CHAPTER4
1279 Words
The small bell above the bookstore door chimed, but the sound was drowned out by the pounding in Sophia’s ears. She turned just as Damien stepped inside, his presence shifting the air like an oncoming storm. His sharp, unreadable gaze locked onto Victor, his entire body coiled with restrained fury.
Victor, ever the embodiment of arrogance, leaned against a bookshelf, his smirk lazily spreading across his face. His dark eyes flickered with amusement, as if this was just another game to him.
“Damien,” Victor greeted, his voice dripping with mockery. “Took you long enough.”
Sophia’s throat went dry. There was something electric in the air, something dangerous. She took a step back, glancing between them.
“Get away from her, Victor,” Damien commanded, his voice low and lethal.
Victor chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. “Relax, old friend. "I was just having a little heart-to-heart with your fiancée.” He turned to Sophia, his smirk widening. “We were just getting to the good part.”
Sophia’s stomach twisted. “What good part?” she demanded, her voice sharper than she intended.
Victor ignored her, his gaze locked onto Damien. “You didn’t tell her, did you?” He let out a soft, amused chuckle. “Of course you didn’t.”
Damien’s fists clenched, his jaw tightening. “Don’t do this, Victor.”
Sophia’s pulse pounded in her ears. “Do what? What’s going on?”
Victor tilted his head. “You see, Sophia, Damien here has been keeping secrets from you. Big ones. And I think it’s time you knew the truth.”
Sophia turned to Damien, her breath shallow. “What is he talking about?”
Damien stepped forward, placing himself slightly in front of her. “Stay out of this, Sophia,” he said, his voice firm but not unkind.
She stiffened. “No. I deserve to know.”
Victor let out a dramatic sigh. “You see? This is what happens when you lie to the people you ‘love.’” He turned to Sophia, his expression dark and knowing. “Did he ever tell you about my brother?”
Sophia frowned. “Your brother?”
Victor’s smirk widened. “Oh, you mean he really never mentioned it?” His voice was all mock surprise. “Damien, I’m disappointed.”
Damien’s expression remained cold, but there was something unreadable in his eyes. “Enough, Victor.”
Victor ignored him. “My brother, Sophia. He’s dead. And do you know why?”
A sudden, horrible feeling crept up Sophia’s spine. “Victor—”
“He’s dead because Damien killed him.”
The room spun.
Sophia took an involuntary step back, her breath hitching. “What?”
Victor turned fully to her now, his eyes gleaming with dark satisfaction. “That’s right. The man you’re so desperately in love with? He’s a murderer.”
Sophia turned to Damien, her heart slamming against her ribs. “Tell me he’s lying,” she whispered.
Damien’s expression didn’t change. He didn’t flinch. Didn’t even blink.
“It’s not that simple,” he said quietly.
A cold wave of nausea washed over her.
“You killed someone?” she choked out.
Victor sighed. “Not just someone, my brother. He was executed, Sophia.” His voice hardened. “Damien put a bullet in his chest and left him to die.”
Sophia’s vision blurred with unshed tears. “Oh my God.”
Damien finally looked at her, his expression unreadable but his voice steady. “It wasn’t supposed to happen that way.”
Victor scoffed. “That’s all you have to say? ‘It wasn’t supposed to happen’?” He let out a sharp laugh. “Pathetic.”
Sophia shook her head. “No. No, this can’t be real.”
Victor’s gaze darkened. “Oh, it’s real. And it gets worse.”
Sophia’s stomach twisted. “Worse?”
Victor stepped forward, his eyes locked onto hers. “Do you really think Damien loves you?” His lips curled into a slow, cruel smirk. “He’s using you, sweetheart.”
Sophia stiffened.
Victor’s voice dropped lower. “He needed leverage. And what better way to control me than to get close to you?”
Sophia’s breath came fast and shallow. She turned to Damien, panic rising in her chest. “Is that true?”
Damien’s eyes darkened. “No.”
Victor tsked. “Then why didn’t you tell her the truth?”
Silence.
Damien’s hands flexed at his sides.
Sophia took a step back. “You lied to me,” she whispered.
Damien inhaled sharply. “I was trying to protect you.”
Victor let out a slow, mocking laugh. “By lying?” He shook his head. “You’re just like my brother. Trusting the wrong man.”
Sophia blinked back tears. “Damien, you should have told me.”
“I couldn’t.” His voice was raw, desperate. “You wouldn’t have understood.”
Before she could respond, the distant wail of sirens shattered the silence.
Victor’s smirk widened. “Oh, now this is perfect timing.”
The realization hit her like a truck.
“You called the cops?” Damien growled.
Victor’s grin was wicked. “Of course I did.”
The sound of shattering glass made Sophia scream.
A masked figure burst through the front window, gun raised.
Damien reacted instantly, grabbing Sophia and shoving her behind a bookshelf. The masked intruder fired, the bullet narrowly missing Damien’s shoulder and embedding itself in the wooden counter.
Sophia’s pulse slammed against her throat as another shot rang out.
Damien pulled a gun from inside his jacket, his voice urgent. “Stay down.”
Sophia barely had time to process his words before the gunman advanced.
Victor cursed, diving for cover. “Didn’t expect that, did you, Damien?”
Another shot exploded in the air.
Damien fired back, the bullet catching the masked man in the leg. The intruder let out a sharp grunt, stumbling.
But then—another gunshot.
Damien groaned, staggering back as blood bloomed on his arm.
Sophia’s scream tore through the air.
“No!”
The masked gunman limped toward them, gun still raised.
And then—suddenly—Victor moved.
Before anyone could react, he lunged, grabbing the shooter’s wrist and twisting violently. A sickening snap echoed through the bookstore as the gun clattered to the floor.
The shooter cried out, stumbling backward.
Victor didn’t hesitate. He grabbed the gun and fired.
One shot.
The masked man collapsed, unmoving.
Sophia’s heart thundered as she stared at Victor in shock.
He turned to her, wiping blood from his lip. “Told you I wasn’t the villain here.”
The sirens were deafening now.
Damien clutched his bleeding arm, his expression unreadable.
Victor smirked. “This is where I take my leave.” He winked at Sophia. “Be careful who you trust.”
And just like that, he was gone.
Sophia turned to Damien, her chest tightening. “Damien—”
But before she could say anything, red and blue lights filled the room.
The police stormed inside.
Guns drawn.
Shouting.
Chaos.
Damien raised his hands, his jaw tight.
Sophia’s world spun as two officers grabbed him, shoving him to the ground.
One officer turned to her. “Ma’am, are you hurt?”
She barely managed to shake her head, her entire body trembling.
And then—Damien looked at her.
His voice was low, des
perate.
“Sophia, don’t trust anyone.”
Before she could respond, they hauled him to his feet, handcuffing him.
And for the first time, Sophia wasn’t sure who the real villain was.
- Writer
