CHAPTER 5;THE SURGERY

9AM. St. Michael’s Hospital.

I couldn’t breathe.

Leo was in the OR. Lights on. "Surgery in Progress" sign.

Mom was praying in the corner. Dad was holding her hand.

And me? I was staring at the doors like if I blinked, something would go wrong.

The elevator dinged.

Damian walked in.

In a suit. At a hospital. With coffee.

He didn’t say anything. Just sat in the chair next to me.

"You didn’t have to come."

"I know." He set the coffee in my lap. "Drink."

We sat in silence for 3 hours.

His phone buzzed 20 times. He ignored all of them.

"Are you scared?" he asked suddenly.

"Terrified."

"Me too."

I looked at him. "You? What are you scared of?"

"Losing control." He ran a hand through his hair. "I don’t do... this. Waiting. Hoping."

The doors opened. The surgeon walked out.

My heart stopped.

"Family of Leo Carter?"

We all stood.

"Surgery was successful. He’s in recovery. He did great."

I collapsed. Sobbing.

Mom screamed. Dad cried.

And Damian?

His hand found mine. Squeezed. Hard.

For real. Not for show.

---

Recovery room. 2 hours later.

Leo was asleep. Tubes everywhere. But breathing.

Alive.

I sat next to him, holding his small hand.

Damian stood by the window.

"Thank you," I whispered. "For the money. For coming."

He didn’t turn. "Don’t thank me."

"Why not?"

"Because then I’d have to admit I did it for you."

My breath caught.

He finally looked at me. Tired. Real. No CEO mask.

"Ali, this contract... it was supposed to be simple."

"I know."

"But you’re not simple."

The room was quiet except for the beeping machines.

"Damian, we have rules."

"I know the rules." He stepped closer. "Rule #2: No falling in love."

"So don’t." My voice shook.

"Too late."

He leaned down. His forehead touched mine.

No cameras. No contract. No show.

Just us.

"Was that allowed?" I whispered.

"No." His lips brushed my temple. "Fire me."

We both laughed. Quiet. Broken.

---

11PM. Cole Tower.

We came home exhausted.

Damian poured two glasses of wine. Handed me one.

"To Leo," he said.

"To Leo."

We clinked glasses.

"Ali," he said, sitting next to me on the couch. Too close. "I want to change the contract."

"What?"

"The 1 year. The divorce. All of it."

My heart stopped. "Damian..."

"I don’t want fake anymore." His eyes were dark and honest. "I want real. With you."

Tears filled my eyes. This was everything I wanted and everything I was scared of.

"What if it doesn’t work?"

"What if it does?"

He took my hand. Kissed my knuckles.

"Stay. Not as Mrs. Cole for the contract. Stay as mine."

I looked at the ring on my finger.

It didn’t feel like handcuffs anymore.

"I don’t know if I can do this," I admitted.

"You don’t have to know. Just try. With me."

And for the first time since signing that paper,

I didn’t feel like I sold myself.

I felt chosen.

Rule #1: Don’t fall for him.

Broken.

Rule #2: No falling in love.

Broken.

Maybe some rules were meant to be broken.

The city lights outside the penthouse window blinked like stars.

Damian was still holding my hand. His thumb traced circles on my knuckles.

It was quiet. No fighting. No contracts. No cameras.

Just him and me.

"I should go check on Leo tomorrow morning," I whispered.

"I already had my assistant book the best room in the hospital. Private. With a view." He paused. "For your whole family."

My eyes stung. "You think of everything."

"I try to." He finally looked at me. "Especially about you."

My heart did something stupid. It believed him.

I stood up and walked to the window. The ring on my finger caught the light.

It really didn’t feel like handcuffs anymore.

It felt like... a promise.

Behind me, Damian stood too. I could feel his warmth.

"Ali," he said softly.

"Yeah?"

"Goodnight, Mrs. Cole."

"Goodnight, Mr. Cole."

And for the first time in my life, I went to bed smiling.

Not because of the money.

Not because of the penthouse.

But because maybe... just maybe... this fake marriage had a chance to be real.

END OF CHAPTER 5