Tangled Heart

The morning after the engagement party, I woke to the dull ache of a headache and the weight of what lay ahead. I lay still, staring at the ceiling of my room, my thoughts swirling like a storm.

How had my life come to this? A forced engagement to a man I barely knew, tangled in a web of family expectations and old wounds I hadn’t healed.

My phone buzzed on the nightstand. A message from Damien: “Thinking of you. Hope you slept well.”

I stared at the screen, unsure how to respond. In fact, I wasn’t even going to respond. Anything feeling building for that man? My plan was to kill it. I wasn’t ready for heartbreak number two. I wasn’t sure if I wanted him—or if I could even trust my own heart again.

⸻

Breakfast was tense. Mum was chirpy as usual, busy planning the next few weeks of parties, dinners, and social events. Theo and Ella exchanged sly glances, like conspirators in some game I hadn’t signed up for.

Dad was his usual commanding self, asking after Damien’s plans and business schedules.

And Damien? He sat beside me, calm and composed, but I noticed how his gaze lingered, searching for a crack in my armor.

Dad cleared his throat, “The wedding will be held next week Thursday, two days before my birthday. Isn’t that…”

“Woah! Isn’t that too quick?” I interrupted, dropping my spoon.

“No, in fact,” Damien said with a small smile, “if the wedding could be tomorrow, I’d love that. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Cara Mia.”

“Liar,” I coughed, earning a sharp glare from Dad.

Mum chimed in, excitement written all over her face. “We’ll be going for the wedding dress soon. I’ll be putting my foot down on some things.”

I rolled my eyes. Mum loved any excuse for a party.

⸻

Later that afternoon, Damien invited me to his office—a sleek, modern space overlooking the city skyline. It was far from the grand estates and flashing cameras, a place where power and business ruled.

As we entered, he closed the door behind us.

“Zara,” he began, “I want to be honest with you. This arrangement—it’s not what I wanted at first.”

I narrowed my eyes, suspicious.

“But,” he continued, “I really want to know you more than this. I want to try—to build a future with you.”

His words stirred something in me—a flicker of hope I tried to suppress.

“I don’t want this to be just a business deal,” he said, stepping closer. “I want us to be partners. Real partners.”

His hand reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair from my face. The touch sent warmth through me, and I swallowed hard.

“I’m scared,” I admitted. “I don’t want to get hurt again.”

Damien’s eyes softened. “I’m not here to break you. I’m here to protect you.”

⸻

Days passed, and with each encounter, I felt the walls around my heart soften. Damien’s steady presence, his quiet strength—it was different from anything I’d known.

Meanwhile, Mum was shopping and planning nonstop, my family and his family meeting more often. Social media was ablaze—gossip columns and comment sections burning with talk of us. They dredged up his past, especially his ex, Tina Star—a well-known model. People wondered why it was me, not her. Some hated me, some liked me. But that was their business. I didn’t give a damn.

⸻

The following weekend, Damien took me to a secluded cabin by the lake—a place far from the flashing cameras and high society.

We spent the weekend talking, slowly unraveling the tangled threads between us.

One night, under a sky full of stars, Damien pulled me close.

“Zara,” he whispered, “I don’t just want your hand in marriage. I want your heart.”

I looked up at him, my breath catching.

“I want to believe that,” I said softly. “But love hasn’t been kind to me.”

He kissed me then—slow, tender, promising.

In that kiss, I tasted something I’d thought was lost forever: hope.

⸻

But as our worlds began to intertwine, the past was never far behind.

Mia’s betrayal still echoed, and Jason’s shadow loomed, threatening to unravel everything.

I knew I had a choice—hold on to the pain or take a chance on the man standing before me.

Maybe, just maybe, when love comes calling, it’s worth answering.