The Billionaire's Forced Bride

The Family Dinner Revelation

Chapter 007

The Family Dinner Revelation

Amara’s POV

The dinner table was carefully set in our luxurious mansion, with the flickering glow of evening sun penetrating almost on the faces of everyone around. My mother, Caroline, in her usual manner, was fussing over the plates, complaining on how the maids were getting her pissed, trying to make everything look perfect. The tension in the room from the plates barter, however, didn't go unnoticed. It was more like a storm waiting to strike.

Victor sat quietly beside me, and at a calculated intervals, offering small talk and trying to keep the mood light. He had apologized so many irritating times already for calling off the engagement, and though I had because of my mom, accepted his apologies, the weight of my own secret still dangled between us like an invisible barrier.

But then again, there was Sisi. As usual, she sat back like the queen of spotlight with that smug look on her face, watching with a calculated state as everything unfold like some spectator at a circus. I could feel her mischievous eyes occasionally turning over to Victor and me, and each time, leaving behind a smile as though she knew something suspicious that no one else did.

I swallowed hard, my palms becoming sweaty under the table. I still hadn’t gathered the courage to tell Victor about the pregnancy. How could I when my family would k*ll me? After everything that had transpired, I was too afraid or rather a coward to lose him again.

“Amara,” Sisi suddenly spoke up after minutes of smiling to herself, her voice syrupy sweet, as she leaned forward, looking at me with an exerggerated mock innocence. “Isn’t it just so great that things are gradually getting back to normal? I’m sure Victor must be too thrilled and can't wait to have you back again.”

I managed to release a small smile, but my heart wasn’t in it. “Yeah, things are getting better now,” I said, forcing the words out.

Victor squeezed my hand affectionately under the table, trying to reassure me, but I could already sense the nervous energy coming from him.

Sisi smirked, clearly not done with whatever she had on. “Well, you know, some things are somehow a bit more complicated than they seem to be physically.” Her eyes landed on me with a knowing smile which I feared won't come out well.

My heart skipped a beat at that. “What exactly do you mean, Sisi?”

“Oh, nothing actually,” she said, raising an eyebrow, but her sweet voice dripping with sarcasm. “Just a little something, though may be irrelevant, but I found it in Amara’s room earlier today, but to me; very interesting.”

I froze instantly on hearing. Blood drained all over my body as my thoughts raced to the possible outcome. No, she wouldn’t dare.

“Though not relevant, but I’m very sure Victor would be very interested to know,” she continued, her tone changed now edged with malice. “You see, I found something strange in Amara’s room, it was just a little pregnancy test.”

I could feel blood rushing uncontrollably to my ears as the words reached my head for processing. My hands trembled non stop under the table, and I could barely breathe.

Victor’s hand which was still holding mine, went cold as he turned to face me, his expression unreadable but unpleasant. “Amara... you’re pregnant?”

I opened my mouth to defend myself, but I didn't find the word. My throat had dried up by this time, everything closing on me. I couldn’t even form a letter talk more of words.

“You’re pregnant?” Victor repeated, and this time, his voice came out accompanied with disbelief.

Sisi sat back in like a master planner in her chair, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction as she watched the chaos unfold.

I finally managed to nod in agreement, my voice barely above a whisper. “Yes... but I didn’t know the right way to tell you. I didn’t have the intention of scattering everything again.”

Victor stood up in fury, his chair falling loudly against the floor. His gaze shifted with hatred between me and Sisi, anger flashing like thunder in his eyes. “You’ve been hiding all of this from me? All this time?”

“I didn’t have any idea of how to say it,” I whispered, tears welling up. “After you ended things with me, my conclusion was that I had lost you forever.”

Victor’s expression was pale and stormy as he turned away. “I don’t believe any of this. You’ve been keeping this from me for so long, and right now this... this betrayal?” His voice was harsh.

My mother, who had been sitting quiet and smiling up until now, suddenly stood up in full force, her face flushed with fury. “Amara!” she screamed at the top of her voice. “This is total disgrace! Do you have the slightest idea of what this will do to our reputation?”

My heart sank at the scream. I knew exactly what was coming.

“Caroline, calm down s bit,” my father, Matthew, said, but his voice was strained. He sounded more like a puppet than a father he was supposed to be as he looked to his wife for guidance.

“I will not calm down!” my mother snapped, not caring to reduce her sharp voice. “This is definitely going to destroy everything, Matthew! I’ve worked way too hard to get into politics, and right now this? Do you desire that I close the market and to lose everything over this scandal?”

I felt the tears quickly welling up in my eyes. How could my mother even think of saying something like that? But I'm not surprised because she never cared about me, he cared about her reputation, her future, her career and everything that concerns Sisi.

Sisi wasn’t even done yet. “Mom’s right. Amara’s decision to disgracefully get pregnant out of wedlock is an embarrassment. She’ve succeeded in making her bed, now she should lie in it.”

I flinched at the extent of the harshness in Sisi’s voice. But then, just as I was about to respond to her, the door to the dining room suddenly swung wide open. Everyone turned to see who had entered, interrupting us.

There stood Damian.

I couldn’t believe my two eyes. The ruthless and untouchable billionaire, the very man I had shared that one night with, was now standing in the doorway, his dark eyes only fixed on me.

“Damian?” I whispered, my voice shaking.

His presence filled the whole room like he owned it. He walked toward the table with a confident and boosted stride, totally ignoring the stunned expressions around him.

“Everyone,” Damian said coolly, his voice steady with arrogance. “I’ll be marrying Amara.”

There was a collective gasp escaping from everybody's mouth. My father, who was about to support my mother and disown me, stared at Damian in shock. My mother, Caroline’s face was an unreadable mask of emotion, but I could see her temper rising.

“You’re going to marry her?” my father finally asked, his voice rising a little.

“Yes,” Damian replied casually, his gaze focused on my father’s eyes. “Amara’s not alone in this journey. I’ll stand by her.”

My mother’s face plastered with fury. “You...how dare you come in here and make such a claim without permission? This family doesn’t need your interference in what's happening here!”

Damian’s smile was cold, his expression totally hardening as he directed his gaze directly at my mother . “Oh, I’m not even here to interfere. I’m here for one purpose, to ensure Amara doesn’t become another calamity in your quest for more power. I will marry her, and I’ll ensure that she's properly taken care of and nothing happens to her. Not while I’m still around.”

My father’s jaw clenched tightly like he was about fighting him. He looked at my mom, who looked like she could kill me if care wasn't taken that moment. Sisi was visibly shocked, her mouth wide open as the power dynamic shifted right before their eyes.

Victor was totally speechless, his eyes darting between me and Damian. He seemed like he had alot to say, but no words came.

And then it hit me again. Damian wasn’t just a ruthless billionaire as we all know, he was saving me. He was putting an end to my mom's and Sisi’s constant plans to torture me. To say that I was overjoyed would be an understatement. It took Damian literally forcing himself on me, for me to finally realize how fulfilling it was to have Sisi in confusion, even if it's just for a second.

For the first time, I didn’t feel like I was alone. I felt peace, well accepted as human, though I wasn't sure if he loved me, but at least, someone cared to protect me without judging me or reminding how much of a disaster I had become.

Things wouldn't have gone terribly bad if I haven't had a puppet for a father. He was everything I never wanted in a man, constantly bowing to my mother without a say.

The dinner table was not what they all anticipated, silent except for the sound of Damian’s calm voice. “I’m not leaving her again. So you can all forget about your moves at disowning her, to push her out of your family. She’s mine right now.”

Damian seemed to have done the unbelievable and won this time, but will my mother accept this defe

at? Or will she not stand it and fight back not minding Damian's history of r*thlessness.