“You’re getting engaged tomorrow.” My father said blandly as if he was talking about the weather. But that wasn't my problem. The problem is I’ve only met the girl once… and I don’t even like girls. No one knows I’m gay. Not even my father. So, the night before the big party, I did something stupid. I went to a bar. I got drunk. And I kissed a stranger. He was hot and dangerous in the best way. We had a one night stand. One night. That’s all it was supposed to be. Until the next day... when he walked into my engagement party. My fiancée turned to me and smiled. “Meet my brother.” I looked at him, frozen. And then he said, with a smirk— “Nice to meet you.” My heart dropped. This wasn’t just a one-night mistake anymore. Now, it’s the beginning of something dangerous... and maybe something real. Something I wanted.
Lihat lebih banyakThe Wrong that felt Right.
Damian's POV My name is Damian Vale. I'm twenty-five years old and the only son of industrialist Maxwell Vale. I'm the heir to a huge fortune that can buy politicians and banks. When people hear my name, they think of power, beauty, and honor. But they failed to see the cage. Born with a lot of money? To me It's more like a rock. When I was young, love was a business deal and emotions were things that could go wrong. There were rumors that my mother had a "nervous condition" when she disappeared when I was six years old. That was the last time I saw her. Since then, it's had been just me and my father and trust me, fear doesn't exist in his world. Before I turned 13, I was trained to run Vale International. Every aspect of my life was perfectly planned: elite schools, carefully selected friends. I can sort my friends by their last names. And even arranged dates. There's no room for mistakes or secrets….except for one: my true self, the one I hid behind fancy clothes and fake smiles. I'm a gay. But in my father's world, that would mean the end of me. People can't think of a Vale heir as weird, weak, or even shocking. That's why I played the part. Attended galas with stars. Grinned for the cameras. Laughed at jokes that weren't funny to me. That being said, tomorrow was my last show. My engagement. And the bride? Lila Bennett. Bennett Holdings is one of the few companies strong enough to compete with my father. It is run by her father. They've been enemies for a long time, but this marriage? It would combine their assets and make a union that would protect them from being harmed. But there is just one problem: I've only met LIla once. She was... nice. Polite and buffed up. Exactly someone like me who was raised to play a part. I don't love her or hate her. Not even close. And love? That part of me hasn't had feed in years. But tonight, I was done pretending. I told the waiter, "Pour it again," and quickly passed him my platinum card. He made a face. "Rough night?" "Rough life." I sipped the drink quickly and let it burn my throat. The bar was dark, loud, and full of people and music. Just the way I liked it—somewhere between fancy and crazy. It's safe enough to fit in, but crazy enough to forget. My tie was already gone. The buttons on the top of my shirt are undone. People looked at me, whispered, and maybe knew who I was. I didn't mind. Let them to talk. My phone buzzed. Dad again. "Get to the estate at 9 a.m." No excuses. The press will be there soon.” I flipped the phone over and took another shot. What am I even doing? Trying to enjoy a night of freedom? Or desperately scratching at something real before I was chained for life? The DJ changed the song, and the bass could be heard through the walls. There was cheering. A group of girls danced on a table. Someone fell asleep on a couch. There was a lot of laughter. Then I saw him. Having a drink, he stood on the edge of the room, close to the pool table. Tall, with sharp jaws and a calm confidence that screamed danger. We looked at each other. He didn't turn away. My chest felt hot. I got up on the bar. People laughed and clapped as they turned. I put my glass up. "Drinks on me!" Cheers filled the room I laughed. I wasn't Vale International this time. I wasn't the ideal heir. I was just a guy that had nothing to lose. I jumped down, pushed through the people, and walked right toward him. The closer I got, the bigger his grin got. He looked at me and said, "Let me guess, bachelor party?" "Something like that." "You don’t look happy about it." I pulled him down by his shirt. After that I kissed him. It was exciting. Raw. Without a doubt. It smelled like booze and challenge on his lips. He pulled me closer by putting his hand around my waist. The club broke up around us. He didn't ask anything. I wasn't there to answer. We were tired and hungry when we left. The cab ride was quiet, but there were sneaky touches and sly smiles. I didn't care to ask for his name. I don't want to spoil the mood with words. We didn't waste time at the hotel. When I slammed the door behind us, he was on me like gravity. We kissed again, but this time it was harder. Piece by piece, clothes fall to the floor. His belt, my tie, and my shirt again, this time wrapped around his hand. He pushed me onto the bed and sat on top of me. His eyes were fixed on mine. "Still thinking about tomorrow?" "No…nothing matters right now." His lips moved along my neck like fire. He teased me by sliding his hand under my belt. I wanted more with all my heart. I let go. Completely. There were no hopes or plans. No roles. Just hands, lips, skin. He took control, but not in a way that felt forceful. It felt like submitting to someone who knew exactly what I needed. When he touched me, it wasn’t just lust. It was like he was trying to strip away everything fake and find the real me underneath. I don't know him. But he knew me better than anyone else ever had. My legs trembled when he thrusted inside me. It was painful but satisfying at the same time. I held on to the sheets with my fingers. When he touched me, every nerve in my body lit up. Slowly at first, quickly at second, teasingly and then he moved with purpose. He said things in my ear that made me shiver and grounded me as if I meant something to him. I felt something I hadn't felt in years when we both reach climax. Alive. God, that felt so good. We fell on the pillows, out of breath. He pressed his chest against my back as he put his arm around my waist. I kept quiet. I didn't need to. For the first time in years, I felt full and warm as I fell asleep in his arms. ~~~~~ Sunlight cut through the curtains, blinding me. I groaned, turning my face into the pillow. My body hurt in the best way. My mouth was dry, head pounding. The room had a smell of sweat, sex, and expensive sheets. Something moved next to me. I looked around. He was still there. Lying on his side, with one arm over his eyes and his hair all messed up. He had a small gap between his lips. His chest moved slowly up and down. My heart stuttered. I rubbed my face with my hands to see if I wasn't hallucinating. He wasn't a dream. I slowly got out of bed, and the sheet fell around my waist. I looked around the room. Our clothes were all over the place. There were texts on my phone. But all I could do was to stared at him. I had no idea what his name was. Yet I could still feel him on every part of my body. I felt like him every time I breathed. The worst part? It felt right Heart beating fast, I ran my hand through my hair. Who was he? Also, why did it feel like the worst mistake I'd ever made was also the only one that felt real? I looked at him with confusion and a desire for more. I was sure of one thing: this wasn't over. Not even close.The InterrogationEliot’s POVThe knock came right after dawn.Not too loud. Not rushed. It was just strong enough to break the silence. I hadn't slept much and that didn't surprise me.“Mr. Maxwell would like to see you," the quiet voice on the other side of the door said. I sat up in the dark, back against the cold sheets. “In his home.”No one care about me in this house. I'm used to that anyway.I took my time getting ready and looked at myself in the mirror as I buttoned my shirt.The man I saw in the mirror wasn't the same one who walked into that club one months ago.I didn't know who Damian was back then. All I saw was man leaned against the bar, his eyes dark and his mouth hard to read. It had been exciting between us—no names, no promises, just a night. Still, when I woke up, I could remember the way his fingers stayed like he didn't want to let go, the way his mouth was curved, and the way his laugh was rough.I had no plans in seeing him again. Especially with ione
Under WatchDamian’s POVSomeone knocked on my door right after dawn. Not too loud. Not rushed. But deliberate. It was one of the maid checking if I was awake.I was awake already. I hadn't asleep.After last night, Eliot hadn't come back to the penthouse. I didn't blame him. Not after the kiss in the car. The way we held on to each other like the world was falling apart and we were the only thing left standing.Not after I saw the red light blink in the garage ceiling and took a picture of it all. After a few seconds, my phone buzzed.A text message from Maxwell's assistant: "Your dad wants to see you in his office. Right now.”No other details.Just a cold reminder that time was running out—and Maxwell doesn't asked twice.It was silence as I took a quick shower and got dressed.I wore adark gray suit, a black tie, silver cufflinks. The uniform of composure. But I felt empty on the inside.As I pressed cloth flat and adjusted buttons, my body moved without thinking. But my min
Things get tense Damian’s POV The next day, I tried to keep myself busy.Meetings, emails, calls, more meetings—none of it helped. My body was there sitting in chairs, looking at charts, sipping warm coffee. But my thoughts kept going off in different directions. Back to Eliot. Back to the kiss in the hallway. Back to the latest message made my heart seize in my chest.“The next leak goes to the press.”I could hear that message screaming in my head all the time. I had no idea when it would happen. I didn't know the person behind it. I knew I was running out of time, and if that picture got out, it wouldn’t just expose me. It would destroy him, too.Lila had called to talk to me during breakfast that day. Her words were soft and careful, and her voice was quiet. But I knew she was also worried, not just about Naomi or our arrangement, but about me.. I didn't say much. I couldn't form words. The lie we’d agreed to live in felt heavier than ever.It kept us safe from the outside
The PactDamian’s POVThe deal wasn’t written down, because it was simple and straightforward.Lila and I didn't shake hands. We didn't raise a glass, smile, or do anything fancy to mark the deal. We just sat next to each other, eyes clear and hearts tired. In that mutual, heavy, and honest silence, we promised to carry the weight together. It wasn't because we were in love. But because we weren’t. And we finally got the nerve to say it.I sat on the edge of my bed and stared at nothing for a long time after she left my room. Even though I had lived here for years, the room felt strange. The shadows on the wall were longer than normal, as if they were ready for me to step into them. Her voice kept coming back to me.“We protect them by protecting each other.”I understood what she meant down to my bones. But understanding didn’t make it easier.The next morning, we stepped out of the house side by side like a couple in sync. She had slept over because it was late. I opened the
Lila’s ConfessionDamian’s POVLike the aftershock of a storm, the image of the flash still lingered behind my eyes.It had only been hours since the hallway incident. Since Eliot's breath mixed with mine with his fingers curled up in my suit jacket like he didn't want to let go. Still, someone caught it: a single bright spot in the dark that caught a moment I wasn't ready to explain.I kept hearing the click and the silence that followed it. My heart was beating fast as Eliot pulled away, eyes wide.After he left, I was left standing in a place that didn't feel like mine anymore. Since then, I haven't spoken to Eliot or anyone.My shirt sleeves were wrinkled, and my tie was still only half-knotted as I stood in front of the tall windows of my bedroom. Outside, the city blinked slowly, as if it knew. Like it was waiting for the next move.But all I felt was the weight. Of everything.Then someone knocked.I didn't turn right away. The knock came again. Softer this time. Familiar and
Crossing the LineDamian’s POV I could still hear my dad's words long after he left.“Don't give them anything to find.”But I already did.The night stand. The long stare across a ballroom. A touch beneath a dining table. The kiss in the dark that still lingered on my lips.And now I was falling apart again. Because Eliot wasn't careful anyone. He looked at me like he didn't care about who saw. And no amount of polite smiles or sideways glances could hide him.And now my father has hired a private investigator. That scares me more than anything else.I found Eliot near the back of the event hall.With one hand on the counter and fingers curled around a half-full bourbon glass, he pretended he didn't notice that I was watching him. His posture was too loose. Too collected. Like none of this was real.Like he hadn't left me in a cold bed with a message that froze my blood. Like I wasn't standing on a wire that was so thin it could break at any moment.“You need to be more careful,”
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