The Devil I Betrayed

Ariana couldn’t hear anything. Not the whispers. Not the cameras clicking. Not pity in everyone’s eyes. All she could see was the empty space where Ethan should have been. Her fiancé. The man she had loved for three years. Gone. A little girl tugged at her mother’s sleeve. “Mommy… why is the bride crying?” The innocent question echoed through the silent church. Ariana blinked, only then realizing tears were sliding down her cheeks. Someone laughed. Someone else whispered, “I heard he ran away with another woman.” “It serves her right. She was never good enough for him.” Every word landed like another cut. Her father, Richard Brooks, gripped his chest and staggered backward. “Dad!” Before she could reach him, he collapsed. Panic erupted. Guests rushed toward him while others pulled out their phones to record the chaos. Ariana dropped to her knees. “Dad, please… stay with me.” His face had gone pale. He struggled to breathe. “I… I’m sorry…” he whispered. Then his eyes rolled shut. ⸻ Two hours later… The hospital corridor smelled of antiseptic and despair. The doctor stepped out, removing his gloves. “Mr. Brooks is stable.” Ariana let out the breath she’d been holding. “But…” Her heart sank. “His heart is weak. He must avoid stress. If he suffers another severe shock…” The doctor didn’t finish the sentence. He didn’t have to. ⸻ Outside the hospital, the evening air was cool. Ariana wrapped her arms around herself, trying to hold together everything that had fallen apart in a single day. Her wedding. Her family’s reputation. Her father’s health. Her future. Headlights cut through the darkness. A sleek black Rolls-Royce glided to a stop in front of her. The rear door opened. A tall man stepped out. His charcoal suit fit him perfectly, and his expression revealed nothing. Except those gray eyes… Cold. Sharp. Unforgettable. He looked at Ariana as if he’d known her for years. “Miss Brooks.” His deep voice carried an unsettling calm. “I believe congratulations are no longer appropriate.” She frowned. “I’m not in the mood for jokes.” “I’m not joking.” He handed her a black business card. She glanced down. Damien Moretti. CEO, Moretti Holdings. The name sent a chill through her. Everyone had heard of Damien Moretti. A billionaire so private that few had ever seen him in public. Rumors surrounded him—some called him ruthless, others whispered he had dangerous connections. “What do you want?” she asked. He looked at her for a long moment before answering. “Your fiancé abandoned you.” “Your family’s company is six weeks away from bankruptcy.” “Your father needs expensive treatment.” Ariana’s eyes widened. “How do you know all that?” He ignored the question. “I can solve every one of your problems.” She laughed bitterly. “And what’s the price?” Damien took one step closer. The city noise seemed to disappear. His next words changed her life forever. “Marry me.” Ariana stared at him, convinced she had misheard. “What?” “A one-year marriage.” “I clear every debt your family owes.” “I save your father’s company.” “I pay for every medical bill.” She shook her head. “There has to be a catch.” “There is.” His eyes darkened. “You don’t ask about my past.” “You don’t interfere in my business.” “And no matter what happens…” “…you never fall in love with me.” Ariana almost laughed. “As if that would ever happen.” For the first time… Damien smiled. It wasn’t warm. It wasn’t kind. It was the smile of a man who already knew how the story would end. “Think carefully, Miss Brooks.” “Because once you become my wife…” “…there’s no turning back.” He returned to the car. Before getting in, he looked over his shoulder one last time. “Oh…” “I already know what happened five years ago.” The color drained from Ariana’s face. “What… did you say?” But the door had already closed. The Rolls-Royce disappeared into the night… …leaving Ariana frozen on the sidewalk, with one terrifying question echoing in her mind: What if Damien knew the secret she’d spent five years trying to bury?