Chapter four

Damien stared at the photograph lying on his grandfather's desk.

For several seconds, he didn't move.

His eyes remained fixed on the familiar face staring back at him.

Sophia.

His jaw tightened. “What is this?”

His grandfather remained seated behind the desk, watching him carefully. “You know exactly who she is.”

Damien slowly lifted the photograph from the table in front of his grandfather. “She was my girlfriend.”

“Your former girlfriend.” the old man said, raising his brows.

Damien's eyes narrowed. “Why do you have her picture?”

His grandfather didn't answer immediately. Instead, he reached for a file beside him and pushed it across the desk.

“Open it.”

Damien didn't move.

“Grandfather, I'm asking you a question.”

“And I'm telling you to open the file.”

The authority in the old man's voice made Damien pause.

He finally placed the photograph on the desk and opened the file.

The first page contained Sophia's name.

His expression changed. He flipped to the next page and then another.

His eyes moved quickly across the documents.

“Where did you get these?”

“Does it matter?”

“Yes, it does.”

Damien slammed the file against the desk. “She has nothing to do with my inheritance.”

His grandfather leaned back. “Are you sure about that?”

Damien's brows furrowed. “What are you talking about?”

“Do you know who Sophia's father was?”

Damien went still.

He had heard the name before, but he had never paid much attention to it.

He remembered Sophia mentioning her father occasionally during their relationship.

She rarely spoke about him.

Damien had assumed it was because the subject was painful.

“What about her father?” he asked

His grandfather's eyes darkened. “He was one of the most important business partners this family ever had.”

Damien stared at him. “That can't be right.”

“It is.”

“Why didn't I know?”

“Because you never cared enough to ask.”

The words struck Damien harder than he expected.

His grandfather picked up another document.

“Twenty-three years ago, Sophia's father, Richard Reed, was preparing to sign a major agreement with Cole Enterprises.”

Damien remained silent.

“Before the deal could be completed, someone accused him of stealing millions from the company.”

Damien's eyes narrowed. “And?”

“And his company collapsed.”

He looked down at the file again. “Richard Reed lost everything.”

Damien slowly turned another page. There were newspaper clippings.

Financial reports, Court documents and Photographs. His expression grew darker with every page.

“That's impossible.”

“Why?”

“Because the official records say he was guilty.”

His grandfather gave a humorless laugh. “Official records can be manufactured.”

Damien's fingers tightened around the papers. “Are you saying he was framed?”

“I am saying I never believed he was guilty.”

Damien looked at him sharply. “Then why didn't you help him?”

His grandfather's face hardened. “Because by the time I discovered the truth, it was already too late.”

Silence filled the study.

Damien looked back at the photograph.

Sophia.

The woman he had spent three years dating, the woman he had betrayed.

The woman he had just humiliated.

He swallowed. “What does Sophia have to do with this?”

His grandfather studied him. “Everything.”

Damien's eyes narrowed. “Do you care to explain how she got mixed up in all of this?.”

“The man who destroyed Richard Reed's company never stopped.”

Damien's expression changed. “What do you mean?”

“He has been working his way toward Cole Enterprises for more than two decades.”

Damien stared at him. “And you believe Sophia is connected to him?”

“No.” His grandfather shook his head. “I believe Sophia may be the key to exposing him.”

Damien's mind raced. He remembered the strange financial records Ava had mentioned.

Sterling Silver Corporation.

The sudden offer of fifty percent of the company, the media attention and his grandfather's demand that he marry.

Everything suddenly felt connected.

“You knew this was coming.”

His grandfather didn't deny it.

“You knew someone was moving against Cole Enterprises.”

“Yes.”

“And you knew Sophia would somehow become involved.”

“Yes.”

Damien's jaw clenched. “Then why did you let me date her without telling me?”

“Because I didn't know what your relationship with her would become.”

Damien laughed bitterly. “You could have told me.”

“I could have.”

“Why didn't you?”

“Because I wanted to know whether you would ever care about something that wasn't money.”

Damien's expression hardened. “That has nothing to do with this.”

“It has everything to do with it.” His grandfather leaned forward.

“You have spent your entire life believing power is the only thing that matters. You treat people like business deals, Damien. You calculate everything.”

Damien's eyes darkened. “Don't lecture me.”

“I am not lecturing you.” His grandfather pointed at the photograph. “I am warning you.”

Damien looked at Sophia's picture again. A strange feeling settled in his chest.

He remembered her face from earlier that evening.

The tears in her eyes, the way she had looked at him after discovering Fiona and the way she had walked away without begging him to stay.

He remembered her saying she hoped Fiona was worth it.

And for the first time, Damien felt something dangerously close to regret.

He pushed the thought away.

“What does this have to do with the marriage requirement?”

His grandfather's expression became serious. “Everything.”

Damien waited.

“The person trying to take control of Cole Enterprises has already made his move.”

“Who?”

“I don't know yet.”

“Then what do you know?”

His grandfather opened another file. “I know that whoever it is has access to information inside this family.”

Damien's eyes narrowed. “Someone inside Cole Enterprises?”

“Possibly.”

“That's why you're forcing me to marry?”

“No.”

His grandfather shook his head. “The marriage condition has existed for years. But there is another reason I want you married now.”

Damien frowned. “What reason?”

“You need an ally you can trust.”

Damien almost laughed. “And you think Sophia is that person?”

“I think Sophia has already proven that she isn't interested in your money.”

Damien's expression changed. “She doesn't even want anything to do with me.”

“Exactly.”

His grandfather's voice remained calm.“She has nothing to gain from pretending to love you.”

Damien stared at him. “So you want me to marry her.”

“I want you to make her an offer.”

Damien's eyes widened. “She'll never agree.”

“Then convince her.”

“After what I did?”

His grandfather raised an eyebrow.

“Ah.”

Damien looked away.

“You finally understand.”

He hated the tone in his grandfather's voice.

“Understand what?”

“That you may have made the biggest mistake of your life.”

Damien's jaw tightened. He remembered Sophia standing in his bedroom.

The pain in her eyes, the disappointment and the tears she tried so hard to hide.

He had told her she was clingy, he had called her delusional and he had told her they were never in the same league.

Now his grandfather wanted him to ask that same woman to become his wife.

Damien shook his head. “She won't agree.”

“Then find a way.”

“And if she refuses?”

His grandfather looked him directly in the eyes. “Then you lose Cole Enterprises.”

Damien went silent.

His grandfather continued. “You have thirty days.”

“Thirty days?”

“To be legally married.” Damien's face hardened. “And if I'm not?”

“You lose your inheritance.”

“And Cole Enterprises?”

“You lose control.”

Damien stared at the old man. “You planned this.”

His grandfather didn't answer.

Damien picked up the photograph.

“Why Sophia?”

His grandfather's eyes remained fixed on him.

“Because she is the only woman who can walk into your life without being blinded by your name.”

Damien looked down at her picture. “And if she refuses?”

His grandfather's voice dropped.

“Then prepare to lose everything.”

****************

Sophia sat on the edge of her bed, staring at her phone.

There were seventeen missed calls.

All from Serena.

She couldn't bring herself to answer, she didn't want to talk and she didn't want to explain.

She didn't even know how to explain what had happened.

Her eyes moved toward the small velvet case sitting on her bedside table.

She opened it.

The silver watch stared back at her.

A gift for Damien.

A gift she would never give him.

Sophia picked it up and stared at it for a long moment then she closed the case.

Her phone rang again. This time, she answered.

“Hello?”

“Sophia!”

Serena's worried voice filled the room.

“What happened? I've been calling you all night.”

Sophia closed her eyes.

“I'm fine.”

“No, you're not.”

“I just need some time.”

“Did Damien propose?”

The question made Sophia's throat tighten.

“No.”

There was silence. Then Serena's voice became softer.

“What happened?”

Sophia swallowed. “He was with someone else.”

“What?”

“I caught him.”

Serena gasped. “Are you serious?”

Sophia laughed bitterly. “I wish I wasn't.”

“What did he say?”

Sophia looked down at her hands. “He said our entire relationship started because of a bet.”

Serena went silent.

“He said he was done with me years ago.”

“Oh my God.”

Sophia's eyes filled with tears again.

“I thought he loved me.”

“He doesn't deserve you.”

“I know.”

For the first time, Sophia believed those words as she wiped her tears. “I just need to focus on my sister now.”

Serena sighed. “You can't carry everything alone.”

“I have to.”

“Sophia—”

“I'll call you tomorrow.”

She ended the call before Serena could respond.

Sophia lay back on the bed and stared at the ceiling.

Her heart still hurt but beneath the pain was something else.

Determination.

She couldn't change what Damien had done, She couldn't get back the three years she had wasted but she could protect her sister.

That was all that mattered.

Her phone suddenly buzzed.

Sophia frowned.

She picked it up.

An email notification appeared.

Subject: Medical Treatment Approval

Her heart stopped.

She opened it immediately.

Her eyes widened as she read the message.

The hospital had approved her sister's treatment.

But there was something strange. The entire treatment cost had already been paid.

Sophia sat upright.

“What?”

She read the email again.

Paid in full.

She had not paid it.

Her sister had no money.

Serena hadn't paid it.

Then who had?

A second email arrived.

This one contained a single line.

Your sister's treatment has been secured. Do not worry about the cost.

Sophia stared at the screen as her heart began pounding.

There was no sender's name but only a private email address.

Then her phone rang.

Unknown number.

Sophia hesitated before answering.

“Hello?”

A man's deep voice came through the phone.

“Ms. Reed?”

Sophia sat completely still. “Who is this?”

“My name is Nathan. I'm calling on behalf of Damien Cole.”

Her heart dropped.

She almost ended the call.

Then Nathan spoke again.

“Mr. Cole wants to see you tomorrow.”

Sophia's expression hardened.

“I have nothing to say to him.”

“You might change your mind when you hear his offer.”

“I don't care what his offer is.”

Nathan paused.

Then his next words made Sophia's blood run cold.

“He is prepared to pay for your sister's entire treatment.”

Sophia's fingers tightened around the phone.

She couldn't speak.

Nathan continued. “But there's a condition.”

Sophia's heart pounded harder. “What condition?”

There was a brief silence. Then Nathan said the words that would change Sophia's life forever.

“Damien wants you to become his wife.”