MasukElowen's POV It didn't feel right, but it felt like I had just had the best night of my life. It was probably the hangover.I remembered the dinner, the hall, the drink, and the dizziness that had crept over me. Then Damon caught me.Everything after that was hazy. Ugh. I probably drank more than I remembered. Then I remembered that I'd barely finished half the glass. It was strange that I'd gotten drunk from so little. I knew my limits. Something about the whole thing didn't add up. I sat up, and my head pounded.I looked at the glass of water beside my bed, and I wondered who had put it there.Rita knocked shortly afterwards, entered with a platter of breakfast. “You look… not so good.”“Haha,” I chuckled sarcastically. “You think I don't know that?”She smiled as she dropped my breakfast. I asked, “How drunk was I?”“Very.”A frown settled on my face. “That's impossible.”She looked confused as I was. “You could barely stand.”“I didn't even finish a glass, Rita,” I proteste
Damon's POV I hated gatherings.They filled my manor with too many voices, too many forced smiles, and too many people who suddenly remembered they were part of the Moretti family whenever it was convenient for them. And I didn't even trust them.Unfortunately, these gatherings had been part of Moretti tradition for decades. An occasional reminder that, beneath all the separate branches, rivalries, and personal interests, we were still one family. As the head of that family, I had no choice but to comply and endure them.I sat at the head of the table, listening to a conversation about the southern territories, when the doors to the dining room opened.My eyes lifted.Elowen walked in.Wine-colored dress. Silver stones catching the candlelight. A slit running dangerously high along her thigh.Damn.I looked away. Then I looked back.Apparently, enduring the dinner was going to be the easy part.My eyes couldn't help sneaking peeks at Elowen. I stopped trying hard to fight them, but
Elowen's POV It'd been weeks in this manor, and I had learned one thing about Casa Moretti. Something never happened quietly.Not arguments. Not gossip. Not even dinner.Rita had come into my room minutes ago to inform me about the dinner banquet that was to be held in the main dining room that evening. And that everyone important in the household was expected to be there.When I had asked whom ‘everyone’ included, she had stared at me like I was unbelievable, but still went ahead to list them—Moretti himself, some close family members, Zoe, Mara, and other high-ranked staff and people that I hadn't met. I wasn't excluded.“But—why?”I didn't know if it was how I asked that made Rita burst out laughing. And I joined, even though I was lost.“Forgive me, my lady,” she managed between laughs. “You're just funny.”Was I? Because the only thing that ran in my head was how tiring it'd be having people stare at me like an entertainment. The necklace incident was proof.“Oh.”“Worry not.
Damon's POVI saw her before she saw me.Elowen was standing at the end of the corridor, arguing quietly with one of the maids. Her brows were drawn together, one hand resting against her waist as she listened.Her hair was braided back, leaving her face completely exposed.I should have kept walking. Instead, I stopped.Again.That was becoming a problem. Not like I had any business in the east wing. My office was in the west, but I didn't know why I kept finding myself in places where she happened to be.Or perhaps I did.The maid noticed me first and greeted me. “Boss.”Elowen’s head jerked to me. Her mouth opened slightly, like she hadn't expected to see me.I know. Me too.“Good afternoon.”I acknowledged, nodding. “Hmm.”The maid had already left the both of us standing there, and I liked that. I loved seeing the fear on Elowen’s face whenever we were alone. I liked being feared. It kept people from getting too comfortable around me. We eventually walked past each other, and i
Damon's POV“Why is everyone loud?!”Their mouths fell shut. The only thing I could hear was their suddenly cautious breathing, as though even breathing normally would get them in trouble. Zoe, Mara and a small figure stood in the middle of the room, looking as though they had just witnessed a crime.My eyes shifted to the woman standing between them. Elowen. Her jaw was tight, her eyes bright with anger, but she wasn't crying. My gaze dropped on the little box resting on Zoe's palm, then back up.“What's going on?” I asked Zoe.“My necklace was missing,” Zoe answered. “And it was found in Elowen’s room.”Oh?I looked at the box again, before I instructed, “Open it.”“Damon, you don't have to—”I fixed her with a glare, and she shut her mouth. opened the box.Did she think I was in the mood for games? Not when I'd just received a disruptive call that demanded my attention. I needed to get this over with. “Where did you get it?”“It's an original Valenti. And my mother had gifted i
Elowen's POV The tour around the manor made me realize I hadn't even seen a quarter of the place. And I was grateful I agreed to go along with Rita that morning.At first, my mind kept circling back to everything that had happened the previous day. Especially Damon’s interrogation.‘Because next time, I won't assume it was a mistake.’There was never going to be a next time. The only “next time” I wanted was the one where I poked his scary eyes with my nails. I hated how that man could make me uncomfortable without even raising his voice. Even my father, whom I'd spent years trying to ignore, was a hundred times easier to deal with. But at least one thing was clear after yesterday's conversation. We had both agreed to stay out of each other's way and leave the past in the past.It was funny, but I actually felt relieved. If I could actually succeed in avoiding Zoe, Mara and Mr. Damon… It'd be a flex. And I'd even be able to focus on my fake marriage.“Are you alright, Mrs. Morrett







