THE SCANDAL
1041 Words
Alice was still frozen in shock when Damian moved swiftly. In seconds, his strong fingers wrapped around her wrist, sending a searing heat through her skin. His grip wasn’t just firm—it was a warning.
His dark eyes bore into her with an intensity that made it hard to breathe.
"You planned all of this, right?"
Damian’s voice was cold, almost devoid of emotion, yet there was something lurking beneath it—something dangerous that sent a shiver down Alice’s spine.
She swallowed hard, her body tensing. “I… I don’t understand.”
Damian stepped closer, pulling her in until she could feel the warmth of his body—an unsettling contrast to the icy expression on his face.
“Don’t play dumb,” he murmured. “A scandal like this only benefits one person. And I’m sure as hell it’s not me.”
Alice’s breath hitched. “You think I did this on purpose?”
Damian looked at her as if she were nothing more than dirt beneath his shoe. “You were a nobody before this. Now, your face is on every headline. You really expect me to believe there’s no motive behind this?”
A surge of anger flared inside Alice. She had no idea how or why this happened, but Damian’s accusations felt like a slap to the face.
She lifted her chin, her voice trembling with emotion. “I’m a victim too! I don’t know how I ended up in this room! I don’t remember anything!”
Damian narrowed his eyes, his expression unmoved. “Convenient. Your memory just happens to disappear the moment this scandal erupts.”
Alice let out a frustrated laugh, her eyes flashing with fury. “And you remember everything? Are you sure you’re not the one being set up?”
Damian fell silent.
It wasn’t much, but it was enough.
Enough to tell Alice that he didn’t fully remember either.
Doubt started creeping into her mind. Something wasn’t right.
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to think. If she didn’t plan this… then who did?
Her thoughts drifted back to the party last night.
The music. The glass of wine in her hand. The lingering smiles from people around her.
And then—nothing.
Someone did this. Someone wanted her and Damian caught in a situation that could destroy them both.
But who?
Alice looked at Damian, realizing he might be thinking the exact same thing.
“Damian,” she said slowly, carefully. “Have you considered… that we might have been set up?”
His expression didn’t change, but something flickered in his eyes—hesitation.
For the first time since waking up in this nightmare, Alice felt something far worse than anger or confusion.
Because if this was a setup…
Then someone out there wanted both of them to fall.
**
The relentless chime of notifications filled the room, each new alert flashing across the screen like a death knell for Alice.
She swallowed hard as she read the headlines flooding her phone:
"Billionaire Damian Blackwell Caught in Bed with Mystery Woman—Who Is She?"
"Alice Montgomery, Sister of Evelyn Montgomery, Allegedly Involved in a Scandal with Her Sister’s Fiancé!"
"Damian and Evelyn’s Wedding in Jeopardy—What’s Happening Behind the Scenes?"
Alice’s breath hitched. Her hands felt clammy, her heart pounding against her ribs.
"This can’t be happening..." she whispered.
Her phone vibrated again. But this time, the name flashing on the screen sent ice through her veins.
Evelyn.
Alice hesitated. Ignoring the call would only make things worse. With trembling fingers, she pressed the green icon and lifted the phone to her ear.
"What the hell have you done?!"
Evelyn’s voice exploded through the speaker, filled with a fury so sharp it could cut. There was no panic, no heartbreak—just cold, blistering rage.
"I... I don’t know," Alice stammered. "I don’t remember anything, Evelyn. I don’t know how this happened."
A short, bitter laugh rang from the other end. "You don’t remember? That’s the best excuse you’ve got? God, Alice. You slept with my fiancé. You ruined everything."
Alice squeezed her eyes shut, holding her breath. "I didn’t sleep with him," she whispered. "I woke up in that room just as confused as he was. This... this is a setup."
"You think anyone’s going to believe that?" Evelyn hissed. "Those photos are everywhere. The world sees you as nothing but a pathetic, desperate little slut trying to steal my life."
The words stung like a slap. Alice felt sick. "I didn’t do this, Evelyn. I swear."
"It doesn’t matter what really happened," Evelyn said after a tense pause, her voice now colder than before. "The world has already made up its mind about you. And so have I. I will never forgive you."
The line went dead.
Alice’s hands trembled as she lowered the phone. Her grip was so tight her knuckles turned white.
Evelyn hated her.
And worse—the world hated her too.
Another phone rang.
This time, it wasn’t hers.
Alice looked up to see Damian’s expression darken as he stared at his screen. His jaw clenched before he finally answered the call.
"Yeah?"
She watched as his entire body tensed, his already sharp gaze narrowing into something even more dangerous.
"This could destroy us," a voice crackled on the other end. Though muffled, Alice could hear the tension, the urgency in their words. "This isn’t just about your personal reputation, Damian. If this scandal keeps spreading, our company could collapse."
Alice felt the air in the room thin.
"You have to marry her."
Her lungs seized. Her entire body went rigid.
She looked at Damian, fear lacing every fiber of her being.
He didn’t respond right away. He just stood there, his jaw locked so tight it looked like he was trying to crush something between his teeth. His fists clenched at his sides.
Alice finally found her voice. "What... what did they say?"
Damian exhaled slowly before hanging up. Then, he turned to her, each step he took carrying the weight of something inevitable, something suffocating.
And when he finally stopped in front of her, his cold, piercing stare made Alice feel completely exposed.
"We’re getting married."
- Writer
