Owned by the Billionaire devil

The Fake Wife,Real Feelings

Silence filled the limo like thick smoke.It was heavy. It pressed against my skin. I could barely breathe.Damien sat across from me and his face was hard, and unreadable. His eyes were like cold steel.“Did you blackmail my father before he died?” I asked again, louder this time. My voice was sharp now, angry and hurt.He didn’t answer.He just turned to look out the window.Outside, the lights of New York blur together. Red, gold, blue, spinned like stars I couldn’t touch.And just like that, something inside me cracked.That small part of me that hoped Damien Blackwood might not be the villain.That hope? It was gone now.Finally, he spoke and hs voice was quiet but sharp. It was like a knife wrapped in silk.“Do you really want the truth, Ava?”I opened my mouth, but before I could say anything, the limo slowed to a stop and then we were back at Blackwood Tower.He opened the door and stepped out without looking back. The air between us was full of things we didn’t say.I got out too and my fists were clenched. My heart was louder than my footsteps.We rode the elevator in silence.___The next morning, I sat at the kitchen island, and stared at a cup of cold coffee. I didn't take a single sip.Damien walked in, he looked like nothing happened. With his crisp white shirt, cufflinks and a perfect hair.He acted like we were strangers.I couldn't take it anymore.“Tell me,” I said and my voice was low but shaking. “What did you mean last night? About the truth?”He didn’t look at me.He buttoned his cuff slowly. “This isn’t the right time.”I stood and my chair scraped loudly against the floor. “Then when is the right time? After you finish destroying what’s left of my family’s company?”Finally, his eyes met mine.“I never wanted to destroy Sinclair Tech,” he said. His voice was low and tired.I didn’t get to ask more.His phone buzzed and he checked it and straightened his tie.“We leave for the press retreat in two hours. Pack light.”And just like that, he was gone, just like always.__The resort was on top of a cliff. It was below us, the ocean sparkled under the sunlight, blue and endless.Everything looked perfect, beautiful and fake. It was just like us.Outside the gates, photographers waited like wolves.Damien stepped out first, then reached for my hand.“Smile,” he said quietly.He slided his arm around my waist and he touched me like he had done it a thousand times.I smiled for the cameras and it hurt.“They believe this?” I whispered.“They don’t care if it’s real,” he said “They just want a good story.”Inside, the lobby was grand. It was white marble floors and gold chandeliers. It was too perfect.The woman at the front desk gave us one keycard.I frowned. “Just one room?”Damien didn’t even blink. “We are engaged, remember?”The suite was huge.Gold curtains and balcony that showed the sea and one giant bed.“No couch?” I asked.“There was a chaise near the window,” he said, loosening his tie.“Wow,” I muttered. “So romantic.”He shrugged. “Get used to it, Mrs. Blackwood.”I froze. “Don’t call me that.”He said nothing.But later, at the poolside brunch, I held his hand and I smiled like I was the happiest woman alive. I laughed when he leaned in and whispered fake sweet things in my ear.And for a moment, I forget it was all pretend.For a moment… it felt real.Too real.__That evening, I was in our room, getting ready for the dinner.I was wearing a green silk gown. It fitted perfectly. And too perfectly. It was like it was made to steal breath.I didn’t hear the door open.“Damien—!”He stopped in the doorway.His eyes moved from my face to my body. Slowly.He doesn’t speak.The air between us crackled and my heart screamed.Then he blinked, looked away, and backed out.“I—sorry,” he muttered. He almost closed the door, almost.But he didn’t.And I didn't know if I wanted him to.__The ballroom was glowing, it was warm lights, laughter and glittering dresses.We walked in together and ur hands linked. Our smiles was perfect.Cameras flashed and questions flew.Damien leaned in and kissed my cheek. It looked gentle and loving.“Convincing enough?” he whispered.“For them?” I asked. “Or for me?”His hand tightened slightly around mine.Later, we danced once. It was just once. It was slow and close.I could feel his breath near my ear.“Careful, Ava,” he whispered. “You are starting to enjoy this.”I laughed softly. “You wish.”But he was right and that was the scary part.__I slipped outside after dinner. I needed air, space and anything.That was when I saw her.She walked toward me in a red silk dress, and her heels clicked on the stone floor.She was tall, beautiful and confident.“Hi,” she sais smoothly. “You must be Ava.”I blinked. “And you are?”She smiled like a cat. “Veronica. Damien’s ex.”A cold wave rolled down my back.“I didn’t know he had one.”“Of course not,” she said and sipped champagne. “He doesn’t talk about what he ruins.”I frowned. “What do you want?”“A warning,” she said and her smile faded “Damien ruins everything. Love, loyalty, companies and he ruined your father’s too.”My hands clenched.“You don’t know what you are talking about.”“Don’t I?” she tilted her head. “Ask him about the deal he made. The one that cost everything.”She turned and walks away before I can ask more.---Back in the suite, I waited for him.When he entered, he was pulling off his bow tie.“You didn’t tell me about Veronica,” I said.He paused. It was just a second and then he kept moving.“She said you ruin things.”“I didn’t destroy your father’s company,” he said quietly.I stepped closer. “But you had a deal with him, didn’t you?”He sighed and sit on the edge of the bed. “Yes. We were working on a partnership. He wanted to grow Sinclair Tech. I agreed to help.”“What happened?”“He got sick. Changed the deal. Started making risky choices.”“Why?”“He wanted to leave a legacy. He rushed things. I warned him. He didn’t listen.”“So you just pulled out?”“No,” he said. “I bought it to stop the crash. I tried to protect it.”My chest tightened. “Why didn’t you tell me this before?”“Because you hate me. And I figured you would never believe me.”And then…I didn’t think, I just moved, I leaned in and then kiss him. It was soft and real.His lips were warm, surprised and still.But after a second, he pulled back.His eyes were cold again. Walls back up.“I told you not to fall for this,” he said quietly.My heart shattered and I turned away, shaking and embarrassed.___That night, I woke up in the dark, the bed was empty and Damien was gone.I slipped out of the room, and my heart rang. And then I found him on the balcony.He was on the phone. His voice was sharp and low.He didn’t see me.“She can’t know what really happened,” he said. “If she finds out, we are both finished.”