Damian stood still, his eyes still locked on the door where Lina had just stormed out. The tension in the room was still thick, the air heavy with the weight of the confrontation. For a moment, it seemed like the drama was over, and everything would go back to normal. But as soon as Damian turned to face Aurora, he realized that wasn’t the case.
His father, standing nearby, was watching with a strange expression on his face one that didn’t sit right with Damian. It was a smile, but it wasn’t the kind of smile you gave when something good had happened. No, this smile was darker, more calculated, as though his father was pleased with something Damian didn’t understand.
“Father, what’s going on?” Damian asked, his voice steady but confused.
His father didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he looked at Aurora, his smile growing ever so slightly as if he knew something Damian didn’t.
Aurora felt it too. The coldness in his smile made her uneasy, and she couldn’t help but wonder what Damian’s father was really thinking. She knew he had a plan for everything, and she had no idea where she fit into it.
Damian, still trying to make sense of his father’s actions, turned away from the room and walked to the window. He was lost in thought, trying to piece together the puzzle that was his family and this strange woman who had suddenly appeared in his life.
“Is she really leaving?” Aurora asked, breaking the silence between them. She didn’t want to sound worried, but it was clear that the situation was far from over. “She seemed pretty angry.”
Damian didn’t turn around. Instead, he crossed his arms and stared out at the garden. “I thought she was, but… it looks like we’re wrong about that.”
Just as Damian finished speaking, the door to the mansion opened again. This time, it wasn’t the usual sound of the wind or someone coming inside to deliver a message. It was the unmistakable sound of a car door slamming shut followed by the sound of high heels clicking on the marble floor.
Aurora’s eyes widened when she realized what was happening. Lina wasn’t leaving after all. In fact, she was coming back. And she wasn’t just coming back empty-handed either.
Damian froze, his mouth going dry as he looked toward the doorway. His father’s grin widened, and Aurora could feel the air in the room growing heavier.
Lina entered the room again, but this time, she wasn’t alone. She had two large bags in her hands, each one filled to the brim. It looked like she’d been out shopping, and now she was bringing her things into the house. The click of her heels on the floor was sharp and deliberate as she strutted into the living room like she owned the place.
“I’m not leaving,” Lina said, her voice loud and clear. “I’ll be staying here until the marriage is finalized.”
Damian blinked, his mind racing. He didn’t know what to think. He had just spent the last few moments convincing himself that Lina was gone, but now, here she was, practically moving into the house.
His father’s smile remained, but this time, it seemed a little too satisfied for Damian’s liking.
“You’re… staying here?” Damian asked, his voice tight with confusion.
Lina nodded without hesitation, dropping her bags onto the nearby sofa. “Yes. I’m staying here until the marriage is finalized. It’s only a matter of time until it happens, so why not make myself comfortable?”
Aurora didn’t know what to say. She was taken aback by Lina’s confidence and the way she had just assumed that this was her new home. It was like Lina had already decided that she was going to marry Damian, whether he wanted it or not.
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” Aurora said, her voice firmer than she felt. “I don’t think anyone here agreed to that.”
Lina turned toward Aurora, her expression ice-cold. “You think I care what you think?” she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “I’m here for Damian, and nothing’s going to change that.”
Damian could feel the tension between the two women rising. He didn’t want to get caught in the middle of their argument, but it was clear that something had to be done.
“Father,” Damian said, his voice sharp. “This isn’t right. You can’t just let her stay here.”
But his father only chuckled softly, his eyes flicking between his son and Lina.
“This is exactly what needs to happen, Damian,” his father said, his voice calm and reassuring. “You’ll see. She’s here to stay.”
Damian’s heart pounded in his chest, but he didn’t know how to argue with his father. His father had always been the one in control, and now it seemed like he was pushing for something Damian wasn’t ready for. He didn’t want this woman in his life, but his father had already made up his mind.
Aurora felt a rush of anger rise inside her. She wasn’t going to let this happen. She wasn’t going to let Lina just waltz in and take Damian away from her without a fight.
She stepped forward, her eyes blazing with determination. “You don’t get to decide who Damian is with,” she said, her voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside her. “You may think you’re in control, but you’re not.”
Lina stared at her, her lips curling into a mocking smile. “You think you’re in control here, don’t you?” she asked. “You’re just a maid, and I’m the woman who’s going to marry Damian. You have no place here.”
The words stung more than Aurora was willing to admit. But she didn’t let it show. Instead, she stood her ground, looking Lina straight in the eye.
“You don’t know him,” Aurora said, her voice calm and confident. “You’re only here because his father told you to be. You don’t even care about him, do you? You just want to marry him because it’s what’s expected.”
Lina’s smile faltered, but she quickly regained her composure. “I care about him,” she said, her voice low. “I care about what he can offer me.”
Damian watched the exchange in silence, his expression unreadable. He was listening to every word that was being said, and for the first time, he felt a strange sense of pride in Aurora. She wasn’t backing down. She was standing up for herself and for what she believed in.
But at the same time, Damian felt a sense of unease. His father’s plan was slowly starting to become clear, and he didn’t know what to do about it.
Lina turned back to Damian, her eyes flashing with something that almost looked like victory. “I’m staying here,” she repeated. “And nothing is going to stop me.”
Damian opened his mouth to say something, but his father’s voice cut through the air like a knife.
“Enough, Damian,” his father said. “You will do as you’re told. This marriage is happening, whether you like it or not.”
Aurora felt the weight of his words, and for the first time, she wasn’t sure what to do. She could see the power struggle happening before her eyes, and it was clear that Damian wasn’t the one in control anymore.
Damian’s eyes flicked to her, and for a moment, their gazes met. In that moment, it felt like the world around them had slowed down.
“I’m sorry,” Damian said softly, his voice barely above a whisper.
Aurora didn’t say anything. She didn’t know what to say. The truth was, everything was changing, and she didn’t know where she fit into it all.