Chapter 9

So had followed the downfall of the Hart family.

Luna was orphaned at the age of six. Her parents had passed away in a car accident. She had no siblings or anyone to take her in, so her uncle's family adopted her and took over her parents' business.

Her uncle and aunt were very kind to her. They raised her like their own daughter—if anything, they spoiled her more than their biological children. Her cousins treated her exceptionally well. Especially Evan, who protected her like his own little sister.

They lived a relatively happy life together.

Until things suddenly began to fall apart.

The Hart family business, led by her uncle and Evan, began to collapse. Investors refused to invest. Their products were blacklisted from the market. A few failed deals drained all their savings.

Their company was on the verge of bankruptcy.

If things continued that way, they wouldn't last even a month before ending up on the streets.

To make matters worse, her uncle's health deteriorated under relentless stress. He suffered a heart attack.

Money was needed for his surgery.

And they had none.

Luna had been extremely worried in those days. She was still in college, and it looked like she would have to drop out. Their home was shrouded in sadness and depression. Aunt Maggie cried daily. Luna's younger cousin, only fifteen at the time, was bullied at school because of their family's downfall.

All their family friends turned their backs on them.

It was as if some unseen, terrifying force prevented people from even sympathising with them.

Luna found it suspicious.

How could everything collapse so suddenly when things had been smooth?

Had someone powerful been offended?

But how?

Those kinds of men lived in the highest circles of society. There was no world in which her family could have crossed paths with someone like that.

Yet... that ominous feeling never left.

During that period, Sierra—Sisi—was Luna's greatest support. She never abandoned Luna, unlike the rest of Luna's friends, who began avoiding her as if she carried a contagious curse.

Things were spiralling downward—until one day, the Hart family received an envoy sent by that unfathomably powerful man. The man whose name made even the most influential shake. The man rumoured to be so ruthless that even Presidents chose their words carefully around him. The man who was known for wiping out an entire family of a journalist for publishing a single piece about him.

That man—Damian Blackwell.

The supervisor of the Blackwell family.

His envoy delivered a letter—the only hope of saving the Hart family's century-long legacy. The only hope of saving her uncle's life.

At that time, Luna had no idea what was happening.

But the letter contained a condition. One that would change Luna's life forever.

After days of agonising struggle, Evan Hart, now the acting head of the family due to his father's illness, signed the contract. Luna's signature was forged, and the deal was finalised.

He had no other choice.

He only hoped Luna would understand one day. Because on one side was his little cousin—the girl he loved more than anything—and on the other was their family name and his father's life. He had to choose. And no one could blame him for choosing his father and the Hart family over Luna.

Luna only knew that suddenly, everything got better. Her uncle had his surgery, returned home healthy, and their company recovered.

She was told an influential person had helped them because of some past favour owed to her parents. But she still noticed a change: Evan avoided her. Whenever she saw him, he lowered his head as if ashamed to look at her.

Guilt washed over his face.

Luna didn't think too deeply about it... until one day, her family was visited by the mysterious benefactor who had helped them one year ago.

Damian Blackwell