Chapter 3
1187 Words
Sophia’s breath came in sharp bursts as she stared between Damien and the man in the doorway.
Her father?
Her fingers curled into fists. “Someone tell me what the hell is going on.”
The man hesitated, his gaze flickering toward Damien. Waiting for permission.
That told her everything she needed to know.
Damien was in control here.
And whatever was happening to her father—he already knew.
Sophia stormed toward him, gripping his sleeve. “Tell me.”
Damien exhaled slowly. His jaw tensed before he turned to the man at the door. “Leave us.”
The man nodded, shutting the door behind him.
Silence.
Heavy. Suffocating.
Damien didn’t speak at first. He simply walked to the bar, pouring himself another drink.
The sound of liquid hitting glass was deafening.
Sophia’s heart pounded. “Damien.” Her voice trembled. “What happened to my father?”
He finally met her gaze. “James Carter was attacked tonight.”
Her stomach twisted. “Attacked?”
Damien took a sip of his whiskey. “Shot.”
The world tilted.
Sophia’s knees buckled, but she caught herself against the edge of the bed.
Shot.
The word rang in her ears like a gunshot of its own.
“Is he—” She swallowed hard. “Is he alive?”
Damien nodded. “For now.”
For now.
A wave of nausea rolled over her.
Her father was ruthless. Controlling. Manipulative.
But he was still her father.
And someone had tried to kill him.
Sophia’s mind raced. Who would do this? Her father had enemies—so did Damien.
Her gaze snapped back to him. “Was it meant for you?”
Damien’s expression didn’t change. “Possibly.”
“Possibly?” Her voice cracked. “You don’t know?”
He set his glass down, his eyes cold and unreadable. “If I did, they’d already be dead.”
Sophia shivered.
There was no hesitation in his voice. He meant every word.
She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. “I need to see him.”
Damien’s silence was answer enough.
No.
Her pulse spiked. “You’re not going to stop me.”
He sighed, rubbing a hand down his face. “Sophia, listen to me—”
“No.” She stepped closer, fire in her veins. “You listen to me. That’s my father lying in a hospital bed. I don’t care how dangerous it is—I’m going.”
A muscle ticked in his jaw.
Sophia held her breath, waiting for him to argue.
But then, he smirked.
Slow. Sinister.
“Brave,” he murmured, stepping into her space. “But reckless.”
She stiffened as his hand traced a slow path down her arm.
“You don’t get it, do you?” His voice was a whisper now, lethal in its quiet intensity. “You were never supposed to be a part of this world. And yet—” His fingers brushed her wrist. “Here you are.”
A chill ran through her.
Damien wasn’t just warning her. He was taunting her.
And the worst part?
He wasn’t wrong.
Because deep down, Sophia knew—this was just the beginning.
Hours Later – The Hospital
The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting an eerie glow on the too-white walls.
Sophia sat stiffly beside her father’s bed, watching the slow rise and fall of his chest.
Alive.
Barely.
The beeping machines and IV drips were the only signs that he hadn’t already slipped away.
Sophia swallowed hard. Who did this to you?
The door creaked open behind her.
She turned sharply, expecting Damien.
But it wasn’t him.
It was a woman.
Tall. Stunning. Raven hair cascading over her shoulders.
And her eyes—so much like Damien’s.
Sophia’s breath caught.
Who the hell was she?
The woman smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “You must be Sophia.”
Something about the way she said it sent a chill down Sophia’s spine.
“Who are you?”
The woman took a slow step forward. “Someone you’ll be seeing a lot more of.”
Sophia stood, her pulse hammering. “What do you mean?”
The woman tilted her head, amusement dancing in her gaze.
Then she leaned in, her next words a whisper—“You married the wrong Lancaster.”
Sophia froze.
The wrong Lancaster?
Before she could demand answers, the woman turned on her heel and walked away, her heels clicking against the tile.
Sophia stared after her, mind spinning.
Who was she?
And what the hell did she mean?
One thing was certain.
This wasn’t over.
Not even close.
Sophia’s Apartment – 3 AM
Sleep was impossible.
Sophia sat curled up on the couch, a glass of untouched wine in her hand.
She had too many questions.
Too many suspicions.
Damien had enemies. So did her father.
But that woman?
She wasn’t just a stranger.
She was connected to Damien.
And that meant something dangerous.
Her phone buzzed.
She reached for it, her breath catching when she saw the name on the screen.
Unknown Number.
She hesitated, then answered. “Hello?”
A low, feminine laugh. “Did you miss me?”
Sophia’s blood ran cold.
It was her.
The woman from the hospital.
Sophia gripped the phone tighter. “Who the hell are you?”
“The one who should have had everything you do.”
The words slithered into her ears like poison.
Sophia’s stomach clenched. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, but you do.”
Silence stretched between them.
Then—
“Damien was never meant to be yours.”
A sharp inhale.
Sophia’s world cracked open.
“You’re lying.”
Another soft laugh. “Am I?”
Before Sophia could say another word, the call ended.
She stared at the screen, her hands trembling.
Who was she?
And what was she hiding?
Damien’s Study – An Hour Later
Sophia burst through the doors, her heart racing.
Damien was at his desk, reading something under the dim glow of his desk lamp.
He didn’t look surprised to see her.
“Couldn’t sleep?” he murmured.
Sophia slammed her hands down on the desk. “Who is she?”
Damien’s expression didn’t change. “You’ll have to be more specific.”
Sophia’s nails dug into the wood. “The woman at the hospital. The one who called me. She said—” Her voice caught. “She said you were never meant to be mine.”
Something flickered in his eyes.
But it was gone in an instant.
Damien leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. “Go home, Sophia.”
Her heart pounded. “Tell me.”
“Now.”
Silence.
Then—
Damien stood, rounding the desk in slow, deliberate steps.
He stopped inches away from her.
His voice was barely above a whisper.
“Elena.”
Sophia’s breath hitched. “Who is she?”
Damien exhaled, his eyes dark with something unreadable.
Then he whispered the words that shattered her world—
“My sister.”
- Writer
