Tears poured down my face, unstoppable. I hadn’t come to this filthy place out of curiosity-I came because I was afraid for her. I thought someone might hurt her. Instead, she was the one cutting me open. The realization tore my heart apart.
Damian’s hands were still roaming over Scarlett, his mouth pressed to her neck. Then, without hesitation, he scooped her up and carried her toward a VIP room behind them. I knew exactly what would follow. The restraints. The heat. Sex as rough and intimate as lovers who knew each other far too well.
A memory surfaced, uninvited.
“I despise betrayal more than anything,” Damian had once told me. “My mother betrayed the family. Betrayed my father. So she died. I will never make that mistake.”
Another memory followed, softer, crueler.
“Elara, you’re my light,” he’d said, looking at me like I was salvation. “The only clean thing in my world.”
I remembered how he held me at night, arms locked tight. “I’ll protect you,” he’d whisper. “Always.” Even though our lives came from opposite ends of the world, I had chosen to step into his.
When he proposed, my parents were firmly against it.
“His family is dangerous,” they warned. “You’re our princess. We don’t want you hurt.”
I said yes anyway. Without hesitation. Without doubt.
He built a castle for me-an estate filled with white roses, simply because they were my favorite. He dismissed men who’d served him loyally for years just for murmuring that I was a useless, sheltered girl, making an example of anyone who dared disrespect me. Once, he was shot by a rival family days before my birthday. Bleeding through his bandages, he dragged himself out of bed and stood over his personal chef all night to ensure my cake was flawless.
I cried while eating it, telling him he was insane for doing so much.
He only smiled. “Elara, you’re my most precious gift. My princess. Anything I do for you is worth it.”
Every memory became another blade, twisting deeper. How had I been so blind? I believed my love could redeem him. That my warmth could soften his darkness. But I wasn’t his light.
I was just a piece on their board.
Without realizing it, I’d moved closer. Through the small glass panel of the VIP room, I could see shifting silhouettes. I turned to flee-then my phone vibrated.
The ringtone cut sharply through the pounding music.
I looked down.
Caller ID: Damian
My hands began to shake. Inside the room, Damian was still kissing Scarlett, lost in her. Yet his phone was calling me. Was this some sick joke? Hers? His?
With unsteady fingers, I answered.
“Baby.” His voice was gentle, familiar-the same tone he used every night when he called to say goodnight. “Miss me? I was busy. Couldn’t text back.”
I opened my mouth, my chest trembling, but no sound came out. And then, from the room in front of me, I heard it.
A woman’s voice.
Low. Broken. Intimately familiar.
Scarlett.
“Ah… harder…”
Damian muffled her mouth, clearly worried the sound might carry through the phone.
“Elara?” His voice remained calm, attentive. “Baby, are you there? I saw your message. Don’t stress about her-she knows how to take care of herself. You just need to eat something nice and stay happy. You’ll be my wife soon, remember?”
His tone was still tender. Still loving.
My fingers turned numb as I clenched the phone, plastic biting into my palm. Tears blurred everything. Scarlett’s hands were tangled in his hair, her eyes shut, savoring every second.
“You’re quiet,” he said softly. “You’re worrying me. You know I love you, right?”
Love me?
Was this love-holding my hand through a screen while he was inside my best friend?
“I miss you,” he murmured. “I’ll come find you as soon as I’m done here.”
Done.
I wanted to hang up. To smash the phone against the wall. But I couldn’t move. I stood there, frozen, like something cursed.
“Damian…” I finally managed.
“Yeah, baby?”
“Did you…” My voice shook apart. “Did you ever really love me?”
