Chapter 5: Shattered Illusion 

It was out of a nightmare, a betrayal of the highest order. Damien's, hair was disheveled, his body entwined with another woman, they were both naked and slick with sweat. The intimacy of it was unmistakable, the mingling of their breaths, a moment never to be seen.

"What the hell?!" Damien's voice finally boomed within the breaking, suffocating silence.

Assuring herself that she was no longer alone, the woman tried to cover her body as she struggled to do so. There was a flicker of panic in her eyes.

"Get the hell out of here!" he roared, his face twisted in anger.

Noah slammed the door shut behind her, her heart racing, she stood rooted to the floor. Her mind distraught with the revelation of Damien's infidelity- he didn't even respect the sanctity of their marriage, what little there was to it. The thought of some sort of respect, some kind of boundary that wouldn't be crossed was shattered.

   

Against the wall across the hall from the room, she tried to steady her breathing, a sudden urge surfacing to get at Damien. Her fists clenched, her nails digging into her palms as she battled the rage rising higher.

As she leaned against the wall outside the room, then pieces began to click into place. The woman—where had she seen her before? In a flash, the memory came back: the blonde at the church. The way Damien had locked eyes with her, the softness in his gaze.It all made sense now. This woman was more than just a fling; she was someone important to Damien.

"Why should this surprise you, Noah?" she thought bitter. "Why wouldn't someone like Damien not have a special someone in his life?"

And then it hit her-the woman was Clara Smith, the up-and-coming starlet who recently gained fame after winning Best Rookie Actress for her new movie. Clara was gorgeous, with naturally blonde hair and a body that just screamed confidence and perfection. How could Noah even hope to compete with that?

She didn't want to make a scene or draw any attention toward her. So, she didn't leave the hotel but asked for another room for the night. A long shower didn't wash the ache or confusion off her, but gave a moment to pull herself together.

Coming out of the bathroom, her phone vibrated. Mia had texted, concerned about her. Noah dialed her best friend's number, desperate to hear a familiar voice.

"What?!" Mia listened as Noah recounted the events of the night.

"Clara Smith? Of course, I know her. She was my client a few months ago before I had to travel to Asia. I designed the dress she wore during her movie premiere," Mia replied.

Mia Lim was one of the fashion designers who gained both critical and commercial acclaim, having dressed A-list celebrities. While still a college student, Mia had made sure she also carved a name for herself; she had landed an internship with one of the well-known designers.

"He at least could have had the decency to tell me about her," Noah lamented bitterly.

"She could only be a fling, NJ. Don't you think so?" Mia ventured, trying to console her a little.

"I saw love in his eyes when he looked at her, There's no way that's just a fling. He loves her," Noah said, her voice weighed down.

"Look, why don't you try to get some rest? We'll figure this out in the morning, okay?" Mia advised softly.

"You're right. I do need to rest. I'm exhausted," Noah said.

"I'll have to look into this and get back to you soon. Just keep me updated," Mia reassured her.

"Sure, I will. Goodnight, Mia" Noah said and hung up.

Rest did not come easy. The images of that night flashed through her mind at every turn. Damien so passionately entwined with Clara was an image she could not rid her mind of. It wasn't supposed to matter anymore; they had, after all, agreed upon this arrangement. But seeing him with another person, one he obviously cared for, shattered the fragile pretension she had held onto.

Morning came much too soon. A loud, insistent pounding on her door yanked her from sleep, and with a racing heart, she wondered who could be at the door so early. 

Groggily, she got out of bed and opened it to find Damien standing outside. He was fully dressed, his suit fitted to perfection, his expression unreadable, as always.

For a moment he stared at her, his gaze darting between her lips and eyes. Something flickered in his eyes but then it was gone in an instant, swallowed up again by his cold aura.

"Be downstairs in 30 minutes," he said curtly before briskly walking away, leaving a baffled Noah upset at the doorway.

She let out a breath and shut the door behind him. No use in crying over whatever had—or hadn't—taken place. She just needed to pull herself together. Last night was a lost cause, but she could not allow it to ruin everything. She needed to be strong-to play the role she had accepted.

She showered and dressed in one of the several plain but nice outfits that had been packed for her, knowing she needed to find something to eat before things got too crazy. 

She stared at her reflection in the mirror and felt a wave of insecurity washed over her. How could she compete with someone like Clara Smith? She was strikingly beautiful, successful, confident-everything Noah wasn't feeling right now.

She drag herself downstairs, her body refusing to comply. Damien was waiting for her in the lobby, his face aloof, as always. He said nothing, just opened the door to the sleek black car waiting outside and ushered her through. 

The drive was quiet, tension almost palpable. Noah kept her gaze firmly fixed on the window, despising the knot that now resided in her belly.

They drove through the city, passing buildings she was accustomed to seeing, but it did little for her nervousness. Eventually, the car turned into a more exclusive part of town: larger buildings, quiet streets, and the air reeked of money and power. 

It wasn't long before they pulled up to their destination-a mansion that loomed ahead like a fortress, its impressive façade surrounded by meticulously groomed gardens and high iron gates.

Noah couldn't help but be impressed. The mansion was gorgeous, the epitome of Damien's wealth and influence. 

It was grand in appearance, with tall windows, intricate stonework, and an entrance flanked by marble columns. The driveway was lined with well-manicured hedges leading up to huge double doors seemingto guard the secrets within.

Facing him she asked “Why are we here?”