Chapter 6: The Enemy Behind The Smile
870 Words
Vanessa tightened her grip on the steering wheel as rain began to fall against her windshield.
Her breathing was uneven.
The image of Damien standing beside Amara replayed over and over in her mind.
"My wife deserves your respect."
Those words felt like knives.
For years, everyone believed she would become Mrs. Blackwood.
She attended every Blackwood charity gala.
She stood beside Damien at business dinners.
The media had already paired their names together.
Even investors expected the marriage one day.
Then...
A stranger appeared.
And in less than forty-eight hours...
Everything Vanessa had dreamed of disappeared.
She wiped away another tear before driving toward the city.
Meanwhile...
At Blackwood Mansion...
Mrs. Harris finished arranging the master bedroom.
Everything looked perfect.
Only one problem remained.
There was only one bed.
Amara stopped at the doorway.
"You cannot be serious."
Mrs. Harris smiled politely.
"Mr. Blackwood's instructions."
Amara rubbed her forehead.
"There isn't another room?"
"There are twenty-three."
"Then why am I here?"
Mrs. Harris lowered her voice.
"Because Mr. Blackwood rarely changes his mind."
She quietly excused herself, leaving Amara alone.
A few seconds later...
Damien walked in.
He loosened his tie before looking at her.
"You can take the bed."
Amara folded her arms.
"And where will you sleep?"
"The couch."
She stared at him.
"That's... unexpected."
He gave a small shrug.
"I don't enjoy unnecessary arguments."
For the first time...
Amara almost smiled.
Maybe there was more to this cold billionaire than he allowed people to see.
Elsewhere...
Vanessa parked outside a private members' club.
She walked inside without hesitation.
In the VIP lounge, a man in his early thirties sat with a glass of whiskey.
Perfect suit.
Cold smile.
Dangerous eyes.
He looked up as Vanessa approached.
"You're late."
She sat opposite him.
"You already know why."
The man smiled.
"I know Damien got married."
Vanessa frowned.
"How?"
He chuckled.
"In this city, nothing involving Damien Blackwood stays secret for long."
She leaned forward.
"I want her gone."
The man swirled his drink.
"Dead?"
Vanessa looked at him in shock.
"No!"
"I only want Damien to leave her."
The man laughed softly.
"You're still too soft."
He stood and walked toward the large window overlooking the city.
"Love has always made people weak."
Vanessa's voice trembled.
"Will you help me?"
He turned around slowly.
A dangerous smile spread across his face.
"Oh, I will."
"Not because of you..."
"But because I've been waiting a long time to destroy Damien Blackwood."
Vanessa's heartbeat quickened.
"What exactly are you planning?"
He slid a thick file across the table.
On the cover was one word:
BLACKWOOD.
"You'll know soon enough."
The next morning...
Amara woke to the smell of freshly brewed coffee.
She blinked, forgetting where she was for a moment.
Then she noticed the neatly folded blanket on the couch.
Damien was already gone.
She freshened up before heading downstairs.
The dining table was beautifully prepared.
Evelyn Blackwood smiled warmly.
"Good morning, dear."
"Good morning, Grandma."
The older woman beamed.
"I like hearing you call me that."
At that moment, Damien walked into the dining room wearing a navy-blue suit.
He looked calm and collected, as though nothing unusual had happened over the past few days.
Evelyn watched them with amusement.
"You two look perfect together."
Amara almost choked on her orange juice.
Damien calmly sipped his coffee.
Neither of them corrected her.
A little later...
Blackwood Corporation.
Employees filled the hallways, whispering among themselves.
"So the CEO really got married?"
"I heard she's not from a wealthy family."
"I wonder what she looks like."
Suddenly...
The elevator doors opened.
Damien stepped out.
The entire floor became silent.
"Good morning, Mr. Blackwood."
He acknowledged everyone with a slight nod and walked toward his office.
Amara followed behind him, feeling countless eyes on her.
Just before they reached the office...
A voice echoed through the hallway.
"Congratulations, cousin."
Damien stopped.
Standing a few meters away was a handsome man in an expensive charcoal-gray suit.
He wore a charming smile...
But his eyes were cold.
He looked directly at Amara.
"So this is the woman everyone has been talking about."
Damien's expression immediately hardened.
"What do you want, Lucas?"
Lucas smiled wider.
"I only came to welcome the newest member of the Blackwood family."
He stretched out his hand toward Amara.
"I'm Lucas Blackwood."
Before she could shake his hand...
Damien stepped between them.
"You've welcomed her."
"You may leave."
Lucas slowly withdrew his hand.
His smile never faded.
"As you wish."
He turned around and walked away.
Just before entering the elevator...
He looked back.
"Enjoy your happiness while it lasts."
The elevator doors closed.
A strange chill ran down Amara's spine.
She turned toward Damien.
"Who is he?"
Damien remained silent for a long moment.
Finally, he answered.
"My cousin."
"He has wanted everything that belongs to me since we were children."
Amara frowned.
"Does that include your company?"
Damien looked out through the glass windows overlooking the city.
"My company."
"My name."
"My life."
He paused.
"And now..."
His eyes slowly met hers.
"My wife."
Amara's heart skipped a beat.
For the first time...
She realized their marriage wasn't just attracting attention.
It had made her a target.
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