Chapter five : Damian’s Enemy
1247 Words
I read the message three times before locking my phone.
You just met the man who destroyed your husband’s family.
The second message was worse.
And now he’s coming for yours.
I looked around the street.
People moved past me without a care in the world. Cars honked in the distance, and the city continued as though my entire life hadn’t just been turned upside down.
I slipped my phone into my handbag.
I needed answers.
Real answers.
I drove straight home.
My parents’ house was the first place I thought of, but something stopped me. My father had already admitted there were things he hadn’t told me.
I couldn’t tell who was protecting me anymore and who was protecting themselves.
When I entered the house, Mrs. Collins hurried toward me.
“Mrs. Sterling, are you all right?”
“I’m fine.”
She studied my face.
“You don’t look fine.”
“I’m just tired.”
I walked past her.
“Has Damian called?”
“No.”
Of course he hadn’t.
I went upstairs and closed the bedroom door behind me.
My eyes landed on the anniversary gift sitting on the dresser.
I had brought it home without realizing it.
The black box looked ridiculous now.
I picked it up and opened it.
A beautiful silver watch rested inside.
I stared at it.
For weeks, I had imagined Damian opening this box and pulling me into his arms.
Now I couldn’t understand how I had been so blind.
I closed the box and put it away.
My phone rang.
This time, Damian was calling.
I stared at his name.
I almost ignored it.
Then I answered.
“What?”
There was silence on the other end.
“Where are you?”
“Home.”
“Did you go to the company?”
My eyes narrowed.
“Why?”
“Amelia, answer me.”
“Yes.”
He exhaled.
“Did you see Alexander?”
My heart skipped.
“Why are you asking?”
“Because you need to stay away from him.”
I laughed without humor.
“That’s the second time you’ve told me that.”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I. Why?”
“Alexander Blackwood is dangerous.”
“Then why was he at your company?”
Silence.
I waited.
“Damian?”
“He had business with me.”
“What kind of business?”
“None of your concern.”
I closed my eyes.
There it was again.
The same phrase.
None of your concern.
“Everything seems to be none of my concern.”
“Amelia…”
“No. I’m done being kept in the dark.”
He was quiet.
Then his voice changed.
“You don’t know what you’re dealing with.”
“Neither do you, apparently.”
“I know Alexander.”
“Then tell me why you hate him.”
Another silence.
Longer this time.
“His father destroyed my family.”
I frowned.
“That’s what you said?”
“That’s the truth.”
“Then why did Alexander tell me something different?”
Damian went silent.
“What did he tell you?”
“He said my marriage wasn’t what I thought it was.”
Damian’s breathing changed.
“What else did he say?”
“Nothing.”
I heard something hit a surface on his end.
“Amelia, listen to me carefully.”
“I’m listening.”
“Do not speak to Alexander again.”
“Why?”
“Because he doesn’t care about you.”
I swallowed.
“Neither did you.”
He didn’t respond.
The silence between us became unbearable.
Finally, he said, “You don’t understand what he wants.”
“Then explain it.”
“I can’t.”
I laughed bitterly.
“Of course you can’t.”
I ended the call.
For several minutes, I sat on the edge of the bed.
Then I heard a car outside.
I stood and looked through the curtains.
A black sedan had stopped outside the house.
My heart began pounding.
The driver’s door opened.
Alexander stepped out.
I froze.
He looked up.
Straight toward my window.
I released the curtain.
A moment later, the doorbell rang.
I didn’t move.
It rang again.
Mrs. Collins answered the door downstairs.
I heard voices.
Then her footsteps came up the stairs.
“Mrs. Sterling?”
“What is it?”
“There’s a Mr. Blackwood asking to see you.”
My heart dropped.
“Tell him I’m not available.”
She hesitated.
“He said you need to hear what he has to say.”
I looked toward the bedroom door.
For some reason, I knew this wasn’t a social visit.
“Send him up.”
A few minutes later, there was a knock.
I took a breath.
“Come in.”
The door opened.
Alexander walked inside.
He looked completely calm.
I folded my arms.
“What do you want?”
He closed the door behind him.
“To warn you.”
“About what?”
“Your husband.”
I stared at him.
“I’ve had enough warnings.”
“This one is different.”
He reached into his jacket and pulled out an envelope.
He held it toward me.
I didn’t take it.
“What is that?”
“Something Damian doesn’t want you to see.”
My eyes dropped to the envelope.
“What is inside?”
“Proof.”
“Proof of what?”
Alexander’s gaze hardened.
“That your marriage to Damian was never simply a family arrangement.”
I slowly took the envelope.
My fingers trembled as I opened it.
Inside were copies of financial documents.
My father’s name was on several of them.
So was Damian’s father’s.
And beneath them was another name.
Edward Blackwood.
I looked up.
“Your father?”
Alexander nodded.
“These documents were signed three years before you married Damian.”
I looked back at the papers.
“Why are you showing me this?”
“Because you’re about to make a decision that will put you directly in the middle of something you don’t understand.”
“What decision?”
He stared at me.
“Whether you’re going to divorce Damian.”
My heart stopped.
“How do you know I’m considering it?”
“Because I know Damian.”
I shook my head.
“You know nothing about me.”
His expression softened for the first time.
“That’s where you’re wrong.”
I stared at him.
He stepped closer.
“I know you’re going to leave him.”
My grip tightened around the papers.
“And when you do,” he continued, “Damian will come after you.”
“Why?”
Alexander’s eyes held mine.
“Because you’re more important to him than you realize.”
I frowned.
“Why?”
He didn’t answer.
Instead, he walked toward the door.
“Wait.”
He stopped.
“What’s the real reason you married me?”
His shoulders stiffened.
“I haven’t married you.”
“You know what I mean.”
He turned around.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then he gave me a look I couldn’t decipher.
“You’ll find out soon enough.”
And he walked away.
I looked down at the documents again.
For the first time, I wasn’t thinking about Damian’s affair.
I was thinking about something far more terrifying.
Why had my husband married me in the first place?
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