“You’re staying close to me,” Damian’s voice is cold, but there’s a firmness in it that makes my pulse quicken. I blink, taken aback. “What?” “I need you at the meeting today. I can’t afford any mistakes, and I can’t trust anyone else.” His gaze sharpens, making it clear there’s no room for negotiation. I feel my stomach tighten. This isn’t just about business—he’s keeping me close. His power is tangible, suffocating even. But there’s a part of me that wonders if this is more than strategy. “Fine,” I say, trying to hide the apprehension in my voice. I can’t believe this is my life now—standing by Damian Cross’s side, playing a game I don’t understand. He doesn’t respond but motions for me to follow him. As we enter the conference room, the atmosphere is thick with tension. Everyone’s eyes flick to me before quickly darting away. No one wants to be caught looking too interested in the woman who replaced Charlotte. Damian takes his seat at the head of the table, and I stan
"You shouldn’t be here," Evan's voice was smooth, deceptively calm, as he leaned back in the dim corner of the upscale café. His steel-gray eyes flickered with dangerous amusement. "But I’m glad you came." I forced myself to sit across from him, my pulse thrumming in my ears. The air smelled faintly of roasted coffee and tension. "This isn't a social call, Evan." He smirked. "No pleasantries? Pity." His gaze sharpened. "What do you want, Naomi? Or are you here because you’ve finally realized Damian is a sinking ship?" I clenched my fists under the table. "You’re wrong about him." "Am I?" He leaned forward, his voice dropping to a whisper. "You think he cares about you? Please. Damian Cross only cares about two things—power and revenge. And trust me, you're just collateral damage." I swallowed the lump in my throat, refusing to let his words cut through my resolve. "I’m not here to debate Damian's character with you. I want answers." Evan's brows lifted. "Oh, this is rich.
"You think I don’t see through your lies?" Damian's voice was low and menacing, each word cutting into the tense silence like a blade.My heart pounded, but I refused to cower. "I wasn’t lying to you, Damian. I was trying to protect you."He let out a sharp laugh, devoid of humor. "Protect me? By meeting Evan Reid behind my back? Do you even hear yourself, Naomi?"I stepped forward, my breath catching at the fury etched into his face. "I had to do something. He’s not going to stop until he destroys you. You won’t listen to me, and you won’t trust anyone. What choice did I have?"Damian’s fists clenched at his sides. "You had a choice. The choice not to betray me.""I didn’t betray you!" I shouted, my voice breaking under the weight of his accusation. "I went there to find out what he was planning, for you, for us—"His eyes darkened. "There is no 'us,' Naomi. There never was."The words hit me harder than I expected, but I lifted my chin, determined not to let him see the hurt. "That’
"You shouldn't be here," Olivia hissed, glancing nervously at the shadows lurking beyond the dim alley. The air smelled of damp concrete and desperation."I had no choice," I shot back, folding my arms. "Damian won't listen to me. He thinks I’m still working with Evan." My voice wavered, but I held her gaze. "You said you had a lead—something that could help him."Olivia's lips thinned into a grim line. "I did. But you're not going to like it.""Try me." My heartbeat thundered in my ears, but I forced myself to appear calm.Olivia leaned in, her voice low. "The key to Damian’s empire isn’t just numbers and contracts. It’s tied to Charlotte’s past. There are documents, hidden accounts...and something more personal. Something that could either destroy Damian or save him."My stomach twisted. Charlotte’s past? What could she possibly have that held so much power? "Where do I start?" I asked, my voice firmer now.She hesitated. "There's a storage unit downtown under Charlotte's alias. But
"You really think we’ll find anything tonight?" I whispered as Damian’s arm tightened around my waist. The opulent charity gala shimmered around us — dazzling lights, elegant gowns, and champagne flutes held by the city’s elite. But beneath the glitz and glamor lurked tension as thick as fog. "We'll find out who’s been feeding Evan information," Damian said darkly, his voice just low enough for me to hear. "One way or another." I glanced around, my nerves fraying at the edges. Everywhere I looked, eyes flickered toward us, whispers trailing in their wake. I was the topic of their hushed conversations—Damian Cross’s second-choice bride who had somehow managed to stir a war between billionaires. I forced a smile, trying to ignore the burn of judgment. "They’re staring again," I muttered. "Let them." Damian’s hand slid down to the small of my back, his touch possessive and grounding. "Tonight, you're with me. That’s all that matters." A flutter of warmth battled the cold knot o
"Why don't you say it?" Damian’s voice cut through the silence like a blade. "Tell me the real reason you betrayed me." I stood beside him, heart racing as we faced the man who had once been Damian’s most trusted confidant. The secluded garden at the charity gala was dimly lit, shadows flickering across tense faces. The weight of secrets hung heavy in the air. “I didn’t betray you for Evan,” the informant sneered. His eyes gleamed with defiance, lips curling into a smirk. "You’ve been looking at the wrong enemy all along." Damian’s jaw clenched. “Speak plainly or I swear I’ll—” “Charlotte,” the man interrupted, his voice laced with triumph. “Your precious first bride orchestrated everything from the beginning.” My breath caught in my throat. Charlotte? The sister who had vanished without a trace, leaving me to take her place? My mind reeled, disbelief mingling with a pang of betrayal. “You’re lying,” Damian spat, though doubt flickered in his stormy eyes. “Am I?” The inf
“Why did you do it, Damian?” My voice broke the silence of the car ride back to the mansion. His jaw tightened, and his hands gripped the steering wheel like he wanted to snap it in two. The city lights outside blurred as I stared at his cold profile, hoping for an answer, a crack in his armor. “Do what?” His voice was low, almost too calm. “Announce to the entire world that I’m your wife, that Charlotte has no place here anymore. Was that for me, or was it just another move in your war against her?” He slammed on the brakes, jerking the car to a sudden stop in the middle of the driveway. I gasped as he turned to face me, his dark eyes blazing with frustration. “You think I did that for her?” he growled, his voice trembling with restrained anger. “I did it because it’s the truth. You are my wife, Naomi. No one—Charlotte, Evan, or anyone else—gets to rewrite that.” I held his gaze, my breath catching at the intensity in his tone. For a moment, the raw emotion in his eyes left
“Get down!”Damian’s sharp command cut through the chaos just as the glass windows shattered. I barely had time to react before he yanked me behind him, shielding me with his body. Gunfire erupted outside, sending splinters of wood and shards of glass flying across the grand foyer.I gasped, my heart hammering. “What’s happening?”“The bastards got in,” Damian growled, eyes scanning the room. His grip on my wrist tightened. “Stay close.”Security guards rushed in, weapons drawn. The air was thick with tension, and the sound of heavy boots echoed through the mansion. I clutched the fabric of Damian’s shirt, my breath uneven.A guard barked into his radio. “South entrance breached! We have multiple intruders!”Damian cursed under his breath. “Evan’s men.” His jaw tightened. “I should’ve seen this coming.”He reached for a gun hidden under a cabinet near the staircase and checked the magazine. “We need to move.”I swallowed hard. “Where?”“Anywhere but here,” he snapped. “They’ll aim for
I stood there, at the edge of our new life, feeling the weight of everything we had been through. The past few months had broken us both, but in a way, they had made us stronger. Stronger than we ever could have imagined.Damian’s hand was warm against mine, and I couldn’t help but look up at him, feeling the flicker of something that had been missing for so long. His gaze met mine, and in his eyes, I saw a reflection of the man I had always hoped he could be. No longer the ruthless billionaire consumed by his empire, but a man who had fought for what mattered most—us.“I never thought we’d get here,” I whispered, my voice trembling slightly.Damian smirked, the faintest hint of his old arrogance still present, but I could tell it was softer now. “Did you doubt me?”I shook my head. “No. But I didn’t think... I didn’t think this would be easy. That we could have a future after everything.”He squeezed my hand, his touch grounding me, reassuring me that, despite all the chaos, we had s
The air felt thick with tension as the final confrontation came to a head. Everything had led to this moment—the battle for control, for love, for survival. It was no longer about power or money; it was about us, Naomi and Damian, fighting for our place in a world that had never given us a chance. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest as we stood, side by side, ready to face whatever came next.Damian's hand brushed against mine, and for a fleeting moment, the chaos around us seemed to fade. The world, which had been a whirlwind of betrayal, deceit, and hurt, felt strangely calm. I looked up at him, seeing the raw emotion in his eyes that spoke louder than words.“We’re almost there,” I whispered, my voice trembling.He nodded, his gaze intense, unwavering. “Just one more step, Naomi. And then everything changes.”I swallowed hard, trying to push the fear down. It wasn’t over yet, not by a long shot. We had won the battle, but the cost had been immense. Damian’s empire was on the
“Do you think you’ve won?” The voice cuts through the silence like a dagger, cold and cruel. I freeze in place, my heart pounding in my chest, the weight of the words sinking in like a stone in water. Damian, beside me, stiffens. His hand on mine tightens, but I feel the tremor in his grip. We’ve come so far, fought so much to reach this moment—and yet, the voice seems to mock us, a reminder that the end is never as simple as we want it to be.I glance at Damian, his jaw clenched in that way he does when he’s suppressing the storm inside. His eyes burn with the same fire I’ve seen when he faces his enemies head-on. We’ve been through hell, both of us, but there’s still something lingering in the air, something I can’t shake off.“Who’s there?” I demand, my voice a mixture of fear and defiance. It’s hard to stand tall in the face of such uncertainty, but I force myself to, for Damian, for us.The shadow steps forward, revealing itself in the dim light. And there she is.Charlotte.My s
"Are you sure you’re ready for this?" Damian's voice was low, almost a whisper, but it carried weight. He stood at the far end of the room, his eyes never leaving me as I meticulously adjusted the papers on the table. My hands were steady, but my heart? It was a different story.I paused, my fingers lingering on the edge of the documents, the papers trembling ever so slightly. "I have no choice," I murmured. "We've come too far to back down now."Damian walked toward me, each step deliberate, purposeful. The air between us felt thick, charged with an energy neither of us could quite shake. The final battle was approaching, and it was more than just about business. It was about us. It was about everything we had fought for.He stopped beside me, his presence enveloping me as if he was grounding me in a storm of uncertainty. His breath brushed my ear as he leaned in, his lips just a breath away from my skin. "No," he said softly, "it’s not just about business. It’s about us, Naomi. Ever
“I’m not sure where we go from here,” I whisper, my fingers entwined with Damian’s, as we sit in the quiet of our study. The weight of everything we’ve endured still lingers between us. Despite the storm, the fires of betrayal, and the wreckage that once stood as our lives, the connection between us hasn’t faltered—at least, not entirely.Damian’s gaze is distant, dark eyes staring at nothing in particular, lost in thought. His once commanding presence has softened, as though he’s been stripped of his armor, revealing a man who is far more vulnerable than I ever imagined. And somehow, in that vulnerability, I see the man I’ve come to love.“We take it one step at a time,” he replies quietly, his voice rough, as though it’s been too long since he’s spoken his thoughts aloud. “Together, Naomi. We can’t face this alone.”There’s a rawness in his words that cuts through the fog of uncertainty, and for a moment, the world outside of these walls seems to disappear. It’s just him and me. Tog
"Are you sure about this?" Damian's voice was low, gravelly. It was a rare moment of softness, one I had never thought I would hear from him. My fingers brushed against his jaw, tracing the sharp line of it as he looked down, his eyes distant."We don't have a choice, do we?" I whispered back, my words tinged with a sadness that still hadn't quite left me. We had been fighting for so long, against everyone around us, that the last thing I expected was to discover the true enemy had always been closer than we realized.I had spent the better part of the night trying to keep my thoughts from spiraling into dark places. Damian had been distant, a shadow of the man I had once hoped to love. The betrayal, the lies, the power struggle—it was all too much. But the silence between us now was different. It wasn't the cold silence of before; it was the heavy, suffocating kind—the kind that pressed down on my chest and made it hard to breathe.I looked up at him again, seeing the weight of the w
The room was quiet, the kind of silence that weighed on you like a thousand-pound burden. I could feel the tension in the air between Damian and me. After everything that had happened—the betrayal, the lies, the secrets—it was hard to imagine that we could ever find a way back to each other.But here we were, trying to make sense of it all.Damian stood by the window, looking out over the city. His posture was tense, his fists clenched at his sides. I could see the lines of exhaustion on his face, the weariness in his eyes. He had been through so much in such a short amount of time, and I could feel the weight of it all pressing down on us.I took a deep breath, stepping closer to him. I wanted to say something, to make this better somehow, but the words wouldn’t come. We’d said so many things already, things that had cut too deep, things that had left scars.Finally, Damian turned to face me, his gaze locking with mine. "Naomi," he started, his voice low and raw. "I know I hurt you.
"I can't believe it," I whisper, my voice shaking as the weight of the revelation crushes my chest. "Damian, is it true?"Damian stands frozen in front of me, his eyes filled with a mix of disbelief and horror. The letter in his hand trembles slightly, its contents now fully exposed."The truth... it's out," he mutters under his breath, but the words sound hollow, like a man coming to terms with a nightmare he's tried to bury for years.I reach for his hand, my heart racing in my chest. "What does this mean for us?" I ask, trying to make sense of the chaos that has unfolded before me.Damian doesn’t answer right away. Instead, he glances at the letter one more time, as if he hopes the words will somehow change, that they’ll rewrite themselves into something more bearable."I don't know," he admits, his voice cracked. "I should have never kept this from you."I can feel the tension in his shoulders, the way he carries the weight of this secret like a man broken by his own choices. I st
“You’ve made a mistake, Damian,” the voice from the shadows growled. I could feel the chill in the air as I stepped into the dimly lit study, where Damian stood frozen, his back stiff and his jaw clenched tight.I had been watching him for a moment, trying to piece together the tension radiating off him. He was usually a man of few words, a man who didn’t show fear. But something in his posture now was different. It was as if he was facing a ghost—a specter from a past that refused to stay buried.“I don’t make mistakes,” Damian said, his voice low, though there was a crack in it. A crack I had never heard before.“I think you’ll find you’ve made plenty,” the voice retorted, its owner stepping into the light.Julian.I hadn't expected him to show up here—of all places. The man who had wreaked havoc on Damian’s life, the man who had once been part of his closest circle, now stood before us like a shadow, darkening every part of the room.“What do you want, Julian?” Damian's voice was h