Chapter 7

Selene’s Pov

I woke up in the guest wing bed alone, staring at the ceiling. Damien’s kiss from last night still lingered on my lips. It wasn’t supposed to feel like that. Not real. Not good.

My phone buzzed. Talia.

“You okay? I heard about the restaurant photos. You two looked cozy,” she texted.

I typed back quickly. “It’s part of the plan. Keep digging on Adrian.”

I got dressed in a simple black dress and headed to the kitchen. Damien was already there, sipping coffee, looking too handsome in his white shirt. His jaw was tight.

“Morning,” I said, pouring myself a cup.

“Morning,” he replied, eyes on me. “Sleep well?”

“Not really. That call from Adrian kept me up.” I sat across from him. “What’s the plan for today? You said we’re meeting your family?”

He nodded. “Family house at ten. Victor’s lawyer will be there too. We need to look united. No slips.”

I stirred my coffee. “United. Right. After you kissed me like that last night.”

Damien set his cup down. “You kissed me back, Elena. Don’t act like it was one-sided.”

“It was for show,” I shot back. “That’s what you said. Business.”

He leaned forward. “Business doesn’t explain why your hands were shaking after. Or why I couldn’t stop thinking about it.”

My cheeks heated. “Don’t flatter yourself. I’ve dealt with worse actors.”

“Actors?” He chuckled low. “You’re good at this game, but I see through it. Tell me what you were really doing yesterday with your friend.”

“Just catching up,” I said smoothly. “Why? Still suspicious?”

“Always,” he answered. “Especially after Adrian’s threat. Pictures don’t lie, Elena. What aren’t you telling me?”

I met his gaze. “Nothing that affects our deal. I want this marriage to work as much as you do. For now.”

He stood and walked around the island, stopping close. “For now. That’s the problem. I need more than that. The board meets in three days. They need to believe we’re falling for each other.”

I looked up at him. “Then stop pushing about my past. It makes me pull away.”

Damien touched my arm lightly. “I can’t stop. You feel like her. S. Every word, every look. If you’re her, just say it. We could fix this together.”

“I’m not,” I lied, standing up too. Our bodies were inches apart. “And even if parts remind you of her, that doesn’t change what happened three years ago. Your name is still tied to my father’s death.”

“Your father,” he repeated. “Lucas Hart. Why do you care so much? You said your family lost everything, but you never said his name before last night.”

My heart raced. “It slipped. Happy? Yes, Lucas Hart was my father. And your company crushed him.”

Damien’s eyes softened a fraction. “I didn’t crush him. I’ve been investigating who did. Someone framed both of us. If you know anything about hidden files or records he kept, tell me now.”

I stepped back. “Hidden files? What are you talking about?”

He watched me carefully. “A text came in last night. Said you know more than you’re telling. About Lucas’s files.”

I froze. Who knew? Talia? Or someone watching us? “I don’t know what that means. My father didn’t share business secrets with me.”

“Liar,” he said softly, but without anger. “I see it in your eyes. You’re scared. Talk to me, Elena. Or Selene. Whatever your real name is.”

“Don’t,” I warned, voice sharp. “We have a deal. Fake marriage. No digging too deep.”

Damien ran a hand through his hair. “The deal changed the second Adrian got involved. He wants to destroy me, and now you’re in the crosshairs. I won’t let him touch you.”

“Why?” I challenged. “Because I’m useful? Or because of some ghost from your past?”

“Because I protect what’s mine,” he said firmly. “And right now, you’re mine. Fake or not.”

I swallowed. His words pulled at something deep inside. “Fine. We face Adrian together. But after that, back off my history.”

He nodded, but I knew he wouldn’t. “Deal. Now come here. We need to practice looking like a couple before we leave.”

I hesitated, then stepped into his arms. He held me close, one hand on my back. “Better. Relax against me.”

“This feels weird,” I muttered into his chest.

“Weird good or weird bad?” he asked, voice rumbling.

“Both.” I pulled back slightly to look at him. “You’re too good at pretending, Damien.”

“Not pretending,” he said quietly. “Not entirely. That kiss last night? I meant it.”

My breath caught. “Damien…”

Before I could say more, his phone rang. He answered on speaker. “Cassandra.”

“Darling,” his stepmother’s voice purred. “Adrian told me about the pictures. Bringing that girl to the family house is risky. She doesn’t belong.”

“She’s my wife,” Damien said coldly. “Watch how you speak about her.”

Cassandra laughed. “Wife? Please. We all know it’s a desperate move. Victor’s clause won’t save you if she’s hiding something. I’ll see you soon.”

She hung up.

I pulled away completely. “She hates me already.”

“She hates anyone who threatens her control,” Damien replied. “Ignore her. Ethan might be there too. He’s different. He’ll like you.”

We drove to the family house in silence mostly. When we arrived, the grand mansion loomed. Adrian waited at the door with a smug smile.

“Cousin. Elena,” he said smoothly. “Come in. Pictures are ready.”

Inside the study, Victor’s lawyer sat with papers. Victor himself watched from his chair, old but sharp-eyed.

“Damien,” Victor said. “You brought her. Good. Show us this marriage is real.”

Adrian slid photos across the table. Me meeting Talia yesterday, but zoomed in on papers we exchanged. Looked bad.

“What’s this?” Damien asked me, voice low but tense.

“Just notes on work,” I said quickly. “Talia’s a journalist. She helps with research.”

Adrian smirked. “Research on Cross secrets? Interesting.”

Damien turned to me. “Elena, explain.”

“I was gathering info to help you,” I insisted. “Against competitors. Not sabotage.”

Victor raised a hand. “Enough. Damien, do you trust her?”

Damien looked at me long. “I do.”

My heart flipped. He was lying for me.

Cassandra entered then. “Trust? After these? She’s using you, Damien.”

“Enough, Cassandra,” Damien snapped. “Elena is my wife. We’re solid.”

Ethan walked in behind her, smiling. “Hey, brother. She seems nice. Hi, Elena. Ignore them.”

I smiled at him. “Thanks.”

The lawyer cleared his throat. “We need proof of commitment. Joint accounts, shared plans. And public honeymoon talk.”

Damien squeezed my hand under the table. “We’re handling it.”

Adrian leaned in. “One question, Elena. Did you know Damien was obsessed with a woman named S before you met?”

I felt the trap. “No. Why?”

“Because she looks a lot like you,” Adrian said, showing another photo. Old screenshot of online chats. “And she vanished the night your real father died. Lucas Hart.”

The room went quiet. Damien’s grip tightened.

I stood up. “This is ridiculous. I’m here for Damien, not some ghost story.”

But inside, panic rose. They were too close.

Damien stood too. “Meeting over. We’re leaving.”

As we walked out, Victor called after us. “Thirty days, Damien. Make it count.”

In the car, Damien turned to me. “Tell me the truth now. Are you S? Are you Selene Hart?”

I looked away. “Drive, Damien.”

He started the engine but didn’t move. “I’m falling for you, Elena. Real or fake, it’s happening. But if you’re lying about everything, it’ll break us both.”

My phone buzzed in my bag. A text from unknown: The files are in your mother’s safe. Don’t trust Damien. He knows more than he says.

I deleted it fast.

“What was that?” Damien asked.

“Nothing,” I whispered.

But as we drove back, my mind spun. The secrets were piling up. And one wrong move would end everything.

Suddenly, Damien’s phone rang. He answered. His face went white.

“What?” he said. “The board moved up the vote? Tomorrow?”

He looked at me, eyes full of doubt now.

“Elena, if you’re playing me, tell me now. Because tomorrow decides if I lose it all.”

My revenge plan was crumbling. But so was my heart.