Chapter 2 — The Man Behind the Contract
1650 Words
Elena didn't sleep that night.
She spent hours lying in her bed, staring at the ceiling while the rain continued to beat against the windows.
Every time she closed her eyes, she heard Damian Cross's voice.
Not anymore.
She had signed the contract.
There was no taking it back.
One year.
She only had to survive one year.
One year of being married to a man she had never met before yesterday.
One year of living under the same roof as a billionaire who seemed to know far more about her family than he was willing to say.
Then she would be free.
At least, that was what Elena kept telling herself.
She turned toward the clock.
5:31 a.m.
With a tired sigh, she got out of bed.
There was no point trying to sleep anymore.
After taking a shower, Elena changed into a cream blouse and black trousers. She tied her hair into a loose ponytail and headed downstairs.
She found her father sitting alone in the dining room.
A cup of untouched coffee sat in front of him.
“You're awake,” Richard said.
“I never slept.”
He looked at her.
“Elena…”
“Please don't apologize.”
“But—”
“You've apologized enough.”
She pulled out a chair and sat.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Elena leaned forward.
“I want the truth.”
Richard's expression tightened.
“About what?”
“About Damian.”
He looked away.
“You don't understand what kind of man he is.”
“Then tell me.”
“He's dangerous.”
“That isn't enough.”
Richard sighed.
“Damian Cross doesn't forgive betrayal.”
Elena's eyes narrowed.
“Did you betray him?”
Richard immediately looked at her.
“No.”
The answer came too quickly.
Elena noticed.
“Dad.”
“I made mistakes.”
“You always say that.”
Before Richard could answer, the sound of several vehicles approaching filled the driveway.
Elena turned toward the window.
Three black SUVs had entered the property.
Her stomach tightened.
“Is that him?”
Richard slowly nodded.
“He's here.”
The front doors opened.
Several men in black suits entered first.
Then Damian Cross walked inside.
Elena had seen his picture in newspapers and magazines.
None of them had prepared her for the real man.
He was tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in a perfectly fitted black suit. His dark eyes were cold and unreadable.
He didn't need to raise his voice to command attention.
The entire room seemed to become silent when he entered.
His gaze immediately settled on Elena.
For a few seconds, they simply stared at each other.
Then he walked toward her.
“Miss Hart.”
His voice was deep and calm.
“Mr. Cross.”
“You know my name.”
“Everyone does.”
A faint expression crossed his face.
“You still signed the contract.”
“You gave me no real choice.”
“I gave your father a choice.”
“You knew he couldn't pay.”
“Yes.”
Elena's eyes hardened.
“So this was planned.”
Damian didn't deny it.
“I planned to solve a problem.”
“You call forcing someone into marriage a solution?”
“I call it an agreement.”
“You're unbelievable.”
“I've been called worse.”
Richard stood.
“Damian.”
Damian looked at him.
“Mr. Hart.”
The two men stared at each other.
There was an uncomfortable tension between them.
Damian placed a document on the table.
“The debt has been settled.”
Elena immediately looked down.
Eight million dollars had been transferred to the company.
Her father's company was safe.
She looked at Damian.
“You actually paid it.”
“I keep my promises.”
“And now you expect me to keep mine.”
“Yes.”
Elena's jaw tightened.
“How long have you been planning this?”
Damian didn't answer.
“Why me?”
Still nothing.
“Do you even know me?”
“I know enough.”
“That isn't an answer.”
“You'll get your answers eventually.”
Elena crossed her arms.
“I don't like mysteries.”
“You'll have to learn to.”
Damian turned toward the stairs.
“We're leaving.”
Elena blinked.
“Excuse me?”
“You're coming with me.”
“Now?”
“Yes.”
“I need to pack.”
“Your belongings are already being handled.”
She stared at him.
“You sent people into my room?”
“They're packing what you'll need.”
“I can pack my own things.”
“You have fifteen minutes.”
“You're giving me orders already?”
“Fourteen minutes now.”
Elena glared at him.
“You're extremely irritating.”
“I've heard that before.”
She turned and stormed upstairs.
Fifteen minutes later, she returned with a suitcase.
Her father stood waiting near the entrance.
“Elena,” he whispered.
She looked at him.
“You can still change your mind.”
“And let you go to prison?”
“I'll find another way.”
“You've had weeks to find another way.”
Richard lowered his head.
Elena hugged him.
“I'll be okay.”
“I don't know what he'll do to you.”
“Neither do I.”
She pulled away.
“Take care of yourself.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Elena turned before her tears could fall.
Damian was waiting beside the SUV.
She walked toward him.
“You're enjoying this, aren't you?”
“No.”
“Then why do you look so calm?”
“Because panic doesn't solve problems.”
She entered the vehicle.
Damian followed.
The journey was quiet.
Elena watched the city disappear through the window.
After nearly an hour, the SUV passed through enormous iron gates.
Elena stared at the mansion ahead.
It was massive.
Beautiful.
And intimidating.
Security cameras covered the walls, while guards stood around the property.
“This is your house?”
“Yes.”
“It looks like a fortress.”
“It needs to.”
“Why?”
“I have enemies.”
“How many?”
“Enough.”
The vehicle stopped.
Damian stepped out.
Elena followed.
A middle-aged woman approached them.
“Welcome home, Mr. Cross.”
Damian nodded.
“This is Mrs. Carter.”
The woman smiled.
“Welcome, Miss Hart.”
“Elena.”
Mrs. Carter nodded politely.
“Of course.”
Damian entered the mansion.
Elena followed.
The interior was breathtaking.
Black marble floors.
Crystal chandeliers.
Expensive paintings.
Everything looked perfect.
Yet somehow, the place felt empty.
There were no family photographs.
No memories.
Nothing that made it feel like a home.
Damian stopped near the staircase.
“Your room is upstairs.”
“My room?”
“Yes.”
“Separate from yours?”
“Yes.”
Elena released a breath.
“Good.”
Damian studied her.
“Were you expecting something else?”
“No.”
“You were.”
“I wasn't.”
“You're a terrible liar.”
He walked upstairs.
Elena followed.
When he opened the bedroom door, she stopped.
The room was enormous.
A large bed stood in the center, with a balcony overlooking the gardens. A walk-in closet was filled with clothes, shoes, and handbags.
Elena stepped inside.
“How did you know my size?”
“I know many things about you.”
Her smile disappeared.
“How?”
Damian didn't answer.
“Dinner is at eight.”
“I might not come.”
“You will.”
“You can't control me.”
Damian stepped closer.
“Until this marriage ends, there will be rules.”
“And if I don't follow them?”
His eyes met hers.
“Then you'll learn why people fear me.”
He turned and left.
Elena watched him disappear.
Then she looked back at the room.
Something on the dressing table caught her attention.
A small black box.
She approached it slowly and opened it.
Inside was an old photograph.
Elena's breath caught.
It was her mother.
Standing beside a much younger Damian Cross.
Elena stared at the photograph.
Her mother had known him.
But how?
She turned it over.
Three words were written on the back.
She promised me.
Elena's fingers trembled.
“What did you promise him, Mom?”
A voice came from behind her.
“You shouldn't have found that.”
Elena spun around.
Damian stood in the doorway.
His expression was no longer cold.
He looked genuinely shaken.
Elena held up the photograph.
“You knew my mother.”
Damian said nothing.
“You've known my family for years.”
His jaw tightened.
“What did she promise you?”
He stared at the photograph.
Then at Elena.
“She promised me something.”
“What?”
His eyes darkened.
“You.”
Elena froze.
“What?”
Damian stepped into the room.
“Your mother promised that one day, you would become my wife.”
Elena stared at him in disbelief.
“My mother would never do that.”
“She did.”
“Why?”
Damian's expression hardened.
“Because she knew what your father had done.”
Elena's heart dropped.
“What did my father do?”
Damian looked at her.
“That is the question you should have asked him years ago.”
And with those words, he walked away.
Elena remained frozen.
For the first time, she realized that the marriage wasn't about her father's debt.
The debt was only the reason she had been given.
The real reason was buried somewhere in her family's past.
And Damian Cross clearly knew the truth.
The only problem was...
He wasn't ready to tell her.
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