Semua Bab Bound by Fate, Torn by Secrets: Bab 1 - Bab 6

Zara had never worn designer anything in her life, but the silk gown hugging her body whispered wealth with every step she took. It had arrived in a black box, no note—just an instruction: “Be ready by 7 PM. Driver will pick you up.”Now, seated in the back of a bulletproof SUV with tinted windows, she felt like an unwilling star in a blockbuster she hadn’t auditioned for.The driver pulled into a grand estate in Ikoyi. The gates opened with quiet precision, unveiling a mansion straight from an architecture magazine—glass and steel merging into sleek, commanding shapes.She barely stepped out of the car before the door swung open.And there he stood.Dami Adeyemi in a tuxedo that probably cost more than her annual salary. His face stayed calm, but his eyes scanned her like he was sizing her up.“You look clean,” he said.“Surprising as you don’t seem like the type to compliment people easily.”“Don’t be so sure.”She followed him inside. The mansion was vast, minimalist, and cold—just

Zara sat in the corner of the bedroom, hugging her knees close while reflecting on her father’s past and current health struggles. She scrolled through her phone gallery as she looked through old pictures of her dad. In one, he was laughing with his eyes shut tight, a moment that felt far away now. In another picture, he was deep in thought over a chess game, carefully planning his next move like his life depends on it.Her eyes were clouded, but she blinked quickly to hold back the tears from falling. She hadn’t expected it to hurt this bad, reminiscing to the good memories while everything else slipped further away each time she visited the hospital. Her father’s smile had grown fragile, stretched thin between the pain and the endless medications.But there was no time for weakness. Not here. Not with Dami Adeyemi’s cold, calculating gaze just outside the door.The contract rested on the dresser—a cold, official paper, spelling out the terms of a marriage neither of them truly wante

The afterglow of the gala still shimmered in Zara’s thoughts as she sat quietly in her room the following morning. The memory of Dami’s hand against hers stuck in her memory, subtle, yet impossible to ignore. She was not sure if it was hope or fear stirring deep within her.She received a message from the PR team reminding them about upcoming interviews, public appearances, and social media engagements. The public wanted their fairy tale. But Zara wasn’t sure she wanted to play the part any longer.A soft knock interrupted her thoughts. Dami lingered by the door, his usual calm replaced by an unfamiliar hesitation.“Can we talk for a bit?” he asked quietly.Zara gave a slight nod, inviting him to sit.They faced each other, tense but unspoken words.“I am not sure how to navigate this,” Dami admitted as his usual composure slipping to reveal his vulnerability. “Not just the marriage, but... us.”Zara’s heart tightened. “Neither do I.”He looked at her, searching for an anchor in the s