chapter Four- My favourite person

Damon POV

The door clicked shut behind me, and for a moment, I just stood there on the porch, staring at the quiet street. The conversation with Zebulunia kept replaying in my head,her eyes guarded but alive, her voice sharp,yet it stirred something in me more than it should’ve.

She might refuse to marry me today.

The thought unsettled me more than it should’ve.

She had every right to hesitate. I hadn't earned her trust, not yet. But she wasn't just some pawn in the middle of family politics anymore, she was mine. Something I couldn't bare to share. My property.

I hated how much I already was wanting her.

I made my way down to the SUV, slid into the driver’s seat, and adjusted the mirror. My jaw was tight, thought tangled in the confrontation from earlier, the real reason behind this sudden Wedding decision.

~~

“You humiliated me!” Ethan had spat, pacing my study like a wolf denied his prey.

I poured myself a drink, slow and deliberate. “You humiliated yourself, little brother. You left her in front of everyone. Like a coward.”

“You don't understand you've done,” He hissed. “You made me look like a fool. She isn't even worth it. “

I turned, letting the glass tilt in my hand. “That masked girl held herself with more dignity than you've ever managed.”

He forced a laugh. “You think this is about dignity? You don't even know her. You're just trying to prove something to father or yourself. Gregory should’ve known better than to force me into marring some mystery girl.”

Our father, Gregory, had forced the match. Fast-tracked it so Ethan could step into the company. Not me. I never wanted the empire. Never wanted to live in Gregory's shadow. His parents had proposed I married the woman they choose for me before I can become the heir, knowing fully well I wouldn't do such, since then I gave up on the empire. Making Ethan the next heir who agreed when it was proposed. He craved to be the heir.

Yes, she wasn’t what he was expecting. Still, Ethan should’ve handled it like a man.

Instead, he turned his back on her like a spoiled prince throwing away a crown. And now he wanted to her erased,forgotten like none of it had ever happened.

But that was already too late because I am ready to take her as mine, for a year, not for the company but for fun and to prove Ethan wrong.

I didn't trust him, he would just let her go, he would come after her.

There was something else in his eyes earlier this morning. Something I recognised.

Schemes.

And I wouldn't let him pull her into any more of them. Not for his pride. Not for the company. Not even for revenge.

So I made a choice.

I would take her. Protect her. Make her mine.

My sudden intense interest in her was surprising….

I heard the door open behind me.

Then I saw her.

Zebulunia in that dress… she looked so unreal. The white fabric hugged her like it had been sewn directly onto her skin. Every curve- her waist, her hips, her full chest-drew my eyes like magnet. The gown left just enough to the imagination…but it screamed ‘touch me’

And God, I wanted to.

She moved with grace, but I could see it in her step, she was cautious and quarded as if curious that my stare might make her miss her step.

The silver lace mask hid her face, but not her body.

Desire hut me hard and fast.

My fingers itched to feel her skin beneath that dress. I wanted to trace the line of her body, to press my mouth to the soft skin just below her jaw. To watch her fall apart beneath me and beg me not to stop.

She was pure temptation wrapped in silk.

I was already losing control.

“Thought you’d reject the offer,” I said, keeping my voice calm as I opened the car door for her.

She looked at me sideways. “ I almost did.”

I smirked. “Why didn't you?”

She paused, one foot in the car.”Because I always face the storm.”

I exhaled slowly. Damn, she was fire.

We drove in silence.

But it wasn't empty. The air between us was full-thick with tension. I couldn't stop glancing at her legs beside me, or the way her chest rose and fell with each breath. My mind kept wandering-undoing that dress, testing her skin, hearing her moan my name.

Focus, Damon, I have a whole one year to do all of that.

The ceremony was quick. Cold. No guests. Just the judge, a pen and two people pretending not to feel anything.

I slid the ring onto her finger. Watched her lips pressed into a tight line as.

No smile, no tears neither did her hand shake.

Outside, standing by the SUV, she spoke first.

“So now we're Married,” she said, coolly. “Do I have live in your family’s mansion, or do you actually have a place of your own?”

I smirked. “Tonight, we stay at the family estate. But tomorrow, we move to my private house. Just us.”

Her shoulders eased-just a little, but I noticed….

“Good,” she said. “ I'm not here to play a part in some family show. At least we don't have to pretend.”

She was putting up a strong front, but I could hear it. A small thread of fear, of not knowing what came next.

I secretly smirked, so innocent.

“What about my clothes” She asked. “You could stop by my place-”

“There's no need,” I said. “We'll shop tomorrow, get whatever you want.”

My phone buzzed and I glanced at the screen. My Assistance sent a text: ‘There's an emergency board meeting.’

“I need to go,” I said, voice lower. “Just for an hour,”

She only nodded, arms crossed, unreadable again as we drove in silence.

She was just there driving me insane.

The gate creaked open with a low groan, and we drove in.

I hadn't been here in weeks, but the sight of the mansion still did something to me. It stood tall and timeless in the middle of the sprawling land, wrapped in silence and pride. My father had always said it was the most beautiful home in the region-marble pillars, hand-carved stone, wide terraces that caught the evening light just right.

I'd grown up here. Learned how to lie and love here. Learned how to take punches, give orders, and hide pain.

But now, we rolled down the driveway.

Something felt wrong… the air was still, heavy and even the breeze that always stirred the garden hedges wasn't moving.

I led Zebulunia inside.

The main doors swung open easily. Too easily.

And then the scent hit me. Expensive cologne-Ethan's. He always drowned himself in it, trying to smell richer than he actually was.

But there was something else layered beneath it. Sweet, floral, feminine.

Zebulunia slowly beside me. Her heels clicked against the marble floor as we stepped into grand hallway and rounded the corner into the living room.

And that's when I saw him.

Ethan.

Sitting on the couch like it was a throne. His shirt was half unbuttoned, belt undone. He looked relaxed. His hands was buried in a woman's hair. She was in red lace, straddling him without a care in the world, her lips locked with him.

They didn't notice us. He was too caught up while she was too into it.

Zebulunia stood beside me,not moving, not speaking. I heard her breath shift slightly but that was it.

I should've expected this from Ethan. He was always reckless. Always proving he could ruin anything handed to him that I wonder why my our parents were even so interested in handing the company over to him.

My jaw tightened.

The girl back was to us. Her movements slowed, buy she still hadn't noticed we were standing there. Still caught in the haze of him. Of whatever spell she was under.

Then she turned.

Just a bit. Just enough to show her face.

And everything changed.

Zebulunia froze. Her whole body locked up beside me, like she'd turned to stone. Her breath caught.

For a long time, she didn't say a word. Just stared, eyes widened as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing.

And slowly with disbelief registered in her voice she yelled:

“Amber!”

The girl flinched and I froze.