The Line between Love and War

Chapter 33 – The Line Between Love and War

Sienna’s breath stalled.

Damien’s words hung between them, thick with meaning, weighted with something she wasn’t sure either of them were ready to admit.

“Tell me you’re mine, Sienna.”

Her pulse roared.

She should say no.

She should push him away, remind him that just hours ago, he had doubted her. That she had needed him to believe in her, and instead, he had hesitated.

But the way he was looking at her now—raw, desperate, like she was the only thing holding him together—made it impossible to walk away.

Damien’s fingers curled around the necklace at her throat, his grip tightening just slightly, his body pressing against hers.

“Tell me,” he murmured again, his voice rough.

Sienna swallowed hard.

“I—”

A sharp knock at the door shattered the moment.

Damien tensed, his jaw tightening in frustration. He didn’t move right away, his body still caging hers against the wall.

Another knock. More urgent this time.

Sienna exhaled shakily, pushing against his chest. “You should get that.”

Damien let out a slow, controlled breath, stepping back reluctantly. He ran a hand through his hair before turning toward the door.

The second he opened it, the tension in the room shifted violently.

Because standing there, her expression unreadable, was Victoria Lancaster.

Sienna’s stomach dropped.

Victoria.

Damien’s mother.

She had been silent for weeks, her presence in the Lancaster family mostly overshadowed by Richard and Evelyn’s manipulations. But now, she was here.

And she wasn’t alone.

Behind her stood a man Sienna had never seen before—tall, sharply dressed, with an air of quiet authority. A lawyer, maybe. Or something worse.

Victoria stepped inside without invitation, her sharp gaze flickering between Sienna and Damien.

Then, she smiled.

“Well,” she mused. “I was going to say I’m surprised to find you two in the same room, but…” Her gaze lingered on Sienna’s slightly swollen lips, on the way Damien’s fingers were still clenched at his sides. “Clearly, I shouldn’t be.”

Sienna’s face burned, but she refused to look away.

Damien’s expression remained cold. “Why are you here, Mother?”

Victoria hummed, stepping further inside. “Because, darling,” she said, crossing her arms. “It’s time we talked about your marriage.”

Sienna’s stomach twisted. “What?”

Victoria arched a brow. “I assume you’ve both heard the latest rumors?”

Sienna clenched her jaw. “If you’re referring to the fake scandal your husband orchestrated—yes.”

Victoria smirked. “Ah. So defensive.”

Damien exhaled sharply. “Get to the point.”

Victoria tilted her head. “The point is, Damien, your father isn’t going to let this go. He wants her gone.”

Sienna’s chest tightened.

She had known this was coming.

Had felt it building for weeks.

But hearing it said out loud still sent a sharp pain through her ribs.

Damien’s entire body went rigid. “That’s not happening.”

Victoria sighed, as if she had expected that response. “You don’t have much of a choice, darling. The board is putting pressure on your father. They see this scandal as a liability. He’s giving you one last chance to handle it discreetly before it goes to a vote.”

Damien’s eyes darkened dangerously. “A vote?”

The man beside Victoria finally spoke. “They’re discussing the possibility of forcing a divorce.”

Sienna’s breath caught.

She turned sharply toward Damien, but his face was unreadable—his jaw tight, his fingers curled into fists at his sides.

Divorce.

A vote to remove her.

Like she was just a bad investment that needed to be eliminated.

Sienna inhaled shakily, forcing herself to look back at Victoria. “And what do you think?” she asked, her voice even.

Victoria studied her carefully. “I think Richard has underestimated you,” she admitted. “But that doesn’t mean he won’t win.”

Sienna clenched her fists. “He won’t.”

Victoria smirked. “Then prove it.”

Sienna’s chest heaved. “I already did.”

Victoria let out a soft laugh. “Did you, though? You made a statement, Sienna. But you haven’t secured your position.”

Damien exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand over his face. “Enough.” His gaze snapped to the man beside Victoria. “How long do we have?”

The man adjusted his tie. “A week. Maybe less.”

Damien’s jaw ticked.

Sienna’s pulse pounded.

One week.

That was all the time they had.

Victoria sighed, brushing imaginary dust off her sleeve. “I would say I’m sorry,” she mused, “but I think we all know I’m not.”

Sienna’s nails dug into her palms.

Victoria turned to leave, but before stepping out the door, she paused, glancing over her shoulder.

“Oh, and Sienna?” She smiled. “Do be careful. My husband hates losing.”

Then, just like that, she was gone.

The room was suffocatingly silent.

Sienna let out a shaky breath, turning to Damien. “So what now?”

Damien inhaled deeply, his hands still curled into fists. “Now?”

His eyes met hers—dark, determined.

“Now,” he murmured, stepping closer. “We make sure they never get the chance to take you from me.”

Sienna’s breath hitched.

She swallowed hard, forcing herself to keep her voice steady. “And how do we do that?”

Damien studied her for a long moment before tilting his head slightly.

“By making this marriage impossible to undo.”

Sienna’s heart stopped.

“What—”

Damien’s lips curved slightly. “We end this conversation tomorrow,” he murmured. “At the next Lancaster event.”

Sienna narrowed her eyes. “How?”

Damien stepped closer, his fingers brushing against her wrist. “By making the entire world believe you’re madly in love with me.”

Her pulse roared.

He was serious.

Deadly serious.

This wasn’t just about defending her.

This was about trapping his family into a position where they couldn’t remove her.

Where removing her meant removing him.

Sienna exhaled sharply, her mind racing. “You’re insane.”

Damien smirked. “Maybe.”

Then, quieter—

“But you’re mine, Sienna.”

Her breath caught.

Because for the first time—

She didn’t want to run from that truth.

She wanted to fight for it.

—

This chapter is filled with high stakes, tension, and a game-changing moment. Damien is finally stepping up—and the war is on.