CHAPTER 02

OPHELIA COLE

The next morning started with Mr. Dawson announcing that he’d be leaving for a business trip. He made it very clear that Luca’s scandal wasn’t going to stop him from moving forward with his plans. According to him, a few shareholders had already withdrawn their shares because they refused to believe Luca was innocent.

It was also my first time hearing that Luca had drinking problems. No one ever told me, not even him. And even though most of our communication had been through calls and messages, I still expected to have known something this serious.

I stood in the kitchen making mashed potatoes and vegetable stir fry for Grandma, my mind far away. I’d known Luca all my life - drinking was never part of who he was. We had always pictured a future together, doing everything side by side. But I’d gone off to college abroad, and since then our relationship lived through screens and distance.

They said it would take seven to fourteen days before I could see him in rehab, and I could hardly wait. I needed to hear the truth from him, even though the court had already ruled the case, I needed to hear him say he was innocent.

“Ouch!” I gasped when hot oil splashed onto my finger.

“You okay?” Damien asked.

Only then did I notice him standing by the fridge, drinking water. I hadn’t even heard him walk in.

“You’ll need to apply ointment on that. It looks painful. You really should pay attention to what you’re doing.” He reached for my hand and gently blew on the burn.

I froze. My eyes stayed locked on his, goosebumps rising on my skin as my mind emptied for a second. When I finally caught myself, I pulled my hand back and stepped away, clearing my throat.

“Thank you. I’ll do that after I serve Grandma.”

He paused, his eyes lingering on me for a moment before he nodded and walked out. Only then did I let out the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.

For some reason, I could never get used to Damien’s presence. There was something about him,so stiff, so controlled, so quietly domineering that always made the air tighten around me.

I finished dishing out Grandma’s food and walked into her room. Damien was there, and from the empty pill cup in his hand, I could tell he had just finished giving her her medications. He turned to me as he set it down.

“I’m heading to the office to get some work done,” he said. “I already told the maids to get groceries later. We’re running low on stock.”

“Oh, no, it’s fine. I was actually planning to get them myself once Ma is resting.”

“You don’t mind?”

I shook my head. “I don’t.”

I grew up knowing this family as my second family. My father and Mr. Dawson had been best friends long before my dad passed, and they’d promised to keep their bond alive through marriage - our marriage.

When I was old enough to understand what that meant, and who I was meant to marry, I had been so excited. I’d told my parents it was the best gift they could ever give me.

“Alright then, here’s the card.” He placed it on the table before leaving the room.

I turned back to Grandma and gave her a bright smile. She seemed to be responding well to treatment. Luca was the baby of the house - her favorite, honestly which was why she had taken the scandal so hard.

“Let’s get you fed, Ma,” I said softly, smiling again as I lifted the tray toward her.

_________________

Mr. Dawson stood facing the giant glass window, his back turned to the door. Even when it opened and closed behind him, he didn’t move , not a flinch, not a glance.

The silence that followed was thick, almost punishing, until he finally spoke.

“Do you realize the gravity of what you’ve done?”

He wasn’t asking for an answer, and Luca didn’t give one.

“I’m losing millions because of your scandal.”

“But the court ruled in my favor,” Luca said quietly.

“You stupid boy!” Mr. Dawson roared, hurling the paper in his hand at his youngest son.

“Yes, after I spent millions! You killed that boy, Luca. You did. You have a driver. I provide you with everything. Tell me why you would be behind the wheel drunk!”

“And here we go again with the ‘I gave you everything!’” Luca shot back. “I guess no matter what I do, I could never be the perfect son for you.”

“In all you do, perfection isn’t the issue. Not killing someone because you’re too high to see the road - that is.”

Silence swallowed the room again.

“You’re going to rehab,” Mr. Dawson declared.

“No, I’m not,” Luca muttered.

“Yes, you are. You’re lucky you’re not in jail. This is the only way to save your face. You’re getting married in a month, who wants this scandal following you?”

Luca sank into the nearest chair, pressing his palms against his forehead with a low groan.

“How is she?” he asked after a long beat.

“Ophelia is fine,” Mr. Dawson replied sharply. “She’s helping take care of your grandmother, the same grandmother you nearly sent to her early grave.”

“Not her.…” Luca whispered, barely audible.

Mr. Dawson's expression hardened. Instead of responding, he placed a paper and a pen in front of Luca, an unspoken command to sign the rehab admission form.

Luca exhaled deeply, picked up the pen, and signed. Mr. Dawson snatched the paper the moment he finished and began walking away.

“The least you could tell me,” Luca said, stopping him, “is if she’s fine. I need to know that.”

Mr. Dawson turned, his stare cold and sharp.

“You are truly shameless.”