Damien Carter

• Reckless Golden Boy:
  Damien grew up the town’s favorite bad boy—handsome, rebellious, wild as the Atlantic. But underneath the swagger was a desperate hunger to be enough—to escape the toxic expectations of his wealthy, controlling father, who believed Damien would never amount to anything without doing things his way.
• Ava Was His Anchor:
  Falling for Ava saved Damien. She made him believe he could be someone better. They built dreams in secret: college, careers, a life on their own terms. She believed in him when no one else did.
• The Ultimate Betrayal:
  When Damien’s father discovered their plans, he threatened Ava’s family—threatening to bankrupt her mother’s bookstore by calling in debts, destroying their livelihood unless Damien left Ava behind. Trapped, Damien believed he had no choice. He broke her heart to protect her future—even though it killed him.
• Self-Destruction and Reinvention:
  After Ava left, Damien spiraled for a time—booze, brawls, and broken promises. But eventually, guilt pushed him into building a business from nothing—a small marina repair company that grew into a thriving coastal enterprise. Success didn’t fill the hole inside him—but it gave him a way to prove, at least to himself, that he was more than his father’s failure.
• Carrying the Torch:
  Damien never loved anyone else. Never really tried. He kept every memory of Ava—the lighthouse, the love letters, the worn photograph of her tucked into his wallet like a secret prayer.
• Now:
  Seeing Ava again shatters Damien’s hard-won composure. He’s no longer the impulsive boy who let fear dictate his actions—but he’s still terrified that even his best efforts won’t be enough to earn her forgiveness… or her heart.