Chapter 5

The dining room was quiet the next morning except for the clink of silverware. Lila moved around the table pouring tea no one had asked for. Her mother and sister sat scrolling through last night’s gala photos, voices low and satisfied.

Her mother didn’t glance up. “You will explain yourself later, Lila. Your absence was noticed. Victor Blackthorn asked where the other daughter was. I had to lie and say you were ill.”

Her sister laughed softly. “Damien just sat there the whole night. Cold. Silent. The Broken Heir. But Mother still thinks the fortune is worth it. I smiled through every photo like a professional.”

Lila set the teacup down in front of her mother and stepped back. She kept her face blank, but her mind was still replaying the moment she had fallen into Damien’s lap, the solid strength of his hands, the sharp way his eyes had locked on hers. Not broken. Not helpless.

The doorbell rang.

Her mother straightened. “That will be the Blackthorn lawyers. They said they would send someone this morning about the arrangement. Smile, darling. This is your moment.”

Her sister smoothed her hair and sat up straighter. “Finally. I knew he noticed me.”

Lila stayed by the sideboard, hands folded. She already knew what was coming. More papers, more pressure, more plans to marry her sister off to the man she had accidentally crashed into last night.

The maid showed a middle-aged man in a dark suit into the room. He carried a slim leather folder.

“Good morning,” he said. “I’m Mr. Harlan, representing Mr. Damien Blackthorn.”

Her mother beamed. “Please, sit. We’ve been expecting you. My daughter is ready to discuss the next steps.”

The lawyer didn’t sit. He opened the folder and looked straight at Lila.

“Mr. Blackthorn has made his decision. He wishes to proceed with marriage to Lila.”

The room went dead silent.

Lila’s fingers tightened on the edge of the sideboard.

Her mother’s smile froze. “I’m sorry… what did you say?”

“Damien Blackthorn has formally requested Lila as his bride,” the lawyer repeated calmly. “Not the elder daughter. He was very specific. The papers are prepared. He expects an answer by the end of the week.”

Her sister’s phone clattered onto the table. “That’s impossible. He barely looked at anyone last night. He sat there like a statue. Why would he choose her?”

Her mother’s face flushed red. “There must be a mistake. Lila was not even at the gala. She has nothing to offer. My eldest daughter is the one who—”

The lawyer closed the folder with a soft snap. “There is no mistake. Mr. Blackthorn was clear. He wants Lila. The arrangement will be between her and him alone. Good day.”

He turned and left.

The silence that followed was heavier than any shout.

Her sister stared at Lila like she had grown a second head. “You? He wants you? The invisible one who fetches tea and disappears? What did you do?”

Her mother’s voice shook with fury. “Explain yourself. Right now.”

Lila said nothing. Her heart slammed against her ribs. He remembered. He looked at me for two seconds and chose me.

Outside, a black car idled at the end of the driveway. The rear window was down just enough. Damien Blackthorn sat in the back seat, watching the house.

Lila moved to the window without thinking. Their eyes met across the distance.

Damien didn’t smile. He simply held her gaze, calm and certain, then spoke low enough that only she could read his lips through the glass.

“Lila… you are mine.”

The car rolled away.

Lila stood at the window, pulse roaring in her ears.

The game had just changed.

And she had no idea if she was ready to play it.