled, but it was arrogant and smug.

“I see you are learning. Very good. I am sure your parents would be proud.” I gritted my teeth but forced myself to resist the urge of hitting him in the face.

“If you don’t want it I’ll just throw it away.”, I added but he shook his head.

“It can’t be worse than the stuff they sell here at the hospital.”

He grabbed the coffee from my hand without even thanking me, but I ignored him and gave him a forced smile.

“How is your muffin, sweetie?”, I asked Charlie and took a sip of my own coffee. He wasn’t able to talk because his mouth was already so full that he could barely close his mouth.

“Charlie! Stop it. You know the rules, never bite more than you can chew.”, I said but Damien leaned forward and said: “Don’t listen to her, that is always the fun part.”, he whispered laughing and I rolled my eyes.

“He could choke, Damien. And he needs to learn how to behave if he wants to go to kindergarten with the other children.”

Charlie, who was now finally able to swallow, giggled at Damien’s words and I crossed my arms. Maybe Charlie had even more of Damien than I thought.

I hoped he wouldn’t get the same mood swings when he got older. I couldn’t handle a Damien 2.0.