Chapter 7

Katie slowly removed the veil from her hair, carefully placing it over the back of a nearby chair before finally releasing the breath she had been holding since they left the chapel.

The wedding was over, the interviews were over and the cameras were gone. For the first time all day, there was no audience watching their every move.

She turned toward Damien, who had already removed his suit jacket and laid it neatly across the arm of the sofa.

“I…” Katie hesitated before forcing a small smile. “I’ll just freshen up.”

Damien nodded once. “Take your time.”

Grateful that he asked no questions, Katie picked up the overnight bag Rosetta had prepared for her before disappearing into the bathroom.

The moment the door clicked shut, she leaned back against it and closed her eyes. She walked slowly toward the large mirror above the marble sink.

The woman staring back at her barely looked familiar. Her makeup remained flawless despite the exhausting day, but her eyes betrayed everything.

She looked overwhelmed. Katie slowly reached for the wedding ring resting on her finger.

Mrs. Katie Stark, the title still sounded strange.

She carefully removed the elaborate jewelry from her ears before washing away the makeup that had hidden her tiredness throughout the ceremony. One layer after another disappeared until only her natural face remained.

She changed out of the heavy wedding gown into a simple cream-colored cotton nightdress that reached below her knees.

It felt much better and lighter. Yet, her heart still refused to settle. She looked down at her reflection again.

This morning she had been Katie Anderson. Tonight… She belonged to another family.

Her thoughts drifted toward everything people expected from a marriage like this. A powerful family, an heir, a public image.

Her fingers unconsciously rested against her stomach. Would she ever become a real wife to Damien? Would she someday have his children?

The thought startled her. Almost immediately another face flashed through her mind. Madison…

Katie quickly shook her head. “No…” She couldn’t keep looking backward. Whatever life she had before today was over.

She inhaled deeply and a gentle knock interrupted her thoughts. “Katie.”

She looked toward the door. “Hm?”

Damien’s calm voice reached her through the woods. “If you’re planning on living in the bathroom permanently, I should probably ask the hotel to send your luggage in.”

Katie blinked. Then, despite everything weighing on her heart, she laughed softly. “I’m coming.”

She opened the door a few seconds later. Damien looked up from the document he had been reading before immediately setting it aside.

He noticed the simple nightdress. He also noticed the nervousness she was trying—and failing—to hide.

Katie clasped her hands together. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

She lowered her eyes. “I’m exhausted.”

Damien waited patiently. “I don’t think…” she said quietly, “…I don’t think I can handle anything else today.”

Damien looked at her. Then he nodded. “Neither can I.”

Katie looked back up.

His expression remained very calm. “We’ve both had a very long day.”

Relief spread through her chest almost instantly. “Thank you.”

“There is nothing to thank me for.”

Katie glanced around the suite. Only then did she notice something that made her stop. “There…” She pointed toward the center of the room. “…there’s only one bed.”

Damien followed her gaze before giving a small nod. “So there is.”

Katie bit her lip. “I’ll sleep on the floor.”

“No.”

She blinked. “I don’t mind.”

“I do.”

Katie frowned slightly. “It’s only for one night.”

Damien walked toward the wardrobe before removing an extra blanket and pillow. “You’re my wife.” The words made Katie’s ears grow warm. “I’m not letting my wife sleep on the floor.”

Before she could protest again, Damien spread the blanket neatly across the large sofa. “It isn’t that uncomfortable.”

Katie looked between the sofa and the bed. “You really don’t have to.”

“I know.” He smiled faintly. “But I want to.”

There was no arrogance only simple considerations.

Katie stood there quietly for several seconds before finally climbing onto the bed. “Suit yourself.”

Damien chuckled. “Have a good night.”

The lights were switched off shortly afterward, leaving only the city lights filtering through the curtains. Katie lay awake for minutes.

From where she lay, she could just make out Damien resting on the sofa with one arm beneath his head.

He looked surprisingly peaceful. He was nothing like the ruthless businessman reporters loved writing about.

She found herself wondering… Who was the real Damien Stark?

***

Warm sunlight filtered through the curtains. Katie stirred slowly before stretching under the blanket.

She immediately sat upright, the sofa was empty.

Her heart skipped. “Damien?”

No answer.

She climbed out of bed just as the bathroom door opened. Damien stepped out, drying his damp hair with a towel draped around his neck.

Katie froze. Then she turned around so quickly she nearly tripped over her own feet.

“I-I’m sorry!”

Behind her, Damien looked genuinely confused before realizing why she had panicked.

A quiet laugh escaped him. “Katie.” She refused to turn around. “You can look at me.”

“No, I can’t.”

“We’re married.”

Her face became even warmer. “I know.”

“So?”

“That doesn’t make this any less embarrassing.”

Damien smiled to himself. “You don’t have to look so terrified every time you see me.”

“I am not terrified.”

“No?”

Katie bent her head, her cheeks heating up. “No.”

“You’ve been facing the wall for almost five minutes.”

Katie sighed dramatically. “Fine.”

When she finally turned around again, Damien had already changed into a fresh white shirt and dark trousers.

Only then did she relax. “I thought…”

“You thought I planned to spend the entire morning walking around in a towel?”

Katie coughed awkwardly. “I didn’t know.”

His smile widened slightly. “Get dressed, my family is expecting us.”

Almost an hour later, a sleek black Rolls-Royce entered the gates of the Stark family estate. Katie looked out the window. The mansion was even more magnificent in daylight.

Rows of perfectly trimmed gardens stretched toward elegant fountains while dozens of staff members lined the entrance.

The car stopped. Before Katie could reach for the handle, Damien stepped out first and opened her door himself. She accepted his hand.

The front doors opened immediately. Rosetta was the first to reach them. “My dear!”

She embraced Katie warmly before stepping back to admire her. “You look beautiful.”

Katie smiled. “Thank you.”

Donald walked over with his usual cheerful grin. “Welcome home, Mrs. Stark.”

Katie laughed softly. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to hearing that.”

Another man approached. He looked younger than Damien but carried the same sharp features.

“So,” Gerald said with a teasing smile, “our impossible older brother actually got married.”

Donald laughed. “Yes!”

Even Rosetta couldn’t hide her smile. Soon everyone moved into the grand dining room where breakfast had already been prepared.

Katie gradually relaxed. For the first time since the wedding began, conversation felt natural.

Donald told embarrassing childhood stories about Damien. Gerald insisted that Damien once cried because he lost a chess match.

“I was eight,” Damien defended.

“You still cried.”

Katie laughed so hard she nearly dropped her teacup. “I can’t believe this.”

Rosetta smiled warmly watching them. “This house has needed laughter.”

Katie looked around the table. For the first time… It almost felt like home. She picked up her fork to eat, just then, the front door opened.

Footsteps echoed through the mansion. A familiar voice greeted the staff.

That was….Brian.

Katie’s smile disappeared instantly. Her hand froze halfway toward her plate.

Brian entered the dining room beside Rita, who held little Samantha’s hand.

He was speaking casually. “Grandpa said the meeting was—” His words stopped as his eyes landed directly on Katie.

Brian’s face was drained of color. Katie couldn’t breathe. The fork slipped from her trembling fingers.

Clink.

The metallic sound echoed across the silent dining room. Nobody moved, Brian stared at Katie, Katie stared back.

Then Brian slowly noticed the wedding ring on her finger… it was really real.

His gaze shifted. Damien was sitting beside her. One of Damien’s hands rested casually on the back of Katie’s chair.

Damien stared between the two of them, luckily, he hadn’t missed the way they stared at each other.

“Brian…”