Broken Billionaire

The Party and the Past

Chapter 16:

Damien’s estate in the Hamptons glowed with soft golden lights, laughter spilling out from the open terrace. The engagement party was meant to be a celebration—exclusive, elegant, and intimate.

But Lena could feel it.

The tension behind the champagne smiles.

The weight of being watched.

---

She adjusted her deep emerald dress, the satin clinging like second skin, and sipped her wine. Everywhere she turned, someone whispered her name. Lena Hart. The fake fiancée. The girl with no past.

But she held her head high. Because now, she had a future.

And Damien was beside her, arm around her waist like he was anchoring her to the ground.

---

A Ghost in the Room

Midway through the evening, a familiar voice cut through the jazz band.

“Well. Look who finally became somebody.”

Lena froze.

She turned.

Standing at the bar, in a tailored suit and smug smile, was Noah.

Not arrested. Not gone.

Smiling like he still had a card to play.

Damien’s grip tightened the second he saw him.

“I had him removed from the country,” Damien muttered under his breath.

“He must have used another identity,” Lena whispered.

---

Noah raised a glass. “Relax. I’m not here to cause trouble. Just came to say congrats.”

Lena stepped forward, her voice steady. “Whatever game you’re playing—end it. Now.”

Noah leaned in, his smile souring. “I gave you an out, Lena. You chose to play princess instead. But fair warning… not all skeletons are yours alone.”

He slid something into her clutch—a flash drive—then disappeared into the crowd.

---

The Flash Drive

Back at the penthouse, Lena and Damien sat on the couch, the city lights painting their skin in blue and silver.

They plugged in the flash drive.

What they saw made Lena go pale.

Video footage. Conversations. Old security cam clips from years ago—featuring not just Lena, but another name tied to the scams.

A name Lena had buried deeper than her own:

Elena Hartwell. Her mother.

---

Lena whispered, “No… she wasn’t part of it. She couldn’t be.”

Damien reached for her hand.

But Lena pulled away, shaking, broken open again.

“I thought I left it all behind. But the past keeps dragging me back.”

Damien didn’t try to fix it. He just said:

> “Then we drag the truth out with it—and end this for good.”

to be continued...........