CHAPTER 4: The Mystery Name
888 Words
Ava didn’t sleep properly that night.Not because the bed was uncomfortable.It was the opposite.
Everything in Damien Lugard’s house was too comfortable in a way that made her feel like she didn’t belong inside it.
Like even rest here came with rules she hadn’t been told.
His words kept replaying in her mind." I Choose You."
She turned on her side, staring at the dark ceiling.
“What does that even mean?” she whispered to herself.
But the silence didn’t answer,It never did in this house.
The next morning arrived without warmth.No sunlight breaking through anything gentle.
Just controlled brightness through tall glass windows.
Ava stepped out of her room still thinking about last night.
The corridor was empty at first, until she noticed movement near the end of the hallway.
A maid quickly adjusted her posture when she saw Ava.
“Good morning, ma’am.”
Ava nodded slightly. “Good morning.”
She hesitated.Then asked, “Where is Damien?”
The maid blinked. “Mr. Lugard left early. He usually does.”
Ava nodded slowly and continued walking.
Later that afternoon, Ava found herself alone in the living room.Leaning back on the sofa.
Then her phone buzzed.Unknown number.She frowned.
It was the same kind of number that had felt too familiar before.She hesitate,then answered.
“Ava.”Her body went still instantly.
“Damien,How did you get this number again?” she asked immediately.
“I don’t lose access to what is connected to me"
“You didn’t eat breakfast.”
Ava blinked. “Is that why you called me?”
“Yes.”
She sat up straighter. “You called me just to monitor my eating habits?”
“I called to confirm compliance.”
Ava almost laughed. “Compliance? I’m not your employee.”
Then his voice lowered slightly.
“No,” he said.
He added"1There is an event tonight.”
Ava frowned. “What event?”
“You will attend with me.”
“That’s not an invitation, is it?”
“No.”
Of course not.
Ava exhaled sharply. “What do I wear?”
There was a brief silence.
“It has already been arranged.”
And the call ended.Just like that.
That evening came faster than she expected.
A knock came at her door.
A stylist and assistant entered with garment bags, shoes, jewelry everything laid out like she had been prepared for this moment long before she agreed to it.
Which, she realized uncomfortably, she probably had.
An elegant black dress was chosen for her.
Simple. Expensive. Perfect.
Ava stared at it.
“This feels like I’m being dressed for display,” she muttered.
The stylist smiled politely. “You are attending with Mr. Lugard, ma’am.”
When she stepped out of her room, Damien was already waiting.
He was wearing a black tailored suit, no tie loose, no visible effort wasted.
His eyes moved over her briefly.Then stopped.
Ava noticed but he didn’t comment.
“Let’s go,” he said without a compliment.
The car ride was silent.
Ava stared out the window as the city lights blurred past them.
“You never explain anything,” she said suddenly.
Damien didn’t look at her. “There is nothing to explain.”
Ava turned slightly toward him.
“Why do I feel like I’m always walking into something I don’t understand?”
His voice was calm. “Because you are.”
Ava frowned. “That’s not comforting.”
“It’s not meant to be.”
That made her look away again.
The venue was nothing like Ava expected.
A private hall filled with high-profile figures, wealth dressed in louder wealth, conversations that stopped the moment Damien entered.
Heads turned.Whispers followed instantly.
Ava felt it immediately.
Eyes were on her,Measuring and Judging her.
She stepped closer to Damien without thinking and
instead of moving away, he placed his hand lightly at her back.Even though it doesn't feel affectionate to her.
Ava felt the shift instantly.The whispers changed.Not curiosity anymore but Recognition.
They were led inside.Champagne. Music. Polished conversations.
And Damien moved through it all like he belonged to none of it but controlled all of it.
Ava followed quietly, trying not to feel overwhelmed.
Until, She heard it.A name.
Soft. Careless. Spoken by someone passing behind them.
"so that’s her? The replacement for Elira?”
Ava froze slightly.But she didn’t turn.
Damien did and said to the man who spoke"Say that again."
He hesitated. “I..I..I was just”
Ava didn’t understand what was happening.But she understood one thing clearly this wasn’t about her.
Not directly.But it was about her standing next to him.
And the name they had just spoken."Elira."
Ava turned slightly toward Damien.
“What does that mean?” she whispered.
But Damien didn’t answer.His eyes stayed locked on the man in front of him.And for the first time since Ava met him.His control looked like it was holding something back.
The man swallowed hard."Mr. Lugard, I didn’t mean to" But
Damien stepped forward one step.
Just one and the entire room went silent.Even the music felt like it stopped breathing.Ava’s heart tighten
She was not the first woman tied to Damien Lugard.
She was just the one who came after Elira.
And Damien was not ready for that name to be said out loud.
- Writer
