CHAPTER 4: THE DEVIL BILLIONAIRE

“You’re marrying Damien Blackwood? Then may God have mercy on your soul.”

Sophia’s radiant smile slowly disappeared.

She stared at her best friend, Chloe, in disbelief.

“What did you just say?”

Chloe looked around the luxurious café before lowering her voice.

“I said… if you’re really marrying Damien Blackwood, then I feel sorry for you.”

Sophia laughed nervously.

“Stop joking. Every woman in this city dreams of marrying into the Blackwood family.”

“They dream about the Blackwood fortune,” Chloe corrected. “Not Damien.”

Sophia frowned.

“What do you mean?”

Chloe leaned closer.

“Haven’t you heard the rumors?”

Sophia shook her head.

Vivian had been too busy planning the wedding and boasting about the marriage proposal that neither of them had bothered to learn anything about the groom.

Chloe sighed.

“People call him The Devil Billionaire.”

Sophia’s fingers tightened around her coffee cup.

“The Devil… Billionaire?”

“They say he has no heart.”

Sophia forced a laugh.

“Rumors are always exaggerated.”

“I wish they were.”

Chloe’s expression remained serious.

“My cousin works at Blackwood Group.”

“He said Damien fired three executives in one meeting because they lied to him.”

Sophia swallowed.

“He never raises his voice.”

“He doesn’t need to.”

“They say when he looks at you, your legs start shaking.”

Sophia’s smile became strained.

“That’s just because he’s a strict businessman.”

Chloe hesitated.

“There are more rumors.”

Sophia suddenly wasn’t sure she wanted to hear them.

But curiosity got the better of her.

“What rumors?”

“They say no woman has ever stayed by his side for long.”

“They say he’s impossible to please.”

“They say he doesn’t believe in love.”

“And…”

Chloe paused.

“They say his mansion feels more like a prison than a home.”

Sophia’s heartbeat quickened.

She remembered the excitement she’d felt yesterday.

The designer dresses.

The luxurious vacations.

The glamorous life she’d imagined.

For the first time…

A tiny crack appeared in that perfect dream.

⸻

Back at the Hayes mansion, Vivian was busy flipping through bridal magazines.

“This one is beautiful,” she said happily. “Imagine walking into the ballroom wearing this gown.”

Sophia barely looked up.

“Mom…”

Vivian smiled.

“What is it, sweetheart?”

“Have you ever met Damien Blackwood?”

Vivian shook her head.

“No.”

“Then how do we know what kind of man he is?”

Vivian laughed dismissively.

“What difference does it make?”

“He’s rich.”

“Powerful.”

“And you’ll never have to worry about money again.”

Sophia bit her lip.

“But what if the rumors are true?”

Vivian frowned.

“What rumors?”

“They say people call him the Devil Billionaire.”

Vivian waved a hand.

“Every successful businessman has enemies.”

“But—”

“No buts.”

Vivian closed the magazine.

“People spread lies about wealthy men every day.”

“You’ll be Mrs. Blackwood.”

“Nothing else matters.”

Sophia nodded slowly.

She wanted to believe her mother.

She truly did.

Yet the words echoed in her mind.

“May God have mercy on your soul.”

That night, sleep refused to come.

Sophia lay awake staring at the ceiling.

Every time she closed her eyes, she imagined a cold, expressionless man with piercing eyes.

A man who didn’t smile.

A man who couldn’t love.

A man everyone feared.

By morning…

The excitement that had filled her heart was slowly being replaced by fear.

And before the week was over…

That fear would change everything.