Chapter 6

Damien pulled away from the kiss slowly, his hands still resting lightly against Katie’s waist as the church fell into applause around them. The sound echoed through the small chapel, but Katie barely heard any of it because her heart was pounding so loudly that it drowned everything else.

She stood frozen, still trying to process what had just happened. The kiss had been so brief and had also been like nothing she had expected.

Before she could step back, Damien leaned closer, his expression calm and unreadable.

“Smile,” he murmured enough for her to hear. “Everyone is watching.”

Katie blinked and instinctively looked around. The guests were smiling.

Rosetta had tears in her eyes as she clapped proudly, while Donald Stark stood beside her with obvious satisfaction written across his face. Several cameras flashed continuously, capturing every second of the ceremony.

Katie forced the corners of her lips upward.

“There,” Damien said without looking at her. “That’s more convincing.”

She looked sideways but before Katie could reply, an energetic voice interrupted them.

“Mr and Mrs Stark!”

Both of them turned. A wedding photographer hurried towards them carrying two expensive cameras around his neck, his face glowing with excitement.

“We have to begin the official photographs before the lighting changes.”

Katie quietly hoped it would be over in a few minutes, but she was wrong.

“Perfect!” the photographer exclaimed. “Stand closer.”

Katie took one small step. The photographer frowned immediately. “Closer!”

She sighed and moved again.

“Closer, Mrs Stark!”

Katie looked at Damien. “There isn’t much space left.”

Damien simply closed the remaining distance himself until their shoulders brushed.

The photographer beamed. “Wonderful!”

Flash— “Now hold hands!”

Katie hesitated before extending her hand but Damien accepted it without hesitation. His palm was so warm.

“Excellent!” the photographer called. “Now, Mr. Stark, place your hand around your wife’s waist.”

Katie stiffened, Damien didn’t hesitate to do so. Was he not uncomfortable as she was? His arm slipped naturally around her waist, drawing her slightly closer.

The movement was close enough for Katie to become painfully aware of how little distance remained between them.

“Beautiful.” The photographer circled them. “Now look into each other’s eyes.”

Katie immediately looked anywhere except Damien. Was this photographer insane? Why was he punishing her in the name of photography?

The photographer laughed. “No, no. At him.”

She reluctantly lifted her eyes just to see that Damien was already looking at her.

The photographer practically jumped in excitement. “Perfect chemistry!”

Katie almost laughed. Chemistry? If only he knew.

“Now, forehead together.”

Katie stared. “What?”

The photographer smiled brightly. “Foreheads.”

Damien calmly stepped closer before Katie could protest. Their foreheads touched lightly. She could feel his breathing and her own became uneven.

“Excellent!” The photographer beamed. “Now, Mr. Stark, whisper something romantic into her ear.”

Katie almost stepped back but Damien leaned toward her. For one ridiculous second, she wondered what a man like him considered romantic.

Then his quiet voice reached her ear. “Cooperate.” Katie stared at him. He continued calmly. “The sooner we finish, the sooner this ends.”

A smile escaped her despite herself and the photographer gasped dramatically. “There!”

He pointed excitedly. “That smile! That’s the happiest one yet.”

Katie looked away before Damien noticed she was actually smiling. Nearly twenty minutes later, the photographer finally lowered his camera.

“We’re done.”

Katie released a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. “Thank goodness.” She reached for her handbag resting nearby. “I’m going home.”

“You’ll have to wait.” Donald’s voice stopped her. Donald Stark approached with an amused smile while adjusting the cuff of his suit. “I’m afraid your schedule isn’t finished.”

Katie frowned. “I wasn’t told there was anything else.”

Donald looked genuinely surprised. “Damien didn’t mention it?”

Damien answered before Katie could. “It wasn’t necessary.”

Katie looked between them. “What wasn’t necessary?”

Donald smiled. “The press conference.”

Katie blinked. “What?”

“There are reporters downstairs waiting to congratulate the newlyweds.”

“I’m sorry…” She looked at Damien. “Reporters?”

Donald nodded. “The announcement went public this morning.”

Katie slowly turned toward Damien. “You announced our marriage?”

“Our families did,” Damien replied calmly.

Donald smiled apologetically, “Welcome to the Stark family, Katie Stark.”

The ballroom in the chapel had transformed into a media hall. Television cameras lined every corner. Photographers crowded everywhere, Journalists filled dozens of seats.

The moment Damien and Katie entered together— Camera flashes exploded.

Questions came from every direction.

“Mr. Stark!”

“Mrs. Stark!”

“This way!”

“Over here!”

Katie instinctively slowed. The attention felt overwhelming. Damien noticed her tension and without looking directly at her, he quietly said,

“Stay beside me.”

She nodded. “And if you don’t know how to answer?”

“I’ll answer them.”

They stopped before the microphones. A reporter spoke first.

“Mr. Stark, congratulations. When did your relationship begin?”

Damien answered smoothly. “We’ve known each other through our families for some time.”

Katie looked at him. That wasn’t entirely false. It obviously wasn’t the truth.

Another reporter smiled. “Was it love at first sight?”

Katie nearly choked.

Damien didn’t hesitate. “I admired her long before today.”

The room filled with impressed murmurs. Katie turned to him, he lied frighteningly well.

Another reporter turned toward her. “Mrs. Stark, what first attracted you to your husband?”

Katie opened her mouth but nothing came out. Damien smiled before anyone noticed.

“Perhaps she’s overwhelmed.” The reporters laughed warmly as he continued naturally. “My wife isn’t fond of public attention.”

Katie blinked. He had rescued her answer so effortlessly that no one questioned it.

Another reporter asked, “Who confessed first?”

Damien glanced briefly toward Katie before answering. “I did.”

Katie almost looked at him in shock. “You?”

His smile remained effortless. “I’ve always preferred taking initiative.”

Another journalist raised a hand. “Mrs. Stark, how do you feel about marrying one of the country’s most influential businessmen?”

Katie finally found her voice. “I…” She hesitated.

Damien’s fingers lightly brushed the back of her hand underneath the table.

Katie inhaled. “I think…” She smiled politely. “ I’m fortunate.”

Damien looked at her briefly then faced the reporters again. “And I’m the fortunate one.”

The ballroom erupted. Camera flashes became almost blinding. By the end of the interview, reporters were already speaking excitedly among themselves.

“The perfect couple.”

“They’re surprisingly natural together.”

“What a beautiful partnership.”

Katie heard every word… if only they knew.

***

Brian sat comfortably on the living-room sofa, absently scrolling through emails on his tablet while Rita curled beside him reading a fashion magazine.

The television played quietly in the background and neither of them was paying attention.

Until— “Breaking News.” Brian barely looked up. The news anchor appeared on the screen with a bright smile.

“Today’s biggest business headline comes from the Stark family, as billionaire CEO Damien Stark surprised the nation by marrying renowned jewelry entrepreneur Katie Anderson in a private ceremony this afternoon.”

Brian froze. The tablet slipped slightly in his hands. “What?”

The television switched to wedding footage. Damien stood at the altar and Katie appeared.

Brian’s breathing stopped. “No…”

The footage continued. Damien’s hand settled around Katie’s waist. Then he kissed her.

Brian shot to his feet so abruptly that the tablet crashed onto the floor. The sound startled Rita.

She looked up immediately. “Brian?”

He didn’t answer. His eyes remained locked on the television. Katie smiled politely beside Damien as reporters surrounded them.

The anchor continued enthusiastically. “Business analysts are already calling this the union of two powerful business families—”

Brian whispered almost soundlessly, “Katie.”

Rita slowly lowered her magazine. Her gaze shifted from the television back to Brian. Then her eyes slowly widened.

“Brian…isn’t that your uncle?”

Brian took one slow step toward the television, staring at the image of Katie standing beside another man, wearing another man’s wedding ring.

And to worsen the situation…Damien Stark was his uncle.