Marcus arrived at Damien's mansion, his black SUV pulling up to the entrance. He stepped out, his eyes scanning the surroundings, his mind on high alert. He came with his guys, a team of ruthless mercenaries who would do anything for a price.Damien opened the door himself, a cold smile spreading across his face. "Hey, Marcus. Thanks for coming over."Marcus nodded, his eyes narrowing. "What's going on, Damien? You're not usually this... anxious."Damien's smile grew wider. "I've got a problem, Marcus. A big one. And I need your help to take care of it."Marcus's gut told him to walk away, but his loyalty to Damien kept him rooted. "What kind of problem?"Damien's eyes locked onto Marcus's, his gaze piercing. "Seraphina. She's been spending too much time with Alex. And I need you to bring him to me. Now."Marcus raised an eyebrow. "Bring him to you? What's going on, Damien? You're not making sense."Damien's voice was low and menacing. "I don't pay you to ask questions, Marcus. I pay
Emma stepped out of the taxi, her eyes taking a moment to adjust to the familiar surroundings. She stretched her arms, feeling the fatigue of her long trip slowly dissipate. The driver handed her her bags, and she paid him, her movements deliberate.As she walked up the path to her brother's estate, she noticed the small things, the way the sunlight filtered through the trees, the sound of birds chirping, and the faint scent of blooming flowers. The house looked unchanged, its warm facade inviting her back home.Damien opened the door, and Emma's gaze met his. She was taken aback by the weariness in his eyes, the tension in his smile. "Hey, sis! Welcome back!" He forced a smile, but it didn't quite reach his eyes.Emma dropped her bags, her movements slow, and gave him a tight hug. "It's so good to be home!" She held him for a moment, taking in the familiar scent of his cologne, the feel of his embrace.As they stepped inside, Emma's eyes wandered, taking in the familiar surroundings
Damien took a deep breath, his eyes closed, and began to narrate the whole situation. "It started a few months ago, Em. I met Seraphina at a bar, and we hit it off. We were both lonely, and we decided to enter into a contract marriage. That’s a whole ‘nother story. It was just a business arrangement, no love involved."Emma's expression turned skeptical, but she nodded for him to continue."Then, weeks later, I met Christy at a conference. We had a one-night stand, and...well, she got pregnant. I know it was a mistake, but I wasn't thinking about the consequences at the time."Damien paused, his eyes opening to meet Emma's gaze."Christy came to my house when I wasn't around, met Seraphina, and told her everything. Seraphina packed her stuff and left. I haven't seen her since."Emma's face softened, her voice gentle. "Oh, Damien. What a mess."Damien nodded, his eyes dropping in shame. "I know, Em. And now Christy is giving me an ultimatum - marry her or...or there will be a problem."
Damien shows up at Rachel's house, looking determined but nervous, holding a bouquet of Seraphina's favorite flowers and a small gift box. He knocks on the door, and Seraphina answers, surprised to see him.“Damien! Go away!”Seraphina quickly closes the door, but Damien doesn't leave. He stands there, holding the flowers and gift, looking determined.“Seraphina, please! Just listen to me! I need to apologize!” Damien, through the door. After a few moments of silence, Seraphina opens the door again, looking hesitant.“Make it quick, Damien. What do you want?”“Thank you, Seraphina. I brought these for you. I know it's not much, but I want to show you how sorry I am.”“You think flowers and gifts will fix everything? You really are clueless, Damien!” Seraphina’s anger rose.Seraphina snatches the flowers and gift from Damien's hands and tosses them into the nearby trash bin.“I don't want your apologies or your gifts. Just leave me alone, Damien.”“So you want me to leave? Hmmmph… Oka
Rachel and Seraphina were lounging in Rachel's living room, sipping coffee and chatting. Rachel brought up the party, her eyes sparkling with excitement.A week had passed since Seraphina's argument with Rachel, and she was still reeling from the emotional fallout. Her heart felt heavy, her mind a jumble of conflicting emotions. Rachel's words had struck a chord, and Seraphina couldn't shake off the feeling that she was stuck in a rut."Sera, there's this party... Do you know Lauren? My friend, has invited me to. I don't know if you'd like to come, but I think you should. You need to have fun, you know?"Seraphina raised an eyebrow, unsure. "A party? I don't know, Rachel. I'm not really in the mood."Rachel persisted, her voice gentle but persuasive. "Come on, Sera! It'll be fun, I promise! Lauren's parties are always a blast. And it'll be good for you to get out of the house, meet new people... you never know, you might even have a good time."Seraphina hesitated, weighing her option
“Get to it, I wanna leave..” Seraphina cut him.“Okay,” Damien took a deep breath, his eyes never leaving Seraphina's as he began to explain. "Christy and I met at a Conference event, one of those lavish galas where people pretend to care about a good cause just to be seen. I was there because my mother was being honored, and I had to put in an appearance."Seraphina's expression remained icy, but she nodded slightly, encouraging him to continue."I was feeling...invincible that night, like I could do anything and get away with it. The contract marriage, it was purely transactional. There was no feelings involved for me, it was just the early stage. And then I saw Christy, shining like a diamond in the crowd. She was charming, charismatic, and she seemed to understand me in a way that no one else did."Damien's voice was laced with regret, his eyes filled with a hint of shame. "I was drawn to her, Seraphina. Not because I loved her, but because she was exciting, dangerous. And I was b
"I remember the way you used to make me laugh," Damien said, his voice low and husky. "The way you used to see the good in me, even when I couldn't see it myself."Seraphina's eyes softened, her gaze dropping to his lips. "I remember the way you used to hold me, like I was the only person in the world."Damien's face drew closer, his breath whispering against her skin. "Cos you are.. I want to hold you like that again, Seraphina. I want to make you feel loved, cherished, and adored."Just as their lips were about to meet, Damien’s phone buzzed loudly, shattering the delicate silence. He hesitated, pulling back slightly as he glanced at the screen. Seraphina noticed the sudden tension in his eyes and instinctively knew it was something significant.“Who is it?” she asked, her voice tinged with apprehension.Damien’s face paled as he read the message. “It’s Christy,” he said quietly. “She’s… she’s giving me an ultimatum. She wants me to marry her.”The words hung in the air like a dark
Christy walked into the sleek, modern lobby of Damien’s company, her heels clicking sharply against the polished marble floor. Heads turned as she made her way to the reception desk, her provocative outfit—a tight, low-cut dress that clung to her curves—drawing stares from employees and visitors alike. Her bold red lipstick and meticulously styled hair completed the look, exuding an air of calculated seduction.Without waiting for an invitation, Christy approached the receptionist. “I’m here to see Damien,” she declared, her voice confident and assertive.The receptionist, momentarily taken aback by Christy’s appearance and demeanor, hesitated. “Do you have an appointment?”Christy flashed a cold smile. “No, but he’ll want to see me. Trust me.”There was something in her tone that brooked no argument, and the receptionist, sensing the tension, decided it was best not to challenge her. “One moment, please,” she said, picking up the phone to call Damien’s office.Meanwhile, Christy gla
The sun dipped low in the sky, casting a warm golden glow over Damien’s beautifully decorated home. Guests milled about, laughing and enjoying the gourmet hors d'oeuvres that were artfully arranged on silver platters. The atmosphere was filled with excitement and relief, marking a new chapter for Seraphina, Rachel, and their families.As the doorbell rang, Mrs. B and Emma arrived, both looking stunning in their evening attire. Mrs. B wore a flowing, deep emerald gown that complemented her graceful demeanor, while Emma opted for a chic navy dress that highlighted her youthful charm. They stepped inside, their expressions a mix of nervousness and determination.“Seraphina, we need to talk,” Mrs. B began, her voice steady but warm.“Of course,” Seraphina replied, her heart racing slightly. She led them to a quieter corner of the living room, where the laughter and chatter faded into a comforting hum.“First, I want to apologize,” Mrs. B said, her eyes sincere. “For believing you were inv
The room was thick with tension after Damien had pulled Seraphina back. Seraphina stood there, breathing heavily, staring at her sister, feeling the weight of everything Amanda had done. The police were already preparing to step in and arrest Amanda when a new voice broke the silence.“Wait,” a shaky voice said from the doorway.Everyone turned to see one of the house security guards stepping forward, his face pale and his hands trembling. He hesitated, glancing nervously between Amanda and the others.“I... I have to confess something,” the guard said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I can’t keep this secret anymore.”Seraphina and Damien exchanged confused glances as the guard took a deep breath and continued. “The day Mrs. B’s necklace was found in Seraphina’s wardrobe... that wasn’t an accident. Amanda... she made me do it.”He looked at Seraphina, guilt written all over his face. “She promised me a payout if I tampered with the CCTV footage so no one would see her plant the nec
Amanda’s hands shook as she fumbled through Damien’s bedroom, frantically pulling open drawers and searching for anything that could help her escape. She already had the briefcase of dollars on the bed, its contents scattered across the comforter, but it wasn’t enough. “I need to get out of here. Now.”Her heart pounded in her chest as her mind raced. Everything was crumbling, and she could feel the walls closing in. Victor hadn’t called—something must’ve gone wrong. He had promised to take care of Rachel, to get rid of the problem once and for all, but now her gut told her something was terribly off.Amanda zipped the briefcase shut, stuffing a handful of loose bills into her coat pocket. She glanced around the room, her breath quickening. “What am I missing?” She couldn’t afford to stay another second. She had to disappear, start fresh somewhere new, far from this mess. With Damien’s money, she could disappear for good.She was just about to lift the heavy briefcase off the bed when
“Stop right there!” Damien shouted, his voice echoing through the large, empty space.Victor spun around, caught off guard. His expression shifted from surprise to fury as he realized they had found him. “What the hell are you doing here?” he spat, taking a step back, his eyes darting between Seraphina and the others.“Get away from her!” Seraphina yelled, her heart racing as adrenaline surged through her veins.Rachel’s eyes widened in relief upon seeing her friends, but the terror of her situation was still palpable. “Seraphina, be careful!” she cried, struggling against her restraints.Before they could react, Victor pulled a gun from his waistband, pointing it at them. “Get back! You think you can just barge in here?” he shouted, his voice filled with anger and desperation.“Victor, put the weapon down!” Damien urged, his eyes locked on the gun.“Worse? It already is!” Victor growled, his finger hovering dangerously close to the trigger. The tension in the air was electric, and Se
“Let’s focus on the moments right after the black car left the area,” Damien said, pointing at the screen. He adjusted his glasses, his expression serious. “We need to see where it went.”The team nodded, their eyes glued to the screens as they rewound the footage. After several minutes of scrutinizing the images, one of the investigators leaned forward, excitement in his voice. “Look! There it is!” He pointed to the black car reappearing on a different camera feed, making a left turn a few blocks away from Rachel’s house.“Let’s track that route,” Damien instructed, watching closely as they followed the car’s movements through the city. They watched as the black car sped along deserted streets, its path becoming clearer with each passing moment.“Alright, it’s heading toward the industrial area,” another investigator noted, pulling up a map on the screen. “There are several abandoned warehouses along that route.”Seraphina stood to the side, her heart racing as she listened to the fi
Back at Damien’s Office, Damien had been working nonstop, determined to find Rachel, but they needed a breakthrough soon. Seraphina stood by his side, her eyes locked on the screen, anxiety gnawing at her every second that passed without a clue.“Let’s start near Rachel’s house,” Damien instructed, his voice steady despite the tension in the air. “That’s where she was last seen. We need to see if anything unusual happened around that time.”The team nodded, quickly rewinding the footage and pulling up views from the cameras positioned around Rachel’s neighborhood. They fast-forwarded through the images until one of the investigators suddenly stopped the feed.“There!” he said, pointing at the screen. The monitor displayed a black car parked a few houses down from Rachel’s, idling for several minutes. The timestamp matched the time Rachel would have left her home.“Get the license plate,” Damien urged, leaning in closer. They zoomed in on the car, capturing the license plate number cle
Seraphina’s heart pounded in her chest as she stared at her phone. Rachel was still nowhere to be found, and the gnawing sense of dread had become unbearable. She needed help. Without hesitating, she scrolled through her contacts and pressed Damien’s name. The phone rang twice before he answered.“Hey, everything okay?” Damien’s voice was calm, but the tension in Seraphina’s own words betrayed her panic.“Damien, I need your help,” she said, her voice shaking. “It’s Rachel. She was supposed to meet me at the park, but she’s not here. She’s not answering her phone either. And… and she sent me some messages about Amanda—something about a warning. I think something’s really wrong.”There was a pause on the other end of the line before Damien spoke, his tone growing serious. “Slow down. What exactly did she say about Amanda?”Seraphina took a deep breath and tried to steady herself. “Rachel sent me a message yesterday. She said we needed to talk and that it was about Amanda. She sounded…
The next day, Amanda paced back and forth in her room, her phone clutched tightly in her hand. The meeting with Rachel had rattled her more than she wanted to admit. Rachel knew too much—she could see it in her eyes. The subtle accusations, the way she had carefully chosen her words—it was clear Rachel wasn’t backing down. And if Rachel got to Seraphina first, everything Amanda had worked for could unravel.She paused, staring at her phone screen, Victor’s contact already pulled up. Her thumb hovered over the call button, hesitating for a moment. This wasn’t the plan, not originally. But Rachel had forced her hand. She couldn’t risk waiting any longer.Amanda took a deep breath and pressed the call button. The phone rang twice before Victor picked up, his voice gruff and to the point.“It’s time,” Amanda said, her voice low but firm. “Do it today. No more delays.”There was a brief pause on the other end, then Victor’s voice came through, calm and businesslike. “Understood. I’ll take
On the day of the meeting, Rachel arrived early, taking a seat at a table in the corner. She needed a clear view of the entrance, and her mind buzzed with the possibilities of how the conversation might unfold. Would Amanda be defensive? Would she play innocent? Rachel rehearsed her questions in her mind, trying to find a balance between casual conversation and the pressing need to uncover the truth.When Amanda walked in, a bright smile plastered on her face, Rachel’s stomach churned. Amanda greeted her with an enthusiastic hug, but as they settled into their seats, Rachel noticed a flicker of something in Amanda’s eyes—was it nervousness?As they began chatting, Rachel kept the conversation light, talking about trivial matters: the latest gossip, upcoming events, and their mutual friends. But Rachel was keenly aware of Amanda’s body language. She observed the way Amanda fiddled with her necklace, her gaze darting around the café when Rachel brought up Seraphina’s recent anxiety abou