Chapter Nineteen: UnravelsDamian's POVThe first morning rays peeked through the curtains as Damian sat amidst the dull glow of his private office. He hadn't slept, not even for a second. The happenings of the past night replayed in his mind like a broken record. The look on Lena's face, her tears, her accusations… they haunted him.He fisted his hands as he stared blankly at the half-empty glass of whiskey on the desk. It did nothing to drown his guilt or ease the storm that had been raging inside him."I will fix this," he muttered, mostly to himself. "I have to."A knock at the door broke through his thoughts. His right-hand man, Marco, stepped inside."We caught one of them," Marco said, keeping his voice low and cautious. "He's in the basement."Damian rose at once, his face hardening. "Good. I want answers." newPath Press---Scene 1: The InterrogationThe basement air was damp and cold, a stark contrast to the heated rage inside Damian. Tied to a chair, with his head hanging
Chapter Twenty : Conversation Lena's POVThe sun streams through my window, painting warm streaks of gold across the pale walls. Home. After days in the sterile confines of the hospital, I am finally back within the comfort of my own space-though it doesn't feel as comforting as it should. The events of the last few days replay over and over in my head-the attack, the pain, the overwhelming fear. But through it all, there was Damian. He was always there, a lurking shadow who refused to let go, by my side, so I was never lonely.Even now, standing by the door to my bedroom, I could have sworn he is close enough that I might feel the weight of his protection-the halo of a shield that I never asked for, yet somehow need. My body heals, but my heart is heavier than it has ever been. The questions that gnaw at me aren't answered, and my trust in Damian is very much compromised. Still, his devotion cannot be denied, and it is just that contradiction which spins my head around.Damian has b
Chapter Twenty-One: Confrontation Lena's POV The morning light seeps through the curtains. The gentle warmth is such a stark contrast to the cold knot twisting in my stomach. I hardly slept tonight. Every time I closed my eyes, Bianca's words rang inside my head like a knell of death. Her threats, Damian's hesitation, and it all feels like a jagged blade slicing through whatever fragile trust I had managed to build. I push the blanket aside and swing my legs off the bed, planting my feet on the cold floor. My body aches, but it's nothing compared to the storm raging inside me. The only way forward is through. I have to confront Damian. No more running from the truth. I open my door and step into the hall with trembling hands. The fresh coffee scent fills the air, together with the faint sound of Damian's movements in the kitchen. My heart pounds as I walk towards him, each step heavy with dread and determination. When I finally make it to the kitchen, he's standing by the sto
Chapter Twenty-Two: The Quiet Before the StormLena's POVThe silence between Damian and me had stretched out for what felt like an eternity. I had tried to focus on the mundane, the daily routine that seemed to be the only thing grounding me in this house of chaos. I went through the motions—serving him, staying in the background, pretending like everything was okay when it so clearly wasn’t. But the tension in the air, the unspoken words between us, grew heavier with each passing minute.It wasn’t just Bianca’s presence lingering in the background anymore; it was the weight of my own emotions. The truth of what Damian had said to me, the promise he made to me—it all collided in my mind. But a part of me didn’t know how to feel about it anymore. Was I really willing to allow myself to believe that Damian was finally choosing me over her? Could I even trust him again after everything that had happened?I was still struggling to find my place in his life. I could no longer ignore the c
Chapter Twenty Three : Bianca's TensionLena's POVI could feel my heart pounding in my chest, each beat echoing in my ears as Bianca's cold eyes bored into me. The fragile hope I had allowed myself to feel, those moments with Damian where the world felt softer, kinder, crumbled beneath the weight of her presence.Damian didn't say anything for a moment. His jaw clenched, his hands fisted at his sides, and I could tell he was holding himself back. But Bianca looked like she was enjoying the tension in the room."Bianca, what are you doing?" Damian's voice was low-a warning laced with irritation. "What are you doing here? I thought you are smart enough to understand the situation that you don't just badge into my house anytime you feel like again"She didn't bat an eyelash. Instead, she stepped further into the room, her heels clicking sharply against the tiled floor. "I could ask you the same thing," she said, her tone icy. "You promised me, Damian. Promised me that she-" she jabbed
Chapter Twenty-Four: Alex's Secret ArrivalThe night air was still, the slightest trace of jasmine carried inside on the breeze from the garden. I sat hunched over the kitchen table with my hands clasped, tightly wrapped around the coolness of my now teacup cold cup of tea, I wasn't drinking-it just held it for the Lukewarm presence it did and anchored me. The house was quiet-a dense silence that made every groan of the floorboards, every whisper of the wind, seem amplified. Damian hadn't returned yet, and the tension in my chest had eased just a little, though my thoughts were anything but calm.I stared out the window, the moonlight painting silvery patterns across the grass outside. Damian's face flashed in my mind-his eyes, cold and calculating, yet so unexpectedly gentle at times. The memory of his rare kindness confused me. Was I starting to depend on it? Starting to depend on him?It was a thought that grated on me deeply, but nothing compared with the ache every time I thought
Chapter Twenty-Five: Shifting LoyaltiesThe night after Alex's visit was a blur of restless pacing and whispered prayers. I couldn't shake the look in his eyes or the weight of his words. I'll come back for you. They echoed in my mind like a siren's call, pulling me into a sea of confusion and guilt.But there was no room for guilt in this house. Damian would sense it, just like he sensed every other crack in my armor. And when he did, there would be consequences.The morning sun brought no relief, only a growing sense of dread. I moved through my chores with mechanical precision, careful not to draw any attention to myself. Damian had left early, as he often did, but his presence lingered in the house like a storm cloud.By the time he came back in the afternoon, I was in the kitchen, scrubbing the counters like they would clean the chaos inside my head."Lena," his voice called from the hallway, sharp and commanding.I froze, the sponge falling from my hand. "Yes?" I called out, try
Chapter Twenty - Six : Bianca's DiscoveryEarly morning sun pierced the tall windows of Damian's estate, casting golden rays of light across the floors, now polished to a high shine. I was in the study, dusting the shelves — a chore I had taken to out of habit rather than obligation. Damian had left early that morning, and the house was unusually still, though I knew it wouldn't last.It wasn't until I heard the sharp click of heels on the marble floor that I tensed. Bianca. She had a way of filling any space with an oppressive air, her presence commanding attention whether you wanted it or not."Lena," her voice cut through the quiet like a blade. I turned slowly, already bracing myself for whatever venom she had prepared for me today."Yes, Bianca?" I replied as evenly as possible, laying the duster down.She crossed her arms, leaning against the doorway with that smirk that ran a chill down my spine. "You're awfully distracted these days. Something on your mind? Or should I say… so
Chapter 102Lena's POVPain.That was the initial sensation that hit me when I opened my eyes. Hurting in my shoulders and wrists, my muscles stiff from having been locked up for much too long. My head was throbbing, my eyes spinning as I blinked through the dim light blazing overhead.Where am I?I tried to move, but I was held back. Rope. Taut, rough, cutting into the skin of my wrists as they were bound behind the chair. My ankles were bound too, pinning me in place to the cold, unforgiving floor beneath me.Panic seared in my chest, but I forced myself to breathe slowly, steadily. I had to stay calm. I had to think.The last thing I remember was being in my room, talking to Damian. And then. nothing.I must have been kidnapped while sleeping.I lifted my head and took a look around the room. It was small, more of a storage room. The walls were made of shattered concrete, and the air smelled of dampness and dust. There was only one door, thick and metal, with no windows.I was a ca
Chapter 101Chapter 101: Unfolds, The Betrayal Damian's POVI didn't waste any time. I instructed Lena to stay back, then sped off with Logan, my mind racing a mile a minute. Bianca had sided with Antonio Ricci, and now nothing was the same.Ricci was no ordinary criminal. He was a tactician, a man who existed for dominance. If Bianca had gone to him, it meant she was desperate—or she was planning something much greater than I'd imagined.We drove in silence, the weight of the moment resting heavily on us. Logan sat next to me in the front seat, his jaw set as he read over the contents of the folder he'd given me before."We have one lead," he finally broke the silence. "There's a guy named Marco. He works for Ricci, but he's been feeding information to us for months.".I clenched my fists around the steering wheel. "Does he know Bianca's going to turn him in?""He says he does."That was enough to hear.We arrived at a deserted warehouse on the outskirts of the city fifteen minutes
Chapter Hundred : Uncovering the TruthDamian's POVI sat at my desk in my office, staring at the papers scattered around. My mind was a mess of thoughts, each one more dangerous than the last. Bianca had been playing a game, one that I hadn't seen coming until it was almost too late. Now I needed to figure out her final move before she could utilize it.I tapped my fingers against the wooden desk, my patience running out. All of my leads so far had pointed to the same thing—Bianca was planning something bigger, something worse than she'd ever tried before.There was a knock at the door, and I was pulled from my thoughts."Enter," I snapped.The door opened and Logan, my most trusted right-hand man, entered. His face was tense, his jaw tight. That was never a good sign."We found something," he said, placing a folder before me.I opened it without hesitation, my eyes scanning the contents. There were photographs, timestamps, and detailed reports. Bianca had been meeting with someone—s
Chapter Ninety Nine: The Final GambitDamian's POVThe room was still except for the metronomic tick of the ancient clock on the wall. My shoulder ached from the gunshot wound, the ache a dull reminder Lucas had fired the shot.He had shot me.Not Bianca. Not one of her brainless mercenaries. Lucas. My own brother.Rafael sat across from me, arms crossed over his chest, annoyance etched into his posture. He had not said a word since we returned to the safe house, but now his temper was flared."We have to talk about this," he stated.I didn't say anything."You hesitated," he pressed on, his voice a little harsher this time. "You had a chance to take him down, and you didn't do it."My jaw was set hard. "He's not the enemy."Rafael laughed. "He shot you, Damian."I knew that. I felt that. But something in Lucas' eyes that moment—right as he took the shot—gave me the assurance that there was still something left of him. Something of himself that wasn't taken away entirely by Bianca's
Chapter Ninety EightThe Hunt BeginsDamian's POVThe air stank of smoke and blood. The safe house was still, save the steady hum of the city beyond. I stood in the window, gripping the hem of the curtain as I leaned into the darkness. Each shadow, each waver of motion seemed a possible threat.Bianca had crossed the line this time.Lucas… I did not know if he had survived the explosion. And if he did, I was certain of one thing—he would not stop until he had my head. Bianca had done her work to him, poisoned his mind, and now he was just another enemy I had to get rid of.A forceful rap on the door broke my train of thought."It's me."I recognized the voice immediately—Rafael, my most trusted right-hand man. I opened the door wide enough to let him in before closing it behind him. He was dressed in black, his expression grim."We discovered something," he said, handing me the folder. "You're not going to like it."I opened it up, looking over the photographs inside. The first was a
Chapter Ninety Seven: BetrayalDamian’s POVThe moment Lucas pulled the trigger, everything exploded into chaos.I barely dodged the bullet, rolling behind a metal crate as gunfire erupted across the control room. My men stormed in, firing at Lucas’s guards, while Lena took cover beside me, reloading her gun.Lucas had made his choice.I wouldn’t hesitate anymore.I checked the crate, gun pointed at him, but he'd already taken cover behind a steel pillar. No sign of Bianca—she'd vanished in the chaos, snake that she was.Coward."Damian!" Lena yelled, her voice authoritative. "We need to move forward!"I nodded, motioning to Nikolai. He tossed a smoke grenade into the room, and within seconds, thick gray smoke choked the air.Lucas's men started to cough, confused.It was my chance.I raced forward, dodging wild shots, until I was mere feet from him. I wanted answers. I wanted to know why my own brother had betrayed me.I tackled him to the ground.We crashed onto the hard floor, punc
Chapter Ninety Six: The First StrikeDamian's POVThe second those words left Nikolai's lips—"Your brother is behind this"—something inside me snapped.For years, I'd kept the past secret, convinced myself that he was dead, that the betrayal he'd committed was the last I'd ever have from him. I'd moved on. I'd built my empire without him.And now he was here. Not only here—plotting with Bianca to bring me down.I should have known better."Where is he?" I spoke in an icy, detached tone. That Damian of old—the one who would have restrained himself because of blood ties—no longer existed.Nikolai wiped the blood from his battered lip and exhaled. "He's been lurking in the shadows for years, Damian. He's been pulling strings as we've been distracted with Bianca. We underestimated him."I clenched my teeth, focusing. No rage allowed, no time to let this treachery sink in.We had to strike first."Bianca wants you to be reckless," Lena whispered. She was standing beside me, her eyes firm b
Chapter Ninety Five The Breaking PointLena’s POVThe tension in the room was suffocating.Damian was at the window, his shoulders rigid, his jaw so tight it appeared that it would crack. I could see the storm raging in his eyes—the conflict he waged in his mind. Bianca had offered him an option, but we both understood it was no option at all. It was a trap, a ruthless game designed to break him.Surrender to Bianca, and she triumphs. Stand up to her, and she might still win.I didn't believe it."I am not going to let you," I said firmly, though with terror ripping my chest asunder.Damian didn't look at me right away. His fists were tightly bunched at his waist, and when he finally looked at me, his dark eyes locked with mine in a fierceness that caused shivers along my spine."Lena, you don't understand," he said to her, his voice clenched. "If I don't stop her now, she'll destroy it all. She's already getting too close—to powerful. If I push her too hard, she'll manipulate you to
Chapter Ninety Fivee: The Ultimate BetrayalLena's POVThe room felt stifling.I could hear the muffled hum of conversation in the distance, a reminder that we were not alone. But in this cold, dingy room, it felt like the world had narrowed down to the two of us—me and Damian. Or me, Damian, and the traitor.Damian's face was unreadable. His jaw was set, his fists buried at his hips. But his eyes—those dark, black eyes—reflected an emotion I had never witnessed.Betrayal."You?" His voice was smooth, deadly almost, but I could sense the storm brewing beneath it.The man standing before us—**one that Damian had trusted, one with whom he'd been friends for years—**shifted awkwardly. But their eyes didn't show any remorse. No guilt. Just cold calculation."You shouldn't be surprised, Damian," said the traitor."This was always going to happen."My stomach tightened. I had witnessed Damian rage on numerous occasions previously, but this. this was different. It was the kind of silence tha