The slam of the front door cracked through the mansion like lightning. My head snapped up, breath hitching. For a moment I couldn't move — my heart was still tangled in the last line of the hidden memo, still drowning in the truth I wasn't supposed to know.
Another voice echoed up the stairwell. Smooth. Familiar. Unwelcome.
Graham.
I crept from my studio, feet silent on the marble. At the landing I froze, gripping the railing. Damien stood in the foyer below, shoulders tense, jaw tight. Facing him was Graham, smiling like a man who enjoyed walking into fires he'd started himself.
"Missed me, brother?" Graham drawled.
Damien didn't answer. His silence was a warning, sharp as a blade.
I took one step down — just one — and the floorboard beneath my heel let out a soft, traitorous creak, alerting everyone.
Graham's head snapped up instantly.
Their eyes met.
His smile widened.
"Well, well," he murmured. "The lovely Mrs. Blackwell joins us."
Damien moved before I could speak, placing himself subtly between them — a shield built from tension and unspoken fear.
I was supposed to stay at a corner and eavesdrop but now I am here because of a tiny slip I hissed.
—
I realized Damien didn't want me near Graham not out of protection but out of fear, he doesn't want me to fully understand everything but too late, here I am now and Graham on the other hand looks like he's making too much fun from this whole saga— the way his face beams with a smile.
I looked at both of them but I was unable to see clearly as Damien blocked me.
Graham on the other hand pulled out something from his coat— a folded document.
Graham places the folded document on the table.
"You should really keep an eye on your files, Damien. Someone might get curious."
Damien's jaw flexes; I stiffens — did Graham see me go through the hidden file? No, not possible.
Graham casually pours himself a glass of Damien's whiskey. The he added
"old contracts,"
"unfinished debts,"
"Your wife's father is more involved than she thinks." Huh?
Enough Damien voice goes louder cutting him off
Graham replies softly: my bad brother but..
"Then tell her the truth before I do."
He sips on his drinks again while giving Damien a sly smile.
Damien's anger slips through the cracks — voice low, deadly calm.
I sense this isn't about just business; it's personal, deeply personal. I left Damien back and probed further
Graham leans closer to me, murmur-soft:
"He should have told you why you're really here."
Damien snaps, stepping between us.
My breath stutters — Damien's protectiveness feels different now, desperate almost.
And I'm almost going mad.
Graham touches the folder he placed earlier on the table and said page four looks more interesting. I must say it's my favorite.
My eyes race back to the table and the documents, they look the same.
Damien's voice cut my thoughts as he asked Graham out of his home, Graham shrugged and got up.
I know you'll ask me to leave, well I didn't come to stay for longer.
I watch him as he walks towards the door smoothly
At the door, he throws a final line over his shoulder:
"Secrets rot in locked rooms. And yours, brother… stink the most."
He closes the door behind him, the echo lingering like poison.
I feel Damien's gaze in me. heavy, conflicted and quietly afraid
I looked at the documents Graham left and recognize the logo on it, the same symbol from the hidden file
Same documents different copies- I chuckles bitterly
Tired of everything going on right now, I know I want the truth but the question is can my heart take them?
And here I was thinking it was okay for one day not knowing more keeps coming out.
I walked towards the documents Graham left behind and got stopped by Damien with a quiet and strained "don't" and his hand blocking my movement.
I turned to him — pain, confusion, betrayal clashing in her eyes.
Can you please just let me? I yell, it's still early Eva "he called out"
Damien don't you dare, I said sobbing. Don't you tell me what to do or how to react at this point.
You have no right to do that because you aren't even close to better Damien, if not for anything I trusted you. I know I am not meant to because it's too much to eat but I did.
I placed you with so much esteem, I want expecting this from you, but I guess I am wrong no scratch that, I have been wrong all this while about you I cried out.
He tried to hold me but I yanked off his hands, he should let me handle my shit how I feel best too.
Don't try to calm me down because you knew this today would come eventually, you should have thought of all these before you decided, before you and my dad decided to do what you both did.
All in the name of money, wealth and power Damien
He hitched his eyes as I called his name, I didn't care at this point . I was pained, heartbroken, betrayed, lied to.
All this happened to me from people I could have swear wouldn't do anything to hurt me, those I thought where meant to protect me. Those that were meant to have my back.
I sniffed in looked at him directly in his eyes and asked
Me: "Why does he know more about my family than I do?"
Damien: "Because he wants to hurt you."
Me: "And what do you want?"
Damien tries to answer but can't. His silence screams louder than words.
I picked up the document anyway. My hands shakes
I unfold the paper.
My breath catches.
The document shows a financial transfer:
FROM: Damien Blackwell
TO: her father — dated one week before Damien proposed the contract marriage.
I whispered, "You bought me, too… didn't you?"
Damien closes his eyes.