Married to my enemy

Cruel offer

Lily's fingers tightened around the black card.

Damien Blackwood.

The name alone made her blood boil.

She remembered countless nights when her mother would sit quietly in the garden, staring at the stars with tears in her eyes.

"The Blackwoods destroyed us," Mrs. Blake would often say.

"They took everything from your father."

"And one day, the truth will come out."

Those words had remained engraved in Lily's heart.

Now, standing before the stranger, she felt anger replacing her fear.

"What does Damien Blackwood want with my father?" she demanded.

The man adjusted his tie.

"Mr. Blackwood only asked me to deliver the message."

"My father isn't interested."

"I'm afraid you don't understand, Miss Blake."

The man glanced at his watch.

"He wasn't asking."

Before Lily could respond, Mr. Blake emerged from the house.

The moment he saw the black card, all color drained from his face.

"No…"

His voice came out as a whisper.

"No."

Lily turned in surprise.

"Papa?"

Mr. Blake staggered backward.

His hands trembled violently.

"What does he want?"

The man offered a polite smile.

"Mr. Blackwood wishes to meet you tomorrow morning."

Mr. Blake's breathing became uneven.

"I can't."

"You can."

"And you will."

With that, the man entered the black car.

Seconds later, it disappeared into the night.

Silence settled around the house.

Lily slowly turned to her father.

"What is going on?"

Mr. Blake looked terrified.

More terrified than he had been when the loan sharks destroyed their home.

"Papa?"

He avoided her eyes.

"Nothing."

"Nothing?" she repeated.

"Those men threatened to kill you!"

"Now the Blackwoods suddenly want to see you!"

"What are you hiding from me?"

Mr. Blake sank onto the couch and buried his face in his hands.

"Oh God…"

"Not now."

"Please, not now."

His broken voice frightened her.

"Papa, talk to me."

But he remained silent.

That night, Lily couldn't sleep.

Memories of her mother kept replaying in her mind.

She remembered the way her mother smiled while cooking.

The lullabies she sang whenever Mia had nightmares.

The warmth of her hugs.

The sound of her laughter.

Tears slipped down Lily's cheeks.

She missed her.

So much.

And now, with danger closing in from every direction, she needed her mother more than ever.

But heaven had been cruel.

It had taken away the one person who always knew how to fix everything.

The next morning, Mr. Blake dressed in his best suit.

Though his clothes looked neat, his eyes told another story.

He looked like a man walking toward his execution.

"Papa, I'm coming with you."

"No."

"I'm not asking."

"Lily—"

"I'm coming."

Mr. Blake sighed heavily.

Forty-five minutes later, they stood before the towering headquarters of Blackwood Holdings.

Lily had never seen such luxury.

Marble floors.

Crystal chandeliers.

Men and women in expensive suits.

Everything screamed wealth and power.

A receptionist smiled.

"Mr. Blackwood is expecting you."

As they entered the private elevator, Lily noticed her father's hands shaking again.

The doors opened.

And there he was.

Damien Blackwood.

Standing before the floor-to-ceiling windows with his back turned to them.

Tall.

Broad-shouldered.

Dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit.

As though sensing their presence, he slowly turned around.

And the moment Lily saw his face—

Her breath caught.

Because the enemy she had imagined all these years…

Was nothing like she expected.

And judging by the shock in Damien Blackwood's eyes…

Seeing Lily had surprised him too.

"Interesting," he murmured.

"So you're Blake's daughter."

And for the first time since her mother's death…

Lily felt something far more dangerous than grief.

A feeling she couldn't explain.

And one that would change her life forever.

Damien Blackwood studied Lily with unreadable eyes.

For a moment, silence filled the luxurious office.

Then his gaze shifted to Mr. Blake.

"Sit down."

Mr. Blake obeyed immediately.

Lily remained standing.

"I'd rather stand," she said coldly.

A ghost of amusement crossed Damien's face.

"Suit yourself."

He walked around his desk and sat down.

Unlike her father, he looked perfectly calm.

As though the fate of their family meant nothing to him.

Lily hated him instantly.

"So?" she demanded.

"What do you want?"

Mr. Blake shot her a warning glance.

"Lily!"

But Damien merely leaned back in his chair.

"Straight to the point."

"I like that."

"Unfortunately, your father and I are here to discuss business."

"What business?" Lily snapped.

Damien opened a file on his desk.

"Three hundred million naira."

Her heart stopped.

How did he know?

Mr. Blake lowered his head in shame.

"The loan sharks," Damien continued. "Nasty people."

"They don't believe in second chances."

Lily's hands clenched.

"And?"

"And I can make the problem disappear."

Hope flickered in her chest.

"You'll help us?"

Damien's expression remained unreadable.

"Nothing in this world is free, Miss Blake."

Something about his tone made her uneasy.

"What do you want in return?"

Before Damien could answer, Mr. Blake suddenly stood.

"No."

His voice shook.

"No, Damien."

"Anything but that."

Lily frowned.

"Papa?"

Damien sighed.

"You disappoint me, Mr. Blake."

"Your family is drowning."

"And I'm offering you a lifeboat."

Mr. Blake's eyes glistened with tears.

"I beg you."

"Please."

"Not my daughter."

Fear settled in Lily's stomach.

"What are you talking about?"

Damien rose from his chair and slowly walked toward the massive windows behind him.

Rain clouds gathered outside.

Without turning around, he spoke.

"I'll clear your debt."

"I'll protect your family."

"I'll ensure the loan sharks never come near your house again."

Lily held her breath.

"But…"

Damien finally turned.

His piercing gray eyes settled on her.

"There's one condition."

The room became deathly quiet.

Mr. Blake looked broken.

And then Damien Blackwood uttered the words that changed Lily's life forever.

"Marry me."

Time stopped.

Lily blinked.

Once.

Twice.

Surely she had heard wrong.

"What?"

Damien's expression never changed.

"You heard me."

"No."

She laughed nervously.

"No, this has to be some kind of joke."

"It's not."

"No!"

She turned to her father.

"Papa, tell him!"

Mr. Blake's tears fell freely.

Unable to look her in the eye.

And that was when Lily realized—

Her father had known.

The betrayal cut deeper than a knife.

"You knew?"

Mr. Blake broke down completely.

"I had no choice."

"No choice?" Lily whispered.

"No choice?!"

She stepped away from him.

"You agreed to this?"

"Lily—"

"No!"

Tears streamed down her face.

"You were willing to sell me?"

"I would never—"

"Then what is this?"

Her voice echoed through the office.

Damien watched silently.

As though he had seen scenes like this before.

As though people's heartbreak meant nothing to him.

Lily turned toward him with blazing eyes.

"I would rather die."

To her surprise, Damien smiled.

Not kindly.

Not cruelly.

But knowingly.

"As expected."

He picked up a document from his desk.

"Take twenty-four hours."

"After that…"

He slid the paper across the table.

"Accept my proposal."

"Or prepare to bury your father next."

And for the second time in two days—

Lily felt her world collapse beneath her feet.