CHAPTER FIVE
1177 Words
‘I should’ve faked my death before agreeing to this’ I scolded myself internally.
I was sitting with Damien in a car leading to his parent’s house and I kept playing with anything I could find to keep myself calm. I even recited lines from my favorite books but nothing seemed to be working.
I kept replaying his words ‘don’t embarrass me’ in my head and it's a lot of pressure for someone actively impersonating her missing sister.
“Stop fidgeting,” Damien said beside me.
“I'm trying not to pass out,” I replied, breathing in and out.
“Try harder” his dry tone responded.
‘Comforting, truly.’
We arrived at Damien's family estate not long after and it looked elegant and… intimidating.
Damien took my hand in his as we started walking.
‘My charming husband.’
The second we walked in, people swarmed us.
“Selene, you look beautiful”
“You disappeared after the wedding”
“Still dramatic as ever, I see”
And the comments kept coming while I stood there like a frozen statue till Damien squeezed my hand.
I smiled carefully while internally preparing for my public execution. Because these people knew Selene and I didn't.
“Oh this is bad” I muttered internally.
A woman with dark red lipstick kissed my cheek lightly. Damien had her eyes but I had a feeling she wasn't his mother.
“Are you still obsessed with champagne ?” She laughed, handing me a glass. “Or did marriage finally mature you ?”
I plastered a tight smile and took the glass from her even if champagne made me gag.
“I think marriage exhausted me first” I answered.
A few people laughed lightly and I mentally congratulated myself for surviving one question.
Only several hundred more to go.
“Did you finally convince Damien to travel with you yet ?” another voice joined in.
‘Travel where? Prison?’
I smiled again instead.
“We've both been busy.”
That sounded like the best answer but apparently, not enough for them.
“Busy huh ?” A pretty girl said with a teasing smile and a wink. Heat crept up my neck, tinting my cheeks.
“You're quiet tonight,” an older woman observed.
Beads of sweat gathered on my forehead as I tugged on my dress.
Another person laughed softly.
“She’s been quiet since the wedding. Even on social media”
Then another ….
“I thought Selene never stopped talking.”
I felt multiple eyes shift towards me, studying me.
Maybe I should fake an illness or pretend to pass out. I just needed to get out of here.
“People change” Damien spoke up beside me.
“In two days ?” One man laughed.
“Marriage affects people differently” Damien calmly took a sip of his drink.
That shut everyone up surprisingly fast.
‘Oh. He’s terrifying to his family too.’ That actually made me feel a little better.
As everyone slowly returned to their conversations, my eyes drifted towards the far end of the table.
“Are those your parents ?” I whispered to Damien.
He replied with a nod.
Damien's father sat quietly beside his wife, barely speaking.
Actually, neither of them had said much since we arrived.
Not even a ‘how are you son ?’ or ‘sorry we couldn't make it to the wedding’
His mother simply watched me over the rim of her wine glass.
I see where Damien got it from.
We sat down at the table and dinner started.
Questions kept coming from every direction.
“Selene, remember Greece ?”
‘Uhmm what ?’
“I.. uhmm” I stuttered.
“How are you parents ?” Another person interrupted.
“They're fine”
“Tell me about the yacht incident ?”
I took a sip of my water to buy time.
I was learning quickly that these people traveled constantly and nearly died recreationally.
“I….”
“She's exhausted,” Damien interrupted without looking at them. “Move on”
The conversation shifted immediately and I let out a visible sigh of relief.
I glanced towards his parents again.
His father continued eating calmly like none of this concerned him. He only spoke to Damien once to ask about business.
But his mother was still watching me. Chills crawled slowly down my spine.
I dropped my gaze from her terrifying one and picked at my food.
I stared at Damien briefly.
He could expose me at any time but he kept saving me.
Without saying much, public Damien was better than private Damien.
“Damien always hated loud women,” someone said from across the table. “How did Selene even survive dating him ?”
Small laughter erupted around the table. I even cracked a small smile.
“Honestly, Elara was always the quiet one”
My heart stopped at that as everything else came to a halt, my pulse roaring in my ear.
Oh God
“Remember Elara ?” The person continued casually. “She used to follow Selene around, always acting timid”
“I always thought she'd be the one to inherit the Rhodes Enterprise,” another added.
I felt sick instantly. They were talking so casually and staring at me like they were expecting me to chip in something but I remained quiet.
Damien's fingers brushed against mine briefly beneath the table.
I appreciated it but I wanted out.
After a disastrous dinner, we were finally home. It was like a breath of fresh air. I never thought I'd be this happy to be back here.
“You did well tonight”
I looked up immediately. He sounded genuine, almost soft. “Considering the circumstances.” He added, making his way to his study.
The emotionally unavailable billionaire returns and that was my sign to go to bed.
I got ready for bed and it was past my bed time but I'd been tossing around the bed for hours. So I made my way downstairs to get water. The mansion was dark and quiet except the dim light spilling out from Damien's study.
Damien was arguing with someone on the phone and there was something in his voice I couldn't quite place.
“I said no” he sounded angry.
I moved closer to the door and pressed myself into the wall.
“She stays out of it”
Who is she ?
“Keep digging. Something isn't right”
He paused. “No, the debt doesn't explain their behavior”
I moved closer before I could stop myself.
“If her family planned this, I’ll destroy every single one of them”
My stomach dropped.
“And if Elara knew,” he paused. “I won't survive forgiving her”
I stopped breathing. That wasn't a threat.
Before I could process anything, Damien came out. His blue green eyes boring into mine.
I'm screwed.
“Why’re you here?”
- Writer
