CHAPTER 7 ROSE'S POV Seraphina’s smile widened, her eyes gleaming with triumph. “Ah, now we’re getting somewhere.” She leaned back in her chair, looking impossibly pleased with herself. Seraphina swirled the last bit of wine in her glass, her crimson lips curling into a smile that didn’t quite reach her cold, calculating eyes. She set the glass down with a soft clink and leaned forward, her hands folded elegantly on the table. “Here are the conditions, Rose,” she said, her voice smooth but laced with an unmistakable undercurrent of menace. “First and foremost, the moment your sister is found, you leave Damien. Completely.” I blinked, the words hitting me like a slap. “Leave him?” Her smile widened, sharp and predatory. “Yes, darling. You’re a nobody. A little journalist playing pretend in a world where you don’t belong. You have no right to stand anywhere near Damien Sterling, let alone be in his life.” The words stung, but I refused to let her see how deeply they cut. I clench
CHAPTER 8DAMIEN'S POVMy phone buzzed incessantly on the table, the caller ID flashing "Mother." A sigh escaped me before I answered.“Damien,” her voice barked the moment I placed the phone to my ear. “What in God’s name am I hearing about a fiancée?”I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Good morning to you too, Mother.”“Don’t give me that nonsense!” she snapped. “I’m in the Bahamas, trying to enjoy some peace with my husband since he's better, and suddenly I’m bombarded with news of my son proposing to some—some nobody!”“It’s not what you think—”“Oh, so you’re not engaged to some random woman?” Her sarcasm was razor-sharp. “Because that’s what it sounds like to me, Damien. Do you know how this makes us look? The Sterlings don’t stoop to this level of absurdity!”“She’s not random,” I lied smoothly. “She’s someone I’ve been seeing for a while. I love her.”“Love her?” My mother’s laughter was cold and incredulous. “Love? Since when do you believe in love, Damien? You’re not some sta
CHAPTER 9DAMIEN'S POVRose froze mid-step, slowly turning to face me. “You told her what?”“That I love you,” I repeated, leaning back against the couch.“Damien.” Rose’s voice was strained, her hands clenched at her sides. “Why... on Earth... would you tell her that?”“Because,” I said, standing and meeting her gaze. “It’s the only way she’ll even consider accepting you as my fiancée.”“But it’s not true!”“It doesn’t have to be true,” I said simply.Rose threw her hands up. “You’re insane.”“Possibly.”“What am I supposed to do?” she demanded.“Just... act natural.”“Natural?” Rose laughed bitterly. “I don’t even know what your mother’s definition of ‘natural’ is! What if she doesn’t believe me? What if she sees through this whole thing?”“She won’t,” I assured her.“How can you be so sure?”“Because I’m Damien Sterling,” I said with a small smirk.“This is going to be a disaster,” Rose muttered, pacing the room like a restless animal.“It won’t be,” I reassured her for the hundred
CHAPTER 10DAMIEN'S POVI arrived at the office building in record time, irritation already gnawing at me. The fact that Adrian Voss had summoned me like a subordinate only made things worse. Voss was a parasite, feeding on any weakness he could exploit. He was the kind of man who smiled while twisting the knife.As I entered the conference room, there he was, sitting casually at the head of the table as though he owned the place. His tailored suit looked like it cost more than most people’s annual salary, and his smug grin was enough to make my blood boil.“Ah, Damien,” Adrian drawled, leaning back in his chair. “Punctual, as always. I admire that.”I ignored the pleasantries, closing the door behind me with a deliberate click. “What do you want, Voss?”Adrian’s grin widened. “Straight to the point. I like that. Sit down.”In my company? This guy has audacity.“I’d rather stand,” I said, crossing my arms. “Now get to the point, or I’m walking out.”He chuckled, the sound grating on m
CHAPTER 11DAMIEN'S POVHe recovered quickly, but the momentary crack in his composure was enough to give me an edge.“This isn’t over, Damien,” Adrian said, his tone sharp.“It is if you know what’s good for you,” I shot back.Adrian glared at me for a long moment before grabbing his briefcase and heading for the door. “You’ve got a week to reconsider,” he said over his shoulder. “After that, all bets are off.”The door slammed behind him, leaving me alone in the conference room. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves.Adrian had overplayed his hand, but the fact that he knew about the Sinclair deal was troubling. If he managed to find anything concrete, it could spell disaster—not just for the business, but for my family as well.I pulled out my phone and dialed my lawyer. “It’s Damien. I need you to look into something for me.”The drive home was a blur. Adrian Voss’s smug face still lingered in my mind, making my knuckles tighten on the steering wheel.When I pulled into
CHAPTER 12ROSE'S POVThe sunlight streamed through the windows, nudging me awake. I groaned, rubbing my eyes, and glanced at the clock on the nightstand. It was early—too early, really—but the nerves in my stomach wouldn’t let me go back to sleep.I swung my legs off the bed, feeling the cold floor beneath my feet. My heart was already racing, knowing what today meant. Meeting Damien’s mother. My stomach churned at the thought."This is bad. This is really bad," I muttered to myself, pacing the room. "I’m meeting his mother for the first time, and I’m living in his house. I’m not even married to him. What will she think? That I’m just some shameless woman freeloading off her son?"I stopped and stared at my reflection in the mirror. My hair was a mess, my face still bore the faint imprints of the pillow, and my nerves were written all over my features."Pull it together, Rose," I whispered, shaking my head. "You can do this. Just… be polite. Smile. Don’t say anything stupid."With a
CHAPTER 13ROSE'S POVI descended the staircase slowly, smoothing my dress nervously as I approached the dining room. My mind was still reeling from earlier, my encounter with Evelyn Sterling a blur of sharp words and icy stares.As I reached the bottom step, hushed whispers floated toward me from the partially open door.“You have to trust me on this, Mother,” Damien said, his voice low and firm. “I love her.”My heart skipped a beat.What?For a split second, something warm and unfamiliar rushed through me. Then reality crashed in like a tidal wave.No, no, no. He’s lying, Rose. It’s just for the deal. Stop being ridiculous.I shook my head, pushing away the ridiculous thought as I adjusted my dress one last time and stepped into the dining room.Damien and Evelyn immediately turned to look at me. Evelyn’s sharp eyes scanned me critically, while Damien gave me a small, reassuring smile.“There you are,” Evelyn said, her tone neutral but her gaze anything but.“Good morning,” I said
CHAPTER 14ROSE'S POV“Honestly, Damien,” she began, lounging back in her chair dramatically, “how are you still this uptight? What happened to the brother who used to sneak out of family dinners with me and bribe the chef to send us cake in the garden?”Damien pinched the bridge of his nose. “That brother grew up and learned how to manage his money instead of squandering it on frivolous things, like you.”“Frivolous?” Diana gasped, clutching her chest in mock outrage. “I am a Sterling, Damien. Everything I do is art, not frivolity.”The sudden image of Diana dramatically arguing her way through a fashion boutique popped into my head, and I couldn’t stop the laugh that burst out of me.“You think it’s funny?” Diana asked, swiveling to face me with an exaggerated pout.“Uh—” I began, but before I could explain, Evelyn cleared her throat.The sound was subtle, yet sharp as a knife. It cut through my amusement instantly, and I snapped my mouth shut, feeling like a child caught misbehavin
CHAPTER 49ROSE'S POVI barely took two steps into the sitting room before Damien’s mother lifted her eyes from her tea, her stare landing on me with an intensity that made my stomach tighten."I hated whatever it was you two were doing last night," she said, her voice calm, but the underlying irritation was impossible to miss. She raised her cup, took a slow sip, then added, "Could’ve kept it down, don’t you think?”My body went rigid. Heat crept up my neck, burning my skin as mortification settled deep in my chest.Oh. My. God.The heat spread, traveling down my neck, pooling in my chest, then sinking all the way to my toes, making it impossible to stand still. I opened my mouth, closed it again, then finally stammered, "I—I’m sorry. I didn’t think—”She waved a hand, brushing it off. "Not my concern. Just saying." Another slow sip. "Walls aren’t as thick as you think.”I wanted the ground to swallow me.Muttering another apology, I spun around and hurried straight to the kitchen, n
CHAPTER 48DAMIEN'S POV“I don’t give a damn about Lily,” I said, my voice firm. “I want you, Rose.”She shook her head, a flicker of hesitation in her eyes. “This wasn’t the plan, Damien.”“Screw the plan.”Her lips parted slightly, her breathing unsteady. I closed the distance between us, trailing my fingers along her jaw.“You’re pushing me away because you’re scared,” I murmured, my voice dropping lower. “But it’s too late for that, Rose.”She didn’t say a word. Not a single breath of protest, just stood there frozen, locked in place. And I sure as hell wasn’t letting her go.She was trying to run again. I could see it in the tension of her shoulders, in the way her hands curled into fists. She refused to meet my eyes, her whole body rigid, every muscle coiled tight, ready to flee. But not this time.“Don’t complicate things,” she whispered softly, her voice almost pleading.“Complicating things?” I scoffed, tightening my grip on her wrist. “The only thing complicated is you tryin
CHAPTER 47DAMIEN'S POVI woke up feeling… off. A dull, persistent ache throbbed at the back of my head, the kind you get after one too many drinks—or a restless night.I dragged a hand down my face, exhaling heavily before forcing myself to get out of bed. The sheets still carried Rose’s scent, a soft, lingering reminder that she had been there.Once dressed, I made my way downstairs, rolling my shoulders in an attempt to shake off the heavy tension weighing me down.I found Rose in the kitchen, her back turned to me. A soft smile crept onto my lips as I stepped inside. "Morning, sweetheart.”She didn’t answer. Not once did she look at me.Instead, she stared at the plate in front of her, fingers tightening around its edges like she needed something solid to hold onto.My brows knitted together. "Rose?”Still, she said nothing. Then, finally, she turned around, and her eyes were red-rimmed and weary. The sight of her like that was a gut punch."What’s wrong?" I stepped forward, but s
CHAPTER 46ROSE'S POVI froze. His breathing slowed, turning deep and steady. Seconds stretched into minutes, and eventually, I realized—he’d fallen asleep.I sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Damien…" No response.I lay there for what felt like hours, trapped beneath the warmth of his body, my mind too restless to shut down.Then, sometime in the middle of the night, I felt it. A slow, steady pressure against my thigh.At first, I thought it was an accident—just movement in his sleep. But then his hips rolled. Pressing against me.A low hum escaped his throat.I stiffened. "Damien…?" He didn’t answer.His grip on me tightened, and then, slowly, deliberately, his hips moved again. My breath hitched. "Damien, wake up—""Mmh…" His lips ghosted over my neck, his breath warm and uneven against my skin. His movements grew more desperate, his body pressing into mine like he couldn’t help himself.Heat bloomed in my chest. "Damien—"A sleepy, broken hum. "Mmh… don’t go…”My heart cle
CHAPTER 45ROSE'S POVI sat on the couch, staring blankly ahead, my fingers idly running along the rim of my glass. My thoughts had been circling the same problem all day, relentless and inescapable.Lily. Damien. And me—falling for the man my sister loved first.This was wrong… wasn’t it? It had to be.No matter how much I tried to ignore it, to push it away, but reality wouldn’t let me. Lately, I couldn’t stop thinking about him. We’d been fucking too much. Every touch, every kiss, and every moment with him had me slipping further, it was like I was losing myself in him. And I wasn’t sure I wanted to stop.I sighed, rubbing my temples. The sharp chime of the doorbell cut through my thoughts, pulling me back to reality.I frowned, glancing at the clock. Who the hell would be here at this hour? Smoothing down my dress, I pushed myself off the couch and made my way toward the door.Damien’s mother. Again.She stood on the doorstep, wrapped in an expensive coat, her lips pressed into a
CHAPTER 44DAMIEN'S POVRose adjusted her dress, smoothing out the fabric before reaching for her purse. Her lips were still slightly swollen, her cheeks faintly flushed, but she looked composed—like she hadn’t just let me wreck her right here in my office.I leaned against the desk, watching her, half-amused. “You’re just gonna leave like that?”She shot me a dry look. “I did bring you lunch. I think I’ve done enough.”I smirked. “Oh? You sure about that?”Her ears turned red, but she ignored me, picking up her bag. “I’ll see you at home.”Home. I didn’t know why that word settled so strangely in my chest.She turned to leave, but before she reached the door, I caught her wrist. She blinked up at me, surprised. "Rose."She tilted her head. "What?"I hesitated for a fraction of a second before sighing, loosening my grip. “Nothing. Get home safe.”She smiled, small but genuine. "You too."And just like that, she was gone. The warmth she left behind lingered for a moment. Then my phone
CHAPTER 43DAMIEN'S POVSeraphina, of course, took full advantage. She turned her head just slightly, eyes gleaming with smug satisfaction. "Oh. Hello, Rose."I looked at Rose just in time to see her expression flicker. A flash of something—annoyance? Hurt?—before she schooled her face into something unreadable."Am I interrupting?" she asked, voice careful.Seraphina smiled, brushing past her with a deliberate bump of her shoulder. "Excuse me."Rose didn’t move for a second. Then, slowly, she turned to me, arching a brow. "So… should I come back later?"I exhaled sharply. "No. You’re exactly who I want here."Her gaze lingered on the door Seraphina had just walked out of before she shook her head, stepping forward. She placed the bag on my desk. "I brought your lunch."I sat back in my chair, opening the bag. The smell hit me instantly. "This looks…" I took a bite and groaned in approval. "Okay. This is amazing." Rose smirked, crossing her arms."Are you the same person who fumbled m
CHAPTER 42DAMIEN'S POVThe bed was empty when I woke up.I blinked against the soft morning light streaming through the curtains, my body still heavy with sleep. My hand instinctively reached for the warmth that should have been there. But the space beside me was empty, the sheets cold beneath my fingertips. A small frown formed as I tried to piece it together. She was here last night. I remembered that much.I sat up, raking a hand through my hair before stretching and making my way toward the bathroom. The shower was quick, the warm water washing away the last traces of sleep. But it was the scent drifting through the apartment that truly pulled me awake.A faint aroma of something warm and buttery lingered in the air, teasing my senses. A slow smirk tugged at my lips. That could only mean one thing.Drawn by the scent, I followed it toward the kitchen. I stepped into the kitchen and stopped, my gaze lingering longer than necessary.Rose stood at the stove, her back to me, the soft
CHAPTER 41ROSE'S POVHe pulls back just long enough for me to gasp for air before thrusting in again, pushing me to take him even deeper. My lips stretch wide, spit slipping down my chin in a way that is messy, obscene, and completely shameless, but I don’t stop. I don’t want to stop. I can’t stop.I let him fuck my mouth, let him push past any point of comfort, because this is exactly what I crave. The weight of him on my tongue, the taste overwhelming my senses, the deep groan he lets out every time my throat tightens around him, all of it is addictive.His fingers tighten in my hair, his whole body is trembling. He is trying to hold himself back, trying to keep control, but that is the last thing I want from him.I moan again, taking him deeper, sucking harder, my tongue swirling around him, my throat flexing tight, and that is all it takes to push him over the edge. “Fuck.” The word is sharp, ragged, as he jerks my head back, his cock slipping free, wet and flushed, throbbing wit