Damian stood before the large, ornate mirror in his study, adjusting the silver cufflinks on his tailored black suit. His expression was calm, almost detached, but his mind was anything but. Thoughts of Aurora lingered in the back of his head, a shadow he couldn’t shake no matter how hard he tried.
She was gone because of Lina.
The woman’s scheming had torn Aurora from him, but if Lina thought she’d won, she was sorely mistaken. Damian’s lips curved into a cold, calculating smile. He would make Lina pay, but not in the way she expected.
A soft knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.
“Come in,” he said, his voice low but commanding.
The door creaked open, and Lina stepped inside, dressed in an elegant emerald gown that hugged her slender frame. Her red lips curled into a smug smile as she approached him, her heels clicking against the hardwood floor.
“You called for me, Damian?” she asked, her tone sweet but laced with mockery. “I hope it’s to thank me for handling that little… problem of yours.”
Damian turned to face her, his expression unreadable. “Problem?” he asked, his voice smooth.
Lina’s smile widened. “Aurora, of course. You can stop pretending you care, Damian. She’s gone now. Out of your life forever.”
His jaw tightened, but he forced a chuckle, shaking his head. “You assume too much, Lina.”
She raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. “Oh? Then why don’t you enlighten me?”
Damian took a step closer to her, his sharp eyes locking onto hers. “You were right,” he said simply. “Aurora was a distraction. A mistake. I allowed myself to be… blinded by her, but you fixed that.”
Lina blinked, caught off guard by his admission. “I did?”
He nodded, his lips curling into a small smile. “You always said I was too soft, too lenient. Maybe I needed this wake-up call.”
Lina tilted her head, studying him. “So, what now? Do you plan to sulk for the rest of your life?”
“No,” Damian said firmly. “I plan to move forward. And that’s why I called you here.”
Lina’s eyes gleamed with anticipation. “I’m listening.”
Damian walked to the desk and opened a small drawer, pulling out a velvet box. He turned back to Lina, holding it in his hand.
“Lina,” he began, his voice steady and smooth, “you and I… we’ve always understood each other. We’ve shared the same goals, the same vision for what power and legacy should mean.”
Her smile grew, and she took a step closer to him. “Go on.”
He opened the box, revealing a stunning diamond ring that caught the light and sparkled brilliantly.
“I’ve decided it’s time to solidify our partnership,” he said, his tone warm yet calculated. “Marry me, Lina.”
For a moment, Lina stared at him, her red lips parted in surprise. Then a slow, triumphant smile spread across her face.
“Finally,” she said, her voice dripping with satisfaction. “I knew you’d come to your senses.”
Damian slid the ring onto her finger, his smile never wavering. “I always do,” he said smoothly.
Lina held up her hand, admiring the ring. “This is perfect,” she said, her voice practically purring. “Together, Damian, we’ll be unstoppable. The perfect power couple.”
“Exactly,” Damian said, his voice soft but loaded with hidden meaning.
Later that night, Damian poured himself a glass of whiskey, sitting alone in the dimly lit study. The amber liquid swirled in the glass as he stared into the fireplace, his thoughts racing.
Lina thought she had won. She thought she’d gotten everything she wanted.
But Damian had no intention of letting her victory go unchallenged.
This marriage wasn’t about partnership or power. It was about revenge.
He would play the devoted fiance, the perfect husband-to-be, and when the wedding was over, he would destroy her. Slowly, methodically, he would unravel everything she cared about-her pride, her ambition, her control. He would make her regret every single decision that had brought her to this moment.
His hand tightened around the glass, the cold anger simmering beneath his calm exterior.
“Enjoy your moment of triumph, Lina,” he muttered to himself. “It won’t last.”
The next morning, Lina sat in the grand dining hall, sipping her tea with a self-satisfied smile. The diamond ring sparkled on her finger, catching the light and drawing the attention of the maids as they moved about the room.
She couldn’t help but bask in the glow of her victory. Damian had finally come to his senses, finally realized that Aurora had been nothing but a distraction.
And now, Lina had everything she’d ever wanted.
When Damian entered the room, she looked up, her smile widening. “Good morning, darling,” she said sweetly.
Damian returned her smile, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Good morning, Lina. You’re in a good mood.”
“Of course,” she said, setting down her cup. “Why wouldn’t I be? Everything is finally falling into place.”
He walked over to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. “I’m glad you’re happy,” he said. “You deserve it.”
She leaned into his touch, her smile turning coy. “You’ve made me very happy, Damian. I always knew you’d come around. Aurora was a… mistake, but we’ve all made mistakes, haven’t we?”
Damian’s jaw tightened, but his voice remained steady. “Yes,” he said. “We have.”
Lina didn’t notice the subtle edge to his words. She was too busy reveling in her triumph.
“You’ll see,” she said, her voice filled with confidence. “Together, we’ll accomplish things that no one else could even dream of. The world will know our names, Damian.”
“Yes,” he said softly, his hand slipping from her shoulder. “They will.”
As the days passed, Damian played his role perfectly. He showered Lina with attention, planning elaborate dinners and discussing their future together. To anyone watching, he appeared to be the picture of a devoted fiance.
But inside, his hatred burned brighter with each passing day.
Every time he smiled at Lina, every time he kissed her hand or whispered sweet words in her ear, he imagined the look on her face when he finally revealed his true intentions.
He would make her pay for what she had done to Aurora.
One evening, as they sat in the drawing room discussing wedding plans, Lina leaned back in her chair, her expression smug. “You’ve been so good to me lately,” she said, her voice teasing. “It almost makes me forget how stubborn you were about Aurora.”
Damian’s smile didn’t falter. “I’m glad you’ve moved past it,” he said smoothly. “I have, too.”
Lina tilted her head, studying him. “Have you?” she asked. “You were so… passionate about her. I have to admit, I wasn’t sure you’d let go.”
Damian chuckled, shaking his head. “Lina,” he said, his tone warm and reassuring, “Aurora was a mistake. A moment of weakness. I see that now.”
She smiled, pleased with his answer. “Good,” she said. “Because she’s gone, Damian. And she’s never coming back.”
Damian’s smile sharpened, though Lina didn’t seem to notice. “No,” he agreed. “She’s not.”