My Billonaire Husband

Chapter 5: The Warning

The night wore on, and the party became a blur of faces and laughter that felt increasingly hollow to Raine. She could feel the weight of Damien’s world pressing down on her, suffocating her with its expectations and hidden threats. Despite the lavish surroundings and endless flattery from guests, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being pulled deeper into something dangerous.

As the clock ticked past midnight, Damien finally led her away from the crowd and into a quiet study. The mansion, now eerily silent, seemed to close in around them.

“I should have warned you about my father,” Damien said, closing the door behind him. His expression was hard, his usual charm replaced by something darker.

Raine raised an eyebrow. “So, that’s your father? The one who seems to hate me already?”

“He doesn’t hate you,” Damien replied, his voice low. “But he doesn’t trust anyone. Especially not me.”

“Why?” Raine asked, her curiosity piqued. “You’re his son.”

“That doesn’t mean much in my family,” Damien said, running a hand through his hair. “Victor wants control. He always has. And he’ll do anything to take it from me.”

Raine’s stomach churned. She had a feeling she wasn’t getting the full picture. “Is that what this is about? Control?”

Damien turned to her, his eyes burning with intensity. “It’s more than that. There are enemies, Raine. People who want me out of the picture. My father’s not the only one.”

Raine took a step back, her mind racing. “You’re telling me there are people who want to kill you?”

Damien’s gaze didn’t waver. “Not just me. Us.”

A chill ran through her at the weight of his words. “What do you mean, ‘us’?”

Damien’s jaw clenched, and he walked closer, his presence overwhelming. “If you’re going to be my wife, you need to understand what that means. It’s not just parties and luxury. It’s a constant battle. A fight to stay alive, to stay ahead. If you think this is a game, it’s not.”

Raine swallowed hard. The reality of her situation was starting to hit her, and it wasn’t what she had imagined.

“I didn’t sign up for this, Damien,” she said, her voice trembling. “I thought I was marrying a man, not some… target.”

Damien’s expression softened, his hand reaching for hers. “I never wanted this for you. But it’s the reality of my world. And now it’s your world too.”

Raine pulled her hand away, feeling a sudden rush of panic. “I can’t live like this. I can’t keep pretending.”

Damien’s eyes darkened, and he stepped closer again, his voice now colder. “You don’t have a choice, Raine. You made a commitment.”

“I didn’t know what I was committing to,” she shot back, her frustration bubbling over. “You didn’t tell me about all of this. You kept me in the dark!”

“I never wanted you to be part of this. But now you are. And you need to be prepared. There are people watching us, waiting for us to slip. If we do, it won’t just be my life on the line. It’ll be yours too.”

The gravity of his words hit her like a ton of bricks. She had never imagined her life could take such a dark turn. As much as she hated to admit it, Damien was right. There was no turning back now.

Raine stood there, her heart pounding in her chest, unsure of what to do next. “What do you expect me to do, Damien?”

Damien’s eyes softened, and he sighed. “Survive. Stick with me, and I’ll protect you. I promise you that.”

But Raine couldn’t help but wonder: Could she trust him? Could she survive this world she had so naively stepped into?

---

The next day, Raine tried to return to some semblance of normalcy. But the atmosphere in the Blackwood mansion had shifted. Everywhere she went, she could feel the eyes on her—servants, guests, even Damien’s colleagues. There was a tension in the air, a weight that pressed down on her every step.

Margaret, the housekeeper, took her aside when she was passing through the grand hallway.

“Mrs. Blackwood,” Margaret said in a low voice, glancing around to make sure no one was listening. “I hope you understand the position you’re in. It’s not just about being the wife of a wealthy man. It’s about being part of something much darker.”

Raine froze. “What are you talking about?”

Margaret’s gaze flickered toward the door, her voice dropping even lower. “Damien is not the man you think he is. He’s not just a businessman. He’s someone who’s been marked. And now, so are you.”

Raine’s blood ran cold. “Marked by who?”

“I can’t say,” Margaret replied quickly. “But be careful. This world doesn’t play by the same rules as yours.”

As Margaret walked away, Raine’s mind spun with the implications of what she had just heard. The danger was real—and it wasn’t just from Damien’s enemies. It was from a world she didn’t understand, one that was slowly swallowing her whole.

Raine was in too deep now. And there was no escaping it.