THE WIFE HE NEVER EXPECTED

Wound And Promises

Chapter 10

The ride back to the mansion was silent.

Rain tapped softly against the windows of the Rolls-Royce.

Amara couldn't take her eyes off Damien's injured arm. Blood had soaked through the sleeve of his white shirt.

"You should have gone to the hospital," she whispered.

"It's only a scratch."

"It doesn't look like one."

Damien gave her a small smile.

"You worry too much."

"And you don't worry enough."

For the first time that night, he laughed.

It was a quiet laugh, but it made Amara realize she had never truly seen him relax before.

---

The family doctor arrived as soon as they reached the mansion.

After cleaning the wound, he wrapped a fresh bandage around Damien's arm.

"You're lucky," the doctor said. "The bullet only grazed you. A few centimeters closer, and it would have been much worse."

After the doctor left, Mrs. Evelyn dismissed the servants, leaving Damien and Amara alone in the sitting room.

"I'll make some tea," Amara said.

"You don't have to."

"I know."

Twenty minutes later, she returned with two steaming cups.

Damien looked surprised.

"I didn't know you could cook."

She laughed softly.

"It's only tea."

"Still... thank you."

They sat together in silence.

The mansion, usually so grand and intimidating, felt strangely peaceful.

"Can I ask you something?" Amara said.

"You've already asked several."

She smiled.

"This one is different."

He nodded.

"When your arm was bleeding... why did you shield me instead of yourself?"

Damien stared into his cup for a long moment.

"My mother used to tell me something."

"What?"

"'Real strength isn't measured by how well you protect yourself. It's measured by how well you protect the people who can't protect themselves.'"

Amara listened quietly.

"I couldn't save my mother," he continued. "I couldn't protect my sister from everything she went through."

His voice grew softer.

"I'm not making that mistake again."

Without thinking, Amara reached across the table and gently placed her hand over his.

"You don't have to carry everything alone."

Their eyes met.

For a few seconds, neither of them moved.

Then Damien slowly turned his hand over, holding hers.

Neither of them spoke.

Neither wanted to let go.

Just then—

A sharp knock echoed through the room.

Mrs. Evelyn entered, looking troubled.

"Sir..."

Damien released Amara's hand.

"What is it?"

"A visitor insists on seeing you."

"I told security not to allow anyone in."

"They couldn't stop him."

Before Damien could reply, an older man walked into the room.

Amara gasped.

"Dad?"

Her father looked exhausted. His clothes were wrinkled, and there were dark circles beneath his eyes.

He didn't even look at Amara.

He looked only at Damien.

"They know," he said, his voice shaking.

"They've found me."

Damien stood immediately.

"Who found you?"

Amara looked from one man to the other.

"What are you talking about?"

Her father swallowed hard.

"There was never any debt."

The room fell silent.

Amara stared at him in disbelief.

"What... did you just say?"

Tears filled his eyes.

"I lied."

"I wasn't forced to arrange your marriage."

"Someone paid me..."

"...to make sure you became Damien Black's wife."

Amara felt the world spin beneath her feet.

Everything she believed about the marriage...

Everything she believed about her family...

Had been built on a lie.