BOUGHT BY THE RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE

Chapter 3

"My ex-fiancée eloped with another man the night before our wedding."

Selene's eyes widened. "But... why would she do that?"

Damian let out a bitter laugh, he leaned back against the sofa, his eyes fixed on the ceiling.

"It seems she never truly cared about me, she only cared about my money. Once she got what she wanted, she ran away with the man she really loved."

A wave of sympathy washed over Selene. "I'm sorry you had to go through that, Damian."

He didn't respond.

After a brief silence, Selene gathered the courage to ask another question.

"What about your father?"

The room fell silent again.

For a moment, she thought he wouldn't answer.

Then his deep voice broke the silence.

"He died when I was six."

Selene's heart sank.

"After his death, I had to grow up fast. My mother was never there when I needed her. The only thing she cared about was expanding the family business."

Selene lowered her gaze. "No child deserved to grow up that way."

Suddenly, Damian turned toward her, without warning, he reached for her hands.

Selene's breath caught in her throat.

His hands were warm despite the cold expression on his face.

"Selene..." He called her name so softly that it barely sounded like him.

"I really need your help. Just one year.... and I promise I'll let you go when it's over."

Her heart skipped a beat. "But, Damian... why do you need a contract wife? I understand you don't believe in love, but there has to be another reason."

Damian sighed and leaned back once more. "My mother wants to take everything that belongs to me, my inheritance, my father's shares, everything."

Selene frowned. "Why?"

"Because she wants me to marry Vanessa, the daughter of our family's business partner. If I refuse, she'll do everything she can to strip me of what my father left me."

"But... why would she do that?"

"Because, to her, business comes before family."

Selene fell silent.

After everything she'd heard, she finally understood why Damian had become the man he was today.

"But Damian... your mother doesn't even like me. I don't think I can......."

"She won't have a choice" Damian interrupted.

"She, along with the entire business world, only wants to see the billionaire heir with a wife. That's all that matters. Once we're married, she'll sign the property transfer documents."

And after that? Selene asked quietly.

"The contract ends, you'll be free. All you have to do is play the role of Mrs. Damian Knight until then."

Selene looked into his eyes. "And what about you? What happens when the contract is over?"

For the first time that night, Damian hesitated.

"Don't worry about me, I'll handle it."

Silence settled between them once again, after a while, Damian glanced at the clock.

"It's late. You should get some rest."

Selene nodded. "Good night, Damian."

He didn't reply.

She walked toward her room, but before closing the door, she turned to look at him one last time.

He was still sitting on the sofa, staring into space.

The entire penthouse was silent.

As Selene lay in bed, Damian's words replayed in her mind.

"No wonder he's so cold... Anyone who had lived through that much pain would stop believing in love."

Selene woke up later than usual the following morning. By the time she reached the dining room, James was already having breakfast.

"James!" she called, surprised. "Why are you here? You should have waited for me. I would've brought your breakfast to your room."

James smiled. "I came to wake you up, but you were still asleep. You looked exhausted, so I didn't want to disturb you."

A guilty smile crossed Selene's face. "I'm sorry."

She glanced around the dining room. "Where's Damian?"

James shrugged. "He left very early this morning."

Selene frowned. "Did he say where he was going?"

James shook his head. "No idea."

He continued eating while Selene turned to leave.

"Selene."

She stopped and looked back. "Yes?"

James hesitated before asking, "Do you love Mr. Damian?"

Selene's eyes widened. "James! Where did that come from?"

He chuckled. "Because I saw the two of you last night."

Selene froze. "Wait... I thought you were asleep."

"I wasn't. I heard you come back, but I didn't want to interrupt. I saw the way you took care of Mr. Damian."

Selene quickly shook her head. "It's not what you think."

"Then why did he ask you to marry him? Does he like you?"

"No, he doesn't."

James frowned. "Then what's really going on?"

Selene let out a quiet sigh. Mr. Damian asked me to be his wife... but only for one year."

James stared at her in disbelief. "A contract marriage?"

She nodded. "He's going through a difficult time right now."

James set down his spoon. "Everyone knows Mr. Damian is ruthless. Out of all the women in this city, why did he choose you? I'm worried he has another motive."

A soft smile spread across Selene's lips. "You're wrong about him, James."

James raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"There's more to Damian than the cold man everyone sees. I used to think he was heartless too... but I was wrong."

James remained silent for a moment. "Do you really trust him?"

Selene smiled. "I'm still getting to know him, but one thing is certain... Damian isn't as cold as people believe."

James looked at her curiously. "What made you change your mind?"

Selene stood up from her chair. "Your breakfast is getting cold."

But I want to know. She smiled without answering. "Finish your food, James."

With that, she walked out of the dining room, leaving James even more curious than before.

Outside, the streets buzzed with the usual morning traffic. Damian's car came to a stop in front of the Knight family mansion.

Without hesitation, he stepped out and walked inside.

Mrs. Eliora Knight sat elegantly in the living room, a glass of red wine resting on the marble table beside her.

She looked up as Damian entered.

"So, Damian... what brings you here?"

His expression remained unreadable. ,"Why are you trying to ruin my life, Mother?"

Eliora slowly set her wine glass down before rising to her feet. "Ruin your life?"

She let out a soft laugh. "Damian, I'm your mother. Why would I ever want to ruin your life?"

A bitter smile appeared on Damian's face. "If that were true... you would have let me live my own life long ago."

"I'm only doing what's best for you."

"What's best for me?" Damian's voice grew colder.

"You've never cared about what I wanted. Ever since Dad died, all you've cared about is business, parties, and expanding the Knight empire. Now you're suddenly pretending to care?"

"Damian..."

"No." He cut her off.

"You don't care about my happiness, you never have. To you, I'm nothing more than a tool to secure another business deal."

Eliora's expression darkened. "I'm your mother!"

Damian met her eyes without flinching. "Have you ever acted like one?"

The room fell silent. "You're not thinking about what's best for me, you're only thinking about yourself. You're selfish, and........"

Before he could finish, a sharp slap echoed through the room. Damian's face turned to the side from the force of the blow.

"How dare you!" Eliora's voice trembled with anger.

"Have you forgotten that I'm still your mother?"

Damian remained silent, his gaze lowered briefly before he slowly turned back to face her.

There was no anger in his eyes anymore, only disappointment.

Without another word, he turned and walked toward the door.

"Whether you like it or not, Eliora's voice rang out behind him, you will marry Vanessa. It's the only way to protect this family's legacy."

Damian stopped. For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.

Then he glanced back over his shoulder, his eyes were colder than ice.

"That will never happen."

With those words, he walked out, leaving Eliora standing alone in the silent mansion.

Damian returned to the penthouse a short while later.

From the living room, Selene noticed his car had pulled into the driveway, but he didn't get out immediately.

She frowned.

"That's strange..."

Damian had gone out alone without his bodyguards, something he had never done before.

A few minutes later, the car door finally opened.

Damian stepped out, looking completely lost. Without sparing anyone a glance, he walked straight toward the rooftop.

James noticed him too. "What's wrong with Mr. Damian?"

Selene shook her head. "I don't know..."

She watched Damian disappear through the stairway door.

"Maybe I should go check on him."

Without waiting for another word, she hurried after him.

On getting to the rooftop, Selene froze.

Damian was throwing punch after punch at the boxing bag. Each punch was harder than the last.

His bare knuckles were torn open, blood staining the leather and yet he refused to stop.

"Damian!" She called but no response.

She rushed towards him and grabbed his wrist.

"Damian stop you're bleeding!"

Without thinking, Damian jerked his hand away violently.

Selene lost her balance. "Damian....."

Before he could react, she stumbled backward, her head struck the concrete floor with a sickening thud.

Everywhere went silent.

"Selene!" Damian's eyes widened in horror

He dropped to his knees beside her, gently lifting her into his arms.

"Selene.....wake up"

There was no response. A thin line of blood trickled down the side of her forehead.

Panic flooded Damian's chest for the first time in years.

Without wasting another second, scooped her into his arms and hurried downstairs.

James who was in the living room saw them and immediately ran over.

"Selene? What happened to her?"

Damian didn't answer, his face was pale, his expression filled with panic.

He gently laid Selene in the backseat of the car, got behind the wheel and sped out of the driveway.