Chapter 6

Become My Wife

"They're trying to start a war."

The words settled heavily between us.

I stared at Damian, searching his face for some sign that this was all an elaborate joke.

There wasn't one.

"What war?" I asked.

"The kind that destroys families."

I frowned.

"I don't understand."

"I know."

He took the tablet from my hands and switched it off.

"But you will."

His calmness was infuriating.

"My entire life has fallen apart in one day!" I snapped. "People are calling me a cheater. The news says I've been sleeping with you. My fiancé abandoned me, and now you're talking in riddles?"

His eyes met mine.

"I've learned that telling someone the truth before they're ready can be more dangerous than lying."

I laughed bitterly.

"So you're lying to me."

"No."

"Then tell me the truth!"

Before he could answer, his phone vibrated.

The name on the screen made his expression harden.

He answered immediately.

"What is it?"

Silence.

Then...

"When?"

Another silence.

His jaw clenched.

"I'll handle it."

He ended the call.

"What happened?" I asked.

Instead of answering, he looked at me.

"They've frozen your bank accounts."

My heart skipped.

"What?"

"Every account under your name."

"No..."

"My cards..." I whispered.

"My savings..."

I grabbed my handbag and pulled out my wallet.

One card.

Two cards.

Three.

My hands shook as I dialed my bank.

After several rings, someone answered.

"Good evening, Miss Angela."

"I... I can't access my account."

The woman on the line hesitated.

"I'm sorry, ma'am."

"Your accounts have been temporarily restricted pending an investigation."

"What investigation?"

"I'm afraid I can't disclose that information."

The call ended.

I stared at the silent phone.

This couldn't be happening.

I hadn't committed a crime.

Why were they treating me like one?

My knees gave way.

I sank onto the sofa.

Everything I'd worked for...

Gone.

"I don't even have enough cash to pay for a taxi home," I whispered.

The room blurred as tears filled my eyes.

"I'm broke."

"No," Damian said quietly.

"You're being cornered."

I looked up at him.

"There's a difference."

He walked to the fireplace and rested one hand against the mantel.

"They've taken your money."

"They've destroyed your reputation."

"They'll come for your job next."

My breathing became uneven.

"How do you know all this?"

"Because it's exactly what they did to me."

The room fell silent.

"You?"

His eyes darkened.

"I survived."

He turned to face me fully.

"I won't let them do the same to you."

I wanted to believe him.

God, I wanted to.

But trusting people had brought me here.

Trusting Ethan had cost me everything.

"I can't trust you," I whispered.

"I know."

"Then why are you still helping me?"

His answer came without hesitation.

"Because someone once helped me when I had nothing."

The sincerity in his voice caught me off guard.

For the first time...

He didn't sound like a billionaire.

He sounded like a man carrying an old wound.

He crossed the room and stopped in front of me.

Then he placed the marriage contract back into my hands.

"This is your decision."

I looked down at the papers.

"If I sign..."

"You become my legal wife."

"And if I don't?"

"I'll drive you wherever you want to go."

"No threats?"

"No."

"No blackmail?"

"No."

"No conditions?"

"There are conditions."

I looked up.

"What are they?"

His voice was steady.

"Our marriage must remain real in the eyes of the public."

I frowned.

"What does that mean?"

"You'll wear my ring."

"You'll live in my house."

"You'll attend public events with me."

"And..."

He paused.

"You'll never lie to me."

I almost laughed.

"That's your biggest condition?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

He looked straight into my eyes.

"Because the woman I almost married lied to me."

Something flickered across his face.

Pain.

Raw.

Unhidden.

Before I could respond, the front door burst open again.

This time, no one announced themselves.

"Ethan!"

My voice caught in my throat.

He stood in the doorway, soaked from the rain.

His expensive suit was wrinkled, his hair a mess.

His eyes searched the room frantically until they landed on me.

Relief flooded his face.

"There you are."

I stood slowly.

"What are you doing here?"

He took a step toward me.

"I made a mistake."

The words were barely out of his mouth before he dropped to one knee.

The room went completely silent.

He reached into his pocket.

Pulled out my engagement ring.

Held it toward me.

"Angela..."

His voice broke.

"Please... come home."