chapter 2

Sunlight spilled across my face as I slowly opened my eyes.

My body ached.

Something heavy rested against my waist.

Confused, I turned—

And froze.

Damian.

He looked… peaceful.

Almost harmless.

My breath caught.

Then his eyes fluttered open.

And everything changed.

The calm disappeared, replaced instantly by something cold. Dangerous.

Before I could react, he pinned me to the bed.

His hand wrapped tightly around my throat.

“Who the hell are you?” he demanded.

My hands clawed at his wrist desperately.

“I—” I gasped.

“Where is Nora?”

His grip loosened slightly.

I sucked in a sharp breath.

The door suddenly burst open.

Nora stood there.

Her eyes widened in shock.

“Damian, baby, this is not—”

But she didn’t wait.

She ran out, her sobs echoing through the hallway.

Damian’s gaze slowly turned back to me.

Cold.

Filled with rage.

My hands gripped the sheets tightly.

“I’ll deal with you later,” he said darkly before walking out.

---

Tears streamed down my face as I scrubbed my skin in the bathroom.

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t wash away the humiliation.

By the time I stepped out, the day was already half gone.

I walked into the living room slowly.

A well-dressed older woman sat elegantly on the couch.

Beside her… was Nora.

Her eyes were red and swollen.

The woman stood and walked toward me.

Her gaze was sharp, filled with disgust.

“So… you’re the little witch.”

Damian’s mother’s voice was sharp, her eyes filled with disgust as she looked me up and down.

“I—I didn’t—” I tried to speak, but my voice came out weak.

“Save it,” she snapped. “Girls like you don’t need to explain. I’ve seen enough.”

My chest tightened.

Girls like me?

I turned to Nora, my eyes pleading.

Please… just tell them the truth.

But she only looked away.

Then slowly, she stood up.

“I need to speak with her,” Nora said softly.

Damian’s mother voice softened as she stared at Nora, she nodded.

---

Nora grabbed my wrist and dragged me down the hallway.

The moment we were out of sight, she pushed me hard against the wall.

I gasped in pain.

“Nora, what are you—”

“Stop pretending,” she cut in sharply.

Her eyes were no longer filled with guilt.

They were cold.

Filled wuth hatred

“You think I don’t know what you’re trying to do?” she said.

My brows furrowed in confusion.

“What are you talking about? I didn’t want any of this!”

She laughed.

A cold, mocking laugh.

“Of course you didn’t,” she said sarcastically. “Poor, innocent Clarice.”

Tears filled my eyes.

“Then why are you doing this to me?” I asked, my voice breaking.

Her expression darkened.

“Because I need you to.”

My heart skipped.

“What…?”

She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a whisper.

“Damian’s family is powerful. Rich. Influential. Marrying into this family will secure everything for me.”

I stared at her, disbelief flooding my chest.

“Then why didn’t you marry him yourself?” I asked.

Her lips curled slightly.

“Because,” she said, “there are… complications.”

My stomach twisted.

“What kind of complications?”

She smiled.

A slow, dangerous smile

“That’s none of your concern”

She leaned closer, grabbing me tightly

“But here’s what you need to understand.”

Her fingers dug painfully into my arm.

“You will stay in this marriage.”

My eyes widened.

“What? No—”

“Yes,” she said firmly. “You’ll stay. You’ll take all the blame. You’ll be the bad wife.”

My breath hitched.

“And when the time is right…” she continued, her voice almost sweet, “…you’ll disappear.”

Fear crawled up my spine.

“Nora, I’m your sister,” I whispered.

She tilted her head slightly.

“Exactly.”

Then she released me.

“Go back inside,” she said calmly, returning to the sweet girl every one knew.

“And remember—no one will believe you.”

---

I stumbled back into the living room, my heart racing.

Damian stood there now.

His presence alone made the room feel colder.

His eyes landed on me instantly.

Sharp.

Unreadable

“I need to talk to you,” I said quickly, desperation creeping into my voice.

He didn’t respond.

He just stared.

“I know this looks bad, but I swear—this isn’t what you think,” I continued.

Nora walked in behind me.

Quiet.

Perfect.

“Damian…” she said softly.

He turned to her immediately.

“Are you okay?” his voice softened.

The difference was painful.

“I’m fine,” she said, though her voice trembled slightly.

“I just… I didn’t expect this.”

She glanced at me briefly.

Then looked away like I disgusted her.

My chest tightened.

“She’s lying,” I said quickly. “She forced me to this i didn't want to”

“of course you didn't want this—you did want to marry the richest man and become mrs wilson

“. “

“Enough.” damiens voice boomed, cold, Deadly.

I froze.

He stepped closer to me, his gaze hard.

“You think I’m stupid?” he asked quietly.

“No, I—”

“You seduced your sister’s fiancé,” he continued, his tone filled with contempt. “Then tried to play the victim.”

My head shook frantically.

“No! That’s not true—”

“Then what is the true?” he snapped.

His voice echoed in the room.

I opened my mouth.

But no words came out—was it worth it.

Nora was right

No one would belive me

He laughed, A dangerous sound.

“I don’t like liars,” he said.

Fear gripped my chest.

“From today onward,” he continued, “you will learn your place in this house.”

My hands trembled.

“Damian, please—”

“You wanted this marriage,” he cut in coldly.

“Now you’ll live with it.”

Before I could react, he turned to one of the maids.

“Take her to the servants’ quarters.”

My eyes widened.

“What?”

“If she wants to act like a scheming woman,” he added, glancing at me, “then she can live like one.”

Tears blurred my vision.

I looked at Nora one last time.

She didn’t even look at me.

As the maid grabbed my arm, I realized something that made my heart sink even deeper—

This wasn’t just a marriage.

It was a prison.

And I had just become its prisoner.