Chapter 5: Unraveling Truths

Aurora barely slept that night. Even after the heated tension between her and Damian dissipated, leaving her alone in the cold vastness of the penthouse, her thoughts refused to settle.

She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, replaying every word, every look, every touch. There was something unspoken between them, something neither of them wanted to admit but both felt with undeniable certainty. And it terrified her.

By the time the first light of dawn crept through the curtains, she gave up on rest. Slipping out of bed, she pulled on a robe and stepped out onto the balcony. The city stretched out before her, indifferent to her turmoil. The cold morning air sent a shiver through her, but she welcomed the distraction. The sounds of early traffic, distant sirens, and the occasional honk formed a background symphony to her tangled thoughts.

She wrapped her arms around herself, exhaling slowly. This arrangement, this sham of a marriage, was never meant to be more than a transaction. But the more time she spent with Damian, the harder it was to keep the walls up. The way he looked at her, the things he wasn’t saying—it all chipped away at her resolve, piece by piece.

Footsteps sounded behind her. She turned to see Damian standing in the doorway, his expression unreadable. He was already dressed, his shirt crisp, tie loosened slightly, as if he had been awake for hours. His hair was slightly tousled, making him look less like the cold businessman he portrayed and more like the man she had glimpsed last night—the one with shadows in his eyes.

“You’re up early,” he observed, stepping onto the balcony beside her.

“Couldn’t sleep,” she admitted. “You?”

Damian exhaled, his breath visible in the crisp air. “Never do.”

Something about the way he said it made her turn her head, studying him. There was an exhaustion in his voice that went beyond a sleepless night. This was deeper, like someone who had spent years carrying a burden too heavy for one person alone.

They stood in silence for a moment, watching as the city came to life below them. The streets filled with people on their morning routines, oblivious to the storm brewing in the penthouse above them.

Then Aurora spoke the question that had been haunting her since last night. “Who are they?”

Damian turned to her, his brows furrowing slightly. “Who?”

“The people after you,” she clarified. “The ones who would do anything to see you fall.”

His jaw tightened, and for a moment, she thought he wouldn’t answer. Then, with a resigned sigh, he ran a hand through his hair. “The Caldwell family is just the beginning,” he admitted. “They’ve been circling for years, waiting for a sign of weakness. But they’re not the real threat.”

Aurora swallowed. “Then who is?”

Damian hesitated before finally saying, “Alexander Bishop.”

She frowned, trying to place the name. “I don’t know him.”

“You wouldn’t,” Damian said grimly. “But your father does.”

The blood drained from Aurora’s face. “What does my father have to do with this?”

Damian met her gaze, his eyes dark and filled with something almost like regret. “Your father owed more than just money, Aurora. He made deals. Dangerous ones. And when he couldn’t pay… someone had to.”

Her stomach twisted. “You’re saying… my father sold me to you?”

Damian’s expression hardened. “I’m saying he put you in a position where this was the only way to keep you safe.”

Aurora took a step back, shaking her head. “No. That can’t be right. He wouldn’t do that to me.”

Damian let out a humorless laugh. “I used to think my father wouldn’t do certain things, either. But people will always put their survival first.”

Aurora’s heart pounded. Everything she thought she knew about this arrangement, about her father’s debt, about Damian—it was all unraveling. She had spent years idolizing her father, believing he had done everything for their family’s well-being. But now? Now, she wasn’t sure she even knew the man who had raised her.

She turned away, gripping the railing to steady herself. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” she whispered.

Damian was silent for a long moment before saying, “Because I needed you to hate me. It’s easier that way.”

She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to process the weight of his words. When she finally turned back to him, she saw something raw in his gaze—something she wasn’t sure she was ready to face.

“This changes everything,” she murmured.

Damian nodded. “It does.”

The city continued to wake around them, oblivious to the storm brewing between them. But Aurora knew one thing for certain—whatever game they were playing had just become far more dangerous.

And this time, there was no pretending.

A gust of wind passed between them, making the space feel heavier. Aurora crossed her arms over her chest, rubbing at the goosebumps on her skin. Damian noticed, hesitated for only a fraction of a second, then removed his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. She stiffened at the gesture, but didn’t move away.

“I don’t want your pity,” she said quietly.

“It’s not pity,” he replied. “It’s… complicated.”

She turned her head, meeting his gaze. “Then explain it to me.”

Damian exhaled, his hands gripping the railing now, knuckles white. “Alexander Bishop isn’t just after me. He’s after your father’s entire legacy. If he knew you were involved… you wouldn’t be safe, Aurora.”

Her breath caught. “You’re saying… this isn’t just about money anymore?”

“No,” Damian admitted. “It never was.”

The weight of his words pressed down on her. If what he was saying was true, then she was caught in something far more dangerous than she had ever imagined. And worse? She wasn’t sure if she had any way out.

Damian turned to her fully now, his gaze searching hers. “I don’t expect you to trust me. But at the very least, you should know that I never wanted to hurt you.”

Aurora swallowed the lump in her throat. “Then what do you want, Damian?”

For the first time, he seemed at a loss for words. His jaw tightened, his hands flexing at his sides. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he said, “I want to make sure you survive this.”

The honesty in his voice sent a shiver through her. Because as much as she wanted to deny it, as much as she wanted to hold on to her hatred, she couldn’t ignore the truth staring her in the face.

She wasn’t just a pawn in this game anymore.

She was a target.